Article by Jennifer Miller

Photos by Nathan Satran with Hannesson Home 

From the outside, it reads like a shop. Large garage doors. A simple, industrial structure. Nothing about it immediately suggests what’s waiting inside. But that contrast is exactly the point. 

Designed by Hannesson Home, this shop house challenges expectations from the moment you arrive. What appears utilitarian on the exterior unfolds into something far more intentional, layered, and refined once inside. “It’s not what people expect,” Jessica says. “When you think of a shop house, you don’t usually think of something at this level.” And that tension between expectation and reality is what defines the home.

A Different Starting Point 

The concept itself was straightforward. The homeowner wanted a functional shop space paired with living quarters above. The entire main level is dedicated to the shop, while the home sits upstairs, creating a clear separation between work and living. 

But from the beginning, the design direction set it apart. “He came to us and said, ‘I think I want the entire house to be black,’” Jessica says. Every wall. Every surface. A fully monochromatic space. It was a bold ask, and one that required more than simply choosing a paint color. 

“When you do something like this, you have to trust the process,” she says. “You can’t just paint everything a flat black and expect it to work.” 

Building Depth in a Monochromatic Space 

While the home reads as black at first glance, it is far from one-dimensional. In reality, no single surface is a true, flat black. Instead, the space is made up of layered tones, varied finishes, and subtle shifts in material that create depth throughout. 

“If you put a true black next to these finishes, you’d see the difference right away,” Jessica explains. That distinction is what keeps the space from feeling flat. 

Texture plays a major role. Slat wall details, full-height surfaces, and layered materials give the eye somewhere to land. Warm elements like walnut introduce contrast without breaking the overall tone. The result is a space that feels cohesive, but never static. “You have to create moments,” she says. “Otherwise, it just becomes one dark room.” 

Lighting as a Design Feature 

In a home like this, light becomes just as important as material. Rather than relying solely on natural light, the design leans heavily into intentional lighting to shape the experience of each space. “There are a lot of ways to play with light without adding a lot of cost,” Jessica says. 

Throughout the home, subtle backlighting and integrated fixtures create dimension. Kitchen details are highlighted, architectural features are emphasized, and even simple surfaces are given depth through light. 

In the bathroom, a faux skylight introduces what appears to be natural light overhead, complete with the illusion of movement. It’s not real, but it shifts the feeling of the space entirely. 

And in place of a traditional fireplace, the team installed a water vapor feature that mimics the look of flame without producing heat. “It gives you that ambiance,” Jessica says. “But it’s not hot. It’s just there for the experience.” 

Where Function Meets Design 

Despite its bold aesthetic, the home was designed to be lived in. Materials were chosen not just for their look, but for durability. The overall feel leans masculine, with a focus on surfaces that can handle wear while still maintaining a high-end finish. “It’s rugged, but in a different way,” Jessica says. “It’s not what you’d traditionally think of. It’s more elevated.” That balance shows up most clearly in the kitchen and bathroom, two of Jessica’s favorite spaces in the home. 

The kitchen features a custom island with a mitered knife-edge detail, subtly backlit to highlight the form. The backsplash layers porcelain and tile, adding movement without disrupting the palette. 

In the bathroom, lighting again takes center stage, reinforcing the idea that even the most functional spaces can feel considered. 

A Cohesive Vision 

While the shop and living space serve different purposes, the exterior and interior remain visually connected. Everything, from the outside in, follows the same monochromatic direction. “It’s consistent all the way through,” Jessica says. 

That consistency is part of what makes the home feel so intentional. There’s no moment where the design shifts or softens to meet expectations. Instead, it stays true to the original vision. 

Designing Outside the Box 

For Jessica, the project offered something different from a typical home. “It’s definitely outside of what we normally do,” she says. “But that’s what made it fun.” 

Designing within a single color palette while still creating warmth and variation pushed the team to think differently about materials, light, and detail. The result is a home that doesn’t rely on color to make an impact. Instead, it uses restraint. And in doing so, it creates something that feels both unexpected and deeply intentional. 

Originally printed in the June 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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