In NYC, wearing all black appears to be de rigueur. It has been an observation over the last number of years that the sudden appearance of so many people dressed primarily in black has often been one of the markers highlighting the steady influx of urban transplants to our area. This proclivity apparently extends beyond clothing.

As the newcomers continue to buy and upgrade property around here, houses painted in the color black have been popping up all over the place like dead flowers in a Halloween bouquet.

Although I’m not sure, I’m guessing even some of the old time local homeowners might be gravitating to this trend.

The first time I noticed one of the Victorian houses around the corner painted black, I thought it was seriously unique and kind of cool, in a witchy sort of way. Eventually another one appeared a couple of blocks over, also lending a slightly spooky air; the color definitely highlights arched windows, a decorative trim or a mansard roof. But then there was another. And another. And another.

As the flow of new residents has increased, with a great wave that happened at the start of the pandemic, houses have been and continue to be quickly snatched up – with buyers often engaging in bidding wars and paying cash – at which point they sink a crap-ton of money into renovation with intention to either flip or keep – and then (go figure!) paint it black.

There are now so many black houses right around here that you would almost think this place was trying to compete with Salem for “Most Witchy Town”….. it’s so very Goth. Pictured are some of the ones I pass by while walking the dog.

Because my camera is picking up the subtle nuances of light and shadow, taken at different hours of the day, different weather conditions, and seen on a variety of monitors or screens, the photos might not look as intense as they are, but these houses are pretty much all serious shades of black.

It has become such a trend now that even in the span of one short block there are quite a few with charcoal exterior paint. Depending on the house, they can range from stately to imposing, gloomy to a little bit spooky, urban chic to depressingly unappealing.

Of course, I can’t help it – Earworm of the Day: Rolling Stones “Paint It Black.”

I see a red door
And I want it painted black

There are actually three of them not too many steps from my front door –

No colors anymore
I want them to turn black

and about twenty just in the immediate neighborhood!

I can imagine that taking a short ride or a rambling walk farther out would probably reveal scores of them, all tucked into the side streets within the radius of a mile or two. In the meantime, these are right here. It’s amazing!

Some are appealing to me, while others give off a sort of funereal vibe.

Even the old eyebrow colonials are getting the treatment…

Different trim colors lend variation – some are rather striking. But still…. So. Much. Black. And it’s not just black-black…….”almost black” has become a thing too.

I think of them as “house shadows”.

There are also a number of homes that lean toward extremely dark-smoke-gray, or the deepest of forest greens, or the most midnight of blues, all that read pretty much as black. Depending on the trim color and landscaping, the values tend to shift.

Although the homes in my neighborhood tend to be over one hundred years old, apparently it isn’t just the older houses dressed in this color choice. I have an acquaintance that has a painting business, where it seems one after another, contemporary houses they are hired to paint are getting the same treatment. I’m reading that painting a house very dark colors might help disguise stains and dirt, but I don’t know if that’s true.

I wanna see it painted
Painted black
Black as night
Black as coal

The black exterior really tends to absorb light, and definitely heat. In the northeast winters this might be useful for helping to keep the house warmer and heating bills down. But in the summer I would imagine it must contribute to some hellishly high interior temps, with very expensive cooling costs.

Since I’m on the subject, I will add one personal irksome situation here as an aside. Slightly off-topic, yet related. The people who bought the house behind us on the next street over decided to build what they have designated as a “barn/studio” in their backyard. This was put up where a shed once stood, before it was knocked over by a fallen tree. While it’s not a terrible looking structure, I don’t understand how they were allowed to get away with plopping down what is essentially a two and half story house on such a tiny lot as a replacement – right behind our back fence. Painted black, it sits there like a dark, imposing, way-too-close monolith, blocking an area that once had space and light. With the trees in leaf it’s not so bad, but once they fall, it is going to be right in your face. Or actually, my bedroom. Not happy. Actually, it was quite a rude thing to do. I admit I have had fantasies of painting a great big neon face with giant googly eyes on the entire back side of our barn facing their “barn.” Assuming – according to their permit – it’s not designated as a house, nobody should mind, right?

It’s a tempting thought to drive around and take photos of all the local black-painted houses just to see how many different and interesting ones can be found, but I probably won’t. I wonder…. how long this trend will last, or what the next one will be?

I wanna see it painted, painted, painted
Painted black, yeah

~*~

*Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones, 1966