Black Is Bold Again: A Home That Redefines Southern Style

A daring Alabama renovation proves that black is more than back - it's a bold, beautiful anchor for modern interiors

Tucked into the storied Hollywood neighborhood of Homewood, Alabama, a once-ordinary 1980s house has undergone a head-turning transformation - one that proves black is more than just a comeback colour in interior design. It’s a statement.

This daring renovation by River Brook, the dynamic husband-and-wife team of Kevin and Leigh Misso, flips the script on the Southern traditional with an audacious embrace of black tones, unconventional materials, and out-of-the-box creativity. What began as a white kitchen makeover became a full-scale reimagining of the entire home - a celebration of bold vision, hidden functionality, and deeply personal touches.

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This daring renovation by River Brook flips the script on the Southern traditional with an audacious embrace of black tones, unconventional materials, and out-of-the-box creativity, Image: Laurey Glenn

“In a world where white kitchens have become the norm, it’s crucial to stand out by embracing something unexpected,” says Leigh Misso. And that’s exactly what they did, starting with a monolithic kitchen island crafted entirely from dramatic slabs of Danby marble. With dark cabinetry finished in Farrow & Ball’s moody Off Black, the kitchen exudes sculptural elegance, blending form with function - right down to a hidden laundry door seamlessly tucked into the cabinetry.

With dark cabinetry finished in Farrow & Ball’s moody Off Black, the kitchen exudes sculptural elegance, Image: Laurey Glenn

The sense of daring doesn’t stop there. From antique French mirrors in the powder room to a soaring living room crowned with antique beams and a limestone mantle, the design plays with contrast - clean modern lines meet historical gravitas. The colour palette dances between light serenity and deep, rich hues, creating what River Brook describes as “a visual narrative” that sparks curiosity.

For the couple who calls this house home, personalization was essential. The wife, who teaches art to special needs adults, had two student pieces she loved. River Brook worked these artworks - symbols of love and purpose - into the layout, giving them pride of place above the mantel and bathtub.

A student art piece is given pride of place by hanging above the bathtub, Image: Laurey Glenn

Each room speaks to a different mood. The formal living room makes a theatrical first impression, blending textured finishes with sculptural furniture. In the primary bedroom, velvet drapery softens the boldness, wrapping the space in warmth and romanticism. Even the laundry room is layered with playful pattern-on-pattern design and a checkerboard floor - proof that no corner was overlooked.

In the primary bedroom, velvet drapery softens the boldness, wrapping the space in warmth and romanticism, Image: Laurey Glenn

With every finish and fixture, River Brook challenges what a Southern home should look like. They’ve proven that dark hues can be inviting, modern lines can hold history, and a kitchen island can be both art and utility.

Above all, this home invites us to be unafraid. To colour outside the lines. To design for joy, for function, for bold beauty. And perhaps most importantly - to welcome black back in, unapologetically.