✨🌈 Seeing Technicolor
I like stark, minimalist spaces as much as the next person. Probably a lot more, if I’m being honest. But it seems like these days every house is white. After seeing so many all-white-everything houses, it starts to feel cold and antiseptic and frankly– downright boring.
Here are some houses that are anything but boring and have brought me a lot of joy.
I hope they brighten your spirits too.
The Colorful Cubist
Location: Waterloosstraat 4, Kapelle op den bos, Belgium
Listing: https://www.architectenwoning.be/projecten/atelierwoning-j
List Price: € 795,000 (~$936,500)
I’m breaking my own made-up rules with this house because it’s:
1. in Belgium (I can’t spend my whole life scouring the entire planet for house listings… or can I 🤔)
2. a house that I want to keep for myself.
In some way, every house that I show here is a house I love. But this house has my heart in the way that no other house has– not even my own house.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc1438e95-23cb-43ef-8f25-607f9ac3cf0b_1500x870.jpeg)
Most of the house is white and black, but it uses color in smart and unexpected ways like giving shape to an otherwise open space and casting gorgeous light.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7ee0433-594c-4194-b32e-52bd6d059814_1500x870.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe7f5e4b-d175-4c92-bba3-8458d83b1e23_1500x870.jpeg)
It’s clever and joyful, and thanks to the siting - still peaceful.
The house also features a pond, an outdoor kitchen, and a separate studio space and has beautiful views of the yard throughout.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd8526bd2-4a6c-4e22-812d-23fa540dd315_1500x870.jpeg)
If you buy this house, please invite me over for an extended stay. Thank you.
The Graphic Mid-Century
Location: 1745 Malvern Dr, Jackson, MI 49203
Listing: https://www.redfin.com/MI/Jackson/1745-Malvern-Dr-49203/home/111905723
List Price: $325,000
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe0948f5b-67a3-4d1e-a0c0-733de40a43e0_665x441.jpeg)
This unassuming mid-century ranch house is situated on almost half an acre with a river running through the backyard.
Most of the house is pretty restrained with a focus on the outdoors.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F59c5316c-23e8-49c7-9522-33b7710818f6_665x441.jpeg)
But there are a few bold uses of wallpaper and laminate that make this house fun and charming. The kitchen and the breakfast nook are my favorite spots.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fed81adcf-4667-47fd-977f-5099161b8488_665x441.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2bd2ef0-f917-4a8f-9606-bf9224b1c1ce_665x441.jpeg)
But I’m also quite fond of the laundry room too.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F789ea584-2b31-43b4-8096-8440bb4e4e44_665x441.jpeg)
I hope the next owners treasure the color and help the house live up to its full technicolor potential.
The Striking Sea Ranch Style
Location: 1642 Las Trampas Rd, Alamo, CA 94507
Listing: https://www.redfin.com/CA/Alamo/1642-Las-Trampas-Rd-94507/home/1443740
List Price: $3,195,000
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F043ba730-fd1d-4e31-acb9-b8fc1a8ec950_665x441.jpeg)
Yes, that’s a cable tram.
This house sits on a sloped site on more than two acres. The outside is deceptively calm and wood-clad to look like a house in Sea Ranch, but inside is a 70s modern utopia with colorful ventilation popping up in many rooms.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9e74be22-0235-49c8-8edf-7bed08c9ed88_665x441.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F30e5f710-b31d-4ec9-bc18-d8183d9b6081_665x441.jpeg)
While not colorful, my favorite moments in this house are the built-in beds.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe6cc78c-9399-4027-a419-5279ffa64810_665x441.jpeg)
And if you’re WFH like me and everyone else, the property includes a small office building. It also has a pool and a tennis court, if relaxing is more your speed.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F50f68735-9059-49ff-9f0f-af1990055295_665x441.jpeg)
The Case Study House
Location: 143 Calvert Ct, Piedmont, CA 94611
Listing: https://www.redfin.com/CA/Piedmont/143-Calvert-Ct-94611/home/609685
List Price: $2,995,000
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c832a3c-7040-4a14-97f6-26e9f2f3c613_665x441.jpeg)
When you think Case Study house, you probably think: glass, white, wood.
But this house manages to squeeze in quite a bit of personality in between all of the expected finishes.
This house showcases how thoughtfully using pops of color can change a space.
It just goes to show that you can get a lot of visual impact and personality without having to spend a lot of money or making more permanent changes.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F809be68a-3757-4a57-a6ea-b54b999ecd27_665x441.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb9b8957a-dc77-484b-96e1-f6cb99656380_665x441.jpeg)
Bonus
If you want to liven up your space with color, I highly recommend checking out these interior designers for inspiration:
Extra bonus: Meg Lewis' Find Your Personal Style class can help you figure out how to apply color to your wardrobe, work, and home.
Until next time.