Our White House Black Trim Exterior Transformation

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The design trend of a white house with black windows and trim is here to stay and the option for black windows with white interior is a great choice if you are looking to modernize the exterior of your home but still have a white interior frames and panes . Today I am sharing why we decided black windows was a great solution for the house we recently renovated.

Whether your style is traditional, modern or transitional, modern black windows will look great on any style home, especially a light colored home.

split level house with white board and batten siding black windows and brown front door
Loving our white house with black windows

Personally, I love a black window interior with a drywall return (meaning no interior window trim) providing a clean modern feel.

We didn’t have that option in this house due to our budget but the black exterior with white interior looks amazing and we are thrilled with the transformation.

Black Windows vs White Windows 

Who would have thought that windows would have so many options!

What do you think? Do you like our white house with black trim transformation?

If my grandparents were still alive, they would tell you that when they were kids, they were lucky to even have windows never mind windows with varying color option on the exterior and interior. 

split level remodel with black windows and white board and batten siding before and after
white house black windows for the win!

The split level house exterior that was recently remodeled got a complete overhaul and replacing the old single pane windows with black vinyl windows was one of the first projects that Jim tackled. 

FAQs about Black Windows

Yes, black windows are more expensive. We paid an additional $165 more per window vs white windows.

There are several window brands with Anderson, Pella and Simonton being a few. The Anderson black windows were too expensive so we purchased Simonton windows as they are a middle of the road window in terms of cost with many features and benefits.

White House Black Windows

Are black exterior windows in style?

Black windows are not going out of style. In fact, white houses with black trim have been used for years but they recently became more popular in the last few years.

The white and black color combination is classic and timeless and looks great on any style home.

I love how our split level white house looks with black windows.

White board and batten siding paired with exterior black window frames will transform any home to a modern farmhouse feel, even a split level house!

split level house with white board and batten siding black windows and brown front door
Black windows transformed our white house

White House With Black Trim

Wondering how to get a white with black trim? Installing new black windows and gutters will help you accomplish that classic modern white house black trim look.

We decided to paint the existing gutters black (not shown in this picture) once the black windows were installed.

If you are planning to purchase black gutters, I would recommend having the gutter down spouts run down the side of the corner of your house. That will give you a definite black and white contrast and it looks amazing!

Black Windows With White Interior

Are black exterior windows white inside?

They can be but you will need to order the windows with the interior white.

Here is the view below from the inside of the house with white interior windows.

As you can see, the window panes and frames are white. 

Black exterior and interior windows carry a premium price tag.

While we initially desired the striking black window look outside our home, we chose white interiors to save costs and enhance market appeal as we planned to the sell the house once the renovation was complete.

Black windows, both inside and out, cater to a niche market, not appealing to everyone.

To maximize our potential buyer pool, we opted for white interiors, ensuring our home’s broad appeal beyond just a specialized audience.

white kitchen cabinets, farmers sink, herringbone white subway backsplash, natural oak flooring
kitchen with black windows white interior

White window frames tend to be more neutral so if you are looking for a more traditional window color and style, white on white is probably best.

Black windows are not just a trend. Black windows lend more of a modern look – modern or modern farmhouse, are very trendy right now and I think the trend is here to stay. 

Black windows with white interior
white interior windows

The white interior windows coordinate nicely with the vaulted shiplap ceiling and entryway remodel. 

Cons of Black Frame Windows

The only con in my opinion would be not having the option to switch design styles.

Personally, I love that black is like an optical illusion and tends to blend in with the outdoors but some may find it less neutral than white when it comes to decorating the interior.

Black is definitely a classic look but it’s not for everyone.

I would say the majority of people prefer white and if you are planning to sell your home soon or down the road, picking black may not be the best choice.

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of people who buy homes with black windows but it’s a certain buyer who will love it. 

split level house with white board and batten siding black windows and brown front door
a white house with black trim is modern and a trend that is here to stay

The windows are also more expensive, in fact, these windows (see Jim and crew installing the windows here for a close up view) were approximately $165 more than the same version in white (both exterior and interior). 

You will notice above we stained the front door in a warm brown tone that coordinated nicely with the siding and windows.

installing black windows with 1 1/2 inch nails
affordable black windows

Note:

When purchasing black windows, be sure to check the UV rating and make sure the quality is decent as black can fade over time from the sun. 

Black Windows

This window style is popular in modern, farmhouse and some industrial homes. They have been used for years and date back to the 19th century mostly used in factories.

If you cannot afford new windows and love black trim, try painting your existing window frames and trim black.

Window frames, especially wood windows, can easily be painted.

When we removed the old white windows from this 1970’s split level house and installed the black windows, the change was dramatic!

You can take a full house tour (interior and exterior) of this split level by click here – split level renovation page.

It’s essential to not overlook the windows and doors when constructing or renovating a house. We are pleased with the appearance of our windows and they also provide energy efficiency, which is a major plus.

Looking to see all of the home remodeling projects we did in this split level home? See them in order below.

Split Level Home Renovation Series

Meet Jessica

What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.

17 Comments

  1. Good Morning Jessica Love the black windows. They add so much charm to this rehab.
    The only thing I see which is going out of style very fast is gray floors, however, this is a rehab and I bet it sells the first day.
    The entire home is charming.

  2. Tracy Ledgerwood says:

    Can you switch an outside window frame from white to black without buying a new window?

  3. We are planning on doing black exterior white interior windows in our new build as well. We can choose double front doors with similar black grille pattern BUT the interior door grille is the same black – no white interior option. Do you think it will look weird from the inside if all the windows are white grilles but the door is black? I have scoured the internet trying to find a picture of this situation to help visualize it, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to fine one. Thanks for all the advice and inspiration.

  4. Hi There!

    Your home is stunning and classic. <3 I agree, it's here to stay! Growing up, our family home was white w/black shutters…Same idea. My husband and I have been going back and forth about it, because we do not want black on the inside. This post gives me hope…We can have BOTH!

    Thank you so much!

  5. Hi There!

    Your home is stunning and classic. <3 I agree, it's here to stay! Growing up, our family home was white w/black shutters…Same idea. My husband and I have been going back and forth about it, because we do not want black interior. This post gives me hope…We can have BOTH!

    Thank you so much!

  6. Your remodel is beautiful! May I ask which window model you chose? I see Simonton, but when I looked for those, there are many different makes.

  7. Hi!

    In the middle of our siding contract and we LOVE this siding. Do you happen to know the width of these panels? Even the brand? They are offering us 7/8 inches and these seem wider!

    Thanks
    Alexa

  8. If you are looking at your windows from outside, do you see any white from the inside of the window? I’m looking at doing the same thing at our house, but I am worried you will be able to see the white inside of the window when you’re outside, based on the angle you’re looking at the window.

  9. I want black on black vinyl windows in our beach house. The exterior will be Zurich white SW paint. The interior windows black also. My question is will the window coverings look wierd from the outside looking in. Suggestions. Thank u

    1. I don’t think it will look weird, I love black interior. We have done both and they are equally nice in both settings

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