A First Look at the Innovative and Inspiring Interiors of the Obsidian Concept House
A First Look at the Innovative and Inspiring Interiors of the Obsidian Concept House
It's finally here! The inaugural Obsidian Virtual Concept House, as part of the Obsidian Experience, launched today, with new and innovative programming being released throughout the month of February. This month-long exploration of this futuristic dwelling set in the Oakland Hills of northern California in 2025 explores its mission of achieving wellness, identity, sustenance, terra, legacy, ancestral futures, and dwelling for the Black family. Each of the 24 indoor and outdoor rooms, along with the impeccable architecture by Leyden Lewis Studio and Studio Cooke-John, offers insight into the past, present, and future of the Black family, as well as the future of home design itself in light of our current global, political, and cultural climate.
The Obsidian Experience revolutionizes the idea of a show house like never before, as it features voice narrations from each of the concept house designers as you explore the rooms to fully comprehend the design inspiration and concepts behind them and will soon unveil a 3D experience for our ultimate viewing pleasure. This concept house also redefines spaces based on their spirit and purpose rather than sticking to traditional structures. For example, the kitchen is referred to as "Soul Center," while the living room is called the "Djembe Room," and we encourage you to discover the nomenclature behind each space.
VERANDA, along with the other titles in Hearst Magazine's Luxury & Design Collection, is honored to partner with BADGuild for this inaugural virtual event. We're offering a first look at nearly every room in this incredible virtual concept house in hopes it will inspire you to visit the Black Artists + Designers Guild website to dive deeper into this imaginative and inspiring experience. Stay tuned for more programming and 3D viewing opportunities for all your favorite spaces throughout the month.
B-framework’s A Place of Retreat and Respite
B-framework's Bernadette Berry sought to create a minimalistic space that embodies Jack Travis's 10 Principles of Black Design with her signature sustainable, holistic approach. This bedroom design is also rooted in several cultural concepts, like spirituality, heritage, and strong indoor-outdoor connectivity. From the wood terrazzo floors to the translucent glass-paned skylight, every detail is designed to honor the environment and restoration of the mind and body.
"The bedroom as a sanctuary has been a reoccurring theme recently," says Berry. "The sentiment has taken on new meaning given the global, political, and cultural climate destined for our foreseeable future. The design of this space is meant to be a haven for the body and mind."
Everick Brown Design’s Analog Vestibule
Everick Brown’s design for this beautifully curated, cozy family space is rooted in facilitating authentic connection void of screens. Sleek, built-in bookshelves stocked with books, artifacts, and family mementos are lit with LED lighting, creating the perfect ambience for game night, while ample seating from Pottery Barn and Resource Furniture ensure this room can be multipurpose for having a quiet place to write, dine, dream, and create together.
“Our vision, a transformative space called ‘Think, Play, Gather,’ is an epicenter for connection, interaction, and grounding,” Brown says. “An analog room bereft of electronics but rich in technology and history. A place where mementos, family pictures, music, and books not only remind you of home, they define it.”
Eclectic Home’s Divai
This rich, sultry wine room is inspired by African Hausa architecture, the fluidity and futurism of modern-day fashion, natural materials, and empowering artwork by creatives like Toyin Odutola. Eclectic Home’s Penny Francis and Casi St. Julian designed this space to reflect Black beauty, the importance of well-crafted spaces, and the empowerment of the Black experience. The visually stimulating room is designed for a family who appreciates the northern California wine region and the wine it creates. Divai is not only a place to store wine, but to experience it with all the senses, creating a luxurious experience for the oenophile.
“Heaped in the diversity of Southern Creole culture and our own history, our Black experience is reflected in the design choices,” says the design duo. “African, Haitian, French, Spanish, and Native Americans all have influenced our culture, architecture, and spirit. It is the mix of diversity that draws us to contrast in materials and juxtaposing periods and styles.”
Revamp Interior Design’s Djembe Room
This lively, inviting common area features views of the lush scenery right outside, a cozy fireplace, functional seating areas for large and small gatherings, and Malene Barnett’s Legacy Wall as inspiring focal points. Revamp Interior Design's Danielle Fennoy says she is very function-forward and maximizes the seating in the room while making it mobile for playing games in large groups or allowing loved ones to gather in intimate conversation, with the hopes of allowing the concept family to simply be—and be to the fullest. Fennoy also notes that, as she is pretty low-tech, the living room does not center around a television or other technology while still offering a unique family experience.
“Vast, with views of the sprawling Oakland Hills, the living room at Obsidian is about celebration and connection: to our heritage, to our successes, to our many talents and creativity, to our joy, to our rhythm, our struggle, our pain, to our complexity, to our love for Mother Earth,” she says. “Blackness can be found in every corner of this room. The design strives to represent all of us—past, present, and future.”
Mitchell Black's Escape
Nearby the wine room and bar is a spell-binding cinema room that elevates every movie night. Sumptuous textures are everywhere, from the plush Stark rugs to ultracomfy seating, creating an inviting space that can bring relaxation on even the most tense days, and we love the exotic elegance of the sconces that offer a warm glow throughout the room.
“The luxuriously appointed, heavily textured space creates an atmosphere of extreme comfort to promote stillness and allow the visual entertainment to have a strong impact on the viewer’s senses,” says Mitchell Black’s Lynai Jones. “My challenge was to design a visually striking space that functions best when the design elements disappear into darkness.”
Laura Hodges Studio’s Harmony Room
This modern yet organic dining space feels as hip as a favorite restaurant in the Bay Area while comfortable enough to kick up your feet and make yourself at home for hours on end. Laura Hodges's space is prepared for anything: sipping your morning coffee while admiring the breathtaking views or hosting a large, catered party once we kick this virus to the curb. A greenery-bordered mural by Glenyse Thompson is the statement-maker here, while floor-to-ceiling windows welcome natural light and beauty to bring the mind at ease. The Harmony Room is also enabled with the latest tech and features and integrated A/V screen that rises from the room's buffet table and a beautiful chandelier with LED lighting to cast sculptural shadows and create an intimate environment.
"I designed this space to show the importance of community and shared cultural experience while incorporating a healthy and sustainable environment," Hodges says. The use of materials like reclaimed oak and vegan cork leather ensure this space encourages sustainable living for the present and future.
Me and General Designs's Moon House
The laid-back yet luxurious pool house is designed in mind for the parents of the female head of the home and inspired by their passions. Cristina Casa?as-Judd and General Judd imagine the grandmother as a certified naturopathic physician and midwife, thus creating an innovative nature-meets-technology space that houses an integrated medicinal herb garden that features a fully equipped kitchen for creating and storing natural remedies. There is also a voice-activated, mood-enhancing system for programming the room’s windows, light, and sound to one’s exact specifications. Naturally, the design duo also imagines Moon House as the perfect space for family friends to visit—and even self-isolate, if needed—when the grandparents are away.
“Our design intent for the pool house was to weave the past into the future,” the pair says. “We aimed to create living and breathing elements by utilizing materials, textures, and patterns to evoke rest, wellness, and reflection.”
Shakoor Interiors’s Royal Suite
Obsidian’s lavish guest suite is the only room on the third floor, making it an idyllic penthouse suite for the well-rounded, globetrotting couple in need of relaxation and self-care. Erin Shakoor's Royal Suite has a custom bed by Jomo Tariku, textiles by S. Harris, and hidden mini bar features by Thermador—plus, a virtual concierge with the sleekest technology and a bud-tender in the entry mirror.
“My intention in this space is to express memorable and inspired high design through the use of Black and indigenous cultural and historical references,” says Shakoor. “By doing so with functional art and artifacts, the suite becomes an experience, not just a room of furnishings.”
Cheryl R. Riley's Sanctuary
Cheryl R. Riley’s Sanctuary is deeply rooted in spirituality and her own personal experiences while living in San Francisco’s spiritual revolution during the '80s. She was immediately drawn to this space, as it was the only one separate from the rest of the home, knowing it would be a perfect place to honor the spiritual traditions of yesteryear and today. This space helps one achieve awareness of the mind, body, and soul, through not only a quiet place to meditate but through beautiful visuals on the ceiling—along with ancient glyphs representing powerful themes, aromatherapy scents, and the option to be accompanied by music like gospel choirs and native drums. The Sanctuary is also ultra-tech-savvy, featuring facial recognition technology when one enters, which immediately offers a pre-programmed menu of amenities based on someone's needs and preferences, opening cubby holes filled with personal selections of elixirs, like wines and CBD oils.
“It was natural for a BADGuild member to look to the African continent and its plethora of cultural tropes,” says Riley. “It has been an exhaustible fount of inspiration throughout my design and art career.”
Malene Barnett’s Sanofka: Legacy Wall
Malene Barnett is the founder of Black Artists + Designers Guild, and her work physically connects the various spaces in the concept house, while reminding the family of their ancient connection to the brave and innovative ancestors that have paved the way for them. Sanofka is a West African symbolic concept that means “go back and get it,” which Barnett says is the mentality Black people need to reclaim their greatness and identity. The wall also serves as a space to find daily affirmation, encouragement to be one’s best, archive family history, and honor the resiliency of the family.
“These walls provide a way to celebrate and mourn monumental moments,” Barnett says. “With each ancestral name etched in clay, it helps to keep us grounded and spiritually connected to our lineage. This helps to connect our lives with our ancestry and reclaim familial identity in all of its multiplicities. Ultimately, the Sankofa wall is supporting Black life in all forms.”
Cornelius Tulloch's Solare
While BADGuild Rising Star Cornelius Tulloch’s back-of-house threshold functions primarily as a microbrewery space for the family to create and experiment together, this light-filled space is ideal for any hobbyist looking for a place to tinker and craft—and it’s well equipped, with Fiskars tools for the gardener. This is an ideal space to get creative no matter the time of day, as Tulloch designed Solare to exude a warm, calming glow from the polycarbonate and wood cabinetry inspired by the open-air markets of Jamaica.
“Inspiration was taken from the temporality of the structures and frames that vendors use to sell their items,” he says. “Looking at light, silhouette, and frame of the market spaces in Jamaica led to the grid-inspired design that uses light to create and control the calming mood of the Solare space.”
Joy Street Design’s Soul Center & Family Foyer
Design trends may come and go, but the kitchen will always be the heart of the home—Joy Street Design is just rethinking what that looks like. Designer Kelly Finley’s Soul Center features tiles designed by Lisa Hunt and an innovative smart kitchen fully loaded with Thermador appliances, with most hidden behind rich purple cabinetry that is equally as smart, as it possesses the ability to kill germs and microbes on groceries. The foyer is also germ-savvy, allowing guests to shed their layers from the outside world and cleanse before fully entering into the sacred abode.
“Designed to focus on the history and culture of Black Americans, the Soul Center will feature bold colors, references to hip-hop, and scriptural elements that will encourage the inhabitants to lounge as much as in any part of the house,” Finley says. “This kitchen is sophisticated, sexy, and functional.”
OI Studio’s Suspended Lanai
OI Studio’s BOA created a lavish lanai that easily functions as a workspace while making you feel very much out of office. This was BOA’s first venture in outdoor furniture design, improving upon what’s on the market today for a more functional, comfortable, and beautiful outdoor room. Plus, this space is home to a hydroponic farm, which offers a sustainable way for the homeowners to grow any food, any time, anywhere with fewer resources while achieving higher yields.
“It was definitely a no-brainer to include this concept in the space,” she says. “My main design inspiration definitely comes from nature, specifically the horizon of the Caribbean Sea.”
Linda Allen Designs’s the Artist Studios & Garden:"I am Good Enough,” A Haven for the Black Overachiever
Linda Allen’s sprawling indoor-outdoor space nurtures the creative who is finding herself through various mediums and the ancient stories they tell. Therapeutic design elements and special touches speak to the intense pressures an artist faces to achieve a narrow view of worldly success, and she can find both creative energy and restoration in the studio and garden. The space also features luxe touches, like Caesarstone concrete counters on the bookshelves, Thermador smart appliances, and accents from Pottery Barn.
“I wanted to design around a subject matter that is a generational mindset; the mental journey of a Black overachiever reaching for success, which transcends time. Education is one of the ways our ancestors pulled through slavery and gave us opportunities to make a difference in today’s world, which will continue with future generations.”
Ishka Designs’s The Atlantic
Ishka Designs’s tranquil outdoor space is as durable and protective as it is beautiful. It’s a green space with drought tolerance and fire resistance, while providing a lovely health and wellness space. The team was attracted to the pool and pool deck, as it connects to nearly every room in the house, bringing the challenge of complimenting and connecting these distinct rooms without detracting from them. However, this green space still makes plenty of statements—one of our favorites being the underwater pool sculpture by Bradley L. Bowers.
“Historically, BIPOC cultures sustain their environments and cultures by adapting methodologies that are inherently resourceful and necessary,” says Anishka Clarke and Niya Bascom. “We carry that ideology into our design solution for the Atlantic, through our choice of materials, furnishings, and plantings. These elements not only take into consideration the environment, but also are inspired by our deep heritage and ancient cultures.”
Cheryl Umbles Interior Design’s The Barka Dai: An Abundance of Welcome
This organic yet glamorous space takes special care to make visitors welcome in light of a pandemic. A sheltered exterior vessel basin for temperature-controlled hand-washing gives guests peace of mind, while smart technology allows for touchless controls throughout the space for whatever mood you’re trying to set. However, this space feels anything but sterile, thanks to a gorgeously layered blend of materials and striking artwork by Glenyse Thompson and Lisa Love Whittington.
“As people of the African diaspora, our heritage has always been about opening our hearts and home to others,” says Cheryl Umbles. “As a designer and homeowner, I love the emotional anticipation that family and friends experience when you first open the front door and the person on the other side cannot wait to cross the threshold. That emotional anticipation should go beyond a host’s greeting and is what a ‘welcome’ space is all about.”
Nikki Klugh Design Group’s The Mancala Lounge & The Consciousness Corridor
While this recreation space is centered on the basic elements of fire, water, and earth, there is a contemporary feel to the concept home’s lounge. Sleek pendant lighting by Terzani, a chic wet bar, and walls that function as their own pieces of modern artwork make for a space the whole family will want to gather in on a beautiful northern California evening. We also love the gaming station chairs covered in Sheila Bridges’s iconic Harlem Toile du Jouy.
“I designed the lounge as an outdoor respite that caters to both serenity and excitement,” says Nikki Klugh. Whether playing a competitive board game or simply sipping a Napa Valley red by the fire, one can just imagine this place being a family hub during holidays and celebrations.
Leyden Lewis Studio’s Room of Requirement
In this new frontier of tele-health, Leyden Lewis has just the answer for the Black family of the future: a designated room fully equipped to virtually engage with your trusted medical and healing practitioners in a comfortable environment. Considering gold is the featured material in this space, The Room of Requirement exudes warmth and light, creating a more luxurious and inviting experience than your average doctor’s office, while acknowledging the precious metal as an ancient birthright of Black people.
“[It’s] a place where, within the home, one’s vitals and all necessary preventative and maintenance of health can be assessed, planned for, and addressed at light speed and a touch,” says Lewis. That touch comes from the multifaceted robotic arm technology with customized attachments to perform everything from acupuncture to massage therapy.
Marie Burgos Design’s The Royal Bedroom Oasis
This luxurious and inviting suite is sourced with items found around the world, from the Aboriginal surf sculpture to the South African–inspired silk rug, all which speak to the Caribbean’s cultural crossroads. The owner’s bedroom is the furthest retreat in the Obsidian Concept House, offering a soothing space to recenter, restore, reflect, and reconnect with your loved one. Boasting a fabulous lounge (plus a fully stocked mini bar!), walk-in closet, and grand terrace that floods the room with natural light, “oasis” is truly a perfect name for this well-appointed bedroom.
“Designing this space, I was looking to tone down the outside influence to revive deep connections to the diaspora for a restful and healing effect,” says Marie Burgos. “Each detail of the space provides a hint of the global Black heritage and creates a nurturing, supportive, and empowering result. The couple resources themselves in the strength of their heritage.”
McLean and Tircuit’s The Shaman’s Chamber
Sheryl T. McLean sourced inspiration for this bedroom suite from her own travels around the world and the excitement that comes with waking up in a new destination ready to explore its grandeur. However, this space is infinitely more exciting than a favorite luxury hotel. Between the chamber’s intricate details honoring the craftsmanship and architecture of the African diaspora, striking features and the revolutionary e-book wall that allows one to be visually transported to a favorite locale (Google has recently filed for a patent on this type of technology), the Shaman’s Chamber is in a league of its own. And the en suite "wet room" is equally as impressive.
“The soaking tub uses a water system that naturally purifies and offers healing properties as the water streams down a Shungite stonewall, filling the tub,” says McLean. “I created the ‘bathhouse’ experience, relying on the rituals of tribal bathing along the riverbanks and soaking in the cool pools at the bottom of waterfalls.”
Interior Obsession’s The Umoja Room
Interior Obsession’s Lisa Turner found inspiration in the way creativity and practicality go hand-in-hand in family life, and she created a room full of functional pieces and spaces to accommodate that balance of the two. Whether the kids are doing homework or the whole family is joining in an impromptu concert, the Umoja Room is there to facilitate authentic, meaningful experiences within the family to keep them connected. But while this family room is rooted in traditional values, it also creates space to sustain a growing family for the future with the advanced features they need.
“Overall, the design blends heritage and art into a homogeneous whole,” Turner says. “Every detail supports innovation, technology, sustainability, futurism, health, and wellness within the umbrella of African modernism. A family that plays together, stays together.”
Kiyonda Powell Design Studio’s The Wellness Suite
Kiyonda Powell’s design for the Wellness Suite finds its grounding in the beauty, textures, and shapes of nature, creating a place that is inspiring as it is perfect for decompressing after a long day. Powell says the design is minimal in order to maximize flexibility and function for whatever the concept owner is looking for to strengthen and safely move her body in the Covid-19 era—and beyond.
“At dusk or dawn, this is a place to come for wellness and innovation,” she says. Constructed recess lighting from YLighting ensures this space can be perfectly dim if one is seeking to achieve a meditative state or light and bright to energize.
L.H. Designs’s Wakanda
As you may have inferred, designer Linda Hayslett was inspired by the visually stunning film adaptation of Black Panther, both by Wakanda’s lush setting and innovative technology, for this owner’s bathroom, using Caesarstone’s inky black Oxidan counters for dramatic yet organic flair. This bathroom doesn’t just transform into a verdant rainforest—it could visually transport its owners to a hot spring in Iceland or another dreamy destination featuring the same aromas and air characteristics of their preset locales. Hayslett’s Wakanda also takes our current climate into consideration, thinking of the lasting effects of the pandemic.
“The bathroom can also test the user’s vitals and measure levels of their intakes of vitamins and minerals to make sure they are keeping healthy,” Hayslett says. “[...] the bathroom at Obsidian will be an experiential health space for the Black family.”
Obsidian Experience Partners
We'd like to thank Obsidian's regional media sponsor, California Home + Design, along with Pottery Barn, Thermador, Apparatus, Caesarstone, Fiskars, Resource Furntiure, S. Harris, Stark, YLighting, 54 Kibo, Twenty2, Apartment List, and Iatesta Studio.
Additionally, we appreciate the work of the founding partners to bring the ideas and dreams of a grand-scale virtual concept house to life: Akerman LLP, Autodesk, Cordero Consulting, Digital Thread Consulting, Embello, MetalMark Partners, Microdesk, and Sabine Rothman Creative Consultant, along with the Obsidian Committee's Malene Barnett, Leyden Lewis, Nina Cooke John, Kelly Finley, Everick Brown, and Kiyonda Powell.
Black Artists + Designers Guild’s inaugural concept house sets the bar for show houses of the future—and for the future of design itself.