Someone turned a 1860s Gothic church into a house and painted it entirely black

I spend way too much time looking at weird real estate listings, but this converted church in Cincinnati is on a whole different level. It is huge, slightly moody, and has some of the coolest design choices I have ever seen in a residential renovation.

The outside situation

From the street, you cannot miss this building. It is painted completely black from the brick to the roof trim, which gives it a massive presence.

Seeing it from above shows how much it stands out among the more traditional brick buildings nearby.

They kept the original gothic architecture completely intact, including the cross on top of the steep roof peak.

If you look closely at the front gable, you can see the original stone plaque from 1866.

The window frames are painted black too, framing the old stained glass panels.

Heading into the entryway

You walk through these massive arched doors into a foyer that is basically a work of art on its own. The dark banister curves up toward the ceiling.

The light wood floors balance out all the dark accents, keeping the hallway from feeling too dark.

Halfway up the stairs, you get a close look at the original stained glass windows that let in some really nice colored light.

The massive main hall

Then you walk into the main hall, and the scale of this place just hits you. The ceiling is ridiculously high, and the main back wall is painted a deep charcoal gray to frame a massive window arch.

Rows of tall windows run down the side walls, filling the entire room with natural light.

Looking back toward the entry side, they built a double staircase that leads up to a loft mezzanine.

They tucked a sitting area right under that mezzanine overhang, which makes a nice spot to sit when you do not want to feel lost in the giant room.

Next to the main living setup is a dining table that looks like it could comfortably seat twenty people.

Under the big window

The kitchen is built right into that massive arched alcove at the far end of the hall. It has a great layout with flat-front black cabinets and a long central island.

The backsplash is a yellow tile that adds a nice pop of color to all the black and white.

The warm wood on the upper cabinet doors prevents the kitchen from feeling cold or sterile.

There is so much counter space here, and the gold faucet on the island is a great touch.

Standing at the sink, you can look out across the entire length of the living room.

Secret doors and pipe organs

Now for the absolute best part of the main hall. That big wall under the loft is actually a massive pivot door.

When you push it open, you find a hidden room that houses the original gold pipe organ.

It is such a cool piece of history to preserve, and they painted the surrounding walls a deep plum color to make it stand out.

Up on the loft

If you head up either of the main staircases, you get a great view of the kitchen setup.

From up here, you really get a sense of how vast this main living area actually is.

The loft has a seating nook right next to the organ pipes where you can look out over the room.

The rest of the loft is carpeted and massive, with plenty of room for extra lounge seating or an open office.

The bedrooms and baths

One of the main bathrooms features a blue vanity and a yellow light fixture that brings a modern vibe.

There is another living area downstairs with rich teal walls and a striped rug that feels incredibly cozy.

Nearby is a green painted room that works perfectly as an office or a secondary dining space.

The wood furniture and mid-century chairs fit the green walls perfectly.

There is also a bathroom with some graphic wallpaper and twin vessel sinks.

The wallpaper runs all the way up to the tall window, creating a really bold look.

The walk-in shower in this bathroom is sleek, with gray tiles and a gold shower head.

The secondary living spaces

The hallway on the lower level is painted a deep red, and they put two wood pews facing each other.

Looking back the other way, the red walls frame the black arched doors in the distance.

This property has a second kitchen setup that would be perfect if you wanted to lease out a portion of the house. It features a wood island and clean white cabinets.