It appears that the Blacker house’s appearance is an aptonym, as the wooden walls and tiled roof is so dark it seems almost black. Named for its owners, Rovert R, Blacker, the colour is either a curious coincidence or an intentional homage by designers Henry and Charles Greene. Mr Blacker had just retired from his lumber business when he decided to have this established building firm construct this house for him and his wife.

It is extraordinarily unique in the way its furnishings and interiors are all constructed from exotic hardwoods like Honduras Mahogany, Burmese teak, ebony, vermillion and ironwood, while the walls are made from the finest redwood and douglas fir. Over fifty light fixtures comprising metal and wood, intricately inlaid, and numerous leaded glass panels set into the doors and windows characterize the house. The furniture inside was exquisitely designed and inlaid, with teak escutcheon plates in the doors and linen closets with ebony cloud adorned keys, making the house a masterpiece of decorative architecture.

That’s why when it was mercilessly subdivided, robbed of its furniture, which was sold in yard sales, and dismantled from its original form, there was outcry from the local citizens. The current owners have taken it on as their duty to preserve as well as possible the house’s significant historical and cultural value, meticulously restoring it to its initial form and unifying the property once again. The house has even starred in one of our all time favourite movies, Back to The Future.