![A modern black house with a black roof and Shou Sugi Ban exterior siding.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/house-dark-wood-exterior-modern-architecture-131020-1039-01.jpg)
Desai Chia Architecture has designed the ‘Ledge House’, a modern house surrounded by trees that’s located in Cornwall, Connecticut.
The new house replaces an old cottage and is positioned on a challenging site with a large rock ledge.
![A modern black house with a black roof and Shou Sugi Ban exterior siding, that's surrounded by trees.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/modern-house-surrounded-by-trees-131020-1040-02.jpg)
The form of the house was inspired by barns of the area as well as the nearby historic West Cornwall Covered Bridge.
![A modern black house with burnt wood siding that's surrounded by trees.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/house-dark-wood-exterior-modern-architecture-131020-1039-03.jpg)
The exterior of the house is clad in Shou Sugi Ban siding which offers a rot-resistant and bug-resistant finish.
![A modern black house with Shou Sugi Ban exterior siding.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/house-dark-wood-exterior-modern-architecture-131020-1039-03a.jpg)
Upon arrival at the house, there’s a rock garden that connects the house with the forest.
![A modern house with a minimalist rock garden.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/modern-house-rock-garden-131020-1041-04.jpg)
Inside, the living room, dining room, and kitchen form a great room, with glass walls and sliding doors located on each side of the space.
![A modern house interior with a great room that includes the living room, a concrete fireplace, the dining room, and a white kitchen.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/modern-great-room-living-room-concrete-fireplace-131020-1041-05.jpg)
A see-through fireplace and concrete surround separates the living room from the dining room and kitchen.
![A modern house interior with a see-through fireplace with a concrete surround.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/modern-see-through-concrete-fireplace-131020-1041-05a.jpg)
The white walls complement the white minimalist cabinets of the kitchen and the long island, while black accents create a contrasting element.
![A modern house interior with a see-through fireplace, a minimalist white kitchen, and black accents.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/modern-great-room-living-room-kitchen-concrete-fireplace-131020-1041-06.jpg)
Off the living room, dining room, and kitchen, there’s a large deck with multiple levels that provide an uninterrupted view of the trees and landscape.
![A modern house deck with multiple levels.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/modern-wood-deck-131020-1042-07.jpg)
Back inside, the minimalist master bedroom has plain white walls, a sloped ceiling, and black-framed windows. The wood bed frame, side tables, and armchair bring a touch of nature inside.
![A minimalist master bedroom with a sloped ceiling, white walls, a large rug, and modern wood furniture.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/minimalist-master-bedroom-high-sloped-ceiling-131020-1042-08.jpg)
In the master bathroom, there’s a wood soaking tub and hidden lighting behind the mirror above the double-sink floating vanity.
![A modern master bathroom with a wood soaking tub, a backlit mirror, a double-sink floating vanity, and a sloped ceiling.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/modern-master-bathroom-wood-soaking-tub-long-vanity-131020-1042-09.jpg)
Behind the wall of the vanity, there’s a shower that’s covered in floor-to-ceiling grey penny tiles. There’s also a shower niche for storing bottles and soaps, and a linear shower drain.
![A modern shower with floor-to-ceiling grey penny tiles, a linear shower drain, and a built-in shelf.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/modern-shower-small-grey-penny-tiles-131020-1043-10.jpg)
The house also has a guest bedroom that’s been furnished with two beds, a chair, a rug, and a single pendant light hanging from the ceiling.
![A minimalist guest bedroom with two beds, a modern black chair, white walls, and a single pendant light.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/minimalistguest-bedroom-two-beds-131020-1043-11.jpg)
In a second bathroom, the same grey penny tiles cover the walls and floor as the master bathroom, however this time, a glass shower screen separates the shower from the vanity area.
![A modern bathroom with floor-to-ceiling grey penny tiles, a glass shower screen, a backlit mirror, and a floating vanity.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/modern-bathroom-backlit-mirror-grey-penny-tiles-131020-1043-12.jpg)
Here’s a look at the floor plan that shows how the master suite is located at one end of the house, and the other bedrooms are at the opposite end.
![The floor plan for a modern single story house with three bedrooms.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/modern-house-floor-plan-layout-131020-1039-13.jpg)