A series of portal openings improve connections between rooms and bring extra light into this 1970s residence in Melbourne renovated by Australian practice Studio Four.
Studio Four aimed to renovate the home, which was designed by Australian architect Wayne Gillespie in 1972, to improve the internal plan and bring it up to date for contemporary living.
A series of portal openings provide views of the garden beyond (top and above)
“While the existing house was of solid build, the interiors felt lightweight by comparison and did not flow or function as desired,” said Studio Four.
“Some spaces, in particular the existing kitchen, were dark and compartmentalised and did not fully harness the possible connections with the garden.”
Solid wood furnishings create a sense of warmth in the otherwise monochrome kitchen
Located in the city’s South Yarra neighbourhood, the Cunningham Street Residence was designed by Gillespie as his first independent project and his first home.
The architect, who died in 2001, was known for his use of pure, clean lines, and combining classical design features with modern technology.
A planter is integrated between the dining table and kitchen island
“The client’s brief was to provide a holistic solution,” explained Studio Four.
“Their brief was to strengthen Gillespie’s original vision, as opposed to creating an alternate vision that would directly contrast it.”
The kitchen was relocated
Studio Four replanned the rooms to enable the occupants to spend time both together and separately.
For example, the existing kitchen was relocated to the centre and rear of the home so it could be used as a central space for the family to gather in.
To make the spaces appear larger and more connected with each other and the outside space, the architects inserted a series of portal openings between the spaces.
It decorated the spaces with a palette of light and neutral colours.
One of the portals features an integrated reading nook
“The design response reflects the integrity of the existing built fabric. The focus is on the experience rather than the form, and all emphasis is placed on the quality of the experience rather than a visual statement,” concluded the studio.
“The result is a house where the architectural form and its interiors act as one, and the transition between built form and landscape is blurred.”
The bedroom features panoramic views of the trees outside
Studio Four, which is led by directors Annabelle Berryman and Sarah Henry, has a track record of creating homes that blur indoor and outdoor space.
Previous residential projects include an all-white family home with a garden at its centre, and a grey-brick home with a central olive tree-dotted courtyard.
Bathrooms can easily be dismissed as the dullest room of the house, but there’s plenty of opportunity to play around with material and colour. Interiors reporter Natasha Levy has selected eight striking bathing spaces to learn from.
Unit 662 by Rainville Sangaré
A statement shower screen adds interest to the otherwise greyscale interior of this bathroom, which sits inside a brutalist Montreal apartment.
Made from diochroic glass, the screen casts the cubicle behind in shifting shades of green, coral-orange and aqua-blue. The vanity stand has also been completed in navy blue.
Find out more about Unit 662 ›
San Francisco Residence, USA, by Jamie Bush
Blue, gold and white wallpaper printed with aqueous bubbles and streaks covers the bathroom of this San Francisco home, which belongs to a tech entrepreneur.
The rest of the home has been completed in a similarly bold aesthetic to avoid seeming “too done and perfect” – its secondary bathroom boasts ombre walls which fade from pink to blue.
Find out more about San Francisco Residence ›
And Y, Russia, by Eduard Eremchuk
In a nod to the aesthetic of subway stations, architect Eduard Eremchuk used different tiles to deck out this Russian cafe: floor tiles in the main eating area are white, and those in the kitchen are pale blue.
A surprise is offered in the tiled bathroom, where every surface – including the sink – features a crazy black-and-white cow print. Simple white tap faucets finish the space.
Find out more about And Y ›
The Siren Hotel, USA, by ASH NYC
Bathrooms are just as striking as the guest suites inside The Siren Hotel, which ASH NYC designed to “call people back” to the city of Detroit.
Flecked, cherry-red terrazzo covers the walls, clashing against the diamond-pattern monochrome floors and veiny marble shower stools.
Find out more about The Siren Hotel ›
Saku, Canada, by Rane Interiors
Vintage wallpaper originally produced in Italy during the 1970s covers the surfaces of this bathroom, which sits inside Vancouver restaurant Saku.
The room’s yellow hue is meant to emulate the “light, inviting and soothing” ambience of traditional Japanese eateries.
Find out more about Saku ›
Annabel’s, UK, by Martin Brudnizki
The bathrooms that designer Martin Bruznizki created for Annabel’s – an affluent members-only club in London – offer a perfect lesson in opulence.
Walls are upholstered in chintzy wallpaper, while the ceiling is lined with thousands of hand-made silk flowers. Pink onyx washbasins and gold-framed vanity mirrors add an extra dose of decadence.
Find out more about Annabel’s ›
Canari House, Canada, by Naturehumaine
To “energise” this compact bathroom, Naturehumaine completed all of its surfaces in a hard-to-miss hue of neon-orange. Graphical interest is added by the micro-hexagonal tiles that cover the floor and splashback.
The vivid space is in perfect keeping with the rest of the Montreal home, which also features a canary-yellow staircase.
Find out more about Canari House ›
House P, China, by MDDM Studio
Sunny yellow walls run throughout the living spaces of this Beijing home, which MDDM Studio wanted to reflect the liveliness of its occupants – a young family.
This bright aesthetic extends into the bathrooms, which feature terrazzo surfaces inlaid with large chunks of peach, yellow and dark-green aggregate. An extra splash of colour is provided by translucent blue screens that separate the bathtub from the sink.
A growing number of designers are ridding homes of nondescript magnolia walls and instead painting surfaces a rainbow of colours. We pick out seven striking examples.
Nagatachō Apartment, Japan, by Adam Nathaniel Furman
Sugary shades permeate this Tokyo apartment designed by Adam Nathaniel Furman. In the kitchen, candy-pink cabinetry juxtaposes watermelon-green vinyl on the floor, while lilac carpet in the dining room is meant to recall icing on a sponge cake. There are also “zesty” lemon-yellow fixtures in the bathrooms.
“The colour scheme became a matter of choosing ingredients for a beautifully calibrated visual feast,” Furman told Dezeen.
Find out more about the Nagatachō Apartment ›
Waterfront Nikis Apartment, Greece, by Stamatios Giannikis
Architect Stamatios Giannikis selected three hues to organise living spaces within this Grecian apartment. Functional areas like the kitchen and bathroom are pistachio green, while deep-blue paint has been applied across street-facing rooms, channelling the colour of the nearby waves.
Spaces that have direct views of the Mediterranean Sea have been completed in a contrasting shade of coral-pink.
“The use of bold colour in the design of [the apartment] is done in an effort to complement and strengthen the power of the sea view, not to suppress it,” Giannikis explained.
Find out more about the Waterfront Nikis Apartment ›
Hidden Tints, Sweden, by Note Design Studio
Note Design Studio decided to shun the typically restrained Scandinavian colour palette for the overhaul of this 19th-century family home.
The main shades that have been applied across its ornately bordered walls – pink, sage-green, and pale yellow – were inspired by the colour of three original tiled ovens which were found on the property.
“The approach to colour in architecture in the old days was much braver than we see today,” the studio explained, “it deserves it’s place again.”
Find out more about Hidden Tints ›
Twin Peaks Residence, Hong Kong, by Lim + Lu
Design studio Lim + Lu added colour to the formerly bland interiors of this apartment in Hong Kong to more acutely reflect the flamboyant personality of its owner, a fashion designer hailing from Paris.
To avoid the home seeming “over the top”, coral-orange and sunshine-yellow furnishings are offset by soothing pale-pink walls. Some of the cabinets have also been clad in shiny gold-hued panels to add textural interest.
Find out more about Twin Peaks Residence ›
Polychrome House, Australia, by Amber Road and Lymesmith
Designed to offer a “joyful” living experience, the aptly named Polychrome House is decked out with an explosion of different hues – as well as a brick-red kitchen, it also boasts pink bathrooms and a lounge area anchored by a lime-green sofa.
The focal point of the property is a bold wall mural that features multi-coloured abstract patches, intended to resemble land formations on a map.
Find out more about Polychrome House ›
London house, UK, by R2 Studio
A vibrant colour palette helped R2 Studio reinvigorate the formerly cramped and light-starved rooms within this Victorian-era home in London’s Kennington neighbourhood.
The ground floor is mostly green – in a nod to the foliage seen in the back garden – while the two staircases have respectively been completed in orange and vermillion red. “Cold and shiny” surfaces in the kitchen have also been traded for playful blue and yellow cabinetry.
Find out more about London house ›
Mixtape Apartment, Spain, by Azab
Azab applied vivid hues throughout this Bilbao apartment after its retired owner said they felt the home had become “blurred in a greyish mood”.
It now includes a baby-pink kitchen suite, cherry-red sliding doors and a colourful abstract carpet, offering a bold backdrop to the client’s array of ornate wooden furnishings.
Houses with garden studios are ideal places for working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. Here are 12 that support focused work and creativity in our latest Dezeen Lookbook.
A Room in the Garden by Studio Ben Allen, London, UK
Shaped like an artichoke, this garden studio was designed by London’s Studio Ben Allen and is coloured green inside and out.
It is made from a flatpack kit of CNC-cut timber pieces, so it can easily be re-built if the owners move.
Find out more about A Room in the Garden ›
Garden Studio by Six Four Five A, Toronto, Canada
Oliver Dang, founder of Toronto architecture firm Six Four Five A, created this workspace for himself modelled on a saltbox shed.
The unit was clad in vertical timber strips that were designed to emphasise its asymmetrical roof.
Find out more about Garden Studio ›
The Enchanted Shed by Sue Architekten, Eichgraben, Austria
This garden studio, which doubles as a guest bedroom, was an outhouse that was built in the 1930s.
Vienna studio Sue Architekten renovated the structure to accompany a two-storey family home in the Austrian town of Eichgraben.
Find out more about The Enchanted Shed ›
Garden Room by Indra Janda, Belgium
White polycarbonate shingles cover the exterior of this garden structure in a pattern that resembles snakeskin.
Architect Indra Janda, co-founder of Ghent-based studio Atelier Janda Vanderghote, designed the project for her parent’s house in northern Belgium.
Find out more about Garden Room ›
Brexit Bunker by Rise Design Studio, London, UK
Rise Design Studio sunk this sturdy-looking building, designed to be a sanctuary from the UK’s divisive Brexit, into the garden of a house in London.
The project is clad it in weathered steel with plywood lining the walls and ceiling inside to provides a surprising contrast to its rough exterior.
Find out more about Brexit Bunker ›
Brooklyn Garden Studio by Nick Hunt, Brooklyn, USA
Brooklyn architect Nicholas Hunt built this wood-clad studio in his backyard in the Boerum Hill neighbourhood to provide “solitude within the immense landscape of New York City”.
It is painted all-white inside and topped with an angled roof covered in grass.
Find out more about Brooklyn Garden Studio ›
The Light Shed by Richard John Andrews, London, UK
London-based architect Richard John Andrews constructed a shed for himself with a sliding glass door so that it is filled with plenty of natural light.
It features a desk built into the wall and two office chairs, while the exterior is formed from black, corrugated fibreglass panels.
Find out more about The Light Shed ›
Pavilion for a Writer by Architensions, Brooklyn, USA
Pine plywood covers the floors, ceilings and walls of this garden studio for two writers in New York City.
Brooklyn studio Architensions clad the petite structure with black cedar boards to create a stark contrast.
Find out more about Pavilion for a Writer ›
Garden Gallery by Panovscott, Sydney, Australia
Named Garden Gallery, this project garden office was built by Panovscott with contemporary, white interiors to highlight the creations of a couple in Sydney, Australia.
It was built for two artists who wanted a space to create and photograph their work while staying at home.
Find out more about Garden Gallery ›
Writer’s Shed by Matt Gibson, Melbourne, Australia
Ivy covers this writer’s retreat in Melbourne in order to camouflage it from its lush surrounds.
“Sitting inside at the desk, there’s a certain inherent delight in bunkering down to look out to the garden and house beyond,” said local architect Matt Gibson, who worked on it with landscape designer Ben Scott.
Find out more about Writer’s Shed ›
Cork Study by Surman Weston, London, UK
This workspace, designed by London architecture practice Surman Weston, was built for a musician and a seamstress who live in the north of the city.
Cork cladding weatherproofs the structure and provides acoustic and thermal insulation, while the interiors are plywood.
Find out more about Cork Study ›
Writer’s Studio by Jarmund/Vigsnæs Architects, Oslo, Norway
Norwegian studio Jarmund/Vigsnæs Architects built this two-storey structure for a couple in Oslo with an irregular, dark shape to frame certain views.
“The clients wanted a space that would allow them to isolate themselves to focus on their writing and work, while at the same time offering a generous view over the surroundings,” the studio said.
In our latest Dezeen Lookbook, we’ve rounded up 10 of the most refreshing outdoor swimming pools that architects have designed for houses around the world, including a private lagoon, a “Roman bath” and hillside infinity pool.
Casa Xólotl, Mexico, by Punto Arquitectónico
This outdoor pool weaves in and out of the stone walls of Casa Xólotl, a Mexican house that Punto Arquitectónico renovated after finding it in a state of disrepair.
The water is accessed by steps down from an outdoor living area or it can be enjoyed from an overhanging hammock. On one side of the pool, a waterfall feature has been incorporated within the doorway of the home’s former cistern.
Find out more about Casa Xólotl ›
Los Vilos House, Chile, by Cristián Boza
The late 20th-century retreat of architect Cristián Boza nestles into a cliffside in Chile that overlooks the South Pacific Ocean.
One of its key features is its circular, stone swimming pool that slots into the hillside, which is accessed via an elevated bridge that extends from a roof terrace. For residents who prefer wild water swimming, a large staircase leads down from the top of the site to the oceanfront.
Find out more about Los Vilos House ›
Casa B, Malta, by Architrend Architecture
A rooftop swimming pool is the focal point of Casa B, a concrete house that Architrend Architecture has slotted within a traditional terrace in the seaside town in Malta.
The pool is visible from street level through a glass side that is framed by a square concrete arch, while its glass-bottom allows residents to observe bathers from inside the home’s double-height entrance lobby.
Find out more about Casa B ›
Oak Pass House, USA, by Walker Workshop
This picturesque infinity pool stretches 22 metres along the edge of the roof terrace of a Californian home, which Walker Workshop has carved into a hillside in Beverly Hills.
The pool sweeps beneath and reflects the bough of one of biggest of 130 protected oak trees abutting the site, around which the entire house was designed.
Find out more about Oak Pass House ›
Casa Monterry, Mexico, by Tadao Ando
Tadao Ando’s Casa Monterry features a long, linear pool that juts out from its hillside setting to provide uninterrupted views of the Sierra Las Mitras mountains.
Its minimalist appearance complements the geometry of the house behind it, which is composed of various horizontal and vertical concrete planes that appear to emerge from the landscape at different heights – including the poolside patio.
Find out more about Casa Monterry ›
Canal House, USA, by Studio MK27
One of the most unusual private pools in Dezeen’s archive belongs to Canal House in Miami Beach. The natural swimming pool takes the form of a lagoon within which residents can swim with fish.
It measures 30 metres in length and is surrounded by vegetation to provide an “authentically manicured” natural environment, while concrete columns with in it support a meandering walkway overhead.
Find out more about Canal House ›
Jellyfish House, Spain, by Wiel Arets Architects
This large glass-bottomed pool cantilevers from the roof of the Jellyfish House in Marbella to offer clear views of the Mediterranean Sea over neighbouring houses.
It overhangs a semi-enclosed terrace adjacent to the entrance of the home, bathing it in rippling light projections and shadows of overhead swimmers. It also shares a glass wall with the first-floor kitchen to provide glimpses of bathers inside the house.
Find out more about Jellyfish House ›
Villa Molli, Italy, by Lorenzo Guzzini
Architect Lorenzo Guzzini designed a minimalist infinity pool for this grey-stone villa in Italy, which helps to retain focus on the panoramic views of Lake Como.
According to Guzzini, the pool “is not a mere cliche, but it has an architectural and symbolic function, uniting visually to the wild ‘aqua dulza’ of the lake”.
Find out more about Villa Molli ›
Ruckers Hill House, Australia, by Studio Bright
The elongated outdoor pool at Ruckers Hill House in Melbourne is designed to mimic a “collonaded Roman bath”, lined with tall, white-brick walls inset with upturned arches.
It was built by Studio Bright as part of its extension of an existing Edwardian-era home and is framed through a large glass window within an open-plan kitchen and dining room.
Find out more about Ruckers Hill House ›
Panorama, Argentina, by Fernanda Marques
A 10-metre-long pool shares a thick glass wall with the double-height living area of this Argentinan apartment, resembling a giant aquarium.
It was sewn into a narrow space in the apartment’s garden while Fernanda Marques was carrying out an interior renovation. It is accessible from either the home’s second floor or a statement folded stair in the garden.
The latest lookbook in our series exploring kitchen layouts highlights 10 examples from Dezeen’s archive that have two connected countertops that form an L-shaped layout.
L-shaped kitchens are organised in the shape of the letter L usually with a long row of cabinetry adjoined to a slightly smaller projecting section. However, in some instances, the countertops can be equal in length.
Appliances, sinks and cookers are usually placed on opposite sides of the kitchen with ample storage and workspace around and between. In larger spaces, islands can be incorporated into the design between the L-shaped counters to provide additional space.
The L-shape is of the most common kitchen layouts along with U-shaped kitchens, one-wall kitchens, island kitchens, galley kitchens and peninsula kitchens.
This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous kitchen-related posts feature breakfast bars, compact kitchens and kitchens with skylights.
Farmhouse, Switzerland by Baumhauer
Fitted in a vaulted space within a traditional farmhouse, this L-shaped kitchen uses clean lines to contrast with the historic nature of the building.
The kitchen consists of two stainless steel counters with stainless cabinetry with drawers, cupboards and appliances fitted below.
One arm of the L contains a cooker positioned directly in front of a framed window to give the residents views across a Swiss valley while they are cooking. The other counter has a sink embedded opposite a serving hatch that punctures the thick stone wall between the dining and kitchen space.
Find out more about Farmhouse ›
Cabin at Rones, Norway by Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter
Fitted against a wrap-around corner window, this birch plywood kitchen designed by Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter includes an L-shaped row of base cabinetry.
A steel sink that incorporates a large drainer was placed at the centre of the row of units, while an electric cooker was placed on the other.
The cabinetry and drawers below have a minimalist look with units aligned flush with the kitchen’s wooden countertops and featuring cut out handles.
Find out more about Cabin at Rones ›
London flat, UK by Hayhurst and Co
This kitchen at the rear of a London flat was built beneath a part-sloping wood-lined ceiling that follows the topography of the garden.
A row of white floor units topped with a marble countertop with an embedded sink was placed below a large full-width window that looks out to the sloping garden. The counter extends along the kitchen’s wall to form an L that contains an electric hob.
Find out more about London flat ›
Oneroa House, New Zealand by Vaughn McQuarrie
This timber New Zealand home overlooking the Hauraki Gulf uses materials chosen for their texture and robustness.
The open-plan kitchen-diner sits beneath a mono-pitched roof with north-facing clerestory windows.
Plywood kitchen units line two of the walls with the sink positioned next to a large window with views across a bay.
Find out more about Oneroa House ›
Stine Goya headquarters, Copenhagen by Reform
This communal kitchen at fashion brand Stine Goya’s headquarters runs along two walls of a room that has butter-yellow walls and light timber floors.
Danish brand Reform updated IKEA cabinets with brass doors and handles to create a metallic look. The counters are topped with a contrasting black laminate countertop that matches the black appliances.
Find out more about Stine Goya headquarters ›
Belgian apartment, Belgium by Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof
Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof stained the birch cabinetry in this L-shaped kitchen a seaweed green to connect the space with its coastal surroundings.
Alga Marina marble was used for the kitchens countertops to add a neutral contrast to the deep green.
Find out more about Belgian apartment ›
Föhr apartment, Germany by Francesco Di Gregorio and Karin Matz
Francesco Di Gregorio and Karin Matzhay converted the hayloft of a thatched roof farmhouse on the island of Föhr in Germany into this apartment.
Its L-shaped kitchen is tucked away against the sloping roof, between a bathroom and bedroom. The architect duo lined the walls with thousands of ceramic tiles, each drilled with a singular hole to reveal a blue dot to form a sea of polka dots.
Wooden base cabinetry blends with the apartments wood flooring and houses the kitchen’s appliances and storage. Because of its small footprint, a circular sink, electric stove and oven were organised beside each other within the longer countertop against the tiled wall.
Find out more about Föhr apartment ›
Workhome-Playhome, The Netherlands by Lagado Architects
Ashwood cabinetry, burnt-orange niches, blue terrazzo floors and teal hued cupboards fill this L-shaped kitchen in Rotterdam.
A wall of squared white tiles frames teal coloured overhead cabinetry that is suspended over a sink, stovetop and granite worktops.
Teal cabinetry complements the kitchen’s blue terrazzo floors, which marks the area from the light wood floors in the living space. A breakfast bar in front of a window becomes an extension of the work area and can be used as additional prep space.
Find out more about Workhome-Playhome ›
Corsega Apartment, Spain by RAS Arquitectura
This simple kitchen combines bright white cabinetry, steel appliances, grey-veined marble and exposed pipework.
Overhead cabinetry surrounds a veined marble splashback and extends across the countertop, which extends into the room and doubles as a breakfast bar.
A steel oven and microwave were fitted within the cabinetry at the end of the kitchen, tying together with the metallic handle and exposed extractor fan piping.
Find out more about Corsega Apartment ›
Extension One, UK by Denizen Works
An oak countertop wraps around white cabinetry in this residential extension by Denizen Works. A white-tiled splashback wraps around the L-shaped countertops below a chunky oak shelf and rectangular window that overlooks the garden.
The studio added a large L-shaped skylight supported by large oak beams above the counter containing the sink.
Find out more about Extension One ›
This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing colourful interiors, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.
Wood has long been used to create kitchens, but architects and designers are finding subtle ways to reimagine the material in the cooking space. Interiors reporter Natasha Levy selects seven standout examples in our latest Dezeen Lookbook.
The Rye Apartments, UK, by Tikari Works
Spruce-wood cupboards inset with subtle grooves feature in the kitchens of these apartments in south London’s Peckham neighbourhood.
The cabinets and the surrounding cross-laminated timber walls are meant to lend the homes a cosy, domestic atmosphere. Extra warmth is provided by brass door handles and amber-flecked terrazzo that runs across the floors.
Find out more about The Rye Apartments ›
Ti Clara, Portugal, by Atelier Espaço P2
Atelier Espaço P2 felt that a natural material palette offered “the most honest and true solution” for the overhaul of Ti Clara, a historic home in the Portuguese municipality of Ansião.
The kitchen has therefore been set within a wood-lined gabled niche. Pale plywood has been used to craft its cabinets, as well as the triangular extractor hood above the stove. Contrast is offered by the grey stone countertop, splashback and floor tiles.
Find out more about Ti Clara ›
Southgrove Road, UK, by From Works
A photograph of a moss-covered stone inspired the earthy green hue of this stained plywood kitchen suite, which design studio From Works incorporated into a Sheffield family home.
“[The photo] sparked conversation about trying to create a space and a material palette that referenced Sheffield’s special position as an earthy regenerating city uniquely connected to the beautiful surrounding Peak District.”
Find out more about Southgrove Road ›
Urban Cabin, Italy, by Francesca Perani
Surfaces throughout the kitchen of this 25-square-metre apartment in Albino, Italy are covered in oriented strand board (OSB) – a type of engineered timber made by compressing strands of wood in different directions.
Although architect Francesca Perani was more accustomed to seeing OSB used on building sites, she thought its continuous pattern helped make the micro-sized kitchen appear bigger.
“I love its textural irregularity, random organic composure and recycled properties,” she added.
Find out more about Urban Cabin ›
Powerscroft Road, UK, by Daytrip
Design studio Daytrip didn’t want the interiors of this London townhouse to seem “over-designed or mass-produced”, so applied a selection of textured and patterned materials.
In the kitchen, grainy Douglas fir wood has been used to make the cabinetry and the base of the central breakfast island. Countertops are pale Evora marble, while walls have been limewashed to leave a “painterly” finish.
Find out more about Powerscroft Road ›
An Attic for David, Spain, by MH.AP Studio
The kitchen and all the storage elements of this Barcelona apartment are made from matte-finish MDF.
While this type of engineered wood is often appreciated for being cost-friendly, MH.AP Studio also thought it would create a warm, “enveloping” ambience inside the home – especially when combined with oak parquet flooring.
Find out more about An Attic for David ›
Hackney House, UK, by Applied Studio
A jet-black timber kitchen suite forms a striking focal point inside this east London home.
“[The clients] wanted vivid contrast between the background and feature elements,” explained Applied Studio.”We worked with them to introduce natural elements to soften this, hence the visible grain in the joinery.”
From homes with peach-coloured walls to rose-tinted shops and restaurants, we’ve rounded up 10 interiors projects to make you think pink in our latest Dezeen Lookbook.
Cats’ Pink House, Taiwan, KC Design Studio
This holiday home in Taiwan is all pink – even the basketball court. KC Design Studio created the house by the sea for a client who owns several cats, so the interior includes pink cat ladders and a fluffy swing for the feline companions to recline on.
Find out more about Cats’ Pink House ›
The Daily Edited, Australia, Pattern Studio
Pattern Studio created a shop in Melbourne entirely in the signature colour of lifestyle brand The Daily Edited.
Blush-coloured walls are complemented by pale terrazzo floors and slabs of Norwegian rose marble.
Find out more about The Daily Edited ›
Ecnesse, China, by Penda China
Penda China used a rosy colour palette to create cosy cave-like interiors for high-end beauty salon Ecnesse in Beijing.
The rounded edges of the pink furniture echo the arched mirrors and doorways, which can be screened off using deep red velvet curtains.
Find out more about Ecnesse ›
Waterfront Nikis Apartment, Greece, by Stamatios Giannikis
Colourful flamingo-coloured walls are a standout feature of this apartment in an art deco building in Thessaloniki.
Architect Stamatios Giannikis, who hosts dinners and exhibitions in this apartment he designed, chose the pink walls to enhance the views of the sea from beyond the balcony.
Find out more about Waterfront Nikis Apartment ›
His House and Her House, China, Wutopia Labs
Part house, part installation, His House and Her House is a pair of structures that Chinese studio Wutopia Labs used to explore ideas around gender.
The feminine side of the project is painted entirely in pastel pinks, featuring billowing pink curtains across the facade and a patio filled with pink rock salt instead of gravel.
Find out more about His House and Her House ›
Minimal Fantasy, Spain, Patricia Bustos Studio
This striking holiday rental apartment in Madrid is decorated in 12 different shades of pink. Patricia Bustos Studio wanted to create something on of a kind, using bubblegum hues, satin sheets and surfaces with iridescent sheen.
“Pink is already the colour of a whole generation,” said the studio. “The generation of the brave, those who are not afraid of change.”
Find out more about Minimal Fantasy ›
Specus Corallii, Italy, Antonino Cardillo
Specus Corallii, or The Coral Cave, is a music room in Sicily that’s decorated in homage to the shell imagery associated with the city of Trapani.
The walls are covered in rough plasterwork that has been painted a muted pink to create a grotto-like interior, complemented by slabs of honey-coloured limestone.
Find out more about Specus Corallii ›
The Olive Houses, Spain, by Mar Plus Ask
The Olive Houses are a cluster of off-the-grid guesthouses in Mallorca designed as a retreat for artists and writers seeking a place to create free from interruptions.
Architecture studio Mar Plus Ask built the retreat around the boulders that litter the ancient olive grove, plastering the walls in a pale-pink stucco chosen to complement the delicate green leaves of the trees.
Find out more about The Olive Houses ›
Humble Pizza, UK, Child Studio
Child Studio created interiors for this vegan pizza restaurant in London that pay tribute to 1950s greasy spoon cafes.
Candy pink walls and furnishings highlight the pink Formica tables and countertops, all the flatware is pink and pink newspapers are used as decoration as well as reading material.
Find out more about Humble Pizza ›
Angle + Eart St Studio, Australia, by BoardGrove Architects
Three different tones of peach were selected by BoardGrove Architects to decorate the interiors of this shared office space in Melbourne. The trio of colours subtly differentiates between the front of house, workspaces and back of house zones.
A charred-wood washroom and a monolithic, concrete bathtub feature in our latest Dezeen Lookbook of 10 zen bathrooms that swap traditional white walls for dark, moody hues and tactile materials.
Untitled House, UK, by Szczepaniak Astridge
Smooth, dark, concrete characterises the walls and monolithic bathtub of this bathroom, which Szczepaniak Astridge designed as part of a house renovation in Camberwell, London.
The bath is screened by stainless steel Crittal windows that enclose a void through the home and is teamed with a bespoke, polished stone sink. According to the studio, the aim was to design a “place to retreat to, to guiltlessly linger and hang out”.
Find out more about Untitled House ›
Pioneer Square Loft, USA, by Plum Design and Corey Kingston
A washroom, shower, toilet and sauna are all enclosed in the dark, tactile boxes that wrap around the central open-plan living area of this apartment in Seattle, Washington.
Accessed through frosted glass doors, the bathroom facilities have walls and ceilings lined with blackened wood, charred using the traditional Japanese technique called Shou Sugi Ban, while the floors are covered with dark cement tiles.
Find out more about Pioneer Square Loft ›
Villa Molli, Italy, by Lorenzo Guzzini
A palette of serpentine stone, concrete and smokey, natural lime plaster gives rise to the atmospheric interiors of this bathroom in Villa Molli, a dwelling overlooking Lake Como in Sala Comacina.
It forms part of one of the house’s large bedrooms, in an effort to challenge the traditional boxed-off design of bathrooms, and features large windows that frame views out to the lake.
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Belgian Apartment, Belgium, by Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof
Deep seaweed-coloured walls enclose this apartment’s guest bathroom, which Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof designed to emulate its calming, coastal setting.
It is accessed through a green, wood-lined door and is teamed with dark-grey terrazzo flooring and a statement Gris Violet marble basin that has polished metal pipes.
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Cloister House, Australia, by MORQ
The shell of this Australian house is made from rammed-concrete, which has been left exposed in the bathroom and other interior spaces to create “a sense of refuge”.
Its textured, brutalist aesthetic is softly lit by a small window at one end, and warmed by a brushed nickel tapware and a rough-sawn red hardwood ceiling, vanity and joinery.
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House 23, USA, by Vondalwig Architecture
This bathroom takes its cues from Japanese interiors and was designed as part of Vondalwig Architecture’s overhaul of a 1960s house in Hudson Valley.
It is animated by the speckled grey, stone tiles that line its walls and floor, which has been complemented by portions of Port Orford Cedar and a steep-sided, ofuro soaking tub at one end.
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Screen House, Australia, by Carter Williamson Architects
Carter Williamson Architects created the spa-like setting for the bathroom of Screen House by enveloping it from floor to ceiling with tactile black tiles.
Interest is added with an asymmetric pitched roof, a wooden basin and window frames, and a bubble-liked pendant light that is suspended above the freestanding bathtub.
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Sunken Bath, UK, by Studio 304
This bathroom, added to a ground-floor flat in east London, features a large sunken bathtub that looks into a garden and invites residents to relax by engaging in Japanese ritual bathing.
The majority of the room’s surfaces are lined with a waterproof cement-based coating, chosen for a “Japanese-inspired concrete aesthetic”, and offset by golden fixtures and wooden boards.
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Western Studio, USA, by GoCstudio
The Western Studio apartment’s bathroom is contained within a stained plywood box that is intended to offer a snug counterpoint to the brighter, open-plan interiors of the dwelling.
Its moody aesthetic was created using inky venetian plaster on the walls, paired with black Dornbracht fixtures and a large bespoke sink carved from warm Jatoba wood.
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Kyle House, UK, by GRAS
Tactile plaster and large charcoal-coloured stone tiles line the surfaces of this generously-sized bathroom, which GRAS designed as part of a renovation of a derelict house in the Scottish Highlands.
It features a freestanding black bath, placed beside a window overlooking Ben Loyal mountain, and is brightened by Danish oak ceiling panels, window frames and cabinetry that conceals the toilet.
From graphic tilework to hand-painted wallpaper, architects and designers have found a myriad of ways to create striking surfaces in the bedroom. Here are seven standout examples in our latest Dezeen Lookbook.
Duplex in NYC, USA, by Crosby Studios
Crosby Studios founder Harry Nuriev and his partner Tyler Billinger combined white tilework with a gold-lame headboard to create a statement wall in the bedroom of their New York apartment.
Nuriev and Billinger didn’t hold back when it came to designing the rest of the room, which boasts ultraviolet side tables and throw cushions, as well as a hand-shaped light.
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Hygge Studio, Brazil, by Melina Romano
Tan-coloured bricks that feature in the communal living spaces of this Sao Paulo apartment continue through to the bedroom to form a rustic feature wall, finished with a lengthy headboard upholstered in terracotta-red fabric.
Interior designer Melina Romano explained that the warm medley of materials and colours are meant to channel a sense of hygge – a Danish term for a feeling of cosiness or contentment.
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Chelsea Pied-à-Terre, USA, by Stadt Architecture
Gold paint seems to ooze down the painterly, deep-green statement wall that features in the bedroom of this New York apartment.
The owners, who originally hail from southwest Canada, had wanted to bring the lush verdancy of the landscapes in their hometown into the apartment’s interior.
“We couldn’t literally accommodate a green living wall into the living areas,” Stadt Architecture explained. “However, we reconsidered ‘landscape’ as a custom hand-painted wall covering.”
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Apartment A, Belgium, by Atelier Dialect
The unusual open-plan bedroom and bathroom inside this Antwerp apartment includes a statement wall clad in contrasting black and white subway tiles.
It serves as a graphic backdrop to the room’s freestanding tub, wrapped in shiny panels of mirrored steel.
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Heat 360, Ukraine, by Azovskiy & Pahomova Architects
Blotches of rust colour the dark slate-tile wall that extends across the back of this master bedroom, which is set inside a family home in Ukraine’s Dnipro region.
The floor-to-ceiling windows that run along the front the bedroom act as another statement wall, providing uninterrupted views out towards the landscaped garden and a nearby river.
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Shkrub, Ukraine, by Sergey Makhno
Rows of rounded ceramic tiles create an almost scaly surface finish on the wall of the guest bedroom in architect Sergey Makhno’s family home.
This is one of several statement walls Makhno has incorporated in the property – a plaster wall in his own master bedroom has been sculpted to resemble the craggy face of a cliff.
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Casa A12, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil
A large cobalt-blue circle forms a simple but striking feature wall in the bedroom of this Madrid duplex apartment.
This shade of blue and coral orange have been applied across the rest of the home in homage to the colours used in Number 14, a painting by 20th-century abstract artist Mark Rothko.
