Interior Design Archives

Ten lush rooftop gardens that serve as tranquil oases above the city

In the third of a trio of spring lookbooks this Easter weekend, we’ve rounded up ten verdant rooftop gardens including a penthouse garden in Australia and a stepped vegetable garden in Vietnam.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature terrazzo kitchens, stylish home offices, children’s bedrooms and inspiring outdoor living spaces.

Sydney penthouse garden, Australia, by CO-AP

The luxurious garden of this penthouse in Darlinghurst, Sydney, is made up of raised beds filled with indigenous plant, tree and shrub species.

Designed by landscape architect Matt Dillion, the plants were carefully selected to suit harsh rooftop conditions. The garden surrounds a pavilion-inspired penthouse with large windows.

Find out more about Sydney penthouse garden ›

Casa Verne, Mexico, by Zeller & Moye

This Mexico City rooftop garden was created as a getaway within a crowded neighbourhood in the bustling city.

Walkways made from white marble pebbles meander through different leisure areas, which feature plots of vegetation carefully planted to make the space seem bigger. Curved lines, artificial hills and dense planting add to the spacious feel.

Find out more about Casa Verne ›

San Francisco Residence, US, by Jamie Bush

A series of rooftop gardens were added to this stepped San Francisco building.

Los Angeles architect Jamie Bush used a landscape firm to choose plants to suit the California climate, which can quickly change from very hot to very cold. Among these are ornamental grasses, which are both attractive and hardy enough to thrive in windy conditions.

Find out more about San Francisco Residence ›

Veranda Roof Studio, India, by Studio Course

Studio Course revived this penthouse in Pune, west India, which opens up to a rooftop space. The local studio connected the apartment’s library with its courtyard garden where a raised patio makes for a perfect space for reading and relaxing.

Practical gravel lines the ground while shrubs and trees in wide terracotta pots add touches of green to the stone walls and floor.

Find out more about Veranda Roof Studio ›

The Red Roof, Vietnam, by TAA Design

This house in Vietnam is named after the large red bricks that make up its stepped roof, which is covered in an abundance of roof planters filled with vegetables for the local community.

The garden was designed to function as a closed cycle of growth, harvest and consumption, and grows a number of different vegetables in its raised plant beds and a number of terracotta pots.

Find out more about The Red Roof ›

Green roofs of the Forest House in Bangkok

Forest House, Thailand, by Shma Company

Bangkok’s Forest House has over 120 trees planted on its green roofs. As the roof terrace receives the most sunlight, it has also been planted with fruits, herbs and vegetables for the family who lives here.

Shma Company, which designed Forest House, believes that plant-covered buildings can help to mitigate many of the effects of climate change.

Find out more about Forest Roof ›

Maggie’s Centre Leeds, UK, by Heatherwick Studio

Heatherwick Studio’s design for Leeds’ Maggie’s Centre for cancer patients has a grassy rooftop garden as well as a plant-filled interior.

The studio wanted to immerse the building in “thousands of plants” to make it feel soulful and welcoming. The rooftop garden uses species native to Yorkshire’s woodlands, with evergreen shrubs and trees to provide colour throughout the year.

Find out more about Maggie’s Centre Leeds ›

Tokyo home, Japan, by Suzuko Yamada

Permanent scaffolding containing garden spaces encapsulates this Tokyo home.

Though it’s not a traditional rooftop garden, the different levels of the scaffolding allow the owners to experience a wide variety of plants, from a large tree on the ground to smaller potted plants higher up.

Find out more about Tokyo home ›

Rooftop garden, USA, by Piet Oudolf

Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, the designer of the High Line in New York, used herbaceous perennials ranging from flowering plants to decorative grasses for this rooftop garden.

The plants are placed in fibreglass planters with built-in benches and were used to frame four different zones on the rooftop, including a piazza and a dining area.

Find out more about Rooftop garden ›

House in Nha Trang, Vietnam by Vo Trong Nghia

The roof of this house in Vietnam is formed by a large tiered garden that was created to offer the owners as much outdoor space as possible. Trees, plants and flowers have been planted in rows on the staggered roof.

“The client wanted a large house with a large garden,” architects Vo Trong Nghia and Masaaki Iwamoto said. “Answering this request, a single roof is designed as a hanging garden to plant numerous trees and plants on.”

Find out more about House in Nha Trang ›

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 peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

Reference

Interior Design

Ten interiors with pastel colours that freshen up the home for spring

By Zarkon Group,20/06/2021

For this lookbook, we’ve rounded up ten home interiors decorated in pastel tints that show how ice-cream colours can give spaces a fresh, calming look.

The selection from our archive, which includes bathrooms to bedrooms and kitchens, shows how pastels – made by adding white to pure colours to make them more luminous and less saturated – can create a spring-like feeling.

Never really out of fashion, pastels have strong psychological associations with new life with their pale, cheery tints representing a midway stage between the darkness of winter and the full-blown colour of summer.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature rooftop gardens, bright kitchens, interiors with statement plants, terrazzo kitchens, and stylish home offices.

Hidden Tints, Sweden, by Note Design Studio

A warm, yellow tint covers the walls of this Stockholm apartment designed by Note Design Studio, which is filled with different pastel colours. A pale, spring-like green complements the yellow and is picked up in the plants dotted around the space.

Wooden furniture matches the gleaming wooden floors, while a pale orange Mango lounge chair by Note Design Studio for Wendelbo adds a touch of colour. The light above the table is SILO Trio by Note Design Studio for Zero.

Find out more about Hidden Tints ›

Longhouse in Victoria, Australia designed by Partners Hill

Longhouse, Australia, by Partners Hill

The dining room of this shed-style home in Australia has been decorated in a pale blue colour that contrasts with its wooden floor and wooden door frame, as well as the rolling plains of bushland outside the windows.

Tomato-red dining chairs give the room a contemporary, vibrant feel and stand out against the soothing blue walls.

Find out more about Longhouse ›

Suburban Canny, Australia, by Tribe Studio

Each bathroom in this Sydney home is tiled in a different colour – pink, teal and blue. The almost apricot-pink shade of the tiles is matched with a pale pink, wall-hung basin as well as the door and door frame.

The geometric shapes of the small tiles create a graphic pattern on the wall that adds interest to the monochrome interior.

Find out more about Suburban Canny ›

Co-working space, US, by Beauty Shoppe

While the walls have been kept a discrete grey colour, pastel colours were used for other parts of the interior in this Cleveland co-working space. A Tulip side table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll sits between two of West Elm’s Thea chairs in a very pale pink shade.

Green and pink is used throughout the space, on a reception desk in pistachio green and the apricot-coloured curtains, as well as a comfy green sofa accessorised with a pink pillow.

Find out more about the co-working space ›

Melbourne extension, Australia, by Dan Gayfer Design

A banana-leaf ficus (ficus maclellandii) peaks in from the courtyard at this tile-clad blue bathroom in Melbourne. The tiles match the exterior of the house, which is also clad in pale blue tiles.

White-tiled walls and wooden drawers complete the clean, simple interior of the bathroom.

Find out more about the Melbourne extension ›

Skyhouse, US, by David Hotson and Ghislaine Viñas

This comfy sleeping nook in a Manhattan penthouse has been livened up with a very pale, almost pear-green colour that creates a peaceful feeling.

Light streaming in from a large window in the slanted wall adds to the fresh, crisp feel of the space which has been decorated with a small, practical stool as well as selected art pieces.

Find out more about Skyhouse ›

Paris apartment by Les Ateliers Tristan & Sagitta

Paris apartment, France, by Les Ateliers Tristan & Sagitta

Colour was used generously throughout this Paris flat and used in a clever way to divide the children’s room for two brothers.

One side of the space has pale blue paintwork and beige carpet, while the other has white walls and wooden floorboards laid in a zigzagging pattern. The same pale blue was also used on the side with white walls to create a decorative geometric design on the wall.

Find out more about Paris apartment ›

A Brockley Side London house extension and renovation by CAN

A Brockley Side, UK, by CAN

Architecture studio CAN added a blue and white striped extension to a Victorian terrace in London and used a pastel pink curtain to give added privacy to the kitchen and dining space inside.

Pale turquoise Eames DSW chairs are set around a white dining table, with the colour picked up by the speckled sink splashback and the blue accessories on the shelves above it.

Find out more about A Brockley Side ›

Architecture studio Nimtim renovate a Victorian terrace in London into a space saving apartment

London flat, UK, by Nimtim

Hans J Wegner’s sculptural Wishbone chair for Carl Hansen & Søn functions almost as a piece of art in this bedroom in a London flat, which has wooden fitted wardrobes and a fold-down bed.

The kitchen and dining space next to it has colourful turquoise cabinetry and a grey marble wall, which adds a luxurious touch to the space.

Find out more about London flat ›

Leman Locke, UK, by Grzywinski + Pons

Pale blue was used in this bedroom of the Leman Locke hotel in London, which was designed to bridge the gap between a home and a hotel stay.

Sami Kallio’s In Between chair for &Tradition matches the elegant wooden bed, and the natural wood – which is also used on the bedside table – gives the sleek space a more organic feel.

Find out more about Leman Locke ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten outdoor spaces with warming fireplaces and fire pits

By Zarkon Group,20/06/2021

For our latest lookbook, we’ve rounded up ten outdoor seating areas that incorporate stylish fireplaces and roaring fire pits to warm yourself on chilly spring evenings.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home.

Previous articles in the series featured pastel interiors, bright kitchens, living rooms with statement shelving and interiors with statement plants.

House of the Big Arch, South Africa, by Frankie Pappas

Built within a South African nature reserve, House of the Big Arch was designed by architecture collective Frankie Pappas to avoid existing trees.

Supported on an arch that gives the house its name is an outdoor patio that contains a circular brick hearth, an oven and a small pool.

Find out more about House of the Big Arch ›

Guadalajara House, Mexico, by Alejandro Sticotti

Argentinian architect Alejandro Sticotti created a covered outdoor lounge and dining area alongside this house in the Mexican city of Guadalajara.

Connected to the home’s indoor, open-plan kitchen and dining room, the sheltered area contains a seating area with a timber-framed sofa and a dining table alongside an outdoor chiminea set against a wall.

Find out more about Guadalajara House ›

Covered fire place at glamping site in USA

AutoCamp, USA, by Anacapa Architecture

Created to be the social hub of a luxury campground in California designed by Anacapa Architecture, this open-air clubhouse is used for guest check-in and socialising.

Within the clubhouse, chairs are gathered around a square floor-level hearth similar to a Japanese irori beneath a suspended conical steel flue.

Find out more about AutoCamp ›

Butterfly House, USA, by Surface Design

Landscape architecture studio Surface Design created a series of planted terraces at this house in San Francisco to be “a serene respite from the city”.

A raised concrete hearth hosting an ethanol fire anchors the ground floor courtyard, which is completed with benches, ferns and anemones and pots containing agaves and euphorbias.

Find out more about Butterfly House ›

Equinox Hotel, USA, by David Rockwell and Joyce Wang

Designed by Rockwell Group and Joyce Wang Studio, the Equinox Hotel occupies 14 floors of a skyscraper designed by architecture firm SOM in Hudson Yards.

The hotel has two large terraces – one with a pool overlooking Thomas Heatherwick’s Vessel, and one containing seating arranged around a water feature and a decorative ethanol fire.

Find out more about Equinox Hotel ›

Minimalist Urban Residence, USA, by Anacapa Architecture

Anacapa Architecture designed this home for a residential neighbourhood in the Californian city of Santa Barbara.

The open-plan living space and main bedroom in the L-shaped house both open onto a backyard that has an outdoor fireplace set in a wall and a seating area arranged around a raised rectangular concrete fire pit.

Find out more about Minimalist Urban Residence ›

Ravine House, USA, by Wheeler Kearns

American studio Wheeler Kearns Architects designed this single-storey house on a wooded site on the outskirts of Chicago.

At the rear of the home is a seating area enclosed by a low, curved gabion wall made from rubble found on the site. A fireplace is integrated into this gabion wall.

Find out more about Ravine House ›

Outdoor fireplace in Midden Garden Pavilion

Midden Garden Pavilion, South Africa, by Metropolis

This concrete outdoor dining pavilion was designed by Metropolis as part of a renovation of a house in the Cape Town suburb of Constantia.

Designed to take advantage of views over nearby Table Mountain, the open-sided pavilion includes a square concrete hearth topped with a suspended funnel-shaped flue surrounded by concrete seating.

Find out more about Midden Garden Pavilion ›

Yō no Ie, Japan, by Muji

This single-storey prefabricated home designed by Japanese retail company Muji is fronted by three full-height doors that open onto a large wooden deck.

The outdoor terrace contains a sunken seating area with a fire pit.

Find out more about Yō no Ie ›

Casa SS, Chile, by Pablo Saric and Cristian Winckler

Designed by architects Pablo Saric and Cristian Winckler Perched, Casa SS is a blackened pine house perched above the Pacific Ocean in Chile.

The main living area has large glass windows facing the ocean and opens out onto an enclosed sandy courtyard with deck chairs arranged around a circular steel fire pit at the rear of the home.

Find out more about Casa SS ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten inviting courtyards to hang out and relax in

By Zarkon Group,19/06/2021

For our next lookbook, we’ve selected ten courtyards and enclosed outdoor spaces where the designers have created inviting places to sit and relax.

Courtyards are areas that are enclosed by walls yet open to the sky. They allow natural light and fresh air to enter buildings with deep plans and can also serve as gardens or patios if designed well.

These ten projects have made the most of these outdoor spaces to create calm seating areas to hang out in.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature plant-filled interiors, lush rooftop gardens and spaces for outdoor dining.

Casa Octavia in Mexico City, Mexico, by PPAA

Casa Octavia, a hotel opened by a fashion brand in Mexico City, has a gravel-lined outdoor space down one side.

A polished concrete bench that doubles as a fern-filled planter provide a place to sit with your back against the wall and catch the sun. Smooth wooden stools provide additional seating for groups to gather and chat.

Find out more about Casa Octavia

House for a Ceramic Designer in Ljubljana, Slovenia, by Arhitektura d.o.o

Angular black ceramic sculptures made by the occupant decorate this courtyard at the centre of a house and studio built for a ceramicist living in Ljubljana.

A looping chair by Zett made of fibre cement matches the concrete walls and floors and provides another sculptural element when not in use. White curtains can be used to screen off the glass walls from the outdoors for privacy.

Find out more about House for a Ceramic Designer

Fairfield Hacienda in Melbourne, Australia, by MRTN Architects

A patio at the front of this home in Melbourne acts as an outdoor living room for the family that lives there.

Windows and doorways are formed by the simple breeze-block walls, which also form a wood-topped bench down one side. Bright red metal chairs and grey bar stools provide extra seating around the outdoor dining table.

Find out more about Fairfield Hacienda

Martinez 3458 in Mendoza, Argentina, by Primer Piso Arquitectos

A patch of grass has been planted in a section cut away from the tiled floor of this walled patio on the ground floor apartment of this brick building in Mendoza.

A pair of acid-yellow Original Acapulco Chairs by OK Design sits on the lawn, and an outdoor fire shelf with a chimney provides a spot for an outdoor barbeque that won’t bother the upstairs neighbours.

Find out more about Martinez 3458

Palma Hideaway in Palma, Mallorca, by Mariana de Delás

Glazed green tiles on a planter filled with crotons (Codiaeum variegatum) provide a pop of colour against the white-painted walls and terrazzo floor of this courtyard for an apartment in Mallorca.

A pair of HAY’s Hee Lounge White chairs match the backdrop and are draped with mismatching cushions.

Find out more about Palma Hideaway

Pointing House in Rome, Italy, by Studio Strato

This 110-square-foot one-bedroom apartment overlooking a park in Rome wraps around this small outdoor space with a tiled floor.

The wooden sliding door is painted a deep teal, providing a backdrop for a pair of bamboo and rattan chairs and a table holding a baby blue glazed ashtray. A wild banana plant (Strelitzia nicolai) in a terracotta pot adds a splash of greenery.

Find out more about Pointing House

House in Sonobe, Sonobe, Japan, by Tato Architects

A corrugated polycarbonate door slides open to reveal the wedge-shaped atrium of this house in the town of Sonobe.

A simple wooden swing hangs from a steel beam. A sink in one corner serves the downstairs bathroom while a circular table with a chair and an articulated task lamp provide a semi-outdoor workspace.

Find out more about House in Sonobe

Casa Piraja in São Paulo, Brazil, by Estúdio BRA Arquitetura

This narrow courtyard to the rear of a slim house in São Paulo features an outdoor kitchen and bar tucked against the back wall.

A Nature Tri Bistro Table and a pair of Cascade Stools from Brazilian brand Cremme complete the outdoor setup, turning it into a private bar for the residents.

Find out more about Casa Piraja

House of Reticence in Shiga, Japan, by Formkouichi Kimura Architects

This tranquil courtyard in a house on an 18-metre-wide plot in Shiga provides a meditative space with plain rendered walls and square white tiles on the floor.

A built-in bench made of long glazed bricks sits below a glazed wall that lets in soft diffuse light while maintaining privacy.

Find out more about House of Reticence

Wall House in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, by CTA

Walls of punctured bricks create an intriguing pattern and let breezes waft through the courtyard of this multi-generational house in Bien Hoa.

A wooden-topped table provides a sunlit dining area surrounded by vegetation planted in the earth between the exposed-aggregate concrete floor.

Find out more about Wall House

Reference

Interior Design

Leckie Studio designs penthouse inside BIG’s Vancouver skyscraper

By Zarkon Group,19/06/2021

A rainforest-style atrium with a cedar tree lies within a two-storey unit designed by Leckie Studio, located inside the new Vancouver House tower.

The penthouse is found within the sculptural, 59-storey tower that rises up from a triangular site in downtown Vancouver, near Granville Bridge. The building was designed by architecture firm BIG and was completed last year.

Leckie Studio designed the project — A rainforest-style atrium sits at the heart of the penthouse

The two-level apartment is on the northwest side of the skyscraper, where it is afforded views of English Bay and the North Shore Mountains.

The unit’s owner desired an inviting atmosphere and spaces to accommodate natural artefacts and artwork from her travels. She turned to local firm Leckie Studio to oversee the design.

The penthouse is located in Vancouver House tower — The apartment has views far-reaching views of Vancouver and beyond

The team set out to create a layered environment that looked both inward and outward, and was infused with organic elements.

“Through an iterative design process, the studio and client arrived at a highly bespoke, biophilic design that is attuned to the passage of time,” the team said.

Leckie Studio inserted a kitchen into the lower level — A kitchen on the lower level features a giant island

The unit is divided into public and private areas. On the bottom level, one finds a living room, dining area, kitchen and an office. A half-turn stair leads to the upper level, which holds two bedrooms.

There also is a 167-square-metre roof deck that is accessed via a private elevator.

“The experience of the penthouse is quite varied, depending on the time of day and which space is being occupied,” said architect Michael Leckie.

The unit’s focal point is a tall, glazed atrium filled with lush vegetation.

The atrium has vegetation — The atrium runs alongside the stairwell leading to bedrooms

Acting as the “spine” for the penthouse, the atrium runs alongside the stairwell and extends from the unit’s bottom level all the way to its roof terrace. At the top, it is open to the sky.

“Conceived as a microcosm of the Pacific Northwest rainforest, its centrepiece is a full-size, red cedar tree that lends a contemplative and grounding element to the onlooking interiors,” the team said.

Leckie Studio used American black walnut for the woodwork — Finishes and fixtures are kept minimal in the bathroom

“The ecosystem surrounding this tree will be sustained long term by a ‘nurse’ log, which replenishes the space with nutrients from decay.”

Beyond the atrium, earthy elements are found throughout the dwelling and form a rich backdrop for the client’s belongings.

Travertine was used for custom-milled bathroom sinks — Marble lines the walls of the powder room

American black walnut makes up the woodwork in the living room, kitchen and bathing areas. The high-quality wood was also used for the stair treads.

Travertine was used for flooring and custom-milled bathroom sinks. Smokey grey marble lines the walls in a powder room.

Leckie Studio used black accents in the project — Blackened-steel accents can be found throughout the apartment

Blackened-steel accents run throughout the unit and act as a counterpoint to the natural materials.

The penthouse’s sparse furnishings include an oak-topped dining table with a cast-bronze base, and a low-lying, multidirectional sofa that support various postures and orientations.

A lighting installation floats in the stairwell — A lighting installation from Bocci illuminates the stairwell

Floating in the stairwell is a lighting installation from Bocci that evokes a cluster of sparkling fireflies. The piece is made of copper and 122 glass luminaires.

The rooftop terrace is meant to serve as an extension of the living space. It is fitted with a stainless-steel jacuzzi, an outdoor shower, a kitchenette and plenty of seating.

Leckie Studio was founded in 2015 — The lighting installation is made from copper and glass

Founded by Michael Leckie in 2015, Leckie Studio has designed a number of residential projects, including mirrored cabins that blend into the forest. The firm also designed Slack’s Vancouver office, located within a repurposed industrial building.

Photography is by Conrad Brown.

Reference

Interior Design

Twelve contemporary bathrooms with a spa-like feel

By Zarkon Group,19/06/2021

For our latest lookbook, we have selected 12 spa-like bathrooms created by architects and designers to relax and unwind in.

These bathrooms are characterised by a minimalist aesthetic that makes them resemble spas and feature open spaces, natural materials, textural surfaces, earthy hues and oversized fixtures.

Keeping accessories and decoration to a minimum creates soothing surroundings and draws attention to the luxurious textures and materials used in these bathrooms.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature inviting courtyards, outdoor spaces with fireplaces and fire pits, and pastel-hued interiors.

Spa-like bathroom in Cloister House by MORQ

Cloister House, Australia, by MORQ

The rammed concrete that was used for the walls of this home were left exposed in its bathroom, providing the space with a textural, brutalist quality.

Red hardwood was used across the ceiling and joinery to add warmth, framing the bathtub, sink and storage areas.

Find out more about Cloister House ›

Spa-like bathroom in Borden House by Studio AC

Borden House, Toronto, by StudioAC

In the 14-foot-wide (4.3 metres) Borden House by StudioAC, an en-suite bathroom was given a symmetric design and a neutral, grey palette to create a relaxing, spa-like look.

Grey concrete tiles cover the floor, walls and pitched roof and envelope a large inset bath that takes up the width of the room. A square black-framed window provides symmetry to the space and offers views out to the surrounding Toronto cityscape.

Find out more about Borden House ›

Spa-like bathroom in House with Three Eyes by Innauer-Matt Architekten

House with Three Eyes, Austria, by Innauer-Matt Architekten

A glazed wall with views of the mountainside encloses this tranquil bathroom in Austria. Pale wood lines the walls of the space and expands out onto a small terrace.

Veined stone encases the bathtub in the middle of the room and extends across the floor between light wood floorboards.

Find out more about House with Three Eyes ›

Spa-like bathroom in Art Villa by Formafatal and Refuel Works

Art Villa, Costa Rica, by Formafatal and Refuel Works

A mismatched material palette of concrete, wood and tile was used throughout the bathroom of this Costa Rican holiday home.

A freestanding stone bathtub sits atop slatted wooden floors and is positioned near a floor-to-ceiling window. Sculptural lights were mounted within a wooden half wall to create a decorative feature and zone spaces.

Find out more about Art Villa ›

Submariner’s House, London, by Jonathan Tuckey Design

This limestone bathroom in Submariner’s House by Jonathan Tuckey Design is a light-filled space that combines dark and pale-hued stone.

Angular limestone fixtures were used throughout the space and a limestone bath occupies the corner of the room beneath an opacity-adjustable skylight. Throughout the space, concealed cupboards and mirrored cabinets provide a clean and minimalist look.

Find out more about Submariner’s House ›

Whidbey Island Farm, United States, by MW Works

Polished concrete and wood lines the walls and floors of this bathroom, which was designed for a home that overlooks a meadow where cattle graze.

A glass screen encloses a walk-in shower and a dark stone surface-top stretches the length of the room, concealing cabinetry and storage.

Find out more about Whidbey Island Farm ›

Harrison Residence by Jeffrey Dungan Architects

Harrison Residence, Florida, by Jeffrey Dungan Architects

This bathroom owes its spa-like aesthetic to the European farmhouse style of the house it sits in, a three-storey family home located near the Gulf of Mexico.

A freestanding bathtub and a large walk-in shower are illuminated by natural light that enters the room between dark wood shutters. Gold-coloured fixtures were used throughout and a spherical Moroccan-style pendant light hangs above the bathtub.

Find out more about Harrison Residence ›

Japanese informed bathroom at Nobu Hotel by WATG and Studio PCH

Nobu Hotel, Mexico, by WATG and Studio PCH

Rich woods, sand-hued tiles and a pebble-stone feature wall line the walls of this wet room, which was designed by WATG and Studio PCH for Mexico’s Nobu Hotel.

A wooden Japanese-style bath was placed beneath a skylight at the rear of the space. Light stone clads the walls of the wet room, where the darker stacked pebble-stone wall contrasts with the warm tones of the bathroom.

Find out more about Nobu Hotel, Mexico ›

spa-like bathroom in Kenwood Lee House by Cousins & Cousins

Kenwood Lee House, London, by Cousins & Cousins

Bright white walls and floor-to-ceiling windows enclose this bathroom in Kenwood Lee House designed by Cousins & Cousins.

It used clean lines and symmetry to create a minimalist, clean look. A floating double-basin sink is suspended below wide mirrored cabinetry, which makes the bathroom feel bigger by reflecting the foliage and treeline of the garden.

Find out more about Kenwood Lee House ›

black tiled bathroom in Screen House by Carter Williamson Architects

Screen House, Sydney, by Carter Williamson Architects

Black circular tiles blanket the walls, floors and pitched roof of this bathroom designed by Carter Williamson Architects.

Slivers of wood are incorporated into the space through rich-toned window frames and a wooden sink basin. Frosted windows provide the bathroom with privacy, while also adding a softness to the light.

Find out more about Screen House ›

green tiled bathroom by Studio Ben Allen

The House Recast, London, by Studio Ben Allen

Bright green was used in this bathroom of Studio Ben Allen’s The House Recast in London, which was nominated as one of London’s best house renovations.

Green tiles form a wainscotting-style baseboard across the bathroom and blend into the green-patinated fixtures, such as an inset bathtub and a cylindrical sink basin.

Shaded areas on a small window in the centre of the room dapple light entry, mimicking the curved corner details between the walls and ceiling.

Find out more about The House Recast ›

concrete bathroom in Reyes House by Pedro Reyes and Carla Fernandez

Pedro Reyes House, Mexico City, by Pedro Reyes and Carla Fernandez

This textural stone bathroom has a moody, monument-like aesthetic. It was designed by Mexican sculptor Pedro Reyes and fashion designer Carla Fernandez.

It has coarse concrete walls and includes a bathtub carved from stone to resemble a rock pool. A skylight above the bathroom allows light to flood into the space and reflect off the textural concrete walls.

Even the sink has an organic look and was moulded to reflect pottery forms.

Find out more about Pedro Reyes House ›

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 welcoming living rooms, interiors with statement plants, and terrazzo kitchens.

Reference

Interior Design

Ten joyful interiors with decorative printed wallpaper

By Zarkon Group,19/06/2021

Our latest lookbook takes a look at interiors that have been filled with printed wallpaper to create playful, colourful spaces and bring a sense of joy to the rooms they’re in.

Patterned, printed wallpapers are an easy way to revive tired rooms and create interesting designs for everything from guest bathrooms to main bedrooms.

Here, we have gathered inspiration from ten projects, including an architect-designed hotel interior and a Milanese apartment where the patterned wallpaper creates a decorative clash with printed curtains.

Interiors of Hotel Les Deux Gares in Paris

Hotel Les Deux Gares, France, by Luke Edward Hall

British designer Luke Edward Hall went all in when it came to the interior design of this French hotel, mixing pea-green walls, leopard-print furnishings and candy-striped beds for a vibrant, colour-clashing design.

While it has an intricate pattern of branches, flowers and people, the colours of the printed wallpaper are more subdued, with its pale blue tone creating a calm counterpoint to the bright green panelling.

Find out more about Hotel Les Deux Gares ›

Teorema Milanese apartment, designed by Marcante Testa

Teorema Milanese, Italy, by Marcante-Testa

There’s a retro feel to the bedroom of this renovated Milanese apartment where design studio Marcante-Testa juxtaposed a variety of materials and colours. In the bedroom, a wallpaper with a geometric pattern sits next to sheer, polka dot curtains.

An orange night table from Meridiani adds a splash of colour, as does a blue border on the floor around the decorative herring-bone patterned floorboards.

Find out more about Teorema Milanese ›

Patterned green wallpaper in Austin hotel

Austin Proper Hotel and Residences, US, by Kelly Wearstler

A hotel in Downtown Austin, Texas, was given an interior design that revolves around local art and textiles. Designer Kelly Wearstler covered the walls throughout the hotel in eye-catching printed wallpapers, including a botanical wallpaper that was used in one of the restaurants.

Mid-century modern-style chairs and a delicate geometric lighting fixture complement the abundant floral patterns on the wall.

Find out more about Austin Proper ›

Cats’ Pink House, Taiwan, by KC Design Studio

A terrazzo-patterned wallpaper makes this guest bathroom in a Taiwanese holiday home feel both luxurious and playful at the same time.

The recessed sink has been painted in a pale pink hue that matches the terrazzo flecks of the wallpaper and picks up the pink colours of the rest of the flat.

Find out more about Cats’ Pink House ›

The bar inside The Chloe hotel in New Orleans

Chloe Hotel, US, by Sara Ruffin Costello

The Chloe Hotel in New Orleans’ picturesque Uptown neighbourhood has moody, dark colours in many of its rooms.

In the hotel’s restaurant, designer Sara Ruffin Costello eschewed the plain paint used elsewhere in favour of a dramatic blue wall with a pattern of Egret birds amongst tree branches.

Find out more about Chloe Hotel ›

Mrs and Mr Bateman, UK, by Selena Beaudry, Clemmie Myers and Natalie Tredgett

Printed wallpaper was used for both the walls and display plinths in this West London pop-up shop, informed by an eccentric fictional family.

The pattern has a vintage feel that is enhanced by the swirly psychedelic sculptures on the plinth and by London-based artist Margit Wittig’s Bateman 21st Century chandelier, which features colourful resin pieces.

Find out more about Mrs and Mr Bateman ›

Bedroom of Post House inn in Charleston, South Carolina

Post House Inn, US, by Basic Projects

Floral-print wallpaper decorates the living area of this hotel room at boutique hotel Post House Inn in South Carolina. A rhomboid-patterned carpet and pillows decorated with a floral print create a playful mish-mash of patterns.

A comfortable lounge chair in a warm red velvet lends colour to the room and matches the red bedframe, while a wooden coffee table adds to the laidback vibe.

Find out more about Post House Inn ›

Apartment Filippo by Studio Alexander Fehre

Apartment Filippo, UK, by Alexander Fehre

There’s an op art feel to the dining area in this small London flat, which Alexander Fehre renovated to make it feel more spacious. The black-and-white printed wallpaper contrasts against the tomato red sofas and table to create an intimate seating area in the white kitchen.

A copper kitchen lamp and oversized cabinet handles add to the almost childlike charm of this kitchen nook.

Find out more about Apartment Filippo ›

Lamorna by Charlie Luxton Design in the Cotswolds

Lamorna, UK, by Charlie Luxton Design

When designer Charlie Luxton refurbished this bungalow in the Cotswalds, he decorated the children’s bedrooms with a jungle theme.

A tiger wallpaper extends out into the corridor and was chosen to “bring some life and fun and sunshine into that area of the house”. It matches an art print featuring a tiger in one of the rooms and creates a bright, fun hallway.

Find out more about Lamorna ›

Arcade by Calico Wallpaper and Workstead

Brooklyn studios Workstead and Calico Wallpaper teamed up to create this installation inside New York’s Arcade Bakery, which was also designed by Workstead. The abstract Relic wallpaper was used to decorate the bakery’s cosy alcoves and features a mixture of sheer tissue paper and metallic and matte elements.

Contrasted against the bakery’s marble floors and wooden panelling, the wallpaper adds a sunny splash of colour that is still in keeping with the historic 1929 building.

Find out more about Arcade ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten interiors by architects that use internal glazing to create space and light

By Zarkon Group,19/06/2021

For our latest lookbook, interiors expert Michelle Ogundehin has selected ten examples of interiors with glazed internal windows, doors and partitions that create clever zoning and add privacy while still letting the light through.

“In the ongoing search for work-from-home space, walls are making a return as open-plan layouts are found wanting,” writes architect, author and TV presenter Ogundehin, who has curated this selection of images from Dezeen’s archive.

“But walls block out natural light as well as potentially making spaces feel poky and claustrophobic,” adds Ogundehin, who joins Dezeen’s lookbooks team as occasional guest editor.

“Instead, consider an internal window or semi-glazed partitioning. The latter could be fixed or moveable, in the form of concertina partitions or pocket doors, so they can be slid or folded away at the end of the working day.”

“Either way, this selection of projects proves that zoning the contemporary home for work, rest and play doesn’t necessarily mean creating solid walls.”

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature interiors with printed wallpaper, spa-like bathrooms, inviting courtyards, outdoor spaces with fireplaces and fire pits, and pastel-hued interiors.

Read on for Ogundehin’s selection of great examples of internal glazing:

99 square-metre apartment by Lera Brumina

Minsk apartment, Belarus, by Lera Brumina

Interior designer Lera Brumina chose to use internal glazing as a clever solution to a problem with the light in this Minsk apartment, where one side is extremely bright and the rear half is much darker.

Instead of walls, she used sliding glass doors to separate the rooms, letting the light from the windows on one side of the apartment flow through the whole space. Colourful furniture and details also make the rooms brighter.

Find out more about Minsk apartment ›

Internal glass window in Beaconsfield Residence

Beaconsfield Residence, Canada, by StudioAC

The renovation of this Victorian-era house in Toronto entailed overhauling and opening up the interior, including creating a glassed-in office at the rear of the house.

Located next to the kitchen, the office is shielded from it by a simple glass wall in a black frame, which is both decorative and creates a second room without making the kitchen feel smaller.

Find out more about Beaconsfield Residence ›

Teorema Milanese, Italy, by Marcante-Testa

A rich mix of materials and colours, including green and grey marble, feature in this luxurious-looking Milanese apartment by Marcante-Testa.

A partition wall was knocked out to create an open-plan living and dining room, with the different rooms demarcated by a golden metal frame that holds decorative glazed windows. This also separates the dining area from the hallway.

A lens table by McCollin Bryan with a glass tabletop picks up both the glass and the gold colour of the frame.

Find out more about Teorema Milanese ›

Makepeace Mansions Apartment by Surman Weston

Makepeace Mansions, UK, by Surman Weston

In rooms with high ceilings, such as this London apartment that was given a refresh by Surman Weston, using glazed internal windows above doors is a clever way to let more light into the room.

A number of the rooms in the 1920s residential block feature these windows, which are both decorative and practical.

Find out more about Makepeace Mansions ›

Lostvilla Qinyong Primary School Hotel, China, by Atelier XÜK

Atelier XÜK has turned a former primary school in China into a boutique hotel, with guest bedrooms that feature wooden floors and beds.

Wood-clad bathroom cubes hold showers and other facilities, which sit within wooden frames that have been glazed in some places to protect from the water. This creates a light-filled bathroom that still has a sense of privacy.

Find out more about Primary School Hotel ›

Riverside apartment by Format Architecture Office

Riverside Apartment, US, by Format Architecture Office

A small glazing solution shields the kitchen from the dining space in this New York apartment, adding a restaurant-like feel to the kitchen design.

Ribbed glass has been inserted into a wooden frame, hiding the prep-work space in the kitchen from the more relaxed living space and adding a nicely textured detail to the pared-down aesthetic of the flat.

Find out more about Riverside Apartment ›

Lawyer’s office, Belgium, by Arjaan de Feyter

Professional spaces can also benefit from internal glazing, such as in this lawyer’s office in Belgium. Large glazed internal walls and windows help break up the rooms while making sure the moody colour palette doesn’t feel too dark.

Partition walls of glass and blackened steel create closed-off meeting rooms and contrast against the whitewashed walls.

Find out more about Lawyer’s office ›

LIFE micro-apartments, South Korea, by Ian Lee

This co-living building in Seoul has micro-apartments that tenants can customise however they want, with interiors that were designed to feel simple and timeless.

Sliding glass partitions have been used to divide the rooms in some of the apartments, with frosted glass to add more privacy between bedrooms and social spaces.

Find out more about LIFE micro-apartments ›

Bedroom of Botaniczna Apartment by Agnieszka Owsiany Studio

Botaniczana Apartment, Poland, by Agnieszka Owsiany Studio

Designer Agnieszka Owsiany aimed to create a tranquil apartment for a couple with high-pressure jobs, and used a simple material palette and natural colours to do so.

A floor-to-ceiling glass wall between the apartment’s hallway and the bedroom has a white frame that matches the plain white walls and has been hung with white curtains, a clever way to create a more intimate space when desired.

Find out more about Botaniczana Apartment ›

Mews house, UK, by Hutch Design

Even without glazing, internal windows help open up adjacent rooms and create a sense of space. Hutch Design’s renovation of this London mews house includes a side extension with a concertina partition in the upper section of the dividing wall.

This can be open or closed as needed, creating a room that can be adapted depending on its usage.

Find out more about Mews house ›

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 printed wallpapers, contemporary bathrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

Reference

Interior Design

Eight compact U-shaped kitchens designed by architects

By Zarkon Group,19/06/2021

In the latest in our series exploring kitchen layouts, we’ve picked eight examples from Dezeen’s archive with U-shaped configurations to make efficient use of space.

As the name suggests, U-shaped kitchens consist of three worktops connected to form an open rectangle.

Popular in smaller interiors, the practical layout creates plenty of counter space for food preparation with room for storage underneath and in wall-hung cabinets above.

The design also creates a compact and efficient work triangle, with everything close to hand.

The U-shape is of the most common kitchen layouts along with 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 roundups include living rooms with statement shelving, spa-like bathrooms and home-working spaces.

Paris apartment, France, by Sophie Dries

French architect Sophie Dries combined two mid-19th-century flats in Paris to create a single large apartment.

At the centre of the apartment, this U-shaped kitchen combines dark grey floor and wall cabinets with soft red worktops, walls, floor and ceiling.

Find out more about Paris apartment ›

Delawyk Module House, UK, by R2 Studio

R2 Studio created playful interiors within this 1960s home on a London council estate. Set alongside an open-plan living and dining area, the bright kitchen combines yellow units and custom orange splashback tiles.

Countertops are arranged in a U-shape with the sink placed under a window and one arm of the U dividing the kitchen from the other communal areas.

Find out more about Delawyk Module House ›

Highgate apartment, UK, by Surman Weston

Built within a 1920s residential block in the Highgate, the kitchen and living space in this small apartment are connected by a timber-framed porthole window.

Within the small kitchen, the sink sits under a narrow window with turquoise-blue countertops inlaid with timber to create a terrazzo-like finish, positioned along the walls. The room is finished with cabinets made from fluted panels of oak finished with brass handles.

Find out more about Highgate apartment ›

Ruffey Lake House, Australia, by Inbetween Architecture

Local studio Inbetween Architecture overhauled a late 20th-century house in Melbourne to create a home for a family of five.

The ground floor was opened up to create an open-plan living and dining space that steps down to the kitchen. The cooker was located at the end of the U with the sink on one arm and space for food preparation on the other.

Find out more about Ruffey Lake House ›

Barcelona apartment, Spain, by Adrian Elizalde and Clara Ocaña

Spanish architects Adrian Elizalde and Clara Ocaña tucked the kitchen into a niche that was left over when they demolished the internal walls in this apartment in Barcelona’s Eixample neighbourhood.

More of a J-shape than a U, the asymmetrical kitchen is defined by a tiled floor. The white countertop wraps around three walls and extends into the living area, which is demarked by timber flooring.

Find out more about Barcelona apartment ›

Carlton House, Australia, by Reddaway Architects

Lit by a skylight, the kitchen separates the more enclosed spaces in this house’s original structure from a large open living and dining space within an extension.

The kitchen, which has a marble countertop above pink cabinets, extends out from the wall in a J-shape to create a partially enclosed food preparation and cooking space.

Find out more about Carlton House ›

Concrete counter tops in kitchen extension

The Cook’s Kitchen, UK, by Fraher Architects

Fraher Architects added a black-stained timber extension to this London flat to create a larger kitchen for a client who loves to cook.

A window extends up the wall to meet a roof light that extends the length of the kitchen, which has a single, in-situ-poured concrete countertop.

The painted plywood cabinets feature patterns of randomly drilled holes that double as recessed handles.

Find out more about The Cook’s Kitchen ›

HB6B – One Home, Sweden, by Karen Matz

Karen Matz created this kitchen within a small, 36-square-metre apartment that she designed for herself.

The end counter contains the sink and cooker, while one of the arms can be used as a breakfast bar. The third arm is topped with storage space and supports one side of the apartment’s raised mezzanine bedroom.

Find out more about HB6B – One Home ›

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, outdoor fireplaces and rooftop gardens.

Reference

Interior Design

Ten compact kitchens by architects that make the most of limited space

By Zarkon Group,18/06/2021

Not everyone has room for a huge kitchen so for our latest lookbook, we’ve rounded up ten designs with a small footprint.

One solution is a single-wall kitchen, in which everything is arranged in a single run against a wall.

Other more creative designs feature kitchens tucked in nooks, hidden behind doors or even pop-up kitchens that fold away when not in use.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous kitchen-related posts feature breakfast bars, kitchens with islands, green kitchens, terrazzo kitchens and kitchens with skylights.

Pocket House, UK, by Tikari Works

Aptly named Pocket House, this London extension measures just 35 square metres. Designers Tikari Works fitted the compact kitchen along a wall, with a skylight above providing natural light.

Custom-made plywood cabinets by Uncommon Projects provide storage including a run of units above the counter with sliding doors that hide everything from gadgets to plug sockets, allowing the counter to remain clutter-free.

Find out more about Pocket House ›

LIFE micro-apartments, South Korea, by Ian Lee

Like the walls in this tiny apartment in Seoul, South Korea, the storage spaces in this small kitchen have been lined with pale birch wood.

The kitchen has a stainless steel sink and a miniature hob beneath a small steel extractor. Two of the birch shelves have been left open, giving the owner space to display their earthenware.

This creates a simple, decorative touch and breaks up the streamlined design of the wooden cabinets.

Find out more about LIFE micro-apartments ›

Studio apartment, France, by Pierre-Louis Gerlier

A curved wall with scalloped wood panelling decorates this Parisian studio apartment where space is at a premium. Designer Pierre-Louise Gerlier built it into a partition to save space in the open-plan interior.

Cabinets in a bright, springlike green sit above a sink and small hob. The wall behind the kitchen area has been rendered in concrete that contrasts with the brass electrical sockets.

A vintage campaign chair in bright orange adds another touch of colour to the space.

Find out more about the studio apartment ›

Casa Mami, USA, by Working Holiday Studio

Holiday homes often need functional but space-saving kitchens and this one in the California desert is no exception. Designers Working Holiday Studio took cues from Japanese and Scandinavian design when creating this pale-wood kitchen.

Cabinets and drawers have holes instead of handles. A small black cafe table and slender chairs pick up the black colours of the mismatching sink, fridge and cast-iron cooking utensils.

Find out more about Casa Mami ›

Tiny El Camarin apartment by IR Arquitectura

El Camarin, Argentina, by IR Arquitectura

Bright white cupboards and shelves give this small Argentine kitchen a light, relaxing feel. Built-in furniture adds plenty of storage space to the small kitchen next to a caged balcony.

A small table can be folded out to create a dining space, and the fridge and washing machines are also hidden behind the doors.

Find out more about El Camarin ›

Minimal Fantasy Apartment, Spain, by Patricia Bustos Studio

The only minimal thing in the Minimal Fantasy Apartment is the footprint of the kitchen, which has been built against one wall in the completely pink apartment.

Colourful cabinets have geometric shapes and blue hues that break up the monotone pink. A small pale-pink sink sits on a pink-tiled countertop. Spherical wall lights add a festive feel.

Find out more about Minimal Fantasy Apartment ›

Majamaja, Finland, by Pekka Littow

Majamaja is an off-grid cabin in the Finnish seaside that was created as a holiday home by architect Pekka Littow.

He added clever space-saving tricks such as fold-down furniture and a kitchenette that can be hidden behind birch plywood doors when not in use.

The doors have matching shelves above the stainless-steel sink, hob and splashback.

Find out more about Majamaja ›

Brooklyn Loft by Dean Works

This former studio apartment in Brooklyn was reorganised around a multi-functional plywood volume. In the kitchen, where it has been lined with grey and white marble, it forms cabinets and countertops.

The module holds both the since and a gas hob, as well as a built-in oven. Open shelves lend the feel of a display case and allow the owners easy access to crockery and cooking utensils.

Find out more about Brooklyn Loft ›

Sanwa unveils latest collection of tiny kitchens for micro homes

Sanwa kitchen, Japan, by Sanwa

Japanese brand Sanwa designed this tiny kitchen, which is made from bamboo, especially for micro-homes. When closed, the kitchen doubles as a compact work desk.

An inbuilt electric motor opens the lid up to turn it into a fully functional kitchen with kitchen and washing facilities in one single unit.

The kitchen is one of a range of compact kitchens by the brand.

Find out more about Sanwa kitchen ›

Tiny Holiday Home by i29 interior architects

Tiny Holiday Home, The Netherlands, by Chris Collaris and i29 Interior Architects

Pale wood meets black wood to create a sculptural, striking kitchen design in this Dutch holiday home.

The house was designed to be “spatially efficient” and make use of every centimetre. This can also be seen in the wardrobe-like kitchen, which features bespoke full-height cabinetry designed by i29 Interior Architects and Chris Collaris to echo the graphical form of the house.

Find out more about Tiny Holiday Home ›

Reference

Interior Design

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Ten interiors by architects that use internal glazing to create space and light

Eight compact U-shaped kitchens designed by architects

Ten compact kitchens by architects that make the most of limited space

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