Ten peaceful Scandi living rooms that feature minimalist design
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten peaceful Scandi living rooms that feature minimalist design

For this week’s lookbook, we have picked ten Scandi-style living rooms from the Dezeen archive that play with textures and showcase natural materials, elegant accessories and muted colours.


Scandi style is a term used to describe designs from the three Scandinavian countries – Sweden, Denmark and Norway – but has also become a catchphrase that denotes minimalist interior design that uses plenty of natural materials, especially wood.

Wooden floors are traditional in Scandinavian homes, where they are often matched with wood details such as panelling and classic mid-century modern furniture.

Scandi living rooms often feature white or pale walls, which are common in the Nordic countries where the long, dark winter months mean people tend to choose light colours for their interiors.

Many of the ten interiors below also play with textures, adding fluffy throws to simple sofas, tactile rugs to wooden floors and rattan and leather seating.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous roundups include L-shaped kitchens, interiors that use internal glazing and inviting courtyards.


Scandi living room with grey walls

Gjøvik House, Norway, by Norm Architects

Located an hour outside of Oslo, Gjøvik House comprises six interconnected blocks with interiors featuring mottled grey walls, earthen textiles and warm wooden panelling.

Pale grey hues were used for the living room, which has a soft Bollo chair designed by Andreas Engesvik for Foglia and a modular sofa in a neutral grey tone.

According to the architect, the spaces were designed to have a “cosy and inviting feel, where you can truly hibernate while taking shelter from the frigid days of Nordic winter.”

Find out more about Gjøvik House ›


Living room of TypeO Loft in Sweden

TypeO Loft, Sweden, by TypeO

The living room area of creative studio TypeO’s guest loft in southern Sweden features floor-to-ceiling glazing that opens up onto a large balcony.

A coffee table by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra matches the wooden floor and beams and is complemented by Ligne Roset’s Togo armchairs in black leather. Sculptural decorative details add an art gallery-like feel to the bright living space.

Find out more about TypeO Loft ›


Living room of 20 Bond apartment by Home Studios

20 Bond Apartment, US, by Home Studios

Design firm Home Studios filled the 20 Bond Apartment in New York with bespoke furniture and vintage finds, including a leather Safari chair by Danish designer Kai Winding.

An entire wall is taken up by a bespoke shelving unit that the studio made from oak wood and brass, adding another Scandinavian-style feature to the room. A rattan table and a pink resin side table by Sabine Marcelis add a tactile touch.

Find out more about 20 Bond Apartment ›


The Sculptor's Residence installation by Norm Architects at Stockholm Design Week

Sculptor’s Residence, Sweden, by Norm Architects, Menu and Dux

Norm Architects, Menu and Dux collaborated on this installation that was designed to resemble the “eclectic living quarters of a creative.” Muted brown and beige hues lend the interiors an earthy, organic feel, which is contrasted by the elegance of the black marble table and black sculptures.

Menu’s Hashira floor lamp adds a subtle nod to Japanese interiors, and its sleek surface offsets the knobbly texture of the brand’s Eave Dining Sofa Bench.

Find out more about Sculptor’s Residence ›


Villa Weinberg by Weinberg Architects and Friis and Moltke

Villa Weinberg, Denmark, by Mette and Martin Weinberg

Wienberg Architects collaborated with fellow Danish architects Friis & Moltke to overhaul the 1940s Villa Weinberg. The result is a warm, inviting home lined with oil-treated oak walls.

The wood-clad living room also has a simple wooden coffee table and poufs for lounging on, as well as a built-in leather-clad bench. A rice lamp and sheepskin throw add texture to the wooden interior.

Find out more about Villa Weinberg ›


Summerhouse Solviken by Johan Sundberg Arkitektur

Solviken, Sweden, by Johan Sundberg

Scandi living rooms tend to have very neutral colours, but in this space in a Swedish holiday home, two comfy sofas in a calming seafoam green create a bright focal point in the room. The hue is picked up by a painting at the end of the large, open-plan kitchen and living room.

Small unpainted wooden coffee tables match the floor and the wooden storage cabinets alongside one wall.

Find out more about Solviken ›


Powerscroft Road by Daytrip

London townhouse, UK, by Daytrip

Design studio Daytrip’s renovation and expansion of an east London townhouse includes a living room with white walls, a wooden floor and furniture in muted colours.

A textured “Banana” sofa designed by Danish Cabinetmaker, contrasts with the glass Trebol side table by Oscar Tusquets Blanca.

Numerous ceramics and sculptures surround the open fireplace and add life and interest to the sleek white interior.

Find out more about London townhouse ›


Lyceum apartments by Andreas Martin-Löf Arkitekter

Lyceum Apartments, Sweden, by Andreas Martin-Löf Arkitekter

The Lyceum Apartments in Stockholm are located in the Old Technical College’s Pharmaceutical Institute and feature light-filled rooms with clean designs and historical details.

In the living room, a curved white sofa contrasts against the angular shapes of Pierre Jeanneret’s wood and cane Easy Chairs, Soft beige curtains match the neutral hues of the rest of the room.

Find out more about Lyceum Apartments ›


Sommarhus T by Johan Sundberg

Sommarhus T, Sweden, by Johan Sundberg

This summer house by Johan Sundberg features a green sofa and a matching armchair. Both are from Danish brand &tradition and match the verdant greenery outside the large glass windows.

A practical wooden table holds globe-shaped glass vases matching the slightly uneven glass lamps in the ceiling. The entire room is clad in pale wood, including the spruce floors, creating a calm, peaceful interior. The fixed furniture in the home was made from oak.

Find out more about Sommarhus T ›


Birkedal by urlaubsarchitektur

Birkedal, Denmark, by Jan Henrik Jansen

A circular holiday home on the island of Møn in Denmark features a playful living room with white-panelled walls and a floor covered in small white pebbles collected from the beach.

A built-in curved sofa has brown leather seats that have been made cosier with added throws and pillows, and a small circular side table provides space for books, magazines and snacks.

Find out more about Birkedal ›


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.

Reference

Eight comfortable living rooms with inviting interiors
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight comfortable living rooms with inviting interiors

With winter approaching in the northern hemisphere, wes selected eight snug living rooms with cosy features including fireplaces and wood-lined walls as our latest Dezeen Lookbook.


This is the latest roundup in a series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series showcased colourful kitchens, bedrooms with statement walls and domestic bathrooms designed by architects.


Timber-lined living room

Villa Weinberg, Denmark, by Mette and Martin Weinberg

The inviting living room inside this 1940s cottage in Aarhus is almost entirely lined with oiled oak boards.

Although it is devoid of sofas, the seating bench that runs around the room’s periphery has been topped with comforting tan-leather cushions and woolly throws. There are also a couple of beanbags for inhabitants to relax on.

Find out more about Villa Weinberg


Concrete living room with fireplace

Ocean House, Australia, by Rob Mills

Concrete isn’t typically associated with cosiness – but architect Rob Mills has applied it throughout the living room of this house on Australia’s Great Ocean Road, adding homely details like a plump sofa, a shaggy rug and a fireplace.

“I don’t see the design as being stark,” Mills said. “The interior is organic and tactile, and incorporates neutral fabrics.”

Find out more about Ocean House


Carriage House by Workstead

Carriage House, USA, by Workstead

Exposed-brick walls smattered with remnants of paint and plaster lend a cosy, lived-in quality to this lounge, which sits inside a Charleston home that dates back to the 1800s.

Cane cabinetry, red-leather armchairs and an olive-green sofa provide extra touches of warmth.

Find out more about Carriage House


Plywood-lined living room with wood-burning stove

Avalanche House, New Zealand, by Intuitive Architects

Pitched ceilings and plywood-lined walls make this holiday home in Wanaka feel much more like an intimate cabin.

Intuitive Architects have finished its lounge with more cosy decor elements like fluffy cushions, a wood burner and even a trio of tree branches, which have been stood in the room’s corner.

Find out more about Avalanche House


North Bank by Elliott Architects

North Bank, UK, by Elliott Architects

Walls washed with pale-brown plaster give a rustic warmth to this living area, despite its lofty proportions and large windows which look out to the countryside of Northumberland.

Tucked in the corner of the space is a daybed dressed with a patchwork blanket, fur throws and plush cushions, forming a perfect spot for inhabitants to snuggle up.

Find out more about North Bank ›


Living room with black fireplace

Central Park Road Residence, Australia, by Studio Four

Studio Four orientated the design scheme of this Melbourne home around the concept of hygge – a Danish term used to describe feelings of cosiness, comfort and general contentment.

Its living area rather aptly features a warm mix of blackened timber surfaces, copper light fixtures and tan-leather armchairs. The focal point of the room is a huge fireplace topped with a five-metre-high steel flue, where inhabitants can gather on chilly winter evenings.

Find out more about Central Park Road Residence ›


Cottage in Hai Zhen by Sun Min and Christian Taeubert

Cottage in Hai Zhen, China, by Sun Min and Christian Taeubert

The creative pair behind the renovation of this cottage on the rural outskirts of Beijing opted to retain the property’s rustic features, while introducing slick contemporary elements.

In the lounge, cracked plaster walls, worn ceiling beams and an old wood burner have contrastingly been paired with wire-frame chairs and steel cabinetry, forming a cosy yet balanced space.

Find out more about the cottage ›


Living room with long fireplace

Seaside Abode, Denmark, by Norm Architects

Weathered beams of dark-stained timber clad the central gabled wall of this living room. Just in front are a couple of marble side tables, a thick fringed rug and taupe-coloured sofas.

These earthy, tactile details are meant to foster a sense of warmth within the space, but also reflect the rugged coastal landscape of Denmark’s North Zealand region, which can be seen through the home’s expansive windows.

Find out more about Seaside Abode

Reference

10 contemporary living rooms with calm interiors
CategoriesInterior Design

10 contemporary living rooms with calm interiors

In our latest Dezeen Lookbook, we’ve rounded up 10 living rooms with calm, relaxing interiors, including rooms with soothing colours and natural materials that create a peaceful environment.


This is the latest roundup in a series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series showcased peaceful bedrooms, dining rooms in American homes, and kitchens and domestic bathrooms designed by architects.


Living room in Budge over Dover house

Budge Over Dover house, Australia, by YSG

Interior design studio YSG opened up the kitchen and living room into one large, open-plan space that connects to the garden to create a “fluid” sense of space in the Budge Over Dover House in Sydney.

The studio used warm, deep colours to create a sense of calm, including dark wood detailing and aubergine hues. Marble surfaces add a luxury touch and look intriguing next to the simple brick floor.

Find out more about Budge Over Dover house ›


Living room in Esperinos guesthouse in Greece

Esperinos Guesthouse, Greece, by Michael Stamos

Greek designer Michael Stamos used a moss-green colour for the living room walls in the Esperinos guesthouse in Greece. The colour gives the room a relaxing feel and picks up the green from the plants that are dotted around the space.

A nearby staircase has been painted black as a contrast, creating a moody atmosphere that’s contrasted by the colourful cushions on the large sofa.

Find out more about Esperinos Guesthouse ›


Living room of Whidbey Island

Whidbey Island Farm, USA, by MW Works

MW Works wisely designed Whidbey Island Farm to make the most of the surrounding nature, with large windows and a pared-back interior design that lets the view speak for itself.

Simple wooden furniture sits both inside the living room and on the connected terrace, while woven blankets and a furry throw adding a cosy touch. The open fire means the owners can enjoy the view of the surrounding forest in comfort even in the depths of winter.

Find out more about Whidbey Island Farm ›


Living room of VS House, India, by Sãrãnsh

VS House, India, by Sãrãnsh

Architecture studio Sārānsh used local Kota tiles in the living room of the VS House in Ahmedabad to create a sense of tactility. The interior was kept minimalist, but the studio created interest by combining a range of different natural materials.

The discrete grey hues of the plush furniture cushions work well against the rattan armrests and wooden furniture bases, while a decorative wall in dark wood adds a refined touch.

Find out more about VS House ›


Living room in Nithurst farm by Adam Richards Architecture

Nithurst Farm, UK, by Adam Richards

Nithurst Farm might have been inspired by both Roman architecture and Soviet-era science fiction, but its living room has a more traditional look.

Architect Adam Richards, who designed Nithurst Farm as his own home, took advantage of the high, concrete ceilings as a calm background onto which he’s projected bright splashes of colour in the form of paintings and curtains. A baroque-style chair and a fabric-clad footstool help soften the space.

Find out more about Nithurst Farm ›


Living room in White Arrow schoolhouse

Williamsburg schoolhouse, US, by White Arrow

The living room of this schoolhouse in Brooklyn, which studio White Arrow’s founders designed for their own home, has plenty of patterned textiles, but their creamy pastel hues means the space still doesn’t feel busy.

A large palm tree is a fun detail and picks up the dark wood of a small sideboard and a floating TV-bench. Clean, white walls and a selection of modernist white lamps, as well as glass sofa table, create a restful atmosphere.

Find out more about Williamsburg schoolhouse ›


Living room in Bismarck House by Andrew Burges Architects

Bismarck House, Australia, by Andrew Burges Architects

With its floor-to-ceiling glass walls that open out onto a garden in Bondi, Sydney, the living room of Bismarck House has the feel of a terrace. Andrew Burges Architects kept the details simple, adding galvanised steel columns and a concrete floor to “reinforce a robust outdoor character.”

Furniture is in the same laid-back style with wooden chairs and a daybed creating comfortable resting spots. A terracotta-coloured wall lends the space more privacy and adds to the comfortable holiday-vibe of this inviting living room.

Find out more about Bismarck House ›


Living room of riverside apartment

Riverside Apartment, US, by Format Architecture Office

The living room of Riverside Apartment, set within a 1920s building on New York’s Upper West Side, owes much of its quiet charm to the beautiful wooden floorboards. The theme was taken up in both furniture in various types of wood and a woodclad doorway.

Crisp white walls are decorated with graphic art that perfectly matches the mid-century modern furniture to create a soothing environment.

Find out more about Riverside Apartment ›


Living room of Casa Meco

Casa Meco, Portugal, by Atelier Rua

The enormous sitting room in Casa Meco, a holiday home south of Lisbon, Portugal, has three different vistas surrounding it and plenty of space for socialising and relaxing.

Earthy colours were used for the interiors, which work well with the exposed-concrete ceiling and floor and make for a laid-back space. Glazed panels can be slid open for easy outdoor access.

Find out more about Casa Meco ›


View from Residence for Two Collectors by Wheeler Kearns Architects

Residence for Two Collectors, US, by Wheeler Kearns Architects

The living room of this Chicago penthouse is filled with art, collected by its owners, and features a striking view of the city skyline.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, a sofa group in pale colours is combined with a matching rug in calm grey and white hues, while a seagreen glass coffee table picks up the light from the windows.

A Georg Nakashima bench from the owners’ collection adds an organic touch to the elegant space.

Find out more about Residence for Two Collectors ›


This roundup is part of our interior inspirations series that aims to provide ideas for people renovating or decorating their homes. For more inspiration read our pieces focused on bathrooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and home offices.

Reference

Ten welcoming living rooms where the fireplace takes centre stage
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten welcoming living rooms where the fireplace takes centre stage

With spring still a few months away in the northern hemisphere, this is the season to snuggle up in front of an open fire. For our latest lookbook, we’ve rounded up ten cosy living rooms where the fireplace is at the heart of the interior design.


This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbook series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series showcased living rooms with calm interiors, peaceful bedrooms, Japandi interiors and domestic bathrooms designed by architects.


White living room with black fireplace

116 Sorauren and 118 Sorauren, Canada, by Ancerl Studio

The living room of 116 Sorauren Street in Toronto, one of a pair of twin townhouses designed by Ancerl Studio, has been made cosy through the use of natural materials and plenty of textiles.

A black steel fireplace sits on a cast concrete plinth against the back wall. The plinth extends to create a comfortable nook has where the owners or their guests can warm themselves.

Find out more about 116 and 118 Sorauren ›


Pale brick fireplace in modern living room

Three Chimney House, US, by T W Ryan Architecture

This modernist white-brick house in Virginia (above and top image) has three white chimneys that define its external form. Inside, one of them opens up into this starkly elegant, brick-clad fireplace in the living room.

Here, tall white walls and ceilings create a contrast with the more traditional upholstered furniture. Warm colours ranging from pale aubergine purple to a mustard yellow were used on the seating by the fireplace, which is practical during cold winter months as well as being a decorative feature all year round.

Find out more about Three Chimney House ›


Living space with Japanese informed fireplace

Pound Ridge House, US, by Tsao & McKown

Tsao & McKown drew on Japanese architectural principles when designing Pound Ridge House. The influence that can be seen in the pared-back fireplace built onto a square stone hearth that sits between the living room and the dining room.

The design references an irori, a traditional Japanese sunken hearth which is often square in form and set in the middle of a room.

Smoke is extracted by a bronze flue in the form of a truncated pyramid that hangs from the ceiling of the lounge, which is filled with wood detailing and cream-coloured textiles. A generous skylight lets the light in during the daytime.

Find out more about Pound Ridge House ›


US home with large black fireplace

Teton House, US, by Olson Kundig

With views like the ones from Teton House (above and top) in the mountainous terrain of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, you don’t need art on the walls. Olson Kundig used floor-to-ceiling windows to take advantage of the vistas. But the view is almost upstaged by a substantial black fireplace in the centre of the glazing.

The simple form of the fireplace is complemented by leather chairs in warm brown hues as well as wood surfaces and woven textiles, creating an inviting, relaxing atmosphere.

Find out more about Teton House ›


California farmhouse with white brick fireplace

House for Grandparents, US, by Dash Marshall

The renovation of this California farmhouse was informed by the state’s Spanish missions, and its geometric forms and spartan material use reference these religious structures. But there is nothing ascetic about the house’s comfortable living room, where a broad brick fireplace sits on one wall.

A colourful painting and rug add vibrancy to the room, while two cylindrical metal coffee tables pick up the warm glow of the fire.

Find out more about House for Grandparents ›


Massive stone fireplace

Smith Residence, Canada, by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple

Inside this holiday home on the Nova Scotia peninsula, a massive fireplace keeps the living room toasty. Made from granite that was sourced from a nearby quarry, the fireplace features one aperture for the fire and one for storing logs.

Its sits underneath the black steel trusses that support the exposed roof. In front of the fire, a soft high-pile rug and two brown leather sofas complete the design of the living room.

Find out more about Smith Residence ›


Library room with statement fireplace

Wasatch House, US, by Olson Kundig

An enormous bronze flue dominates the library in this Utah home by Olson Kundig, which has the feel of a living room thanks to a wide leather sofa and two cognac-coloured leather chairs. These sit in front of the unusual portrait-shaped fireplace, which is set in the monolithic flue and fronted by double doors.

A colour palette of dark browns and greys create a pleasantly laid-back atmosphere in the capacious room while ceiling-height bookcases flank the fireplace.

Find out more about Wasatch House ›


Concrete and red brick fireplace in Brussels rooftop extension

Lincoln, Belgium, by Notan Office

Modernist architect and designer Alvar Aalto inspired the design for this fireplace, set in a rooftop extension in Brussels by Notan Office.

It wraps around a corner and was built from concrete and ceramic construction blocks in warm orange and pale grey hues. “A fireplace is a kind of artifactual element in a house,” architect Frédéric Karam told Dezeen. “I wanted to express a sense of organic and rough feeling for such a function,”

Find out more about Lincoln ›


Slim fireplace in Little Peek by Berman Horn Studio

Little Peek, US, by Berman Horn Studio

Little Peek is a holiday home in Vinalhaven off the coast of Maine, designed by the Berman Horn Studio founders for themselves.

Designed to be used in all seasons, the house nevertheless has a summer feel thanks to its light interior and many generous windows, as well as an enclosed patio.

But in the open-plan kitchen and living room, a built-in fireplace set in a narrow stonework flue helps keep the room warm during cold New England winters.

Find out more about Little Peek ›


Contemporary freestanding fireplace in Italy

Casa Prè de Sura, Italy, by Casati

A freestanding fireplace in the form of a trapezoidal prism decorates this living room in Italy, set in a gabled house by Austrian architects Casati that has rough limestone interior walls.

The white fireplace functions as a decorative piece as well as a heat source. It has been cleverly designed with a side ledge on which the owners can stack wood. Beige and cream hues were used for the colour palette, matching both the fireplace and the limestone walls.

Find out more about Casa Prè de Sura ›


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

Ten living rooms with practical and beautiful built-in storage
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten living rooms with practical and beautiful built-in storage

For our latest lookbook, we’ve rounded up ten living rooms that have solved the storage dilemma with bespoke shelving that define the room.


This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbook series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series showcased designer bathrooms, colourful kitchens and living rooms with calm interiors.

Whether they’re used as room dividers, to show off the owners’ book collection or as a hiding place for shy pets, built-in or custom-made shelves create a design statement.

Read on for our round up of the ten best from Dezeen’s archives (plus a bonus eleventh one, above, which features the spectacular floor-to-ceiling bookcases at Olson Kundig’s Wasatch House in Salt Lake City):


Mermaid Beach Residence by B.E. Architecture

Mermaid Beach Residence, Australia, by B.E. Architecture

The living room of Mermaid Beach Residence in Queensland’s Gold Coast region is a study in clever material use, with its concrete surfaces and timber flooring.

The monolithic built-in wooden shelving that fills one wall creates a decorative grid-effect on top of the concrete. It rests on a stone slab above wooden storage units at floor level.

Find out more about Mermaid Beach Residence ›


Artist's studio with large plywood partition

Artist’s studio, Russia, by Ruetemple

Architecture studio Ruetemple looked to “drawing and architecture” when designing this artist’s studio in Moscow, which is dominated by a large plywood partition that incorporates both furniture and shelving.

As well as separating the lounge area from a workspace, the partition works as both storage space and furniture. It has a built-in sofa, shelving, and a set of steps that lead up to a suspended sleeping platform.

Find out more about Artist’s studio ›


Pastel yellow built-in shelves in living room with concrete-style fireplace

Spear Building Loft, US, by Ravi Raj and Evan Watts

This former factory in New York was renovated to create a bright, open living space. In the living room, simple built-in shelves were painted in a creamy pastel-yellow hue that harmonises with the white storage units and the fireplace.

Rather than building the shelves into a separate wall panel, they have been attached to the white wall on one side, which creates an airy feel and helps open up the room.

Find out more about Spear Building Loft ›


Sierra Negra by Hemaa

Sierra Negra, Mexico, by Hemaa

Two built-in shelves with wooden panelling serve a decorative function in this Mexico City living room, which has matching wooden floorboards and wood-clad walls.

Its minimalist interior and simple colour palette, which blends beige, brown and grey hues, means the books in the shelves stand out as a splash of colour. The shelves also hold speakers and picture frames, helping to keep the rest of the room free from clutter.

Find out more about Sierra Negra ›


Sausalito Outlook by Feldman Architecture

Sausalito Outlook, USA, by Feldman Architecture

In the living room of this hillside home in Sausalito, California, Feldman Architecture added plenty of storage space for the owners’ book collection, while the white panelling in the middle hides the TV from sight.

The walls and kitchen space next to the storage wall have been painted a matching glossy white, complemented by more natural hues such as a beige rug and brown Ligne Roset Togo seating.

Find out more about Sausalito Outlook ›


Built-in wooden panelling in white open-plan living room

Mayfair apartment, UK, by MWAI

In small apartments, built-in shelving can be the perfect space-saving solution. For MWAI’s design of a 37-square-metre home in London’s Mayfair area, it covered one wall of the open-plan kitchen and living area in a pale-wood storage unit that also includes a desk.

Colours were kept neutral to reinforce the studio’s idea to look at the design as that of a hotel room where “all functions are carefully and discreetly planned to provide a functional response.”

Find out more about Mayfair apartment ›


Study lined with wood in Kew Residence by John Wardle Architects in Melbourne, Australia

Kew Residence, Australia, by John Wardle

Architect John Wardle renovated his own Kew Residence home to make its wood-lined first-floor study the focal point of the house. Built-in shelves hold books and bric-a-brac on one side of the room and the architect’s art collection on another.

Neutral wood colours were used for the shelves and the built-in reading nook in the room, where the architect said he spends “just about all his daylight hours.”

Find out more about Kew Residence ›


White shelves with a staircase for cats and colourful furniture

House for Booklovers and Cats, USA, by BFDO Architects

The built-in storage in this colourful home lives up to the project name – it doesn’t just have space for books and art, but also for the owners’ two cats to hide away from visitors.

The custom-made shelf has dozens of cubby holes while projecting shelves form a staircase for the cats to ascend to the ledge at the top, where they can sit and observe the goings-on below.

Find out more about House for Booklovers and Cats ›


Walnut reading nook and white bookshelf in Frank Gehry house

The Hide Out, US, by Dan Brunn Architecture

Dan Brunn Architecture renovated The Hide Out, which was originally designed by Frank Gehry in the 1970s, to pay homage to its initial simple material palette.

In this living room and bedroom overlooking a meditation garden, the lush walnut seating nook is complemented by a built-in white bookshelf that also hides a fold-out bed.

Find out more about The Hide Out ›


Roksanda Ilincic renovation by RA Projects

Fin House, UK, by RA Projects

The blue steel staircase in the middle of the living space in this home designed for fashion designer Roksanda Ilincic was designed to look “like a sculpture in a gallery.”

As well as a staircase, the piece functions as a shelving system with multiple shelves in different sizes. Its back wall is broken up rather than solid, which lets light pass through and stops the colourful piece from feeling too solid.

Find out more about Fin 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 peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

Reference

Watch our lookbook video roundup of living rooms with calm interiors
CategoriesInterior Design

Watch our lookbook video roundup of living rooms with calm interiors

This one-minute video takes you on a tour of contemporary living rooms with relaxing interiors, as featured in a recent Dezeen Lookbook.


The video showcases examples of living rooms that have been designed to create a peaceful environment, including rooms with soothing colours and natural materials.

Dezeen Lookbooks is a new section featuring roundups of home interiors and decor trends to help designers and design lovers plan their projects.

Published each Saturday, each lookbook presents images of contemporary interiors selected from Dezeen’s vast archive of over 750,000 images.

Check out the lookbook to find out more about all the projects ›

Reference

Watch our video roundup of living rooms with statement shelving
CategoriesInterior Design

Watch our video roundup of living rooms with statement shelving

This one-minute video showcases ten living rooms with statement shelving, as featured in a recent Dezeen Lookbook.


The video rounds up examples of bespoke shelving that are both beautiful and practical, including a bookcase with cubby holes for cats and a sculptural blue staircase with built-in storage.

Dezeen Lookbooks is a new section featuring roundups of home interiors and decor trends to help designers and design lovers plan their projects.

Published each Saturday, each lookbook presents images of contemporary interiors selected from Dezeen’s vast archive of over 750,000 images.

Check out the lookbook to find out more about all the projects ›

Reference

CategoriesLandscaping

This Landscaped Outdoor Space Includes A Living Room With A Bookshelf For Plants

Architecture and interior design firm Onion has designed the second phase of the Sala Samui Chaweng Beach Resort in Koh Samui, Thailand.

As part of the design, they included an outdoor living room and sitting area that both include a bookshelf for plants.

An outdoor living room with a shelving unit designed to house plants.

At night, the plant bookshelves light up, while the living rooms are furnished with outdoor sofas, armchairs, planters, and oversized lamps, the living rooms create comfortable spaces for guests to relax in.

An outdoor living room with a shelving unit designed to house plants.

Another design detail of the outdoor living rooms are the pebbles that have been used in place of rugs.

An outdoor sitting room with pebbles and oversized lighting.

Let’s take a look around the rest of the hotel…

The Public Areas

The resort design has a bright white exterior, however, the lobby has been warmed up with the use of wood, and curved wood walls add a sculptural element. The hotel restaurant introduces blue accents and includes a variety of seating, as well as oversized black and white striped pendant lights.

A modern hotel lobby with sculptural wood walls, woven lighting, and round furniture.
A modern hotel lobby with sculptural wood walls, woven lighting, and round furniture.
A modern hotel lobby with sculptural wood walls, woven lighting, and round furniture.
A modern hotel lobby with wood walls, woven lighting, and round furniture.
A modern restaurant hotel with glass walls.
A modern hotel restaurant with blue, white, and wood color scheme.
A modern hotel restaurant with blue, white, and wood color scheme.
A modern hotel restaurant with a blue and white theme, as well as black and white striped accents.
A modern hotel restaurant with a blue and white theme, as well as black and white striped accents.
A modern hotel restaurant with window seat and banquette seating.

The Courtyards

The resort has a variety of courtyards and outdoor spaces including areas with chairs arranged in a circle and surrounded by trees, paths with nearby stairs that lead to the different levels of the resort, a swimming pool with sun chaises, and outdoor king-sized beds nestled between plants and shaded by large trees.

A modern hotel courtyard with outdoor chairs arranged in a circle.
A modern hotel with arches and white stairs with lighting.
A modern hotel with cut-out curved sections.
A modern hotel with cut-out curved sections.
The architecture of a modern resort.
A resort swimming pool with oversized lights and a wood deck.
An outdoor king size bed for lounging in the sun.

The Spa

The spa area is defined by the use of the colors dark green and pink. The bathtub of the spa room is placed in the garden surrounded by the dark green walls, while the clear glass door brings nature into the treatment room.

Dark green walls and a built-in seat in a modern hotel spa.
Dark green walls and a built-in seat in a modern hotel spa.
Dark green and light pink walls in a hotel spa.
Light pink walls in a hotel spa.
Dark green walls with light pink stairs.
A spa with deep green walls.
A bathroom with deep green walls.

The Guest Rooms

The hotel’s rooms have contemporary interiors with wood accents and outdoor spaces with private swimming pools and lounges.

A hotel balcony with views of the pool below.
A hotel balcony with views of the pool below.
A hotel balcony with views of the pool below.
A hotel balcony with views of the pool below.
A hotel room with an open bathtub and shower.
A hotel bathroom with open bathtub and wood cabinetry.
A hotel room with a small swimming pool and covered seating area.
A hotel room with a small swimming pool and covered seating area.
Photograpy by Wworkspace

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