Markus Andrews

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    Tabitha Isobel gives London townhouse a “surprising and bold” makeover

    Designer Tabitha Organ combined natural materials with metal details to transform this London townhouse into a home with a “slightly futuristic” feel for a client who loves entertaining.

    The five-storey property on St Pauls Road had recently been renovated by a developer using poor-quality finishes, so the client – a young tech entrepreneur and first-time homeowner – asked Organ’s studio Tabitha Isobel to create a more bespoke interior.
    The brief called for a scheme that retains the Victorian house’s original features, whilst layering vintage pieces and contemporary design to create spaces with a distinct character.
    Tabitha Isobel transformed the Victorian north London townhouse”The client wanted a home that would be surprising and bold but also timeless,” Organ told Dezeen. “Amongst his peers, he is a frequent host of parties so he wanted an interior that would be a backdrop to these and bring a certain entertaining ‘vibe’.”
    Some of the original details that survived the previous renovation included detailed mouldings and the wooden window shutters in the living areas.

    Organ sought to emphasise these elements by introducing a carefully chosen palette of complementary colours and materials. Other spaces received a more expressive treatment, including the golden-toned cinema and DJ room in the basement.
    The five-storey property’s renovation adopts a “slightly futuristic” feelThe main architectural interventions occurred on the first floor, where previously disjointed spaces were reorganised to create a large bedroom with an adjoining bathroom and dressing area.
    The bedroom, which has windows on two sides due to the property’s end-of-terrace location, is connected to the bathroom by a walk-through wardrobe containing bespoke cabinetry built from naturally patterned burr walnut.
    New bespoke features include an adjoining walk-through wardrobeThe house’s main living areas are unified by the consistent application of green hues and metal details, which featured in an image of a kitchen given to Organ by the client as inspiration at the beginning of the project.
    “As the living and dining area is open plan with the kitchen, we introduced a Verde Guaco Green fireplace surround that sits on the same elevation as the kitchen so the tones speak to each other,” Organ explained.
    “We also chose a green velvet sofa from Maison Dara that is positioned in line with the kitchen, helping the spaces to feel connected.”
    Green hues and metal details inform the house’s living areasThe designer added that the combination of natural materials and metal surfaces contributes to the scheme’s sense of timelessness while creating a juxtaposition of textures and finishes that adds visual interest to the design.
    “As part of the concept, we wanted the spaces to have a slightly futuristic feel to them,” she pointed out. “Metals are timeless materials and I find they lift palettes, bringing them to life and creating a richness through reflection and depth.”

    Unknown Works brightens Victorian townhouse with dusty pink extension

    Metal and wood combine in a bespoke solution designed to conceal the television above the fireplace. Eight hand-carved wooden panels are set within a brushed aluminium frame that incorporates bi-fold doors that open to reveal the TV.
    Throughout the home, textiles provide a further textural contrast to the hard metal surfaces. This approach is encapsulated by a vintage metal-framed armchair in the living room that was reupholstered in a boldly patterned fabric by UK brand Schumacher.
    A reupholstered metal-framed armchair provides textural contrastWhile the living area and bedroom are predominantly monochrome, there are moments of bright colour elsewhere in the home – particularly in the en-suite shower room.
    Organ chose terracotta tiles with different scales to bring a sense of richness and warmth to the space. The walk-in shower is lined with cobalt blue tiles intended to introduce a surprising element.
    Terracotta tiles in the en suite shower room provide a sense of richness and warmthA cinema room located on the basement level was designed to resemble a moodily lit members’ club, with a cotton moire wall covering matched to a high-gloss painted ceiling and mid-gloss cabinetry.
    The room is used for hosting parties and includes a concealed home bar with stainless steel shelves set in front of a bronze-tinted mirror.
    Marble and metal wall lights illuminate the textured walls as well as a velvet sofa with oversized cushions, a vintage coffee table and a bespoke walnut DJ console crafted by furniture maker Spinback.
    The cinema room conceals a stainless steel home bar in front of a bronze-tinted mirrorOrgan founded Tabitha Isobel in 2023 after working for a decade as an interior designer for London-based studios Conran + Partners and Sella Concept.
    The designer’s approach focuses on combining historical and contemporary elements to create timeless spaces driven by authenticity rather than trends.
    Other creative townhouse transformations include a Brussels home with a skylit atrium and a London home that was given a 1970s-style makeover.
    The photography is by Genevieve Lutkin.

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    Mithun completes airy, colourful interior for office in Austin

    Pops of colour and a bar with an entrance hidden by a bookcase have been installed in a software company’s office interiors, recently completed in downtown Austin by Seattle-based architecture studio Mithun.

    Spanning five storeys, the 157,000-square foot (14,585 square metres) office houses diverse work and amenity spaces for Atlassian Inc, an Australian company that develops products for software developers and project managers.
    Mithun has completed colourful office interiors for Atlassian Inc in AustinCompleted in 2022, the office is housed in a building shell designed by Gensler, while Mithun was responsible for the interior architecture of the workspace, collaboration areas, focus rooms, cafes and kitchen spaces, lounges and rooftop patio.
    “Atlassian creates collaboration software, so at the very core of their culture is a focus on fostering collaboration,” said Mithun partner Elizabeth Gordon.
    The office is housed in an exterior by GenslerAccording to Gordon, the team prioritized flexibility, inclusivity and sustainability.

    The studio created an environment that inspired social connection with people-centred spaces for in-person and hybrid collaboration and amenities for networking as Atlassian’s team re-establishes a workspace.
    The team prioritized flexibility, inclusivity and sustainabilityRather than delineating floor space with individual workstations, the design opens the rectangular office along the glazed exterior for collaborative zones with moveable furniture, dividing curtains and integrated technology that “empower workers to curate their own day-to-day journey”.
    The spaces are separated by warm wooden bookshelves set into the structural grid that rounds into a ceiling detail before running down the other side of the space.
    Moveable furniture and open floor plans encourage collaborationFocus rooms – provided for individual, head-down work – are arranged in rows as a transition from the open workspace to the central core with circulation and facilities.
    Lit from a large skylight, a feature stair climbs through the building, connecting the workspaces to the amenities, which include a music-inspired coffee shop and “living room” with a stage for events and an indoor-outdoor happy hour area that connects to a secret, Texas-themed bar through a hidden bookcase.
    It includes focus rooms, shower and parent suites, all-gender restrooms, meditation rooms and a wellness studio”Indoor-outdoor connections throughout provide access to fresh air, support outdoor work and help promote movement throughout the day,” the team said. “The variety of unique destinations serves to surprise and delight workers while fostering a sense of community.”
    In terms of inclusivity, the design incorporates elements that create a “safe and inviting space for all Atlassian employees” – like the installation of art and accessories from Austin-based artists of color and LGBTQIA+ creators.

    CitizenM aims for “differentiation through massing” at Downtown Austin location

    Wayfinding was integrated in the form of large-scale custom murals by local artists that lend identity to each floor. Additionally, custom bottle chandeliers serve as an abstract reference to Texas bottle trees.
    The office also includes single-occupant, all-gender restrooms, shower and parent suites, meditation and ablution rooms and a multi-purpose wellness studio that can hold classes from local fitness instructors.
    A bar is accessed through a bookshelfThe project is targeting a LEED Gold standard with high-performance systems and sustainable materials.
    “The design for Atlassian Austin incorporates biophilic principles in many different ways – with new skylights above the stairwells that let sunlight pour in across different levels, with views in and views out, and with the use of plants and natural materials and textures,” said Mithun partner Lisa Scribante
    Other office projects that have recently come online in Austin include Michael Hsu’s self-designed architecture studio and a renovated 110-year-old bungalow for a tech investment firm. West of West also completed a concrete office complex in one of the city’s industrial neighbourhoods.
    The photography is by Jasper Sanidad.
    Project credits:
    Interior architecture: MithunCore/shell: GenslerClient: AtlassianGeneral contractor: Harvey Cleary BuildersFurniture dealer: CRIPlants: Texas TropicalCustom installations: SarabiFurniture: Coalesse, Hightower, Studio TK, Keilhauer, Spacestor, Hem, Hay, Andreu World, Muuto, TON, Emeco, WCI, Blastation, Fritz Hansen, Carl Hansen & Son, Uhuru, Bend Goods, Offecct, Grand Rapids, Sossego, Herman Miller, Schiavello, Davis, Bernhardt Design, Watson, Fogia, Bludot, Kettal, PedraliMaterials: Luum, Maharam, Kvadrat, Carnegie, Kirei, Filzfelt, Pollack, HBF Textiles, Clay Imports, Shaw Contract, Flor, Wineo, Stone Source, Caesarstone, Foresso, Daltile, Cambria, Jujupapers, Katie Kime, Wolf Gordon, ArmstrongLighting: Rich Brilliant Willing, Schoolhouse Electric

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    GRT Architects creates buttery yellow interior for San Sabino restaurant

    Yellow hues make for a sunny environment inside this restaurant in New York’s West Village, designed by Brooklyn-based studio GRT Architects.

    For San Sabino, GRT Architects once again teamed up with chefs Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli, with whom they worked on the neighbouring Don Angie restaurant.
    San Sabino’s historic facade was restored and painted pale grey to constrast the yellow interiorWith a very different menu and aesthetic, the new space is typified by buttery yellow interiors that contrast its pale grey facade.
    Both restaurants occupy the same wedge-shaped building on Greenwich Avenue, in what used to be a trio of retail spaces with “diminutive storefronts”.
    An interior wall was partially removed to connect the bar and dining areasThe facades were restored and windows were uncovered, returning the historic corner to its former glory.

    “Under many layers of paint and filler we found the original storefronts clad in copper sheet that seemed only better for neglect with a charming verdigris and patina,” said GRT Architects.
    A stainless steel ribbon above the bar fronts the lower connects and connects through to the dining spaceInside, a thick brick wall was partially removed to unify the spaces, while still visually separating the bar area from the main dining zone.
    A ribbon of stainless steel above the bar wraps around to connect the two, with custom polished brass sconces affixed at intervals onto the undulating surface.
    Ribbed leather banquettes and custom light boxes creates intimate moments”This horizontality is reprised at the bar with a shapely solid pewter rail, echoed by stainless nosings set into the bar die,” GRT Architects said.
    Low-slung ribbed banquettes covered in warm caramel-hued leather surround the perimeter, notably below a mirrored side wall with light boxes installed between the reflective panels.

    Don Angie restaurant interior takes influences from Italy and New Jersey

    Mottled grey stone floor tiles are patterned with smaller, glossy yellow circles and squares, riffing on a classic carreaux d’octagones pattern.
    The handmade yellow tiles were also installed behind the bar, while the ceilings are padded and upholstered to help with acoustics.
    The sunny daytime mood becomes more sophisticated at night thanks to the lighting scheme”Naturally this was an excuse to play with pattern and texture,” said the team. “The dining room features a winking vermiculated print while the bar tips luxe with a woven jacquard.”
    Overall, the vibrant color scheme and the cool metal tones come together to create a playful yet sophisticated dining environment, which shifts dramatically from day to night and reflects the spins on the Southern Italian cuisine served.
    The warmth of the yellow tones contrasts the cool metals to create a playful aestheticGRT Architects was founded by Tal Schori and Rustam-Marc Mehta in 2014, and over the past decade has built up a portfolio of projects in New York City.
    Among these are several Manhattan restaurants, including the similarly sunny Cucina Alba in Chelsea and the maximalist Bad Roman on Columbus Circle.
    The daytime photography is by Nicole Franzen. The nighttime photography is by Alice Gao.

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    Eight dining rooms and kitchens where natural materials create tactile interiors

    For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight dining rooms and kitchens characterised by their use of natural materials to create tactile interiors with earthy hues.

    With an ever-growing focus on sustainable materials, the use of locally sourced natural materials offers an appealing and low-carbon solution for home interiors.
    Ranging from rammed-earth walls and woven ceilings to terracotta floors and wooden tabletops, these dining spaces draw on traditional crafts and local building techniques to create rough, smooth and patterned surfaces that complement the home.
    These dining rooms showcase the potential of natural materials to create enticing and textured home interiors within a contemporary setting, effectively bridging the gap between tradition and modernity.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring compact micro interiors, kitchen design ideas and interiors with pyramidal ceilings.

    Photo by Lorena DarqueaEspacio Kaab, Mexico, by Di Frenna Arquitectos
    A combination of natural materials including stone floors, wooden cabinets and woven carrizo ceilings were used within the kitchen of this home in Mexico by local studio Di Frenna Arquitectos.
    Designing the home to appear “as a volume that emerged organically from the ground”, the studio used a raw material palette that directly references the site and ultimately requires less maintenance.
    Find out more about Espacio Kaab ›

    Photo by Helen LeechTaper House, UK, by Merret Houmøller Architects and All & Nxthing
    This London home by architecture studios Merret Houmøller Architects and All & Nxthing features clay-plaster walls, exposed brickwork and tile floors inspired by traditional Moroccan homes.
    The natural earth-based materials used for the project include handmade brick flooring, timber joinery and patinated copper.
    Find out more about Taper House ›
    Photo by Salem MostefaouiCasa Franca, France, by Déchelette Architecture
    A large rammed-earth wall fronts this home in Paris by French studio Déchelette Architecture, which is defined by its use of natural materials.
    Panels of travertine stone and birch wood feature throughout the interiors and are contrasted with sleek metal countertops, shelving and accents in the kitchen and dining space.
    Find out more about Casa Franca ›
    Photo by Rafael GamoCasa Cova, Mexico, by Anonimous
    Architecture studio Anonimous drew on pre-colonial architecture to design this holiday home made from concrete, local ‘parota’ wood and dried palm leaves in Oaxaca.
    The spacious dining room is topped with a 30-metre-long thatched roof made from dried palm leaves that draws on the local vernacular.
    Find out more about Casa Cova ›
    Photo by David GrandorgeForest House, UK, by AOC
    A combination of tactile materials and clashing colours were used to add character to the kitchen and dining area in this extension in north London completed by architecture firm AOC.
    Informed by its location close to Epping Forest, the studio designed the extension to “invite the wild in” – using various types of wood, woven hazel and other textured materials throughout the home.
    Find out more about Forest House ›
    Photo by Pol ViladomsHouse Renovation, Spain, by Hiha Studio
    Hiha Studio renovated this family home in Spain, which was originally organised as two separate houses connected by rammed-earth party walls.
    The studio retained the rammed-earth walls in order to “recover the essence” of the home, as well as regulate the moisture, temperature and acoustics of the interior.
    Find out more about House Renovation ›
    Photo by Purnesh DevHybrid House, India, by Sketch Design Studio
    Vernacular building techniques from the north and south of India were used to construct this home in Rajasthan by Indian firm Sketch Design Studio.
    Materials and artisans were employed locally to build the home, which features pink-toned rammed-earth walls and terracotta floors created using rice flour.
    Find out more about Hybrid House ›

    Photo by Imagen SubliminalAnother Seedbed, USA, by Ignacio G Galán, Jesse McCormick, Khoi Nguyen and Julie Tran
    This renovated loft apartment in Brooklyn was designed to double as a performance space to host public events – with a large central space and smaller internal volumes.
    One volume features a red-stained pine exterior while another is clad with an earthen clay plaster, bringing earthy tones to the open-plan kitchen and dining area.
    Find out more about Another Seedbed ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring compact micro interiors, kitchen design ideas and interiors with pyramidal ceilings.

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    The Red Room by Apparatus forms theatrical lighting presentation

    New York lighting brand Apparatus has enveloped its showroom in red to present a new modular version of the Cylinder pendant series during NYCxDesign.

    The Apparatus showroom in Manhattan’s Garment District has been transformed once again, as part of the brand’s continual evolution of its spaces and product lines.
    The central space at the Apparatus showroom in Manhattan’s Garment District has been enveloped in redThe Red Room was created to showcase the brand’s updated Cylinder series, which first debuted in 2014 and has now been extended into a customisable modular system.
    The central room of the fourth-floor space is decorated in a dark oxblood hue across the walls and floor, with furniture pieces upholstered to match.
    The installation was created to present a new modular version of the brand’s Cylinder seriesTo contrast the old-world glamour of the red decor, illuminated lightboxes overhead and gunmetal-lined portals into the room lend a more futuristic tone.

    Apparatus, led by artistic director Gabriel Hendifar, described the setting as “Ms Vreeland’s ‘Garden in Hell’ meets Mr Kubrick’s Space Odyssey as imagined by Mr Fellini”.
    On a central plinth sits a bronze statue of Phaethon, the son of Helios in Greek mythologyOn an elongated pedestal in the centre of the room sits a bronze statue of Phaethon, the son of Helios in Greek mythology.
    “The boy is struck down by Zeus with a bolt of lightning after he scorched the earth with his father’s Sun Chariot – the source of all light itself,” said the Apparatus team.

    Apparatus updates Los Angeles showroom to include a “modernist grotto”

    The Cylinder System comprises Canopy and Lamp units that can be combined in various stacks and as double pendants, as demonstrated in The Red Room.
    “The light is soft-edged, warm, diffused, and can be directed to find the object of its affection,” said Apparatus of the products.
    Furniture is upholstered to match the walls and floorThe brand frequently updates its showrooms in New York, Los Angeles and London to present new or updated collections, which it refers to as “Acts”.
    For example, Apparatus updated its Los Angeles showroom to include a “modernist grotto” earlier this year.
    “We believe that our work is to create a stage for the human drama of life,” the team said. “We adopt the language of theatre and literature as a structure, with work organised in Forewords and Acts, each with their own exploration of form or narrative.”
    Illuminated ceiling panels and gunmetal-lined portals add a futuristic slant to the spaceThe evolution of the Cylinder Series is one of several to be expected from the brand this spring, as it revisits several from its catalog and introduces new ideas to existing pieces.
    Dezeen’s US editor Ben Dreith hosted a discussion with Hendifar at the showroom on Tuesday 21 May 2024, about the role of design in renewal and transformation.
    This was one of over 10 events we co-hosted during NYCxDesign, which took place across the city 16-23 May 2024.
    The photography is by Matthew Placek.

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    Eight bathrooms that confidently combine colour and pattern

    From decorative tiles to maximalist wallpaper, our latest lookbook explores bathrooms where striking patterned surfaces are paired with bold colours to make a statement.

    Offering an alternative to the trend for minimalist or colour-blocked bathrooms, this approach uses a mix of different tones and motifs to create a multi-layered aesthetic.
    Patterned surfaces can be created with wallpapers, ceramic tiles, marble or paint effects.
    Block colours, in either matching or contrasting hues, are then used to offer a visual counterpoint.
    The most eye-catching examples have the feel of a boutique hotel, with colour and pattern across almost every surface. But the effect can also be applied with restraint to suit a more pared-back home setting.

    We’ve rounded up eight examples, from a hotel bathroom with marble-effect walls to a family washroom featuring two different applications of mosaic tiles.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring minimalist kitchens and converted-barn interiors.
    Photo by by Douglas FriedmanHotel Saint Vincent, USA, by Lambert McGuire Design
    A selection of guest rooms in this hotel in New Orleans feature psychedelic marbled wallpaper.
    Other surfaces in the room match a red shade that can be picked out of the marble pattern. These include the square wall tiles, the mosaic flooring, the mirror frame and the architrave paintwork.
    Find out more about Hotel Saint Vincent ›
    Photo by by Adam ScottTsubo House, UK, by Fraher & Findlay
    Graphic floor tiles feature throughout this renovated south London home, with a mix of both contemporary and classic designs.
    For the family bathroom, architects Fraher & Findlay and their clients, the designers behind Studio XAG, selected a monochromatic tile that offers a 3D optical illusion. These are paired with a deep shade of green.
    Find out more about Tsubo House ›
    Photo by Jack LovelCity Beach Residence, Australia, by Design Theory
    Mosaic tiles were chosen for the bathroom of this renovated home in Perth, designed by Design Theory, to reference the property’s mid-century heritage.
    The bath features an irregular pattern, created in shades of red, grey and pastel pink, contrasting with the mint-green tone of the surrounding walls.
    Find out more about City Beach Residence ›
    Photo is courtesy of BelmondMaroma, Mexico, by Tara Bernerd
    Ceramicist José Noé Suro created the hand-crafted tiles that feature throughout the rooms of this hotel in Riviera Maya.
    Tiles chosen for the bathrooms include a mix of square and octagonal shapes, which create a two-tone pattern. A contrasting shade of forest green colours the lower walls, topped by delicate painted motifs.
    Find out more about Maroma ›
    Photo by Ambroise TézenasVermelho, Portugal, by Christian Louboutin and Madalena Caiado
    Christian Louboutin’s first hospitality project is named after the French designer’s signature colour, Vermelho, which is Portuguese for red.
    One of the bathrooms in the 13-room hotel uses this colour to great effect. Two varieties of Alentejo tile feature alongside one another, offering a playful mix of geometric and organic patterns.
    Find out more about Vermelho ›
    Photo by Christophe CoenonHotel Rosalie, France, by Marion Mailaender
    Colour can be found on the ceilings rather than the walls in this 60-room hotel in Paris, styled by French interior designer Marion Mailaender.
    This allows extra emphasis to the wall tiles, which form stripes of nude and soft pink, and the dotted sink counters made from terrazzo-style recycled plastic.
    Find out more about Hotel Rosalie ›
    Photo by Kensington LeverneEmber Locke, UK, by Atelier Ochre and House of Dré
    Striped shower curtains in humbug-style shades of brown provide a subtle addition of pattern in the bathrooms of this aparthotel located in London’s Kensington neighbourhood.
    The rest of the interior design palette includes peach-painted walls and pale-toned tiles.
    Find out more about Ember Locke ›
    Photo by Megan TaylorLouisville Road, UK, by 2LG Studio
    Design duo 2LG Studio created a surprising colour effect in the bathroom of this renovated London house by combining subtly patterned marble tiles with baby-blue mosaic tiles.
    The same shade features on the bathroom fittings, while the sink counter brings a pop of red to the room.
    Find out more about Louisville Road ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring minimalist kitchens and converted-barn interiors.

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    Brick-wrapped lobby by Merge Architects wins Gold in Brick in Architecture Awards

    Promotion: more than 9,000 red bricks form a curved volume within the interior of this mixed-use building’s lobby, which has been awarded Gold in the Commercial category at the Brick in Architecture Awards.

    The lobby, which forms the entrance to an office building at Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, has a brick curtain wall that was hand-laid.
    It was designed to create a visually striking yet functional circulatory zone, helping visitors and employees navigate the building’s wider offices, dining areas, wellness centres and community spaces.
    The lobby is lined with a curved structure made from 9000 individually-laid bricksWrapping around the perimeter of the interior, the brick-built surface incorporates a front desk, bench seating, lighting, an entry kiosk and a staircase. The project features brick manufactured by Interstate Brick and distributed by Consolidated Brick.
    Local studio Merge Architects designed the space and was implemented by mason company, JAJ Co Inc The designers said they chose to work with bricks as a building material with the goal of referencing New England’s local vernacular architecture.

    Digital signs are installed at evenly-spaced points in one areaThe project integrates interactive signage within hand-laid masonry, “overlaying the physical world with the digital”, according to the Brick Industry Association.
    A brick double-wythe screen paired with rectangular digital signs serves various functions: from conveying news and information about public events to displaying digital artwork.
    “This fusion of strength and transparency creates mesmerising patterns and textures as light filters through the brick, inviting admiration for the timeless elegance and contemporary allure that brick brings to architectural design,” said Trish Mauer of the Brick Industry Association.
    Balance is created by using opaque red bricks in tandem with translucent glass bricksThe structures are made by laying bricks in two different directions, creating a stimulating textural surface that encourages the interplay of light and shadow.
    “Course one moves tangent to the wall orientation, and course two moves along the north/south axis, allowing for a complex interplay of transparency and opacity as the curtain-like wall wraps the space,” the company continued.
    The curved form contains various furnishings and lighting systemsAt a certain junction, a gradient is created when the wall transitions between solid red bricks to translucent glass blocks of the same dimensions.
    The frosted bricks continue until they arrive at a glass-clad staircase. This element of transparency creates a light interface between the public space and the company’s office.
    Bricks were laid in two directions to create a layered effect”Combining transparency with solidity and low-tech materials with high-tech digital art, this lobby reinforces the company’s brand of integrating high tech with human-centric sensibilities,” the Brick Industry Association concluded.
    For more information about the project, please click here.
    All photography by Chuck Choi
    Partnership content
    This article was written by Dezeen for Brick Industry Association as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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    My Inexpensive Clothes Closet Organizing Ideas

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    What’s behind your clothes closet door? Are there neat piles of folded sweaters and orderly rows of shoes? Or do you have a single, straining closet rod filled with smashed together clothing and one long shelf filled with toppling stacks of sweaters and t-shirts?

    Most of us like the sound of the first scenario, but live with the second.

    I love the above quote and try to keep the contents of my closet in tune with it by seasonally editing what is in my closet and keeping it organized. Doing this not only keeps the space uncluttered, but also lets me find what I want right away.

    I did one of these “clothes closet editing sessions” recently when waiting for the paint to dry when making over my primary bathroom.

    I had gotten lazy and was just leaving my shoes on the floor when there are shelves for them and not keeping my clothes organized by the season.

    I like my walk-in closet. It isn’t huge or fancy with wallpapered walls, a chandelier and center island like you see closets have on Instagram, but it is all mine. It was one of the selling features of the house that I liked.

    When Ed and I were touring the house with the real estate agent 9 years ago, after seeing the view of the lake from the house and then walking into the bedroom and saw the two “his and hers” walk-in closets, I turned to the agent and said, “Where do we sign?” 🙂

    Before having a closet to myself, I have always shared my clothes closet with my sisters growing up and then Ed. In college I had a tiny little space with a folding door to hide it.

    Cleaning Out My Clothes Closet

    I did a thorough clean-out of every item in the closet – contents of the drawers, what was hanging on the rods and stored in boxes on the shelves. I found I didn’t need the pink boxes and their contents anymore so out they went with a big pile of clothes that I no longer wear, like or that don’t fit anymore.

    The leopard print shoes were hard to let go, but I can’t wear flats anymore. I have high arches on my feet and need to wear shoes that support them so I don’t get a flare up of plantar fasciitis.

    The pink boxes fold flat so I will keep them to use somewhere else in my house. I took the clothes to my local thrift shop.

    Here are all all the empty hangers that were holding the clothes I took to the thrift shop. I moved them into Ed’s closet where he has an empty closet rod on one side.

    See the mirror leaning on the wall? That is one of the two that were above the sink vanity in the bathroom that I no longer needed.

    Once I had cleaned out the closet and reorganized everything, I put the mirrors to use again by hanging them on the back wall of the closet.

    Having mirrors on the walls makes the space look bigger and brighter. My closet also has a floor to ceiling wall of mirror tiles which make it easy to see if I like an outfit or not when getting dressed.

    Now I have all my clothes organized once again by the season. Winter to the left and summer to the right.

    I need to wear hats with wide brims whenever I am outside to protect the white vitiligo patches on my face. Since it is a must, I have tried to embrace it and have collected a few hats that look nice and have wide brims. I can easily grab one now right off the closet shelf.

    I spray painted the hatbox navy blue for a new look. It had a black and white pattern on it before.

    I made new labels for the baskets that I made lids for. I add lids so I can easily stack the baskets. To find out how to make the lids, check out this post: How to Make Lids for Storage Baskets.

    To learn how I make the storage basket labels, see this post: Decorative Free Printable Labels for Organizing

    My shoes are all where they should be now.

    As are my totes…

    …jeans, and folded clothes on the shelves and in the drawers.

    Picking out what to wear and getting dressed is once again easy to do now that I have cleaned out and organized my clothes closet.

    If you haven’t cleaned out and reorganized your closet recently, I highly recommend it. It feels so good to now like everything I see in my closet just as the quote at the beginning of the post stated.

    Inexpensive Closet Organizing Ideas

    Here are a few inexpensive closet organizing ideas that may help you create a clothes closet you enjoy going into every day.

    With so many affordable closet organizing solutions and options nowadays, it is easier than you think to upgrade your closet no matter the closet size or your budget.

    Install a Closet System

    Inexpensive closet organizing systems are made for every size closet from small to a large walk-in closet.

    I refitted my closet in my previous house with a DIY closet system called Easy Track. It was affordable and easy to install in an afternoon. If this doesn’t fit your needs, look into Easy Closets or closet and shelving units from IKEA that will allow you to design just what you need while keeping the cost down.

    Add A Double Rod

    I have a double rod system in this closet, but you don’t need a closet organizing system to have a double rod or any DIY skills.

    Home stores sell affordable hanging rods like these that fit over existing rods so you can create a double rod… literally in an instant. They are ingenious.

    Use Better Hangers

    There is a reason wire hangers are free… they are not made to hang clothes for a long time. If you want to prolong the life of your clothes, don’t keep your clothes on wire hangers. Use more substantial hangers that will maintain the shape of your garments.

    I use the clear style hangers that retail stores use to hang clothes on the racks. When I buy clothes I always ask to keep the hanger.

    Label Storage Boxes and Baskets

    As I mentioned above, I add labels to storage boxes for smaller items like scarves, handbags, and other items I don’t use frequently.

    These boxes are from IKEA

    Labeling each box helps me know what I have at a glance.

    Adding labels also keeps me organized for the long run since I know exactly where to find or place everything after I wear it.

    My motto….  “If I have to hunt for it, I will probably never wear it.“

    Stacking shoe racks can be bought at stores like Target and Walmart. The stacking shelves fit nicely under clothes hanging from the rod above. The plastic shoe containers are from the dollar store.

    I like using see-through storage containers for my shoes so that I can see what I have at a glance. I label each with a description of the shoes that are inside. This keeps them organized so I will be a “shoe-placer” not a “shoe-tosser-to-the-floor” kind of girl 🙂

    More Clothes Closet Organizing Ideas:

    Replace the light bulb in the closet light fixture. See how a simple light bulb switch can remove the color cast it gives clothes hanging in the closet in this clothes closet lighting post.

    Use matching hangers so the rod looks visually appealing – just like your favorite clothing boutique.

    Treat your closet like your favorite clothes shop. Keep items categorized on rods – shirts, pants, skirts, jackets, and by the season.

    Keep items visible. If you don’t see it, you won’t wear it.

    If your closet is small, make more room by storing out-of-season clothes in boxes, under the bed or in another room and make sure to label each.

    Organize in a way that works for you and your budget. The dollar store has many budget-friendly closet organizers.

    If you have the room, consider adding a chest of drawers to the closet. so that all your clothes are in one place.

    Hang a mirror on a nearby door or wall.

    And lastly, if you enjoy your clothes and want to maximize the ways you can coordinate and accessorize them to come up with new outfits consider hanging a Fashion Coordinating Idea Board in your closet.

    Having one will help you save ideas you find in magazines or catalogs to coordinate your clothes into many different looks.

    By tacking a piece of paper and hanging a pencil from ribbon using a push pin or thumbtack will help you take note to write down outfit combinations you created and liked. Doing this will end the standing in front of your clothes and thinking you have nothing to wear syndrome.

    Ultimately when your closet is well organized and your clothes are in sync with your personal style, you should be able to walk into your closet blindfolded and pull out any shirt, pant, jacket, and shoes and walk out looking and feeling great!

    And remember….

    More Clothes & Closet Organizing Posts

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