More stories

  • in

    Why Did My New Lamp Need a Small Riser?

    Pin

    Facebook

    I bought a new lamp for my bedroom. I have been looking to find just the right one for quite a while.

    The lamp in the above photo is the one I have been using for the last few years. It is OK, but a teeny bit too large for the small chest of drawers I use as my night stand.

    I am pretty picky about the lamps I use in my home and usually make over thrift store found table lamps like the white plaster lamp in my living room, the Serena & Lily lamp knockoff I made for the blue guest room and my favorite Pottery Barn lamp knock-off in my foyer to get the look I want for less.

    When I started to refresh the pretty guest room recently, I decided the lamp on my night stand would be much better suited for the night table in this guest room, so I moved it there.

    Doing this made my search for a new smaller lamp for my night table intensify. Most of the lamps I find at HomeGoods, Walmart, Target and online are too large, small, more rustic or modern than I want.

    In my head I knew what I wanted, but wasn’t finding affordable options. Sure if I wanted to spend $300, I would have many options.

    I opted to just embrace the SLOW method of decorating. When you learn to trust and embrace the process of the hunt, rather than pick up the first thing that catches your eye.

    There is another lamp in the room, so not having a lamp the past two months hasn’t been a problem.

    Last week during a stroll through HomeGoods I found the cutest lamp with shades of blue abalone fragments in the shape of fish. Living on a lake with a full view of it from my bed, the lamp was just too cute not to at least bring it home to see how it looked.

    I really liked it except for one thing. I wanted it to have more height so that the base would be taller than the clock and plant. I like to see varied heights on a table display.

    So what did I do? I went to my scrap wood stash to find a piece to use to make a riser.

    I didn’t have any round pieces that would work as a riser, so I went online to see if I could find a round decorative riser to buy that was the same diameter as the base of my lamp.

    What is a Lamp Riser?

    A lamp riser can be made of wood, metal, ceramic, or glass. Using one adds a little height to a table lamp, making them look in better proportion to the decorative items around it while also giving the lamp more presence in a room.

    You can also use risers in the same way for home decor accents such as flower vases, plants, candles and more.

    I found these footed wooden risers for decor on Amazon. The 5-inch diameter size (largest in photo) was just what I was looking for, so no need to have to DIY one myself, although that is not too hard to do and I will share more ideas further down in this post.

    3-Piece Wooden Risers for Decor

    These footed risers come in two different diameter 3-piece sets: 3″, 4″, and 5″ is the set I bought. There is also a set with larger sizes: 8″, 6″, and 4″. All the sizes come in 4 different colors.

    The white painted round wood riser adds 1.7″ to the height of the lamp, just enough to vary the lamp base height with the other 2 items on the night table to make me happy.

    I also like the distressed white finish on the riser. It is going to go very nicely with something else I am working on for the room that I will share with you as soon as I complete it.

    This is the view of my night stand I see when I am in bed. I like that when viewing the lamp from different parts of the room, the items look in proportion with each other.

    Using decorative risers in decorating is one of the easiest ways to give an accent piece more prominence in minutes.

    On a side note, I paid $29.99 for the lamp at HomeGoods. I looked at HomeGoods online to see if I could link to it, but it is not on their site. I did however find it on Houzz for $300 for a pair of the lamps. One more reason to love and shop HomeGoods.

    Natural Wood Round Riser

    On my kitchen counter I use a tree trunk slice to lift the lamp and a few small items off the counter. Using a larger riser in this way acts like a tray keeping the items grouped together.

    Decorative Risers Using Books

    When decorating your home and in need of a riser to make a display look better or a lamp higher, books come in very handy as the instant way to add height to an accent on a table or a vignette.

    DIY – Tin Can Vase

    Use cookbooks on your kitchen counter to raise a vase of flowers.

    If you don’t have any books, head to the thrift store for a stack in colors that will coordinate with your room.

    This gooseneck lamp got the height it needed by placing 3 books under it.

    If you can’t find books in colors you like, use craft or spray paint to change the colors.

    For larger items – use two stacks of books to raise the object.

    As you can see I use books quite a lot when decorating to give my decorative accents more interest and prominence.

    Look around your home to see if adding a little height to a decorative item will make it look better. If you don’t have a ready-made riser or books, a pedestal cake plate works nicely as do boxes wrapped in wallpaper or gift wrap. I am sure you can think of a few more items to use, even a stack of plates will work and looks nice.

    If you do a search online for “wood risers”, “decorative risers” or “risers for decor” you will find many in various heights, styles, colors and shapes to fit any size item from a votive candle to a large vase or sculpture.

    Decorative Risers

    More Easy Decorating Project Ideas

    Pin

    Facebook

    Post navigation More

  • in

    Ten earthy bedrooms that use natural colours to create a restful environment

    In our latest lookbook, we highlight 10 bedroom interiors that introduce earthy colour palettes and natural materials to evoke a sense of calm and tranquility.

    Warm tones of earthen brown and light neutrals were used alongside colourful pops of terracotta and leafy greens on soft furnishings, headboards and decorations to create a peaceful atmosphere in these bedrooms.
    Stone surfaces, timber panelling, linen fabric, accents of clay and limewash finishes add subtle textures to the interior spaces.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring jewel-toned hotel interiors, kitchens with marble surfaces and biophilic homes.
    Photo by Fabian MartinezColonia Condesa House, Mexico, by Chloé Mason Gray

    For the renovation of this mid-20th century house in Mexico City, local interiors studio Chloé Mason Gray embraced the lack of natural light coming into the space by introducing dark, earthy colours and textures.
    The walls of the primary bedroom were coated in brown plaster, and the space was finished with a brown leather headboard and linen furnishings in deep shades of forest green.
    Find out more about Colonia Condesa House ›
    Photo by Salva LópezCasa Maiora, Italy, by Studio Andrew Trotter
    Designed to mimic the surrounding landscape, Italian architecture practice Studio Andrew Trotter created this villa in Puglia with sandstone and limestone walls coated in a pink lime wash.
    Stone floors complement the warm-toned walls while in the bedrooms, locally-sourced wooden antique furniture and large woven rugs add hints of deeper earthen shades.
    Find out more about Casa Maiora ›
    Photo by Seth CaplanDumbo Loft, USA, by Crystal Sinclair Designs
    New York interiors studio Crystal Sinclair Designs punctuated the pale white backdrop of this bedroom in a Brooklyn loft apartment with caramel shades of brown and natural textures.
    A yellow-brown velvet chair, rustic tiles that wrap around the lower half of structural columns, and a wooden batten wall help to make the space cosier and more inviting.
    Find out more about Dumbo Loft ›
    Photo by Emanuelis StasaitisDe Beauvoir Townhouse, UK, by HÛT
    As part of the overhaul of a home in London, British architecture studio HÛT finished the surfaces and joinery in the main bedroom in sage green, nodding to the use of green shades in the kitchen and living room downstairs.
    According to the studio, the muted green colour was chosen for its timelessness and longevity, as well as for its visual appeal when paired with exposed timber.
    Find out more about De Beauvoir Townhouse ›
    Photo by MCA EstúdioHygge Studio, Brazil, by Melina Romano
    Brazilian designer Melina Romano used a myriad of earthy colours, textures and decorations to achieve a modern interior with “rustic charm” in this São Paulo apartment.
    Terracotta flooring and creamy brick walls were complemented with comfy furniture and soft furnishing in earthy tones, including the rust-coloured bed frame and elongated headboard in the bedroom.
    Romano also added a tropical leafy plant, branches speckled with lichen and insect-shaped wall art to the space.
    Find out more about Hygge Studio ›
    Photo by Joe FletcherTwentieth, USA, by Woods + Dangaran
    Wood panelling, vintage furnishings and earthy-brown colours characterise the interior spaces of the Twentieth house in Santa Monica by Los Angeles studio Woods +Dangaran, which was built around an olive tree.
    The primary bedroom was designed to feel flush and luxurious, with a Mehraban silk shag rug, brass fixtures and a custom bed recessed into a wooden surround.
    Find out more about Twentieth ›
    Photo by Fran ParenteFlat #6, Brazil, by Studio MK27
    Also featuring a custom-made wooden bed surround is this bedroom designed by local architecture and design practice Studio MK27.
    The practice added tactile rugs, blankets and fabric wall panels in various shades of brown and light neutrals to contrast with the basalt stone flooring in the São Paulo apartment.
    “Natural light warms up every piece and every corner, letting the woods, the velvets and the stones speak louder,” said Studio MK27.
    Find out more about Flat #6 ›
    Photo by Undine PröhlEscondido Oaxaca Hotel, Mexico, by Decada Muebles
    Interiors studio Decada Muebles finished the bedrooms of this boutique hotel in Oaxaca City with woven palm leaf headboards and sabino wood furniture pieces made by local artisans, including side tables, bed frames and shutters.
    Alongside the wood accents, stucco walls help to add warmth and texture to the space and create a relaxing place for vacationers to stay.
    Find out more about Escondido Oaxaca Hotel ›
    Photo by Michael SinclairThe Palace Gate Apartment, UK, by Tala Fustok Studio
    Local interior design practice Tala Fustok Studio transformed this west London apartment into a “calm sanctuary” with a mixture of stone textures, earthy fabrics and a soft-warm colour palette.
    The centrepiece of the bedroom is a 1960s-style velvet bed in a dusty pink hue. Decorative items surrounding it include a wall tapestry, a modern stone fireplace and an organically-shaped ceramic statue.
    Find out more about The Palace Gate Apartment ›
    Photo by Supee JuntranggurLom Haijai, Thailand, by Studionomad
    Lom Haijai is an apartment block in Bangkok designed by architecture practice Studionomad, which features trees growing through the facade’s louvres.
    Each bedroom in the apartment block has a Juliet balcony that looks over an internal courtyard. Wooden flooring and wall panelling add to the nature-inspired theme of the design.
    Find out more about Lom Haijai ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring jewel-toned hotel interiors, kitchens with marble surfaces and biophilic homes.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Ten bedrooms with wardrobes that are disguised as walls

    This lookbook rounds up 10 bedrooms where architects have designed discreet built-in wardrobes to conceal clothing and clutter, creating the illusion of a seamless wall.

    Built-in wardrobe walls are an efficient way to supersize storage and utilise every centimetre of space in a bedroom, unlike freestanding units that often leave dead spaces around their edges.
    When finished with a minimalist design, they can also blend into the background, helping to create spacious and serene interiors that are suitable for sleep.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with arched openings, bathrooms with statement sinks and living rooms in Victorian and Georgian-era homes.
    Photo is by Mattias Hamrén with styling by Hanna TunemarFunction Walls, Sweden, by Lookofsky Architecture

    This wall of storage surrounds the doorway of a bedroom in the Function Walls apartment, which was recently renovated by Lookofsky Architecture in Stockholm.
    The pale grey units contain a mix of different-sized cupboards without handles, forming a neutral backdrop to bright yellow bedroom furnishings including a 1970s IKEA floor lamp.
    Find out more about Function Walls ›
    Photo is by Lorenzo ZandriWakehurst Road, UK, by Matthew Giles Architects
    Matthew Giles Architects designed a series of white-oak storage units for the Wakehurst Road house in London, including this pared-back wardrobe wall in one of the bedrooms.
    Its deliberately simple design ties in with a calming colour and material palette of stone, concrete and brick that runs through the updated Victorian residence.
    Find out more about Wakehurst Road ›

    House at the Pond, Austria, by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten
    The compact bedroom in House at the Pond is lined with wooden walls – two of which double as storage.
    Disguising the wardrobes helps keeps the interior details to a minimum, which in turn retains focus on the large window and prevents the small space from feeling cramped.
    Find out more about House at the Pond ›
    Photo is by Ben BlossomBavaria Road Studio, UK, by West Architecture
    Plywood panels are used as fronts for both the tall wardrobes and the doorway of the bedroom at Bavaria Road Studio, helping them to blend in with the rest of the space, which is lined with the same material.
    According to designer West Architecture, the goal was for them to “read as a single wall of flush panelling, effectively disappearing and allowing the room to be read as one seamless, minimalist environment”.
    Find out more about Bavaria Road Studio ›
    Photo is by Richard ChiversMaison Pour Dodo, UK, by Studio Merlin
    Designed to minimise clutter and visual noise, these understated built-in wardrobes are part of the “spectrum of storage” that Studio Merlin created for this flat in London.
    The seven wardrobe doors blend in seamlessly with the grey-hued walls of the main bedroom, while their wooden knobs complement the pale Douglas fir floorboards that run throughout.
    Find out more about Maison Pour Dodo ›
    Photo is by Yiorgos Kordakis with styling by Anestis MichalisXerolithi, Greece, by Sinas Architects
    White grooved doors line the built-in wardrobe wall in this bedroom, which Sinas Architects created at the Xerolithi house on the Greek island of Serifos.
    Aligned with a door to an ensuite bathroom, the wardrobes create a unpretentious backdrop to the space, drawing the occupant’s attention to the uninterrupted view of the sea outside.
    Find out more about Xerolithi ›
    Photo is by Mariell Lind HansenNarford Road, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
    Emil Eve Architects lined the nook of this monochromatic loft extension in London with bespoke wardrobes, which appear to extend up to meet a skylight overhead.
    Finished with wooden handles with brass caps, the units are complemented by a matching window seat with two in-built drawers and pale wood floors that help them blend into the background.
    Find out more about Narford Road ›
    Photo is by Mariko ReedMountain View Double Gable Eichler Remodel, USA, by Klopf Architecture
    A pair of built-in wardrobes have been incorporated within a walnut wall unit in a bedroom of this 1960s residence in Silicon Valley, recently remodelled by Klopf Architecture.
    The same wood has been used for the headboard and plinth for the bed, helping them to read as a single piece. The wardrobes are only distinguishable by two subtle leather handles placed on the front of each one.
    Find out more about Mountain View Double Gable Eichler Remodel ›
    Photo is by Andy StaggKennington House, UK, by R2 Studio
    These bedroom cupboards follow the sloped edge of a giant corner window, introduced to Kennington House in London as part of a renovation and loft extension project.
    Designed by R2 Studio as one of many storage facilities for the house, they help residents keep the room clutter free and have white-coloured fronts that are disguised as part of the wall.
    Find out more about Kennington House ›
    Photo is courtesy of Matt GibsonWellington St Mixed Use, Australia, by Matt Gibson
    Drawers and full-height wardrobes are incorporated into this floor-to-ceiling storage unit, which runs the length of a bedroom in the Wellington St Mixed Use house in Melbourne.
    Its design means it doubles as a tactile wooden wall for the room, which forms a part of a large multi-generational home by architect Matt Gibson. The other bedrooms have similar wardrobe layouts, ensuring plenty of storage for inhabitants.
    Find out more about Wellington St Mixed Use ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with arched openings, bathrooms with statement sinks and living rooms in Victorian and Georgian-era homes.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Ten bedrooms tucked away on cosy mezzanine levels

    A forest cabin and an apartment in a New York warehouse feature in this lookbook, which shines a light on ten homes with snug bedrooms raised on mezzanine levels.

    Mezzanines are half-storeys inserted between a floor and ceiling to create extra space or distinct zones for different activities.
    They are popularly used as platforms for bedrooms, particularly in open-plan residences, because they create privacy from adjoining living spaces.
    The examples below demonstrate the potential of a mezzanine bedroom as a space-saving tool for small homes, but also as a way to take advantage of tall ceilings in lofty residences.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks including warm wood-clad kitchens, relaxing wet rooms and space-saving bunk beds.

    Photo is by Anna PositanoHouse for a Sea Dog, Italy, by Dodi Moss
    An exposed roof structure, floors of unvarnished wood and a plaster wall create a rustic look for the mezzanine bedroom in this loft apartment in a 17th-century building in Genoa.
    The home was designed by Dodi Moss to feel as open and spacious as possible, so the level change is used to provide privacy for the sleeping area as opposed to solid partitions and walls.
    Find out more about House for a Sea Dog ›

    La Dominique, Spain, by RÄS
    Sliding polycarbonate panels line one side of the sleeping platform in this Barcelona residence, allowing light to enter the space while separating it from the floor below.
    Its designer, RÄS, finished the space with black decorative tiles that contrast with the rough-painted white brick wall that borders one side.
    Find out more about La Dominique ›
    Photo is by Michael VahrenwaldBed-Stuy Loft, USA, by New Affiliates
    New Affiliates inserted this mezzanine above the study and kitchen area of the Bed-Stuy Loft apartment in New York to create a bedroom beneath its high ceilings.
    The sleeping area, which sits alongside a raised dressing area, is finished with plywood and white metal-mesh panels that nod to the industrial heritage of the building in which it is located.
    Find out more about Bed-Stuy Loft ›
    Photo is by Alex DelaunayHike, France, by SABO Project
    Alternating tread stairs lead up to this cosy bedroom, which SABO Project placed on a half-level when optimising floor space in a 72-square-metre apartment in Paris.
    The bedroom provides a sleeping area for guests and uses a skylight and a wall of translucent glass panels to maximise light while ensuring privacy.
    Find out more about Hike ›
    Photo is by Stephen Kent JohnsonUWS Apartment, USA, by Stadt Architecture
    Stadt Architecture introduced a mezzanine to a narrow 1970s condominium in New York in order to create a larger bedroom and bathroom for its owner.
    Set against exposed brickwork walls, the platform is finished with a dark walnut floor that helps unify it with the level below. The bed’s headboard doubles as a balustrade, while its base contains hidden storage.
    Find out more about UWS Apartment ›
    Photo is by Anton RodriguezBarbican Mezzanine, UK, by Francisco Sutherland Architects
    Set under the vaulted ceiling of an apartment in London’s Barbican Estate, this children’s bedroom forms part of a wooden mezzanine structure that also contains a bathroom and wardrobes.
    Francisco Sutherland Architects lined the sleeping element of the volume with a wall of shutters that provide privacy while opening the room out to an adjoining bedroom below.
    Find out more about Barbican Mezzanine ›
    Photo is by Michael MoranSoho Loft, USA, by Julian King
    A mezzanine with sculptural white walls was among the features that architect Julian King introduced in his reconfiguration of a tall and long warehouse apartment in New York.
    Taking advantage of the home’s high ceilings, the intervention allowed King to relocate the bedroom to a higher level and create a more fluid, open layout for the owner.
    Find out more about Soho Loft ›
    Photo is by Maja WirkusK907, Poland, by Thisispaper Studio
    This sleeping area is hidden within a boxy plywood volume that Thisispaper Studio inserted into a pared-back holiday apartment in an old print warehouse in Warsaw.
    Its design helps maximise floor space while drawing attention to the lofty dimensions of the apartment, which enhances its minimalist aesthetic.
    Find out more about K907 ›
    Photo is by Ricardo Oliveira AlvesRural House in Portugal, Portugal, by HBG Architects
    Built within an old granite community oven in the village of Aldeia de João Pires, this holiday home contains a wood-lined mezzanine that maximises space below its original gable roof.
    The platform, which also contains a second bathroom, is accessed by steps that double as a table and concealed behind slats of wood that ensure privacy while allowing light inside.
    Find out more about Rural House in Portugal ›
    Photo is by Martin DimitrovInhabit, USA, by Antony Gibbon Designs
    This mezzanine bedroom sits above a kitchen in a stilted wooden treehouse built by Antony Gibbon Designs in a forest in Upstate New York.
    The cosy wood-lined bedroom looks out through a wall of glazing that runs upwards from the ground floor of the cabin, framing views of the surrounding trees and Catskills mountains.
    Find out more about Inhabit ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks including warm wood-clad kitchens, relaxing wet rooms and space-saving bunk beds.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Ten kids' rooms with space-saving loft beds and bunk beds

    Our latest lookbook features 10 compact children’s bedrooms that use bunk beds to conserve precious space and make more room for play.

    By stacking two beds on top of each other to form a single unit, bunk beds can free up floor space and create a greater sense of privacy in shared rooms. Loft beds, which are raised high above the floor, can help to achieve a similar space-saving result.
    Examples in this lookbook include a three-tiered bunk bed in a rural Chilean cabin and a birch plywood unit in London’s Barbican that integrates not just two beds but also a fold-out desk for doing homework.
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing kitchens with social seating nooks, statement skylights and living rooms with sculptural furniture.
    Photo is by Ståle EriksenBirch and Clay Refugio, UK, by Rise Design Studio

    Rise Design Studio used bespoke birch plywood joinery to help maximise the space in this London garden flat, which the practice remodelled and extended to accommodate a family of four.
    In the kid’s room, the material was used to create an intricate bunk bed, which sits perched on a platform housing a small play area and numerous drawers.
    Find out more about Birch and Clay Refugio ›
    Photo is by Michael SinclairA Room for Two, UK, by Studio Ben Allen
    In this children’s bedroom, two beds are stacked on top of each other within an architectural plywood structure, which bisects the room to conserve both space and privacy.
    The result are two “miniature houses”, each with its own arched doorway and built-in desk, while the steps leading to the upper bed double as shelving.
    “Inspired by the painting St Jerome in His Study by Antonello da Messina, our departure point was to create an installation that is as much a small piece of architecture as it is a piece of furniture,” said Studio Ben Allen.
    Find out more about A Room for Two ›
    Photo is by Mariell Lind HansenAlbergo Miramonti hotel, Italy, by Boxx Creative
    Albergo Miramonti is a renovated 1950s hotel in the Alpine village of Corteno Golgi that was overhauled by London studio Boxx Creative to maximise the space provided by its poorly organised floorplan.
    Family suites now house roomy single and double bunk beds, designed to prove that compact living doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort or taste.
    Find out more about the Albergo Miramonti hotel ›
    Photo is by Bruce DamonteMylla Hytte, Norway, by Mork-Ulnes Architects
    Pinewood lines both the interior and exterior of this home, which overlooks a lake in the Nordmarka woodland north of Oslo and was designed to resemble a traditional Norwegian “hytte” cabin.
    The same plywood used to panel the walls and ceilings also forms a number of built-in furniture pieces, including a bunk bed for the family’s two children as well as benches, shelves and a dining table.
    Find out more about Mylla Hytte ›
    Photo is by Stephen Kent JohnsonOne Manhattan Square apartment, USA, by Jamie Bush
    American designer Jamie Bush made bold and liberal use of colour to help liven up an off-the-shelf bunk bed from Casa Kids in this mustard-hued room.
    This helps the interior blend in with the rest of the apartment and its sculptural 1970s furnishings, set on the 60th floor of the luxury residential skyscraper One Manhattan Square on the Lower East Side.
    Find out more about One Manhattan Square apartment ›
    Photo is by Felipe UgaldeBL1 and BL2, Chile, by Umwelt
    Chilean studio Umwelt designed this home with expansive windows for a young family that just moved from Santiago to the beach town of Cáhuil in order to help bring them closer to nature.
    The kid’s room houses a three-tiered bunk bed that looks out over the rolling countryside, while other rooms offer sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.
    Find out more about BL1 and BL2 ›
    Photo is by French + TyeRoom For One More, UK, by Studio Ben Allen
    In order to add an extra bedroom to the beloved flat of a growing family in the Barbican estate in London, Studio Ben Allen inserted a full-height timber volume at the centre of the plan. This houses an office area with a fold-out desk on one side and a bunk bed on the other.
    The new kid’s bedroom can be separated from the rest of the apartment using a sliding door, and the teal-coloured steps leading up to its bed can be pushed back to form another small desk for doing homework.
    Find out more about Room For One More ›
    Photo is by Olivier-Martin GambierHouse for a Photographer, France, by Alireza Razavi
    All of the floor space in this kid’s room is designated for playing, as double-height ceilings allow the sleeping area to be raised up in the form of an oversized loft bed for two.
    Architect Alireza Razavi also installed a similar mezzanine level over the home’s dining area that houses a post-editing room for the owner, who is a professional photographer.
    Find out more about House for a Photographer ›
    Photo is by Jeff CateHudson Woods home, USA, by Magdalena Keck
    New York interior designer Magdalena Keck recruited a cast of American makers and artisans to design custom furniture pieces for this holiday home in the Catskill Mountains.
    Among them is a chunky timber bunk bed that blends in with the wood-panelled walls and pays homage to the property’s natural setting.
    Find out more about Hudson Woods home ›
    Photo is by Maxime BrouilletFahouse, Canada, by Jean Verville
    Jean Verville nestled a double-width loft bed inside the steep gable of this cottage, set in a forest near Quebec.
    Wooden ceiling beams are left exposed and matched to the light wooden bed and the floor, which stand in stark contrast to the home’s blackened steel cladding.
    Find out more about Fahouse ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing kitchens with social seating nooks, statement skylights and living rooms with sculptural furniture.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Takk founders build all-white “igloo” bedroom for their young daughter

    Furry white fabric lines the interior of this winter-themed kid’s bedroom, which Mireia Luzárraga and Alejandro Muiño of Spanish studio Takk have constructed inside their home in Barcelona.

    Affectionately titled Winter Bedroom (for a Big Grrl), the self-contained structure was designed as a hideaway for the couple’s young daughter.
    It takes the shape of a 3.5-metre-high dome that tapers off into a narrow entrance on one side, resembling an igloo.
    Takk’s founders have built an igloo-shaped bedroom for their daughterThe project forms part of Takk’s ongoing and continuous renovation of the warehouse space where its founders both live and build their large-scale architectural works.
    “The house-workshop is a 400-square-metre space that can host the installations that we design and produce,” Luzárraga told Dezeen.

    “At the same time, the space is being colonised by some domestic spaces that condition it for living. It’s continuously changing depending on the work that we are developing. Some of the pieces stay forever, and some of them are temporary.”
    The interior is covered almost entirely in a fluffy white carpetMost of the materials used to form the Winter Bedroom are repurposed from Takk’s previous projects, including the steel-chain curtain that covers the entrance in lieu of a door and the three layers of foam that line the dome’s ceiling and its entire exterior.
    Set on top of a wooden structure of vertical and horizontal ribs, the foam sheets serve seral purposes. For one, they maintain the all-white palette of the sleeping quarters and provide extra warmth in the industrial warehouse, which has plenty of space and light but little insulation.

    Takk perches communal bedroom on stilts in Madrid apartment renovation

    Unlike traditional cladding or wall panelling, the foam also moulds easily to the dome’s rounded form.
    “The flexible condition of the material easily adapts to the igloo shape,” explained Muiño, who founded Takk together with Luzárraga shortly after the couple met in 2008.
    Spherical lights are fitted to the domed ceilingInside the bedroom, a snowy carpet covers not just the floor but also the walls and the raised platform that holds up the bed.
    “The interior space has a floor at a height of 90 centimetres where the mattress lies, all covered in a white furry carpet ready to be enjoyed barefoot,” Muiño said. “Below this big bed, there is a space for storing, playing or hiding.”
    Spherical lights integrated into the ceiling form what the studio describes as “a sky of bulbs”, designed to create the impression of looking up at the stars.
    The self-contained bedroom is set in a converted warehouseTakk recently constructed another self-contained bedroom as part of an apartment renovation in Madrid, where the communal sleeping quarters are perched on stilts.
    For more creative kids’ bedrooms, see our lookbook of ten contemporary children’s bedrooms.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Ten well-organised bedrooms with clever storage solutions

    For our latest lookbook, we have rounded up 10 bedrooms from the Dezeen archive that make use of smart storage solutions, including custom-made headboards and floor-to-ceiling wall units.

    From basement one-bedroom apartments that use bookshelves as room partitions, to a plywood insertion in a children’s bedroom that combines work, play and sleep, these interiors all feature clever storage.
    Small cupboards inserted into headboards, below stairs and even within bed frames are also used to provide discreet additions to traditional storage units.
    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 interiors by Ukranian designers, coastal hotel interiors and self-designed homes by architects and designers.
    Photo is by Yiannis Hadjiaslanis and Point SupremeAthens apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme

    Greek architecture firm Point Supreme transformed a basement storage space in a suburban neighbourhood in Athens into a one-bedroom home.
    The 56-square-metre sunken space only receives light from above on one side. In order to make the space to feel as bright and big as possible, Point Supreme used curtains, sliding doors and open shelving units as wall partitions.
    The studio also added smart shelving below the ceiling of the bedroom, making full use of the height of the room.
    Find out more about Athens apartment ›
    Photo is by French+TyeTwo and a Half Storey House, UK, by Bradley Van Der Straeten
    Bradley Van Der Straecten Architects added a half-storey extension to this home in London’s Stoke Newington.
    The studio lined the interior of the extension in plywood and incorporated built-in wardrobes, bookshelves and a platform bed frame to maximise the space in this children’s bedroom.
    Find out more about Two and a Half Storey House ›
    Photo is by Draper WhiteGammel Dam, US, by CCY Architects
    This holiday home in Colorado by CCY Architects features floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the hilly terrain.
    The interiors are lined in pale wood and include clever storage solutions throughout. Wooden cupboards were built into the bed frames to maximise the use of the space, while keeping the minimalist feel of the interior.
    Find out more about Gammel Dam ›
    Photo is by Rafael SoldiWhidbey Dogtrot, US, by SHED
    Named after its location on Whidbey Island, which is just north of Seattle, this single-storey home was designed by American firm SHED for a couple that is soon to retire.
    In the bedroom, a large reading nook, fitted with rows of shelving, opens to the sleeping area and offers views across the serene landscape. Fixtures and architectural elements were painted black and provide a striking contrast against the white walls.
    Find out more about Whidbey Dogtrot ›
    Photo is by Ståle Eriksen.London apartment, UK, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
    Architecture studio Jonathan Tuckey Design overhauled this Marylebone apartment in London, adding pastel storage walls that curve and dip between each room.
    Instead of standard shelving, the studio opted to use built-in furniture throughout the space in the form of MDF storage walls.
    The primary bedroom was divided in two by storage walls to house a walk-in closet and sleeping area, which is now accessed through a pistachio-hued arch.
    Find out more about London apartment ›
    Photo is by Michael SinclairA Room for Two, UK, by Studio Ben Allen
    Studio Ben Allen built a wooden structure inside a London flat to create a shared bedroom for two children.
    The structure, which was constructed using pale birch plywood, features arched openings, steps fitted with shelving beneath, a fold-down desk and a desk-cum-platform.
    The plywood insertion provides the children with a place for sleep, work and play, without compromising on tidy storage.
    Find out more about A Room for Two ›
    Photo is by Shannon McGrathCentral Park Road Residence, Australia, by Studio Four
    Australian practice Studio Four used dark surfaces and large storage volumes throughout this Melbourne family home.
    In the primary bedroom, a full-height storage unit doubles as a headboard and includes a horizontal opening that serves as a shelf for a single row of books.
    The dark-painted volume, which was placed in the centre of the room, conceals a walk-in wardrobe as well as an ensuite bathroom.
    Find out more about Central Park Road Residence ›

    Smolenka Apartment, Russia, by Peter Kostelov
    Russian architect Peter Kostelov renovated this apartment in Moscow, adding a raised living room in a wooden capsule as well as built-in furniture units.
    The bedroom was finished in oak and divided into sections that have smooth, rounded passages between the ceiling, floor and walls forming shelves, closets and a bed. A television was neatly tucked into the wall unit opposite the bed.
    Find out more about Smolenka Apartment ›
    Photo is by Lisbeth GrosmannFlinders Lane Apartment, Australia, by Clare Cousins
    Clare Cousins Architects inserted a timber box and mezzanine platform into this one-bedroom apartment in Melbourne to create three additional sleeping areas.
    The 75-square-metre flat includes a hoop-pine plywood volume that houses two small bedrooms – each the length of a bed.
    Inside the volume, recesses in the walls form shallow shelves for small items, while hooks are spread across the panels for hanging clothes and personal items.
    Find out more about Flinders Lane Apartment ›
    Photo is by João Morgado.Musico Iturbi, Spain, by Roberto Di Donato
    London-practice Robert Di Donato used a large pair of wooden storage units in this Valencian apartment to complement the aged and weathered interiors.
    One wooden unit divides the bedroom from the main living area and extends to the full height of the space. It features sliding doors that can be closed to provide the sleeping area with complete privacy.
    Find out more about Musico Iturbi ›
    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 modernist living rooms, interiors by Ukranian designers and homes designed by architects and designers.

    Read more: More