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    Eight homes where internal windows and partitions maximise light

    In this lookbook, we have collected eight projects that use internal glazing and partitions to create brighter home interiors and increased connectivity between spaces.

    While the primary use of windows is for daylight access and ventilation, they can also play a key role in visually connecting spaces within the home.
    Adding internal windows enables more interaction between adjacent rooms, while allowing light to penetrate further into the home – creating bright and spacious interiors.
    While similar, internal partitions offer a unique opportunity to simultaneously increase connectivity and enhance privacy through the demarcation of a home’s internal spaces.
    Below are eight examples that showcase the versatility of internal openings and partitions, ranging from a colourful home extension featuring playful, circular windows in London to an open-plan kitchen punctuated with brass-lined portals in Toronto.

    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring creative guest rooms that accommodate visitors in style, home interiors brightened with colourful window frames and hotel interiors characterised by eclectic designs.
    Photo by BCDF studioTimbaud, France, by Isabelle Heilmann
    Converted from a textile workshop, this open-plan apartment in Paris offers a bright, spacious interior equipped with a dedicated home office, mezzanines and a loft.
    Designer Isabelle Heilmann used internal windows and glazing in order to retain visual connections between the rooms, as well as demarcate the living spaces and enable a flow of light through the interior.
    Find out more about Timbaud ›
    Photo by Megan TaylorCurve Appeal, UK, by Nimtim Architects
    Multifunctional partitions built from plywood joinery were used to define the interior of this 1920s house in Southwark, London, renovated by local studio Nimtim Architects.
    Addressing a need for improved connectivity and daylight, the studio used curved, glazed openings within the partitions to encourage visual connection between the different spaces.
    Find out more about Curve Appeal ›
    Photo by Scott NorsworthyPortal House, USA, by Svima
    Renovated by architecture and art studio Svima, this residence in Toronto features asymmetrical portals lined with brass ribbons.
    Aptly named Portal House, the home’s open-plan kitchen and dining area are connected via two portals – with one used as a doorway and the other as a pass-through for food, drinks and tableware.
    Find out more about Portal House ›
    Photo by José HeviaMediona 13, Spain, by Nua Arquitectures
    Nua Arquitectures revamped this house in the historic centre of Tarragona, Spain, using pastel-coloured steel to reinforce its structure.
    Internal windows overlook the home’s large entrance, which features a staircase lined with pastel blue balustrades, to allow light to travel into the home.
    Find out more about Mediona 13 ›
    Photo by Nick DeardenAR Residence, UK, by DeDraft
    A kitchen extension clad in green aluminium panels was used by architecture studio DeDraft to update this home in east London.
    Also overseeing the remodelling of the home’s upper floors, the studio implemented large windows and skylights along with an internal window to allow light to permeate the interior.
    Find out more about AR Residence ›
    Photo by Jim StephensonA House in East London, UK, by Charles Holland Architects
    This colourful extension completed by Charles Holland Architects features a trio of aligned, circular windows that connect the ground-floor spaces.
    Creating “unexpected views between rooms”, these internal openings form a series of interconnected interior spaces, as opposed to a large open-plan layout.
    Find out more about A House in East London ›
    Photo by Megan TaylorFruit Box, UK, by Nimtim Architects
    Also completed by Nimtim Architects is an extension added to a 1970s townhouse in Forest Hill, London, which is divided by adaptable partitions.
    These plywood partitions are designed to be filled in for increased privacy between spaces, but are also non-structural to allow for easy removal to maximise interior space if needed.
    Find out more about Fruit Box ›
    Photo by Alex Shoots BuildingsHouse in Kutná Hora, Czech Republic, by Byró Architekti
    Byró Architekti restored and renovated this 19th-century house in Kutná Hora using colourful joinery and playful openings.
    Aiming to improve the connection between the home’s spaces, internal windows and glass-block walls were added to each level of the centralised spiral staircase.
    Find out more about House in Kutná Hora ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring creative guest rooms that accommodate visitors in style, home interiors brightened with colourful window frames and hotel interiors characterised by eclectic designs.

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    Ten kitchen design ideas from Dezeen

    Working on a kitchen as part of a construction or renovation project but not sure where to start? Here are 10 kitchen design ideas taken from Dezeen’s archive of lookbooks, featuring tips for colour, materials and layout.

    Since 2020, Dezeen has published more than 300 lookbooks providing visual inspiration for all kinds of interiors based on the stories we publish.
    Below, we organise 10 recent lookbooks into a useful guide that captures several of the key contemporary trends in kitchen design.
    Read on for 10 ideas and tips for designing a standout kitchen:
    Photo by Megan TaylorClad it in wood

    If you want to avoid the kitchen feeling sterile, wood is a reliable way to introduce a sense of cosiness and homeliness.
    Our lookbook on kitchens with wooden panelling and cabinetry features examples that use birch plywood, pale oak, salvaged cypress and pine – each providing a different level of warmth.
    Pictured is Curve Appeal, a 1920s house in London renovated by Nimtim Architects that combines wood with decorative arches.
    See more wood-clad kitchens ›
    Photo by Giedrius MamavičiusMake it pink
    While it’s not to everyone’s taste, pink always adds personality to functional spaces.
    Dezeen’s pink kitchens lookbook highlights various approaches to using the colour, from splashing rosy shades across all surfaces to more restrained pops on tiles and cupboards.
    Pictured is House and the River in northern Lithuania, where Vilnius-based studio After Party punctuated the monochrome cooking area with a salmon-coloured kitchen island topped in complementary terrazzo.
    See more pink kitchens ›
    Photo by Prue RuscoeBuild a breakfast nook
    If you have space to play with, squeezing in a casual nook for eating breakfast in can give the kitchen some coffee-shop charm.
    As our breakfast nooks lookbook demonstrates, they are usually tucked into a corner with banquette seating – though the concept can be adapted to work in a range of setups depending on room layout and size.
    Pictured is Budge Over Dover in Sydney by interior design studio YSG.
    See more kitchens with breakfast nooks ›
    Photo by Ralph FeinerUse metal
    If cosy isn’t the desired look, metal is an alternative material choice that affords a chic industrial feel.
    Gleaming stainless steel is tried-and-tested, but our collection of metal kitchens also features units made from black iron and weathered reclaimed sheets.
    In the project pictured, Berlin architecture studio Baumhauer chose to juxtapose a Swiss farmhouse’s vaulted ceiling with the clean, modern lines of a steel L-shaped kitchen with built-in appliances.
    See more metal kitchens ›
    Photo by Fionn McCannFit floor-to-ceiling cabinets
    Often employed to complement a minimalist aesthetic, floor-to-ceiling cabinets can represent an effective way to maximise storage space and reduce clutter in the kitchen.
    Our lookbook collects eight elegant examples in kitchens of various sizes.
    Pictured is a residential extension in Dublin by Scullion Architects, where tall oak-panelled cupboards conceal appliances and a pantry.
    See more kitchens with floor-to-ceiling cabinets ›
    Photo by Pion StudioInclude a waterfall-edged island
    Kitchen islands have become a staple of contemporary interior architecture – but the most sophisticated examples tend to a feature a surface that flows seamlessly from the countertop to the floor.
    Dezeen selected eight kitchen islands where waterfall edges create an impactful yet sleek focal point for the room.
    The image above shows Botaniczna Apartment, where Agnieszka Owsiany Studio formed a kitchen island out of travertine draped over oak cupboards.
    See more kitchens with waterfall-edged islands ›
    Photo by Benjamin HoskingEmbrace constrast
    Don’t be afraid to combine clashing materials to create a kitchen that really makes a statement.
    We collected eight rich-palette kitchens that juxtapose the rough with the smooth, the glossy with the grainy and the warm with the cool.
    Pictured is the pistachio-green units and red marble surfaces of the kitchen in a Melbourne apartment designed by architect Murray Barker and artist Esther Stewart.
    See more kitchens with colour and texture contrasts ›
    Photo by Lorenzo Zandri and Christian BraileyCombine wood and stone
    For a less ambitious but no less effective material combination, the natural textures of wood and stone are a practical and pleasing partnership.
    Dezeen put together a lookbook showing various ways to pair wooden units with stone surfaces, from demure limestone to dramatic marble.
    Shown above is Architecture for London’s kitchen extension to an Edwardian house in Muswell Hill.
    See more kitchens that combine wood and stone ›
    Photo by Nicole FranzenTile the worktops
    Tiles are a staple of many kitchens – particularly for splashbacks and flooring – but some designers go further and use them to add personality to surfaces.
    Our lookbook of kitchens with tiled worktops explores how the technique can create an eye-catching focal point or be more utilitarian.
    Pictured is a kitchen island covered in glossy oxblood-coloured tiles in an East Village apartment designed by GRT Architects.
    See more kitchens with tiled worktops ›
    Photo by Denilson MachadoAdd a touch of terracotta
    Rusty-shaded terracotta can be a handy tool for making the kitchen a more welcoming environment with a touch of Mediterranean warmth.
    In our lookbook on kitchens with terracotta tiling, we collect projects that use the earthenware material to create pleasingly textured floors and walls.
    At Hygge Studio in São Paulo, designed by Melina Romano, terracotta flooring teams up with tan brick walls to soften monochrome kitchen units.
    See more kitchens with terracotta tiling ›
    Dezeen’s lookbooks series provides visual inspiration from our archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring light-filled kitchens, kitchens with minimalist storage solutions and Scandinavian-style kitchens.

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    Eight creative guest rooms that accommodate visitors in style

    In this lookbook, we’ve collected eight guest rooms from China to Spain that provide visiting friends and family a space to call their own.

    Guest accommodations come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Ranging from a sofa during our younger years to full-blown guesthouses later on, putting up friends and family is made better when we have a place to put them – no matter how small.
    The houses and apartments below showcase the myriad ways an extra bedroom can be integrated into an interior, often doubling as an office, storage space or – in the case of a Beijing apartment – a place to enjoy some tea.
    Read on below for fresh ideas on how to provide space for visitors.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring brightly-framed windows, tactile and organic living rooms and mezzanines that maximise usable space.

    Photo by Jack LovelWeeties Factory home, Australia, by Spaceagency
    A deep red carpet defines this guest room in a single-family Australian home, which consists of three consolidated apartments that once were part of a heritage-listed cereal factory.
    The same red was carried into a curtain – which provides privacy from the living room below – and a corner chair, while built-in shelving sits at the entrance.
    Find out more about Weeties Factory home ›
    Photo by Eva Cotman and Maria CeballosBarcelona apartment, Spain, by Eva Cotman
    Guests sleep atop a platform in this Barcelona apartment, which also doubles as a storage area.
    Croatian architect Eva Cotman sought to renovate the apartment to provide more open space. To optimize its functionality, she placed a bookshelf staircase in front of the guest bed.
    Find out more about Barcelona apartment ›
    Photo by Ewout HuibersCanal house, The Netherlands, by i29
    To accommodate guests in this renovation of a canal house in Amsterdam, architecture studio i29 inserted a forest-green volume off the kitchen.
    The guest suite also contains its own bathroom and access door to a garden, while a built-in bed and shelving provide rest and storage.
    Find out more about Canal house ›
    Photo by Weiqi JinBeijing apartment, China, by Rooi
    Plywood units were inserted into this 1950s Beijing apartment to organize and provide more space in its tight interior, which was created during an influx of people moving to urban areas when apartments were often compact.
    A linear volume inserted along the kitchen and dining room can be used for storage, as a tea-drinking room, or as guest accommodations with a mattress placed on the floor. A bubble in the ceiling also provides a relaxing space for feline roommates.
    Find out more about Beijing apartment ›
    Photo by David MaštálkaRounded Loft, Czech Republic, by AI Architects
    An attic in Prague was converted into a two-storey apartment, with living spaces, a kitchen and primary bedrooms located on the first floor and a guest suite located in a mezzanine.
    In the mezzanine, a bed sits at the end of a long hall, while a bathroom sits adjacent to the stairs. A terrace in between the two spaces and skylights lining the roof provide a connection to the outdoors.
    Find out more about Rounded Loft ›
    Photo by Tim BiesFalse Bay Writer’s Cabin, USA, by Olson Kundig
    This cabin in Washington doubles as a study for its owners, as well as a bedroom for visiting guests when a bed is folded out of the wall.
    The space is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass, which is protected by doors that fold up and enclose the entire cabin and fold down to create multiple porches.
    Find out more about False Bay Writer’s Cabin ›
    Photo is courtesy Rubén Dario Kleimeer and Lagado Architects.Workhome-Playhome, The Netherlands, by Lagado Architects
    The founders of Lagado Architects revamped their own Rotterdam apartment by inserting a bright blue staircase and colourful storage units.
    An open loft-style room sits on the second floor. This has minimal furniture so that it can be quickly turned into an exercise room or used as guest accommodations for visitors.
    Find out more about Workhome-Playhome ›
    Photo by Iñaki Domingo of IDC StudioMadrid apartment, Spain, by Leticia Saá
    A wash area sits outside a guest bedroom in this Madrid apartment to physically and visually separate the space from the remaining house.
    The guest area, which sits directly in front of the primary bed, also faces an interior courtyard which separates both sleeping areas from the living room and kitchen.
    Find out more about Madrid apartment ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring brightly-framed windows, tactile and organic living rooms and mezzanines that maximise usable space. 

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    Nine home interiors brightened with colourful window frames

    Shades of green, red and yellow run throughout this lookbook, which collects nine home interiors enlivened by colourful window frames.

    Whether painted wood, plastic or metal, opting for colourful window frames is an easy way to brighten a residential interior.
    The examples in this lookbook demonstrate how they can be used to create a focal point in a pared-back space, draw attention to a view or simply help establish a colour theme.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring organic modern interiors, eclectic hotels and flooring that enhances the connection between indoors and outdoors.
    Photo by Fred HowarthCamberwell Cork House, UK, by Delve Architects

    A bright forest green paint lines the window frames at Camberwell Cork House, helping to draw focus to the lush planting outside.
    The paint juxtaposes the deliberately simple, white-walled interiors of the house extension, while outside it pops from against walls of tactile cork cladding.
    Find out more about Camberwell Cork House ›
    Photo by Mikael OlssonHouse 669, Sweden, by HelgessonGonzaga Arkitekter
    HelgessonGonzaga Arkitekter incorporated sunny yellow frames throughout House 669, a prefabricated home it created in Stockholm.
    The irregularly placed windows help enliven the otherwise neutral finishes to the home while adding a sense of “individuality” to its uniform structure, the studio said.
    Find out more about House 669 ›
    Photo by Megan TaylorCork House, UK, by Nimtim Architects
    Another studio to have married bright window frames with cork cladding is Nimtim Architects. At this extension in London, the studio punctured the cork-lined walls with Barbie pink timber frames, offering a contemporary counterpoint to the Victorian house to which it is attached.
    The windows are complemented by more subtle pops of pink inside, including the kitchen splashback and metal legs of the dining chairs.
    Find out more about Cork House ›
    Photo by José CamposBouça Family House, Portugal, by Fahr 021.3
    Turquoise accents feature throughout this family home by Fahr 021.3 in Porto, including its window frames and doors.
    The colour was intended to help liven up the interiors, which are finished with white walls, wooden floorboards and wall panelling, while also giving the home “an element of distinction”, the studio said.
    Find out more about Bouça Family House ›
    Photo by French & TyeValetta House, UK, by Office S&M
    Among the distinguishing features of the Valetta House loft extension in London are its yellow-framed arch windows, three of which feature in one of the bedrooms.
    Office S&M modelled these on the arched sash windows found in neighbouring Victorian residences but gave them a vivid yellow finish to appeal to the client’s children. The colour was based on a light fitting the client had picked for the kitchen.
    Find out more about Valetta House ›
    Photo by Séverin MalaudDailly, Belgium, by Mamout
    Slender sage-green frames trim the window openings in Dailly, a courtyard house nestled between two buildings in Belgium.
    It is among the pastel tones that its architect Mamout has used to bring character to the home, in addition to an array of reclaimed materials sourced from a warehouse that previously occupied the site.
    Find out more about Dailly ›

    Ugly House, UK, by Lipton Plant Architects
    Ugly House is a 1970s house in Berkshire that Lipton Plant Architects expanded with a contrasting two-storey extension.
    A bright orange finish was chosen for the windows, including the large garden-facing opening in the kitchen that juxtaposes pastel-blue cabinetry and wooden floorboards.
    Find out more about Ugly House ›
    Photo by Francisco AscensãoHouse in Ancede, Portugal, by Atelier Local
    Large rectangular and circular windows bring light inside House in Ancede, which Atelier Local completed on a sloped site in a nature reserve near Porto.
    The openings are outlined with bright red aluminium, brightening the cool-toned interiors that are defined by exposed blockwork and concrete to evoke brutalist architecture.
    Find out more about House in Ancede ›
    Photo by Megan TaylorYellow House, UK, by Nimtim Architects
    Another project on the list by Nimtim Architects is Yellow House, named after the spectrum of yellow-green hues that run throughout its interior.
    This includes the buttercup-coloured wooden frames of the rear picture window and three skylights in the living room, which stand out against a backdrop of white walls and neutral furnishings.
    Find out more about Yellow House ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring tactile organic modern interiors, eclectic hotels and flooring that enhances the connection between indoors and outdoors. 

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    Eight kitchens with striking material palettes of contrasting colours and textures

    In this lookbook, we collect eight kitchens that contrast rough and smooth textures, glossy and grainy surfaces, and a variety of colours for an overall eye-catching interior.

    The kitchens in this roundup exemplify how a combination of seemingly clashing materials can create a rich and interesting palette.
    Some opted for contrasting a number of cool-toned colours with warmer hues, while others made a striking impact by setting colours on opposite sides of the colour wheel side-by-side, like greens with pink or red.
    Here are eight kitchens with eye-catching material palettes made up of contrasting colours and textures.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring eclectic hotel interiors, organic modern living rooms and homes where continuous flooring creates a connection between indoors and outdoors.

    Photo by Benjamin HoskingBrunswick apartment, Australia, by Murray Barker and Esther Stewart
    Architect Murray Barker and artist Esther Stewart opted for colours and materials in keeping with mid-century interiors when updating this 1960s apartment in Melbourne’s Brunswick neighbourhood.
    The duo reconfigured the apartment layout, creating an L-shaped kitchen with pistachio green units set against red Rosa Alicante marble on the tabletop, worktops and backsplash.
    Find out more about the Brunswick apartment ›
    Photo by Mariell Lind HansenSt John Street, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
    In its renovation of a London warehouse apartment, local studio Emil Eve Architects aimed to add warmth and colour to the interior without losing its industrial character.
    In the kitchen, the glossy and colourful surfaces of the dark green wall tiles and bright yellow pendant lights contrast with the rough textures of the exposed concrete structure and brick walls.
    Find out more about the St John Street ›
    Photo by Ruth Maria MurphyLovers Walk, Ireland, by Kingston Lafferty Design
    Dublin studio Kingston Lafferty Design also used a red-toned stone in this family home in Cork, Ireland.
    The kitchen was overhauled with red tones in various mix-matched materials, including ruby-hued timber cabinets with bright red trims and veiny red quartzite used in the island, splashback and countertops.
    This was contrasted with cool tones in the polished floor and steel-blue-painted ceiling.
    Find out more about Lovers Walk ›
    Photo courtesy of Locke and Sella ConceptLocke am Platz, Switzerland, by Sella Concept
    Smooth, red cabinets are set against a blue-green marble back and worktop in this kitchenette, which is located in a studio apartment in the Locke am Platz hotel in Zurich.
    London design studio Sella Concept used vibrant colours and an assortment of different materials throughout the hotel interior, with the aim of “juxtaposing modernism with a classic theatrical flair”.
    Find out more about Locke am Platz ›
    Photo by François CoquerelParis apartment, France, by Hauvette & Madani
    Green and pink tiles create a contrasting wall pattern in the kitchen of this Haussman-era Parisian apartment, which was revamped by local design studio Hauvette & Madani.
    Light pink wall cabinets and a bright green stove complement the wall pattern behind them, while a sculptural wooden table adds to the eclectic selection of mixed and matched furniture throughout the home.
    Find out more about the Paris apartment ›
    Photo by Seth CaplanDumbo Loft, USA, by Crystal Sinclair Designs
    This loft apartment in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighbourhood was renovated by interiors studio Crystal Sinclair Designs, which aimed to add European flair to the industrial space.
    The studio offset the cool tones of the steely appliances and grey-veined arabascato marble with a wooden farmhouse-style island and deep-red qashqai rug.
    Find out more about Dumbo Loft ›
    Photo by Prue RuscoeBudge Over Dover, Australia, YSG
    Paired-back hues in the terracotta brick flooring and Marmorino plaster walls provide the backdrop to a rich material palette in the Budge Over Dover house in Sydney, which was revamped by interior design studio YSG.
    The studio used a combination of raw and polished finishes in the open-plan kitchen and living room, with black-stained timber cabinetry and a kitchen island composed of a Black Panther marble worktop set atop an aged brass base.
    Find out more about Budge Over Dover ›
    Photo by Jacob MilliganJewellery Box, UK, by Michael Collins Architects
    Jewellery Box is a two-storey extension to a terraced house in London by Michael Collins Architects, which is characterised by vibrant interiors concealed by a subdued exterior.
    The kitchen features bright blue units that contrast with shiny gold backsplashes and slender handles on the tall cabinets.
    Find out more about Jewellery Box ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring eclectic hotel interiors, organic modern living rooms and homes where continuous flooring creates a connection between indoors and outdoors.

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    Eight living rooms with tactile organic modern interiors

    For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight living rooms from Denmark to Japan that have been decorated in an organic modern style, featuring natural wood and stone details.

    The deceptively simple organic modern style combines modernist interior designs with natural materials and earthy colours.
    Plenty of wood, in the form of flooring, panelling and furniture give these interiors an organic feel. Designers have also chosen stone to create the same effect, with stone floors, tables and sofa bases adding an elegant and natural touch.
    All of these living rooms also have discrete and neutral colour palettes, with hues of brown, beige, tan and various white and cream shades creating restful environments.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring floors that connect the indoors and outdoors and interiors with mezzanines.

    Photo by Jonas Bjerre-PoulsenHeatherhill Beach House, Denmark, by Norm Architects
    Danish studio Norm Architects designed the cedar-clad Heatherhill Beach House to resemble a traditional barn, with a material palette that leans heavily on wood and brick.
    In the ocean-facing living room, the studio combined a brick floor and wooden wall with modernist furniture, including the slender graphic Valerie Objects Hanging Lamp by design studio Muller Van Severen.
    Find out more about Heatherhill Beach House ›
    Photo by Helen CathcartThe Maker’s Barn, UK, by Hutch Design
    Originally a concrete pig shed, Hutch Design transformed The Maker’s Barn into a holiday rental using “natural and honest” materials.
    Its living, dining and kitchen area features a concrete fireplace, bulbous soft furniture and a shaggy beige rug in front of floor-to-ceiling windows that underline the house’s connection to the landscape.
    Find out more about The Maker’s Barn ›
    Photo by David MitchellTribeca loft, US, by Timothy Godbold
    This Tribeca loft inside a former textile factory has a dramatic double-height living room surrounded by large windows. To make the room feel more intimate, interior designer Timothy Godbold added sheer curtains and softly rounded furniture.
    A discrete colour palette of cream and beige hues is offset with plenty of green plants, while a central stone table and stone sofa base add a rustic touch.
    Find out more about Tribeca loft ›
    Photo by Ståle EriksenPalm Springs, UK, by Will Gamble Architects
    Named for the California desert town, the Palm Springs extension in London draws on the area’s specific type of modernism. This is exemplified by the use of natural materials and floor-to-ceiling glazing.
    The sandy hues in the living room also nod to the arid Palm Springs surroundings, with a sage green sofa adding more colour to the interior.
    Find out more about Palm Springs ›
    Photo by by Rory Gardiner835 High Street, Australia, by Carr
    The interiors of this flat in Melbourne form a softer contrast to its gridded concrete facade. A rounded sofa with undulating shapes is juxtaposed against branch-like side tables and designer Hans J Wegner’s classic Flag Halyard chair.
    Textile accents in the form of a patterned rug and a fur throw also help make the room feel cosier.
    Find out more about 835 High Street ›
    Photo by Sean DavidsonAmity Street Residence, US, by Selma Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas
    The living room of Amity Street Residence in Brooklyn, New York, houses a collection of sculptural furniture pieces that give it an art-gallery feel.
    Here, designer Isamu Noguchi’s Akari rice lamp with its bamboo stem matches a wooden chair and plinth and contrasts with a green marble table.
    “A warm colour palette was deployed to unify the spaces by way of gentle oak floors, cream-hued walls that contrasted with dark stone, and stained-wood inset bookshelves,” said designer Selma Akkari.
    Find out more about Amity Street Residence ›
    Photo by Tomooki KengakuAzabu Hills Residence, Japan, by Karimoku Case
    Azabu Hills Residence (above and main image) sits on a hilltop in Tokyo and was designed to have a “calm and serene atmosphere”. Local zelkova wood was used for its custom-made furniture, including an ovoid coffee table.
    A clever use of materials enhances the organic modern interior, with a glossy, lacquered brown vase standing out against the textured rug and sofa.
    Find out more about Azabu Hills Residence ›
    Photo by José HeviaCan Santacilia, Spain, by OHLAB
    New and old meet inside the Can Santacilia apartment building in Palma de Mallorca’s old town, parts of which are from the 12th or 13th century.
    In the living room of one of the flats, architecture studio OHLAB used geometric-shaped rattan furniture and a rug to bring a natural colour palette into the all-white room.
    Find out more about Can Santacilia ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring floors that connect the indoors and outdoors and interiors with mezzanine.

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    Eight hotel interiors characterised by eclectic designs

    From guest rooms filled with fashion designer Christian Louboutin’s personal antique collection to Ibiza’s oldest hotel where handmade masks are mounted on the walls, our latest lookbook features eight eclectic hotel interiors.

    Eclectic design brings together objects and styles from a range of sources – often mixing contemporary and vintage pieces.
    While many hotels are characterised by uniform luxury, others celebrate unlikely combinations of furniture, colours and patterns.
    Here are eight eclectic hotel interiors from around the world defined by contrasts and clashes.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring residential mezzanines, Mexican holiday homes and minimalist bathrooms.

    Photo courtesy of Kelly WearstlerDowntown LA Proper, USA, by Kelly Wearstler
    American designer Kelly Wearstler has created the interiors for all four of the Proper Hotel Group’s branches across North America.
    The Downtown LA Proper is anchored by “bold and eclectic choices”, including a chunky graphite reception desk and a hand-painted archway flanked by leaning column-like cacti in rustic pots.
    Find out more about Downtown LA Proper ›
    Photo by Karel BalasMontesol Experimental, Ibiza, by Dorothée Meilichzon
    Dorothée Meilichzon of French interior design studio Chzon renovated Montesol – the oldest hotel in Ibiza, originally built in the 1930s.
    Meilichzon transformed the renamed Montesol Experimental with “a bohemian overtone” that draws on the hotel’s rich history. Among its interior elements are lumpy Playdough Stools by artist Diego Faivre, hand-crafted masks and an abundance of tassels.
    Find out more about Montesol Experimental ›
    Photo by Ambroise TézenasVermelho, Portugal, by Christian Louboutin and Madalena Caiado
    Louboutin filled his first hospitality project with furniture and materials from his personal antique collection.
    The fashion designer worked with architect Madalena Caiado to create the Vermelho boutique hotel in the Portuguese village of Melides. The guest rooms feature unexpected elements such as a rattan monkey-shaped side table and striking hand-painted frescoes.
    Find out more about Vermelho ›
    Photo by Brooke ShanesyPalm Heights, Grand Cayman, by Gabriella Khalil
    Collectible design pieces characterise Palm Heights in Grand Cayman, the island’s first boutique hotel.
    Creative director Gabriella Khalil sought to style the project like a 1970s Caribbean mansion, selecting sandy yellows and bold blue hues to complement the many original artworks that adorn the walls.
    Find out more about Palm Heights ›
    Photo by The IngallsAustin Proper Hotel and Residences, USA, by Kelly Wearstler
    Among the Proper Hotel Group’s other locations is an Austin branch. Wearstler inserted a sculptural oak staircase into the lobby that doubles as a plinth for a varied collection of glazed earthenware pots and vases.
    Locally sourced art and textiles characterise the hotel, which has cypress wood walls that were charred using the traditional Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban to create a tiger-striped effect.
    Find out more about Austin Proper Hotel ›
    Photo by Simon BrownHôtel de la Boétie, France, by Beata Heuman
    Swedish designer Beata Heuman created the Hôtel de la Boétie in Paris to be “a bit like a stage set”.
    Heuman chose contrasting elements for the colour-drenched interiors. Bedrooms feature a mixture of dark-hued woven headboards and pale pink sheets, while downstairs, the reception area’s jumbo flower lamps balance the steely silver of the lounge walls.
    Find out more about Hôtel de la Boétie ›
    Photo by Felix BrueggemannChâteau Royal, Germany, by Irina Kromayer
    A series of eclectic spaces make up the Château Royal in Berlin, which references the heyday of the German capital at the turn of the 20th century.
    Interior architect Irina Kromayer designed the hotel to be “authentic” rather than retro, choosing art noveau tiles and brass and nickel hardware in a nod to the finishes commonly found in Berlin’s historic buildings.
    Find out more about Château Royal ›
    Photo by Christian HarderEsme Hotel, USA, by Jessica Schuster Design
    Plush velvet flooring, textural tassels and plants in wicker pots come together at the Esme Hotel in Miami, renovated by New York studio Jessica Schuster Design.
    The interiors draw on the “bohemian grandeur” of the hotel’s 1920s history, with decadent alcoves clad with contrasting patterns.
    Find out more about Esme Hotel ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring residential mezzanines, Mexican holiday homes and minimalist bathrooms.

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    Ten homes where flooring enhances the connection between indoors and outdoors

    Our latest lookbook explores homes where flooring details and materials help to create the impression that a living space extends out beyond a house’s exterior walls.

    A range of different techniques can be used to create the sense of a continuous floor surface.
    The most obvious is to use the same flooring material, or one that looks very similar, for both interior and exterior spaces.
    However, this isn’t always necessary. By combining level thresholds with floor-to-ceiling glazing, it’s also possible to create that sense of continuation by simply maintaining a consistent surface.
    Here, we look at 10 examples that use one or more of these methods to create different effects, ranging from a forest home in Mexico’s Valle de Bravo to a waterside villa in Denmark.

    Many of these examples use continuous floor surfaces to connect a living room with a garden or patio, but some explore other rooms where the effect can be applied.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring chocolate-brown interiors and minimalist bathrooms.
    Photography is by LGM StudioCasa Mola, Mexico, by Estudio Atemporal
    Mexico City-based Estudio Atemporal designed this house in a densely forested area of Valle de Bravo with the aim of allowing residents to live “more organically”.
    The large-format flooring tiles inside the house give way to brickwork paving outside, but sliding glass doors with level thresholds create a clean junction that allows the two spaces to feel connected.
    Find out more about Casa Mola ›
    Photo is by Agnese SanvitoThe Saddlery, UK, by Studio Octopi
    Terrazzo flooring features both inside and outside this extension to a Georgian house in southeast London, designed by architecture office Studio Octopi.
    Sourced from British manufacturer Diespeker, this material is speckled with colours that complement the mint-green tone of the building’s metal walls.
    Find out more about The Saddlery ›
    Photo is by Nick DeardonDulwich House, UK, by Proctor & Shaw
    Kitchen and terrace become a single space divided only by levels in this extension to a home in Dulwich, London, designed by architecture studio Proctor & Shaw.
    Glass doors slide open on two sides – with one disappearing into a wall – to completely open up the building’s corner. The sliding mechanism is set into a continuous porcelain tile floor surface, resulting in a flush threshold.
    Find out more about Dulwich House ›
    Photo is by Maxime DelvauxMaison Hercourt, France, Studio Guma
    Minimal glazing plays a key role in connecting the kitchen of this renovated stone farmhouse in Normandy with an adjoining patio.
    Designed by Paris-based Studio Guma, the renovation involved installing the kitchen in a space that previously functioned as a cart shed. Although the floor surface changes from concrete to stone from inside to outside, the slender-framed glass doors help the two surfaces to be read as one.
    Find out more about Maison Hercourt ›
    Photo is by Jonas Bjerre-PoulsenFjord Boat House, Denmark, by Norm Architects
    Copenhagen-based Norm Architects chose handmade ceramic bricks for the flooring of this vacation house, built on the edge of a fjord just outside the city.
    They form stairs that lead down from the main house to a terrace, then continue inside to give the interior living spaces a casual, rustic feel. At the main entrance, the linearity of the brickwork pattern acts to draw the eye.
    Find out more about Fjord Boat House ›

    Ederlezi, Mexico, Práctica Arquitectura
    Using the same flooring surface for both indoors and outdoors can become costly, but this low-cost infill house in Monterrey offers a clever solution.
    Designed by locally based Práctica Arquitectura, the house features a stepped living space with an adjoining courtyard.
    Most of the courtyard is landscaped, but the edges are lined with the same square saltillo tiles that provide interior flooring. This helps to extend the living space outdoors without requiring quite as many tiles.
    Find out more about Ederlezi ›
    Photo is by Helen CathcartThe Maker’s Barn, UK, by Hutch Design
    Full-height glazing features in many of the rooms of this rural holiday rental on the outskirts of London, a former pig shed renovated by Hutch Design. This results in a strong connection with the surrounding patio.
    The effect is particularly effective in the primary bedroom, which features a bath set into the floor. Here, it’s possible to observe the clean line running between the end-grain timber flooring inside and the paving tiles outside.
    Find out more about The Maker’s Barn ›
    Photo is by Rory GardinerMossy Point, Australia, by Edition Office
    Melbourne-based Edition Office selected very different surfaces for the shower room of this house in Mossy Point, New South Wales, but they appear to merge thanks to the use of frameless glazing.
    A similar effect can be found throughout the house, but the contrast between the wooden decking and the blue tiles of this room is the most striking.
    Find out more about Mossy Point ›

    Shift House, Spain, by Nomo Studio
    Roughly polished white concrete flooring unites both the interior and exterior of this house on the island of Menorca, designed by Barcelona-based Nomo Studio.
    This creates a feeling of continuity from the building’s entrance, located on the uppermost storey, all the way across to a balcony terrace on the opposite side of the main living room.
    Find out more about Shift House ›
    Photo is by Brotherton LockA Modern Oasis, UK, by Richard Parr Associates
    The level thresholds of this house in Oxfordshire, England, create a visual connection between the polished concrete flooring inside and the paving tiles outside.
    Architecture office Richard Parr Associates carefully matched the colours of these two surfaces so that they appear to be made of the same material.
    Find out more about A Modern Oasis ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring chocolate-brown interiors and minimalist bathrooms.

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