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      Eight tranquil interiors where oversized windows frame lush views

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      This week’s lookbook explores eight peaceful residential interiors that feature expansive glazing and floor-to-ceiling windows framing verdant views.

      These eight projects all use oversized or unusually shaped windows in clever ways, creating interiors that embrace nature and forge welcome connections to the outdoors.
      Among this list of projects is an urban home renovation in Sydney offering scenic views over a plant-filled roof terrace, a curvaceous home that wraps around mango trees in a forest near Mumbai, and a mid-century home renovation sat beside a hillside in California.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors that embody the “bookshelf wealth” design trend, living spaces that feature metal furniture and offbeat homes with indoor slides.
      Photo by Fabian MartinezCasa Tres Árboles, Mexico, by Direccion

      Neutral calming tones feature throughout this revamp of a weekend retreat in Valle de Bravo, completed by Mexican studio Direccion.
      Designed to “convey a sense of refuge and retreat”, lush courtyards at either end of the home serve as a backdrop to the calm interiors and are visible through floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors.
      Find out more about Casa Tres Árboles ›
      Photo by Tom FergusonHidden Garden House, Australia, by Sam Crawford Architects
      Located within a conservation zone, this Sydney home was reconfigured by Sam Crawford Architects to transform the space into an urban “sanctuary”.
      A sloped terrace on the upper floor is filled with plants to create an “urban oasis” outside the house and offers a scenic yet private bathing experience for the residents.
      Find out more about Hidden Garden House ›
      Photo by Nils Timm12221 Benmore , US, by Ome Dezin
      This mid-century home renovation in California by US studio Ome Dezin features a tonal colour palette and has oversized openings to maximise views of the lush hillside.
      Originally constructed in 1960 by architects A Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmon, the renovation aimed to revive the home’s original charm and its connection to the outdoors.
      Find out more about 12221 Benmore ›
      Photo by Syam SreesylamNisarga Art Hub, India, by Wallmakers
      Nisarga Art Hub, a family home located in Kerala, doubles as a community arts centre for hosting workshops and events, as well as musical performances that are held on the structure’s innovative roof design.
      A central space features earthy, natural interiors with built-in seating that is fronted by oversized windows looking out over the neighbouring paddy fields.
      Find out more about Nisarga Art Hub ›
      Photo by Jim StephensonPoet’s Corner House, UK, by Oliver Leech Architects
      UK studio Oliver Leech Architects added a four-metre-wide skylight to this extension of a Victorian terrace house in south London.
      Tasked with opening up the home’s dark interiors, the extension offers views of a wildflower meadow roof along with views out to a rear courtyard.
      Find out more about Poet’s Corner House ›
      Photo by Inclined StudioAsmalay, India, by Blurring Boundaries
      This curvaceous home near Mumbai completed by Indian studio Blurring Boundaries was designed to wrap around five of the surrounding forest’s mango trees.
      Large, oval-shaped windows line the home’s interior and draw daylight in as well as provide views out towards the leafy forest.
      Find out more about Asmalay ›
      Photo by EvenbeeldWell House, Belgium, by Memo Architectuur
      Belgian studio Memo Architectuur renovated this dilapidated row house in Mortsel to accommodate a single-family home.
      The home’s bright, leafy interiors are lit by floor-to-ceiling rear openings that provide a picturesque backdrop to an open-plan kitchen and upper-floor balcony.
      Find out more about Well House ›
      Photo by Robin HayesHouse Dokka, Norway, by Snøhetta
      Two stacked timber-clad volumes comprise this home designed to resemble a “floating treehouse” in Kongsberg, Norway, completed by Snøhetta and Tor Helge Dokka.
      Optimising its location perched on a hillside, large windows finished with black frames look out onto the surrounding rocky landscape.
      Find out more about House Dokka ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors that embody the “bookshelf wealth” design trend, living spaces that feature metal furniture and offbeat homes with indoor slides.

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      Eight closed staircases in tactile materials and sculptural shapes

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve gathered eight stylish closed staircases, ranging from a winding wooden spiral staircase to a light-filled “stairway to heaven”.

      Closed staircases – stairs that have been framed so that the threads and risers aren’t visible from the side – have become a popular search term on Dezeen’s Pinterest board.
      While they create heavier volumes in a room, when done well closed staircases can add a monumental, almost sculptural feel to an interior.
      In the eight examples below, architects and interior designers used the style in different creative ways to turn staircases into statement pieces made from materials including steel, patterned wood and micro cement.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring “bookshelf-wealth” interiors, living spaces with metal furniture and interiors punctuated by structural columns.

      Photo by Alex BaxterBarn at the Ahof, the Netherlands, by Julia van Beuningen
      Architectural designer Julia van Beuningen created a spiral staircase made from plywood for this barn conversion in the Netherlands. The beautifully patterned staircase sits at the heart of the floorplan and contrasts against the barn’s rough-hewn wooden beams and pillars.
      “It’s something you either love or hate, but it’s definitely a statement,” Van Beuningen told Dezeen.
      Find out more about Barn at the Ahof ›
      Photo by Gokul Rao KadamClermont House, India, by FADD Studio
      This apartment inside a high-rise development in Bangalore comprises two flats that were fused, with an expressive closed staircase connecting them.
      “It has a sculptural feel with the addition of multiple curves, carved into each riser’s deep red marble,” the studio said of the staircase, which was covered in white micro cement that has a soft sheen finish.
      Find out more about Clermont House ›
      Photo is by Noortje KnulstMatryoshka House, the Netherlands, by Shift Architecture Urbanism
      A steel-clad volume encases an electric-blue staircase and runs along the side of the living space in this Dutch house that has been converted into two apartments.
      The volume conceals a toilet, storage space and kitchen equipment, creating a clean and simple kitchen interior to which the colour adds a playful feel.
      Find out more about Matryoshka House ›
      Photo is by Pierce ScourfieldParis apartment, France, by Johanna Amatoury
      Gently curved plaster forms in soft white hues define this Parisian apartment, including the staircase in its entryway.
      Interior designer Johanna Amatoury aimed to create a holiday-house feel in the home, which was designed as an homage to the architectural vernacular of Greek islands.
      Find out more about the Paris apartment ›
      Photo by The IngallsAustin Proper Hotel, USA, by Kelly Wearstler
      Interior designer Kelly Wearstler gave the Austin Proper Hotel in Texas her signature bohemian touch, as seen on the closed staircase she created as an eye-catching centrepiece.
      Wearstler chose to work with white oak wood to create the striking staircase, which has a ziggurat design that lets it function as a display case for a collection of glazed earthenware pots and vases.
      Find out more about the Austin Proper Hotel ›
      Photo by Brotherton LockNithurst Farm, UK, by Adam Richards
      Described as a “stairway to heaven”, British architect Adam Richards created this staircase based on one in the film A Matter of Life and Death, in which a pilot gets a second chance at life after a crash.
      It ends by facing a full-height window, creating a striking light effect that makes the staircase live up to its name.
      Find out more about Nithurst Farm ›
      Photo courtesy of Rubén Dario Kleimeer and Lagado ArchitectsWorkhome-Playhome, The Netherlands, by Lagado Architects
      This townhouse in Rotterdam was revamped by its owners, the founders of studio Lagado Architects, to create more versatile living spaces.
      Called Workhome-Playhome, the home has a closed staircase in an eye-catching baby-blue colour that matches other touches of colour in the house, including its bright green kitchen chairs.
      Find out more about Workhome-Playhome ›

      Tommy Rand House, Denmark, by Tommy Rand
      Perhaps the most monumental of the staircases in this roundup, the spiral staircase designed by architect Tommy Rand for his own house in Denmark was constructed from 630 pieces of CNC-cut plywood.
      “It is very beautiful from all angles,” said Rand. “It is like a snail house, which opens up more and more as you go up to the first floor.”
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring “bookshelf-wealth” interiors, living spaces with metal furniture and interiors punctuated by structural columns.

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      Eight interiors celebrating the curated clutter of “bookshelf wealth”

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      Dubbed the first major design trend of 2024, our latest lookbook collects cosy, lived-in interiors that embody the “bookshelf wealth” aesthetic movement taking over social media.

      While using books for interior decoration is not a new idea, it has been brought back into focus by a now-viral TikTok video posted in December by San Diego-based interior designer Kailee Blalock.
      In the video, Blalock explains that “bookshelf wealth” is not just about creating perfect book displays, but instead about capturing the warmth and homeliness of book collections to curate “a whole home vibe”.
      “Bookshelf wealth”, which the Financial Times called this year’s “first major design trend”, suggests pairing bookshelves with mismatched interior patterns, cosy seating areas and layered, loosely organised art pieces to create a tastefully eclectic space for reading.
      Despite their contemporary qualities, the projects in this list capture the intimate atmosphere of “bookshelf wealth”, from colourful bookshelves that span an entire room to subtle reading nooks for deeply personal collections.

      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring spaces punctuated by structural columns, rooms embracing the “unexpected red theory” and playful homes integrating indoor slides.
      Photo by Nicole FranzenEast Village Apartment, USA, by GRT Architects
      A wooden bookcase with sienna-coloured backing panels complements this warm New York apartment renovation by GRT Architects.
      The bookcase spans the length of the living room behind patterned, textural furniture pieces and is lined with multicoloured books stacked in different directions against small sculptural objects.
      Aiming to preserve the home’s “turn-of-the-century disposition”, GRT Architects concealed a TV behind a light pink panel at the centre of bookcase.
      Find out more about East Village Apartment ›
      Photo by Felix SpellerMayfair home, UK, by Child Studio
      London-based Child Studio designed this entertainer’s home in Mayfair with mid-century modern furniture and deep-toned material finishes, aiming to enhance the art deco atmosphere by carving bookshelves into dark mahogany walls.
      “We worked closely with the client to create a space that reflected his personality and interests, encompassing art, design, literature and travel,” Child Studio founders Che Huang and Alexy Kos told Dezeen.
      “This approach made us think of Saint Laurent’s salon – an eclectic interior where design objects and art pieces from different eras and parts of the world are assembled together, forming a highly personal environment.”
      Find out more about the Mayfair home ›
      Photo by The Ingalls and Matthieu SalvaingSanta Monica Proper Hotel, USA, by Kelly Wearstler
      The Santa Monica Proper Hotel by American designer Kelly Wearstler includes reading niches with artwork and furniture by local artists and artisans.
      A brimming bookcase flanks low-lying lounges and walls covered by misaligned artwork, with Wearstler explaining that the idea was to connect the original building’s Spanish colonial revival style with the new contemporary building.
      “Everything’s connected to somebody that is local in the city,” Wearstler explained. “We’re so lucky to be in Los Angeles, the talent pool here is extraordinary.”
      Find out more about Santa Monica Proper Hotel ›
      Photo by Victor StonemAdH House, Mexico, by Francesc Rifé Studio
      Spanish practice Francesc Rifé Studio conceived this moody house in Mexico City with a eucalyptus floor-to-ceiling bookcase to display antique atlases.
      The bespoke unit was finished with brass bookstands and embedded LED lighting to complement the tactile and neutral interior palette, capturing the luxurious undertones of “bookshelf wealth”.
      Find out more about AdH House ›
      Photo by Rafael SoldiWhidbey Dogtrot, USA, by SHED
      A dedicated reading nook punctures this bedroom suite for a compact home in the Pacific Northwest by US studio SHED.
      Wrapping the bright white walls, stacked books and mismatched objects line dark metal shelf extrusions that are interrupted by a square window looking out to the surrounding landscape.
      Find out more about Whidbey Dogtrot ›
      Photo by Trevor Mein and Sharyn CairnsKew Residence, Australia, by John Wardle Architects
      Remodelled by John Wardle Architects for the founder’s own Melbourne home, Kew Residence leans into the informal and cocooning atmosphere of “bookshelf wealth” in its wood-clad first-floor study.
      Built-in shelves made from Victorian Ash are the focal point of the room and have been densely filled with a collection of ceramic art and books. Next to the shelves, an inset window seat and a slim suspended desk were added, creating a practical and uniform interior.
      Find out more about Kew Residence ›
      Photo by Chris MottaliniSilver Lake home, USA, by Lovers Unite
      As part of renovation works for a 1950s Los Angeles home, California studio Lovers Unite converted an unused balcony into a long, teal-upholstered window seat below a floating bookshelf.
      Paired with contrasting embroidered cushions and vintage decor pieces, the book display adds colour, depth and a feeling of occupation to enliven the timber-clad interiors.
      Find out more about Silver Lake home ›
      Photo by Derek SwalwellSt Vincents Place, Australia, by BE Architecture
      Australian studio BE Architecture renovated this Victorian home to highlight the client’s vast art collection, while also rejecting “stark minimalism” and embracing the interior’s existing heritage features.
      Large-format books form a centrepiece in the home’s lounge area under transparent coffee table cubes, adding to the home’s eclectic, richly textured and academic character.
      Find out more about St Vincents Place ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with indoor slides, colourful home renovations and built around ruins. 

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      Eight living spaces that go heavy on metal furniture

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      Although more commonly associated with industrial applications, furnishings made of cool-toned steel, aluminium and chrome are infiltrating every room of the home. This lookbook rounds up eight living spaces that show how it’s done.

      In recent years, a growing cohort of young designers has been experimenting with humble, industrial metals – often using only one material, which is left raw and unfinished to promote recycling.
      Among them are Paul Coenen, Annie Paxton and David Taylor, whose Knuckle light made of bent aluminium tubing was crowned lighting design of the year at the 2023 Dezeen Awards.

      Paul Coenen folds single sheet of steel to form furniture “that can last a generation”

      Contrasted against natural materials like timber and stone, these pieces can add a raw, industrial edge to interiors while still feeling refined.
      Read on for eight living spaces from around the world that are toughened up with steely metal furnishings, including a Ukrainian log cabin, a flat in Antwerp’s brutalist Riverside Tower, a Melbourne residence set in a former chocolate factory and two separate São Paulo apartments.

      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more examples, see previous lookbooks featuring homes with slides, colourful renovations and New York City lofts.
      Photo by Andrey Bezuglov and Maryan BereshRelogged House, Ukraine, by Balbek Bureau
      Balbek Bureau set out to offer a modern interpretation of a traditional log cabin in this renovation, contrasting the building’s warm timber panelling with an industrial palette of concrete and metal.
      The Ukrainian studio created several custom furniture pieces for the cabin, including a trio of sleek stainless-steel consoles that frame the low-lying bed.
      Find out more about Relogged House ›
      Photo by Gareth HackerHighbury House, UK, by Daytrip
      A vintage zinc-plated lamp stands atop a brushed aluminium console by American sculptor Jane Manu in the hallway of this renovated Victorian terrace house in London.
      The home was designed by interiors studio Daytrip and furnished by Sophie Pearce, founder of design gallery Béton Brut, to contrast a “gallery-like minimalism” with organic materials and forms.
      Find out more about Highbury House ›
      Photo is by Fran ParenteFrederic Chopin Apartment, Brazil, by Tria Arquitetura
      Brazilian studio Tria Arquitetura went beyond furniture and enveloped an entire column in this São Paulo apartment in sheets of stainless steel to offer a cool, sharp-edged contrast to the wood and other warm tones in the living room.
      The home belongs to an art-loving couple and was designed to accommodate their collection of art and collectible design.
      “The main concept in the choice of finishes and architectural solutions was to bring comfort but still leave a big void so that the works could dress the house,” said Tria Arquitetura.
      Find out more about Frederic Chopin Apartment ›
      Photo by Matthijs van der BurgtRiverside Tower apartment, Belgium, by Studio Okami Architecten
      Metals in different finishes meet inside this duplex apartment in Antwerp’s brutalist Riverside Tower, where local firm Studio Okami Architecten exposed the building’s original concrete structure.
      Sleek metal surfaces provide a counterpoint to the rough finish of the walls, painted baby blue in one instance to form a spiral staircase and elsewhere left raw in the form of cabinets and a sculptural kitchen island.
      Find out more about Riverside Tower apartment ›
      Photo by Pier CarthewKerr Street, Australia, by SSdH
      Eclectic metal furniture takes centre stage in Melbourne’s Kerr Street apartment, which is housed in a former chocolate factory.
      Among them are folded aluminium stools, a two-seater armchair with an undulating frame and a chainmail-fringed side table by local designer Annie Paxton.
      Find out more about Kerr Street ›
      Photo by Piet-Albert GoethalsApartment A, Belgium, by Atelier Dialect
      Apartment A in Antwerp delivers a more pared-back take on the theme, pairing a chromed metal floor lamp from Reggiani with a steel-bottomed velvet-upholstered daybed by Belgian designer Jonas Van Put.
      In the bedroom, Belgian studio Atelier Dialect went a step further and installed a bathtub wrapped in panels of mirrored steel in the middle of the minty-green room.
      Find out more about Apartment A ›
      Photo by Giulio GhirardiCanal Saint-Martin apartment, France, by Rodolphe Parente
      Metal covers almost all of the surfaces in the kitchen of this Haussmann-era apartment in Paris, as well as spilling over into many of the other rooms.
      In the living room, there is Axel Chay’s unlacquered aluminium Septem stool, while the bathroom is brightened up by the Morgans chair – created by French designer Andrée Putman for Emeco – whose aluminium frame is polished to such a high shine it basically functions as a mirror.
      Find out more about Canal Saint-Martin apartment ›
      Photo by Fran ParenteGale Apartment, Brazil, by Memola Estudio
      Part of the balcony in this São Paulo apartment was converted into a bar and lounge area as part of a renovation by local practice Memola Estudio.
      The practice designed a custom metal bar for the space that matches the nearby kitchen cabinetry while adding an industrial edge to the seating area with its low-slung soft furnishings.
      Find out more about Gale Apartment ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with slides, colourful renovations and New York City lofts.

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      Ten inspiring living spaces punctuated by structural columns

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      From monolithic concrete pillars to ornately decorated columns, this lookbook collates ten living room interiors that embrace existing structural columns.

      It is not always cost-effective or practical for designers and architects to remove preexisting columns from interiors, especially if they are load-bearing and thus vital to the structural integrity of the building.
      In the past, the structural components of buildings were often concealed within walls; however, this changed with the increase in popularity of open-plan spaces over the course of the 20th century.
      Columns are sometimes placed at irregular intervals, especially in older buildings, and consequently the interior design scheme must be adapted to fit around them.
      Pillars can provide a strong focal point that can be enhanced by both the choice of interior finishes and the placement of furniture around them.

      Depending on their materiality and style, they can also serve as an immovable reminder of the building’s design style and the historical period in which it was built.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors animated by textural burl wood, multicoloured interior design schemes and contemporary interiors that make a feature of historic ruins.
      Photo by Pier CarthewKerr, Australia, by SSdH
      The industrial past of this mezzanine apartment in Melbourne is apparent thanks to the I-beams that crisscross the space and the pair of thick plastered columns in two corners of its living room.
      The functional aesthetic of the pillars is complimented by the presence of streamlined metal furnishings and offset by floor-to-ceiling wooden panelling.
      Find out more about Kerr ›
      Photo by Jose HeviaJJ16, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil
      Situated in the Salamanca district of Madrid, local studio Lucas y Hernández-Gil created a playful interior for a high-ceilinged 19th-century apartment that combines pops of colour with original features.
      A pair of elegant columns made from cast iron frame the entrance to the walk-through kitchen, contrasting the contemporary units with their fluted shafts and ornamented capitals.
      Find out more about JJ16 ›
      Photo by Fran Parente Curitiba apartment, Brazil, by Leandro Garcia and Amanda Dalla-Bona
      Eclectic furniture and glossy herringbone flooring contrast the weathered concrete pillar that sits on the boundary between the living and dining spaces of this apartment in the Brazilian city of Curitiba.
      It has a rectangular footprint and a characterfully rough surface, which are both echoed in a gnarled wooden stool sitting at its base.
      Find out more about Curitiba apartment›
      Photo by Sarah ElliottTribeca Loft, USA, by Andrea Leung
      Public and private zones have been delineated by a partially mirrored wall tucked behind a sequence of three original, intricately formed columns in this loft apartment in New York’s Tribeca area.
      The Corinthian-style iron pillars are characterised by gracefully fluted shafts topped by opulent capitals that feature acanthus leaves. The style was popular in ancient Greek and Roman architecture.
      Find out more about Tribeca Loft ›
      Photo by Felix Speller and Child StudioMews house, UK, by Child Studio
      A quartet of smooth, statuesque pillars blend in seamlessly against a backdrop of art deco and mid-century modern furnishings in the living area of this mews house in London’s Mayfair area.
      The thick, pale pillars bring a dramatic air to the space, which was designed for lounging as well as hosting, entertaining and dining.
      Find out more about the mews house ›
      Photo by Seth CaplanDumbo Loft, USA, by Crystal Sinclair Designs
      Walls made from floor-to-ceiling glass panels and an opulent crystal chandelier create a sense of luxury in this Brooklyn apartment.
      The living room is grounded by a double-height structural pillar, which has a bottom half clad in pale pink vertical, subway-style tiles.
      Find out more about Dumbo Loft ›
      Photo by José HeviaCan Santacilia, Spain, by OHLAB
      A pillar with a faceted stone shaft and an ornately carved and painted wooden capital is the focal point of this living area inside an apartment in Palma de Mallorca by local studio OHLAB.
      The stately pillar and dramatic coffered ceiling are contrasted by the sleek modern kitchen, but united by the use of stone in both the column and kitchen island.
      Find out more about Can Santacilia ›
      Photo by Nao TakahashiCasa Nano, Japan, by Bosco Sodi
      This modest home in Tokyo features slender struts made from wood that form part of the building’s exposed structure.
      Wooden seating, tables, cabinets and shelving create a harmonious interior scheme, which is dominated by both the skeletal wooden frame of the building and an open-tread staircase.
      Find out more about Casa Nano ›
      Photo by Salva LópezCasa Vasto, Spain, by Mesura
      This apartment in Barcelona (above and main image) is studded with white-rendered columns dating from the 18th century, which anchor the unique vaulted ceiling to the expansive floor.
      Low-slung furnishings provide a horizontal emphasis in the interior while the columns create a rhythm of upright pillars, which nod to the building’s industrial heritage.
      Find out more about Casa Vasto ›
      Photo by Johan DehlinBrutalist Chelsea townhouse, UK, by Pricegore
      London-based architecture studio Pricegore refurbished the interior of this brutalist townhouse to celebrate its concrete materiality.
      In the lofty, double-height living space, a cylindrical pillar stretches from floor to ceiling in front of the backdrop provided by the house’s verdant garden.
      Find out more about Brutalist Chelsea townhouse ›
      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 textural burl wood, colourful interior design schemes and contemporary interiors that make a feature of existing historic ruins.

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      Ten rooms that make clever use of the “unexpected red theory”

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      An interior design trend born out of a viral TikTok video, championing the addition of red “in places where it has no business”, is the focus of our latest lookbook.

      The “unexpected red theory” was coined by Brooklyn-based interior designer Taylor Migliazzo Simon in a video that has had over 900,000 views on TikTok.
      Simon describes it as “adding anything that’s red, big or small, to a room where it doesn’t match at all” with the result that “it automatically looks better”.
      The theory suggests that red is as versatile as a neutral colour because it can work in almost any palette of colours and materials, either as an accent or complementary tone.
      Here, we look at 10 home and hotel interiors that show how it’s done, either in the form of architectural fittings and finishes like a balustrade or floor surface or in the form of statement furniture.

      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with indoor slides, colourful renovations and innovative New York City lofts.
      Photo is by Douglas FriedmanHotel Saint Vincent, USA, by Lambert McGuire Design
      Red is paired with shades of grey and purple in the bedrooms of this hotel in New Orleans, designed by Lambert McGuire Design, which occupies a former 19th-century infant asylum.
      The colour can be found on a range of elements, across furniture and textiles, with key pieces including the red velvet bed upholstery. The overall effect heightens the sinister atmosphere conjured by the building’s history.
      Find out more about Hotel Saint Vincent ›
      Photo is by Jim StephensonWalled Garden, UK, by Nimtim Architects
      A warm palette of natural materials characterises the interior of this London house extension designed by Nimtim Architects, with the exception of a statement dining table.
      This table features four oversized columnar legs with a glossy red finish, providing a visual focal point for the room.
      Find out more about Walled Garden ›

      W Budapest, Hungary, by Bowler James Brindley and Bánáti + Hartvig
      The W Hotel in Budapest is housed inside a grand neo-Renaissance palace, so interiors studios Bowler James Brindley and Bánáti + Hartvig chose most of the details based on the existing architecture.
      This led them to combine cool shades of blue, turquoise and green with golden details. But they also added a series of curved red sofas and tables, which result in a more playful feel.
      Find out more about W Budapest ›

      House for Beth, USA, by Salmela Architect
      With a series of timber-framed windows, the view takes centre stage in the living room of this rural Wisconsin home designed by Salmela Architect.
      The room is otherwise very simple in its decor, but red-painted dining chairs prevent it from feeling too minimal.
      Find out more about House for Beth ›
      Photo is by Henry WoideThe Secret Garden Flat, UK, by Nic Howett Architect
      Red floors and walls both feature in this renovated London home designed by Nic Howett Architect.
      The colour provides a warm counterpoint to the dark blue flooring and curtains that also punctuate the exposed wood interior.
      Find out more about The Secret Garden Flat ›
      Photo is by Yannis DrakoulidisTrikoupi Apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme Architects
      Red and green should never be seen together, or so the saying goes. Point Supreme Architects challenged that rule with this apartment interior in Athens.
      Standing in front of a stained green plywood storage wall, a kitchen island topped with red Corian becomes the room’s standout feature.
      Find out more about Trikoupi Apartment ›

      Maryland House, UK, by Remi Connolly-Taylor
      London-based designer Remi Connolly-Taylor showed how red and gold can be paired in this design for her own London house and studio.
      A folded, perforated staircase in red powder-coated steel provides a counterpoint to the golden kitchen cabinets, making a statement in the otherwise minimal, white interior.
      Find out more about Maryland House ›

      Cowley Manor Experimental, UK, by Dorothée Meilichzon
      Designed by Dorothée Meilichzon of French interiors studio Chzon, this hotel in the Cotswolds shows one way of applying the unexpected red theory to a bathroom.
      Building on a subtle Alice in Wonderland theme, some of the pink-walled guest bathrooms feature glossy red lacquered bathtubs.
      Find out more about Cowley Manor Experimental ›

      Redwood House, USA, by Studio Terpeluk
      This bathroom, located in a Noe Valley home designed by Studio Terpeluk, shows how to apply the unexpected red theory with just one small piece of furniture.
      A mid-century-style stool adds a vibrant accent to the muted pink tone of the walls.
      Find out more about Redwood House ›

      Casa Pousos, Portugal, by Bak Gordon Arquitectos
      A courtyard divides the two concrete buildings that form this Lisbon home designed by Bak Gordon Arquitectos.
      The space might have felt stark if it were not for the addition of two bright red lounge chairs.
      Find out more about Casa Pousos ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with indoor slides, colourful renovations and innovative New York City lofts.

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      Eight colourful renovations that use vibrant shades to transform the home

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      From a bold blue apartment in Paris to an all-lilac kitchen in Stockholm, this lookbook rounds up renovations that cleverly use bright colours to update and refresh home interiors.

      While neutral colour palettes are often chosen for a sense of serenity, embracing bold and bright colours can add a sense of fun to a home and reflect the owner’s personal style.
      The interiors in this lookbook show how even period buildings, from an Edwardian London townhouses to a 1950s Norwegian home, can be renovated to have colourful, modern and playful interiors.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring New York City lofts, living rooms with vintage furniture and interiors with burl wood surfaces.
      Photo by Félix Dol MaillotParisian apartment, France, by Uchronia

      Local studio Uchronia coated walls in gradients of bright colours and added colourful geometric furniture to this Parisian apartment, which was designed for a pair of jewellery designers.
      The bold tones sit against a backdrop of detailing including boiserie, mouldings and parquet flooring. These are original to the mid-century building the apartment is located in, which was designed as part of Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s reconstruction of the French capital.
      Find out more about the Parisian apartment ›
      Photo by Jesper Westblom1980s Stockholm apartment, Sweden, by Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor
      Lilac hues coat the walls, ceiling and floor of the kitchen in this apartment in Stockholm, which was renovated by local studio Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor.
      Set in a 1980s prefabricated concrete building, the studio also created an all-yellow bedroom and added accents of burnt orange to the home’s doors and bespoke furniture.
      Find out more about the 1980s Stockholm apartment ›
      Photo by French + TyeGraphic House, UK, by Office S&M
      Architecture studio Office S&M drew upon its clients’ love for graphics to create the colourful and geometric renovation of Graphic House in London.
      The studio added art deco forms in a variety of colours to the mid-terrace Edwardian home, including mint green walls and kitchen cupboards, yellow window and door frames, and a blue staircase.
      Find out more about Graphic House ›
      Photo by Paolo FuscoRetroscena, Italy, by La Macchina Studio
      Swathes of primary colours feature throughout Retroscena, a 1950s apartment in Rome that was transformed by Italian architecture practice La Macchina Studio.
      The practice aimed to create a “surreal” and “quasi-theatrical” interior with bright blue archways and zesty yellow curtains contrasting against white walls.
      Find out more about Retroscena ›
      Photo by Magnus Berger NordstrandYellow House in the Apple Garden, Norway, by Familien Kvistad
      With a name referencing the sunny hue of its monochrome exterior, Yellow House in the Apple Garden is a 1950s house in Oslo that local studio Familien Kvistad renovated to have a more modern feel.
      Based on the client’s favourite colours, the interior palette includes bold tones of mustard yellow in the kitchen tiling and shades of plum and forest green in the soft furnishings.
      Find out more about Yellow House in the Apple Garden ›
      Photo by Taran WilkhuEast London townhouse, UK, by PL Studio
      Interior design office PL Studio added shades of blue, green and yellow to this east London townhouse, informed by a Morrocan villa that was once the home of artist Jacques Majorelle.
      Applying the colours in graphic shapes on the home’s walls, PL Studio wanted to create a sense of character that reflected the clients’ joyful and positive energy.
      Find out more about the east London townhouse ›
      Photo by Sean DavidsonHudson Heights apartment, USA, by Ideas of Order
      US architecture studio Ideas of Order updated this 1,000-square-foot residence in Manhattan with pops of colour in the style of French midcentury designers, such as Charlotte Perriand.
      The studio gave each room in the apartment its own identity by using different colours. The kitchen was refreshed and made more suitable for entertainment with raspberry and periwinkle cabinets, a lime green storage wall was added to the bedroom, and pale pink cabinets were inserted in the entryway.
      Find out more about Hudson Height apartment ›
      Photo by Megan TaylorSunderland Road House, UK, by 2LG Studio
      Sunderland Road House is an Edwardian home in London that local firm 2LG Studio renovated for a family of five, aiming to incorporate the clients’ love for colour while respecting the period elements of the house.
      Shades of pastel green cover the walls in the baby’s room, the entry hall was coated in hues of pink, and the kitchen was fitted with sky-blue cabinets.
      Find out more about Sunderland Road House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring New York City lofts, living rooms with vintage furniture and interiors with burl wood surfaces.

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      Ten New York City loft interiors that make innovative use of open space

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      For our latest lookbook, we explore ten loft conversions and renovations in New York City where designers have inserted partitions, storage and other elements to cleverly organise open space.

      Characterised by spacious open floor plans, high ceilings and large windows, loft apartments are as synonymous with New York City as coffee and bagels – at least in popular culture.
      Loft apartments are housed in converted commercial, manufacturing or warehouse buildings, which informs their overall industrial feel as well as their wide-open floor plans, which have acted as a blank canvas for creatives for decades.
      In the New York lofts below, designers have organised and reorganised interiors by removing walls, reducing and adding mezzanines, inserting glass and wooden storage units or embracing original structures.
      From a Brooklyn residence that can be converted into an event space to a SoHo loft that now houses a sculptural partition wall, read on for ten examples of cleverly organised New York lofts throughout the city.

      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring kitchens with floor-to-ceiling cabinets, well-designed sheds and outbuildings and interiors created on a budget.
      Photo is courtesy of Future ProjectsAnother Seedbed, Williamsburg, by Future Projects
      Architects from New York studio Future Projects have converted an industrial space in a 19th-century cast iron building, which once served as a hat factory, into a unique loft apartment that serves as a residence and event space.
      To accommodate both the owner’s residential needs as well as public events, volumes covered in plywood and clay were inserted into an open floor plan to enclose private areas, while movable furniture including a sofa on wheels can be easily pushed out of the way for performances.
      Find out more about Another Seedbed ›
      Photo is by Seth CaplanDumbo Loft, Dumbo, by Crystal Sinclair Designs
      Interiors studio Crystal Sinclair Designs inserted a library mezzanine and a large glass partition to divide space in this Dumbo loft.
      The building’s original 14-foot ceilings accommodated the addition of the mezzanine, while the floor-to-ceiling glass partition was used to enclose the bedroom from the apartment’s remaining open floor plan.
      Find out more about Dumbo Loft ›
      Photo is courtesy of No ArchitectureThe Urban Tree House, West Village, by No Architecture
      No Architecture combined two units in a West Village skyscraper to create this double-height apartment, into which the studio inserted an extensive wooden structure with net beds that span over the living area.
      “We combined two units by first, redrawing all rooms into a cohesive ‘matrix plan’ and second, inserting a ‘garden folly’ that relates the interior to the adjacent Hudson River Greenway,” said New York-based No Architecture.
      Find out more about the Urban Tree House ›
      Photo is by Sarah ElliottTribeca Loft, Tribeca, by Andrea Leung 
      Architect Andrea Leung gut-renovated this loft in Tribeca for herself, opting to remove a mezzanine level and neatly organising private spaces in a linear row along the length of the space.
      Leung’s fascination with secret spaces – informed by her grandmother’s penthouse, which contained hidden rooms – prompted the architect to conceal all spaces but the living and dining room behind a mirrored wall.
      Find out more about Tribeca Loft ›
      Photo is by Isabel ParraManhattan loft, West Village, by Tala Fustok Studio
      A large glass and maple wood storage unit was used to divide the kitchen of this industrial West Village apartment from a living area, while a custom corten steel staircase leads to the second floor.
      London practice Tala Fustok Studio organised the interior to emphasise the apartment’s tall ceilings and oversized windows, as well as softening the space with limestone-washed walls.
      Find out more about Manhattan loft ›
      Photo is by Alan TanseyBroadway Loft, Madison Square North, by Worrell Yeung 
      New York architecture studio Worrell Yeung reorganised this NoMad loft to welcome more light, storage and an additional bedroom and bathroom for a growing family, who had lived in the space for over a decade.
      All of the apartment’s walls were removed to reveal the building’s structures and pipes while bookcase units and cabinetry were inserted to divide the space.
      Find out more about Broadway Loft ›
      Photo by Kevin KunstadtFrame Loft, Financial District, by Light and Air
      Located in a converted commercial building in the Financial District in Manhattan, this loft was cramped with internal walls before Brooklyn studio Light and Air removed the partitions to make the most of the generous floor area and large windows.
      The studio reduced the footprint of the overhead storage loft to allow for taller ceilings while inserting light wood shelving storage units, seating, a desk and cabinetry throughout the space.
      Find out more about Frame Loft ›
      Photo is by Daniel SalemiBrooklyn Loft, Clinton Hill, by Dean Works
      A volume made of Baltic birch plywood was inserted into this Clinton Hill loft to create more storage and section off a private sleeping area, which was further enclosed behind a glass partition.
      The adjusted floor plan places a living area towards the loft’s generous windows, the kitchen at its centre and the bedroom towards the apartment’s entrance.
      Find out more about Brooklyn Loft ›
      Photo is by Michael MoranSoho Loft, Soho, by Julian King
      To update this narrow apartment housed in a former silk warehouse, designer Julian King inserted a sculptural sleeping mezzanine at its centre, added a built-in bookcase and kept much of the remaining space completely open under its 13-foot ceilings.
      The mezzanine, which hosts just a bed, is concealed behind a partial wall that’s lined with integrated LED lighting.
      Find out more about Soho Loft ›
      Photo is by Eric PetschekChelsea Loft, Chelsea, by Worrell Yeung 
      Green paint covered the wood pillars of this Chelsea loft before Worrell Yeung updated the space, adding a large kitchen island and organising private areas towards the back of the apartment opposite its large windows.
      “The organising design strategy of this renovation was to maintain contiguous public living zones and extend daylight as far as it can reach by minimising partitions and concentrating private rooms on the north side of the apartment,” said the studio.
      Find out more about Chelsea Loft ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring kitchens with floor-to-ceiling cabinets, well-designed sheds and outbuildings and interiors created on a budget.

      Read more: More