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      Eight interiors illuminated by sculptural aesthetic lamps

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight interiors enhanced by aesthetic lamps including a 19th-century house in Stockholm and a retro-futuristic clothing store in Hangzhou.

      There is a growing trend for unusually sculptural and innovative lighting designs that don’t just light up an interior but also function as a piece of art.
      The examples below show characterful lamps used in commercial, hospitality and cultural interiors. But the same principle can also be applied to residential interiors for a similarly striking effect.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring inviting breakfast nooks, homes with central courtyards and tranquil interiors with oversized windows.
      Photo by Franziska KrieckFilips Van Marnix House, Belgium, by Koen Van Guijze

      Belgian designer Koen Van Guijze showcased his characterful lighting designs inside the centuries-old Filips Van Marnix house in Antwerp.
      The exhibition included his ribbon-like Circuit lamp, above, which was on show in the main staircase where its modern, graphic shape contrasted against a marble statue.
      Find out more about Filips Van Marnix house ›
      Photo by Shao FengAudrey boutique, China, by Liang Architecture Studio
      The Audrey boutique in Hangzhou, China, has an industrial interior made from steel and micro cement. But large pyramidal lights add a striking futuristic touch to the austere surroundings.
      The lighting fixtures, which appear to pierce through the ceiling, are made from acrylic and change their colours regularly to light up the space, which Liang Architecture Studio designed to have a retro-futuristic feel.
      Find out more about Audrey boutique ›
      Photo by Alexandra Svärdh and Bosse LindSoft Serve lamp, Sweden, by Crème Atelier
      Stockholm design studio Crème Atelier created its Soft Serve lamp, which was shortlisted in the lighting design category of the Dezeen Awards last year, to resemble “swirly ice cream”.
      “We were very intrigued by the creamy organic shapes of meringue and soft serve ice cream,” co-founder Jacqueline Kessidis told Dezeen.
      The 3D-printed lamp comes in a variety of sorbet colours and is made from a bioplastic made from recycled food packaging.
      Find out more about the Soft Serve lamp ›
      Photo by Laure JolietWine and Eggs, US, by Adi Goodrich
      Located in the Atwater Village neighbourhood of Los Angeles, the Wine and Eggs grocery has an interior that nods to Parisian cafes and Italian tobacconists and features multiple fun and colourful details, such as a blue-and-green checkerboard floor.
      Custom-made lamps by designer Adi Goodrich reference the name of the store.
      “At the beginning of the project I knew I wanted the lights to look like a sunny-side-up egg,” Goodrich told Dezeen. “After designing some wiggly shapes, I landed at the stacked circle.”
      Find out more about Wine and Eggs ›

      Bakers House, Sweden, by Färg & Blanche
      A residence built in 1889, which belongs to the family of one of the Färg & Blanche founders, formed the background for this exhibition by the Swedish studio.
      Among the pieces showcased were bulbous lights that appear to be bound in brass strips. These were scattered over the home’s patterned parquet floors, creating a well-lit path up a winding staircase.
      Find out more about Bakers House ›

      Cafe Mollien, France, by Mathieu Lehanneur
      The cafe of the Louvre museum in Paris was given a renovation by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, who decorated the interior with pink acrylic light fixtures.
      The translucent lights create a modern contrast to the museum’s historic halls and were designed by Lehanneur as “three large pale-pink eggs” floating in space.
      Find out more about Cafe Mollien ›

      The Sensory Society, Denmark, by Helle Mardahl
      Bulbous glassware defines the work of Helle Mardahl, who started her career creating pastel-coloured glass objects.
      Since then, the Danish designer has expanded into lighting design, creating candy-like aesthetic lamps that were first showcased during design festival 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen, where they lit up a warm red hallway.
      Find out more about The Sensory Society ›

      Knuckle light, Sweden, by David Taylor
      Made by forcibly bending aluminium tubing, designer David Taylor’s Knuckle light has an industrial frame that is juxtaposed with oversized round white lightbulbs.
      “No two bends in the Knuckle series are alike,” the designer said. “Coercing metal into a form that it is specifically designed to resist is challenging at best.”
      Find out more about Knuckle light ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring inviting breakfast nooks, homes with central courtyards and tranquil interiors with oversized windows.

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      Eight inviting breakfast nooks for easy-going mornings

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve rounded up eight kitchens with welcoming breakfast nooks of different shapes and sizes that provide a relaxed place to enjoy a meal.

      Typically tucked into a corner in or near the kitchen, breakfast nooks offer compact dining spaces that are more casual than a formal dining room and cosier than an island bar.
      They are usually characterised by banquette seating fixed to the wall with a freestanding table and chairs, but the examples in this lookbook show how the idea of a breakfast nook can be adapted to suit any size space.
      From L-shaped benches in awkward kitchen corners to curved banquettes under bay windows, read on to see how a breakfast nook can be nestled into any home for the perfect morning coffee or casual meal.
      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 oversized windows overlooking lush views, houses with closed staircases and interiors that embody the “bookshelf wealth” trend.

      Photo by Carola RipamontiTeorema Milanese, Italy, by Marcante-Testa
      Design studio Marcante-Testa overhauled an apartment in Milan with a rich mix of colours and materials, creating a clear separation between the kitchen and an adjoining breakfast nook with its choice of surfaces.
      Geometric floor tiles in the nook contrast with the marble kitchen floor, but the two spaces are tied together with the sea-green colour of the tiles and kitchen cabinets.
      Find out more about Teorema Milanese ›
      Photo by Prue RuscoeBudge Over Dover, Australia, by YSG
      This breakfast nook sits in the corner of an open-plan kitchen and living area, next to bi-folding doors that open onto a pool terrace.
      Interior design studio YSG designed the nook’s banquette seating to follow the curve of the wall and upholstered it in brown and green fabric to suit natural surfaces in the Sydney home, including terracotta floor tiles, dark wood accents and marble tabletops.
      Find out more about Budge Over Dover ›
      Photo by Daniëlle SiobhánZwaag home, Netherlands, by DAB Studio
      Generous U-shaped banquette seating wraps the walls of the nook in this kitchen, situated in a home in Zwaag, the Netherlands, that was renovated by Dutch interior design practice DAB Studio.
      The studio chose grey upholstery for the seating and placed an Arebescato Orobico marble table at the centre to balance the expansive use of wood on the floor, ceiling, walls and kitchen cabinets.
      Find out more about the Zwaag home ›
      Photo by Anson SmartPacific House, Australia, by Alexander & Co
      A circular skylight illuminates the curving breakfast nook in this oceanside home in Sydney, which architecture studio Alexander & Co renovated to make it more suited to family life.
      Aiming to create a calm and contemplative space, oak built-in seating was tucked against a concave window that overlooks a swimming pool in the garden.
      Find out more about Pacific House ›
      Photo by Lorenzo ZandriSteele’s Road House, UK, by Neiheiser Argyros
      Steele’s Road House is a Victorian terrace in London that was renovated and extended by local studio Neiheiser Argyros to increase natural light in the home.
      A breakfast nook was added to the kitchen, with curved bench seating built below a bay window offering a more casual place to eat than the separate formal dining room.
      Find out more about Steele’s Road House ›
      Photo by Jan VranovskyNagatachō Apartment, Japan, by Adam Nathaniel Furman
      Designer Adam Nathaniel Furman nestled an L-shaped breakfast nook in the kitchen of the 160-square-metre Nagatachō Apartment in Tokyo.
      The tabletop adjoins the cabinets in the U-shaped kitchen and extends along a herringbone-tiled wall. Pink shelving was built over the nook to provide additional storage in the compact apartment.
      Find out more about Nagatachō Apartment ›
      Photo by Benjamin Hosking.Brunswick apartment, Australia, by Murray Barker and Esther Stewart
      Architect Murray Barker and artist Esther Stewart created a breakfast nook in this 1960s Melbourne apartment by tucking an L-shaped fixed bench into the corner of the kitchen.
      The kitchen was originally too small for a dining table, so the duo removed a wall that separated it from the living room and added the custom-made table and seating, which is lit from above by a square skylight.
      Find out more about the Brunswick apartment ›
      Photo by Tamara UribeCasa Pulpo, Mexico, by Workshop Architects
      Local architecture studio Workshop Architects added a breakfast nook when renovating a Spanish colonial house in Mérida, Mexico, aiming to add a sense of cosiness.
      Seating was built in the corner of the kitchen between two archways that lead to the living room and a storage room. On the opposite side of the kitchen, glass doors give views of two purple concrete dwellings that were built in the garden.
      Find out more about Casa Pulpo ›
      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 oversized windows overlooking lush views, houses with closed staircases and interiors that embody the “bookshelf wealth” trend.

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      Eight homes kept cool and bright by central courtyards

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      In this lookbook, we’ve collected eight homes from Vietnam to the USA that are kept ventilated and illuminated by central courtyards.

      Courtyards have been used in ancient and contemporary architecture as a tool to trap and funnel breezes and natural light into the core of a building.
      Most often, they are completely open to the elements and can extend upwards through multiple levels of a building, with some surrounded by balconies, loggias, or walkways.
      Vegetation and water features placed at the centre of courtyards also help to cool the surrounding air, while seating or lounge areas provide a place to take it all in.

      One or more courtyards were dispersed along the footprints of the eight homes below, for interiors that are relaxing, open and bright.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring tranquil interiors with oversized windows, enclosed staircases and metallic furnishings.
      Photo is by Hoang LeHouse for Young Families, Vietnam, H-H Studio
      Designed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, this house in Vietnam features green spaces throughout its entirety so its owners could be connected to nature while working remotely.
      Its interior was organised around three courtyard gardens that were dispersed along a linear plan, while the structure extends upwards around them in a series of stacked white volumes.
      Find out more about House for Young Families ›
      Photo is by Rory GardinerQuarry House, Australia, Winwood McKenzie
      Australian studio Winwood McKenzie renovated the Quarry House by inserting a garden and internal courtyard through its narrow site, which split the residence into three distinct portions.
      The house’s newly built living, dining and kitchen border the courtyard on one side, while a multi-purpose room and study sits across the way.
      Find out more about Quarry House ›
      Photo is by César BéjarCasa Ederlezi, Mexico, Práctica Arquitectura
      Práctica Arquitectura divided this narrow concrete infill house in Mexico into two distinct portions centred around a courtyard.
      Hallways and staircases were oriented around the perimeter of the double-height space in plan and a living space and second floor bedrooms were placed on either side.
      Find out more about Casa Ederlezi ›
      Photo is by Matthew MillmanSanta Monica Modern, USA, Walker Warner Architects
      This L-shaped home in California encloses a spacious courtyard that features multiple seating areas, a ping-pong table, plantings and a concrete fire pit.
      Walker Warner Architects designed the courtyard to be suitable for entertaining, as well as to take advantage of the southern California climate.
      Find out more about Santa Monica Modern ›
      Photo is by Francisco NogueiraPortugal house, Portugal, Bak Gordon Arquitectos 
      Bak Gordon Aquitectos split this Portgual home into two portions by inserting a courtyard at its centre and populated the area with an interior garden, which is surrounded by windows and openings.
      “The small functional patio allows for natural light and cross ventilation as well as a permanent natural garden presence,” said Bak Gordon Arquitectos architect Nuno Tavares da Costa.
      Find out more about Portugal house ›
      Photo is by Javier Agustín Rojas.Casa Vedia, Argentina, BHY Arquitectos
      Two courtyards were inserted into the corners of Casa Vedia in Argentina, which the studio explained were employed to optimise interior spaces.
      Each courtyard is double-height, with plantings tucked along its perimeter. Additionally, two terraces were placed on top of the structure’s roof that sits in between them.
      Find out more about Casa Vedia ›
      Photo is by Rory GardinerCasa VO and Casa WO, Mexico, Ludwig Godefroy 
      Located in Puerto Escondido, Casa VO and Casa Wo are a series of houses organised underneath two large, circular concrete openings that fan upwards from a central meeting point.
      An entryway and garden sit under one such opening, while the remaining living spaces are tucked underneath the opposite across two levels.
      Find out more about Casa VO and Casa WO ›
      Photo is by Oki HiroyukiTile House, Vietnam, Bloom Architects
      Bloom Architects designed this home in Vietnam to stay cool despite the hot climate by creating a sloping, tiled roof that traps wind and pushes it into the interior of the house.
      “[In the] sunny season, tiles surrounding the house prevent it from being radiated [with] heat. Combined with natural ventilation, the house is always cool,” architect Dinh Anh Tuan told Dezeen.
      Find out more about Tile House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring tranquil interiors with oversized windows, enclosed staircases and metallic furnishings.

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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

      by

      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.

      Read more: More