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      Nine contemporary homes where ruins reveal layers of the past

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      In this lookbook, we feature nine residential projects that demonstrate unique ways of interacting with a site’s history by weaving existing ruins into their designs.

      Until recently, it has been common practice to hide away old structures during adaptive reuse projects.
      However, the architects in this list embrace the past by stitching domestic spaces with the remains of former buildings, creating inventive encounters with preserved architectural remains.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring clever outbuilding interiors, homes with mid-century modern furniture and residential spaces with playful net floors.
      Photo by Tamás BujnovszkyNickzy Apartment, Hungary, by Béres Architects

      Carefully preserved stone walls are featured in this Hungarian guesthouse renovation by local studio Béres Architects.
      20th-century plaster finishes have been stripped back to expose the 400-year-old apartment’s original stonework, reestablishing its visual prominence against modern white-rendered walls.
      Find out more about Nickzy Apartment ›
      The photography is by José HeviaEl Priorato, Spain, by Atienza Maure Arquitectos
      The interiors of this 16th-century Spanish clergy house were restored by Atienza Maure Arquitectos to create ambiguity between the existing structure and new interventions.
      Concrete vaults, white-painted walls and limited fixtures sit alongside heritage-protected arches to create minimal differentiation between the materials and spaces.
      Find out more about El Priorato ›
      The photo is by José HeviaMediona 13, Spain, by Nua Arquitectures
      In the historic centre of Tarragona, Spain, Nua Arquitectures reinforced this home’s crumbling stone and timber structure with brightly coloured steel supporting elements.
      According to the studio, the steel insertions add another layer to the home’s visible “memory” and draw attention to the historic building fabric.
      Find out more about Mediona 13 ›
      The photo is by James MorrisCroft Lodge Studio, West Midlands, by David Connor Design and Kate Darby Architects
      David Connor Design and Kate Darby Architects enclosed the decaying remains of a 300-year-old building under a steel-framed shell in England’s West Midlands area.
      The bold new studio maintains every aspect of the heritage-listed structure within the internal living spaces, including the rotting timber, dead ivy and old birds’ nests.
      Find out more about The Parchment Works ›
      The photo is by Francesca IoveneCascina, Italy, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
      For this farmstead restoration in Italy, British studio Jonathan Tuckey Design prioritised returning the 19th-century buildings to their original state with minimal alterations.
      The existing beams and trusses of the distinctive barn roof had lost their structural integrity, leading the studio to layer a new roof atop the timber without disrupting the internal aesthetic.
      Find out more about Cascina ›
      The photo is by Simon KennedyArdoch House, Scotland, by Moxon Architects
      Moxon Architects expressed eye-catching details of 19th-century ruins within this outbuilding refurbishment in the Scottish Highlands.
      Alongside new finishes of uniform clay plaster, pieces of the crumbling masonry were preserved within the guesthouse’s renovated walls and doorways as subtle connections to the earlier building.
      Find out more about Ardoch House ›
      The photo is by Johan DehlinThe Parchment Works, Northamptonshire, by Will Gamble Architects
      The remains of a 17th-century parchment paper factory and cattle shed were brought into focus within this residential extension by Will Gamble Architects.
      New interventions were intended to be discreet, exposing original structural elements internally, while configuring glazing to look out onto uncovered ruins from the ground floor.
      Find out more about The Parchment Works ›
      The photo is by Rory GardinerRedhill Barn, Devon, by TYPE
      This 200-year-old English barn was in a state of disrepair before TYPE restored it into a modern family home.
      Aiming to distinguish between old and new, the studio lined contemporary wall finishes and wood panelling against remnant stone walls, while using existing columns to dictate the house’s layout.
      Find out more about Redhill Barn ›
      Photo by David BarbourCuddymoss, Scotland, by Ann Nisbet Studio
      Scottish architecture practice Ann Nisbet Studio inserted a timber-framed home into a stone ruin in Scotland and defined new living spaces within the surviving forms.
      To encourage layered encounters of the site, views of the landscape were also aligned with existing window apertures from the bedrooms.
      Find out more about Cuddymoss ›
      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 net floors, mid-century modern furniture and perforated brick walls. 

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      Eight well-designed sheds and outbuildings that extend the home

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      This week’s lookbook explores eight clever shed and outbuilding interiors, ranging from self-built renovations to finely crafted new builds.

      By repurposing rundown sheds and garages or capitalising on extra garden space, these projects offer additional room for hobbies, workspaces, living quarters or simply respite for their owners.
      Among this list of projects is a bold-coloured garage renovation hosting a work area and greenhouse in Norwich, UK, as well as a scenic timber outbuilding designed for recreation and socialising for a retired couple in Lillehammer, Norway.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes created on a budget, living rooms with industrial material palettes and airy and pared-back loft conversions.
      Photo by Simon KennedyThe Orangery, UK, by McCloy and Muchemwa

      Original blockwork walls were retained in this self-build renovation of a dilapidated garage by London-based studio McCloy and Muchemwa.
      An orange, timber roof structure was matched with furniture in the same colour throughout the interior, which contains a storage area, hobby zone and workbench along with a well-lit greenhouse clad in polycarbonate.
      Find out more about The Orangery ›
      Photo by ZAC and ZACGrange Garage Studio, Scotland, by Konishi Gaffney
      This 1950s garage conversion by Konishi Gaffney, adjacent to an existing Georgian property, houses an artist’s music studio and features a rhythmic facade made from wooden battens.
      The space has a calm and refined material palette, with dark-stained furniture used to match the wooden beams in the studio’s interior.
      Find out more about Grange Garage Studio ›
      Photo by Rafael SoldiShed-O-Vation, US, by Best Practice Architecture
      Best Practice Architecture renovated this outbuilding in Seattle to host an office and small gym as an expansion of the property’s main house.
      Black synthetic rubber was used to cover the interior floor and one side of the room’s walls, while the remaining walls were lined with birch plywood along with a boldly coloured workspace.
      Find out more about Shed-O-Vation ›
      Photo by Chris SnookThe Light Shed, UK, by Richard John Andrews
      The Light Shed is a 12-metre-square, multifunctional shed designed and built by architect Richard John Andrews and an assistant in just 21 days to house Andrews’ architecture studio in his back garden.
      The interior is lined with plywood providing shelving and desk space for two to three people. The studio also doubles as a space for hosting functions and gatherings.
      Find out more about The Light Shed ›
      Photo by Knut BryBarn House, Norway, by Jon Danielsen Aarhus
      Replacing an existing run-down outbuilding, Barn House in Lillehammer, Norway, was designed by Jon Danielsen Aarhus to create a space in which a retired couple can paint, garden and host friends.
      An all-red entrance hall is followed by a timber interior. The building contains a brightly lit art studio upstairs and a gardening room and garages on the lower floor.
      Find out more about Barn House ›
      Photo by Jean-Philippe DelageEton Accessory Building, Canada, by Motiv Architects
      Made from cross-laminated timber (CLT), Eton Accessory Building by Canadian studio Motiv Architects is a 30-square-metre workshop connected to the owners’ home via a garden.
      Hard-wearing flooring and evenly distributed skylights create an industrial-style workspace. A CLT mezzanine is used for additional storage.
      Find out more about Eton Accessory Building ›
      Photo by Wai Ming NgCork Study, UK, by Surman Weston
      This cork-covered studio designed by Surman Weston provides space for sewing and music-making in the back garden of a London home.
      On the interior, birch plywood lines the walls, with the pale material also used to construct a central working space with built-in shelving and storage.
      Find out more about Cork Study ›
      Photo by Willem-Dirk du ToitBroadway, Australia, by Foomann
      Replacing an old garage, this two-floor outbuilding hosts a gym, swimming pool and parking garage on the site of an Edwardian property in Melbourne.
      A refined material palette of white walls set off by wood and dark flooring works to create a relaxing, beachy feel throughout the spaces.
      Find out more about Broadway ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes created on a budget, living rooms with industrial material palettes and airy and pared-back loft conversions.

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      Eight kitchens with floor-to-ceiling cabinets that cleverly conceal clutter

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      Kitchens can often be difficult to keep tidy, but this lookbook demonstrates how floor-to-ceiling cabinets are an effective way to streamline and create clutter-free backdrops for food prep.

      Traditionally, kitchens are designed with floor and wall cabinets dropped below the ceiling to ensure they are reachable. However, today many architects and interior designers are opting for full-height solutions instead to maximise storage space.
      The examples in this lookbook show that floor-to-ceiling storage solutions are suited to kitchens of any size and style, and can be used to conceal clutter, appliances and even doorways.
      A bonus is that these cupboards also minimise areas for dust to gather, requiring less time spent on cleaning and leaving more for cooking.
      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 net floors, mid-century modern furniture and perforated brick walls.

      TS-H_01, Switzerland, by Tom Strala
      This minimalist kitchen, belonging to a home near Bern, features floor-to-ceiling storage concealing not only clutter but also a doorway to a garage.
      The white wall of cabinets is dotted by circular handles lined with smooth timber and forms a slick backdrop to the chunky prep counter, raw plaster walls and pale wooden floorboards.
      Find out more about TS-H_01 ›
      Photo by Fionn McCannChurchtown, Ireland, by Scullion Architects
      Oak-panelled cabinetry runs through the light-filled kitchen of Churchtown, a residential extension in Dublin informed by Victorian conservatories.
      While maximising storage, the cupboards are designed to conceal appliances and a pantry. The warmth of the oak is complemented by cool-toned white terrazzo on the floor and worktops.
      Find out more about Churchtown ›

      Sacha, France, by SABO Project
      Full-height birch plywood joinery is used to store the contents of this kitchen, designed by SABO Project within a Parisian apartment.
      The cupboards are almost disguised as a solid block, with small arched cut-outs subtly demarcating each door. One of the panels features a larger arched opening, which opens into a cosy nook for the owner’s cat.
      Find out more about Sacha ›
      Photo by Eric PetschekThe Amagansett Beach House, USA, by Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design
      The floor-to-ceiling units in this kitchen help draw attention to more playful design details in the room, including a sculptural custom island animated by exaggerated forms.
      Finished with wood and a lack of handles, the cabinets also blend into the floors and ceilings, disguising them as walls and creating a pared-back aesthetic for the room.
      Find out more about The Amagansett Beach House ›
      Photo by Eric PetschekBarbican Apartment, UK, by John Pawson
      Designer John Pawson used full-height storage in the compact kitchen of this London apartment to help achieve his signature minimalist aesthetic.
      The abundance of storage ensures the space is uncluttered, while a lack of handles on the cabinetry allows them to blend into the background. The rest of the home, which is located in the brutalist Barbican Estate in London, is designed with the same pared-back aesthetic.
      Find out more about Barbican Apartment ›
      Photo by Johan DehlinThe Parchment Works, UK, by Will Gamble Architects
      Matte-black cabinets with brass handles define the kitchen of The Parchment Works, which Will Gamble Architects created from the shell of an old cattle shed in Northamptonshire.
      Stretching from floor to ceiling, the kitchen units slot in beneath rows of timber joists belonging to the original structure. Their dark colour ensures focus retains on the tactile wooden surfaces above, as well as the adjacent whitewashed masonry walls.
      Find out more about The Parchment Works ›
      Photo by Pion StudioBotaniczna Apartment, Poland, by Agnieszka Owsiany Studio
      Polish studio Agnieszka Owsiany Studio married wood and marble throughout the interior of this apartment in Poznań.
      In the kitchen, full-height oak cabinetry lines one wall, punctured by a marble-lined recess containing a stove. The cabinets are finished with long handles in matching oak.
      Find out more about Botaniczna Apartment ›
      Photo by Kevin ScottPortage Bay Float Home, USA, by Studio DIAA
      These storage units follow the gabled roofscape of The Portage Bay Float Home, which Studio DIAA co-founder Suzanne Stefan created for herself in Seattle.
      The wooden cabinetry sits flush with a cooker hood above the stove, which is finished with juxtaposing stainless steel that has a brushed look.
      Find out more about Portage Bay Float Home › 
      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 net floors, mid-century modern furniture and perforated brick walls. 

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      Ten homes with net floors for relaxation and play

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      In this lookbook, we collect 10 residential interiors where net floors provide an unusual place to sit, recline or jump about.

      Nets can be a fun way to link two storeys in the home. Featured below are examples from a New York apartment, a skinny house in Rotterdam and a small family residence in rural Vietnam, among others.
      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 dividing lattice screens, split-level living areas and stylish children’s bedrooms.
      Photo by Marcus RohrbacherHaus L, Austria, by Dunkelschwarz
      Timber-lined living spaces create a soothing atmosphere inside this house in the Austrian Alps, designed by local architecture studio Dunkelschwarz.

      To encourage relaxation, a void above the dining area was covered with netting that can be used for lounging, while an adjacent walkway leads directly to a large balcony.
      Find out more about Haus L ›
      Photo by Marcos Zegers (also top)Primeriza House, Chile, by Stanaćev Granados
      Chilean architecture studio Stanaćev Granados put two large cargo nets at the centre of this seaside house in Chorrillos overlooking the Pacific.
      As well as providing an easily visible children’s play space above the open-plan living area, the net allows for a subtle transition between the darker wood cladding of the ground floor and the white-painted timber of the upper level.
      Find out more about Primeriza House ›
      Photo courtesy of No ArchitectureUrban Tree House, USA, by No Architecture
      To make the vast living space of this apartment in New York’s West Village feel less chasmic, No Architecture constructed two “treehouses” from a series of timber beams.
      Black netting strung between the beams creates an elevated chill-out space, accessed by a spiral staircase whose balustrade is made of the same mesh material.
      Find out more about Urban Tree House ›
      Photo by Le Minh HoangHOUSE, Vietnam, by H&P Architects
      In this house in Vietnam designed by H&P Architects, a net floor contributes to the humble aesthetic created by its compact, open-plan layout and rough-and-ready materials like exposed brick and corrugated metal.
      The net allows air to move freely through the home, helps to instil a sense of spaciousness and creates additional usable floor space.
      Find out more about HOUSE ›
      Photo by Adrien WilliamsAtrium Townhome, Canada, by Robitaille Curtis
      Canadian studio Robitaille Curtis procured the expertise of famous circus company Cirque du Soleil to rig a trapeze-style net atop the high atrium inside this Montreal home.
      The aim was to emphasise the drama of the space, with a tall bookcase accessed by a 5.5-metre ladder and vertical wooden slats also helping to direct the gaze upwards.
      Find out more about Atrium Townhome ›
      Photo by FRAM FotografíaCasa Bosque Sereno, Mexico, by Fábrica de Espacios
      At Casa Bosque Sereno, residents can use the net floor as a place to watch movies thanks to a projector mounted opposite a white-painted brick wall.
      The net also contributes to the pared-back, open-plan design chosen for the house by architecture office Fábrica de Espacios.
      Find out more about Casa Bosque Sereno ›
      Photo courtesy of Gwendolyn Huisman and Marijn BotermanSkinnyScar, Netherlands, by Gwendolyn Huisman and Marijn Boterman
      Dutch architects Gwendolyn Huisman and Marijn Boterman wanted to avoid “harsh boundaries” between living spaces in this skinny house in Rotterdam that they designed for themselves to live in.
      To that end, they strung a modestly sized net next to a large window overlooking the garden, to act as a kind of static hammock next to the first-floor living room and above the dining room.
      Find out more about SkinnyScar ›
      Photo by Marc GoodwinMK5, Finland, by Ortraum Architects
      This family house in a forest near Helsinki features a number of child-friendly elements including a climbing wall, gymnastic apparatus and, of course, a net floor.
      Local studio Ortraum Architects placed the net in a cut-out next to the first-floor landing, allowing light to filter down into the basement stairwell.
      Find out more about MK5 ›
      Photo by Derek SwalwellKing Bill, Australia, by Austin Maynard Architects
      Austin Maynard Architects installed a netted platform with a view out of a large window and into the bathroom as part of its renovation of this formerly dilapidated stable in Melbourne.
      The black mesh contrasts with the white corrugated metal of the window awning, the grey tiles of the bathroom and the orange carpet on the adjacent floor.
      Find out more about King Bill ›
      Photo by Quang TranSaigon House, Vietnam, by a21studio
      The large net in this Ho Chi Minh City house, designed by Vietnamese architecture office A21studio, is visible from almost everywhere in the four-storey building.
      In addition to serving as a children’s play area, it helps create an impression of the ground floor as an outdoor courtyard – particularly as a tree bursts through the textile.
      Find out more about Saigon House ›
      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 dividing lattice screens, split-level living areas and stylish children’s bedrooms.

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      Eight homes where mid-century modern furniture adds a stylish touch

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      Pieces by designers Charles and Ray Eames and Isamu Noguchi are on show in this lookbook, which features homes with eye-catching mid-century modern furniture.

      Mid-century furniture, which often has simple lines and a sculptural feel, adds a modernist touch to these homes, which range from period properties to newly built and renovated houses.
      Among the interiors showcased in this lookbook are iconic architect Le Corbusier’s own home and a residence in London’s upmarket Mayfair area that has been filled with mid-century modern and art deco details.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring perforated brick-walls, budget home interiors and immersive saunas in peaceful settings.
      Photo by Mariell Lind HansenZero House, UK, by Ben Garrett and Rae Morris

      Owners Ben Garrett and Rae Morris updated Zero House, which was informed by Californian Case Study Houses, themselves in a way that would honour its mid-century roots.
      The living room features a striking floor-to-ceiling fireplace clad in tiles, as well as a number of furniture pieces in warm colours. Among them is a classic Eames office chair in a dark-brown leather colour that matches the wooden panelling that decorates the room.
      Find out more about Zero House ›
      Photo by Jeff CateHudson Woods home, US, by Magdalena Keck
      Located in upstate New York, this holiday home has an interior that fuses Danish and Japanese design. A dinner table and chairs by designer Finn Juhl are among the Danish pieces used in the house, where they look both functional and elegant.
      A simple lamp with a gold-coloured shade above the table adds a decorative touch and matches the brass fastenings at the backs of the chairs.
      Find out more about the Hudson Woods home ›
      Photo by Polina Parcevskya and Julie SmorodkinaRadikal Klassisk, Spain, by Puntofilipino 
      The interior of this Spanish apartment in a former bank building has a moody, interesting colour palette and features richly textured materials including terrazzo, clay-rendered walls and marble tiles.
      In contrast, the furniture is streamlined and unfussy, including a sculptural lounge chair by Danish designer Hans J Wegner in the living room.
      Find out more about the Radikal Klassisk ›
      Photo by Jack LovelCity Beach House, Australia, by Design Theory
      American artist and designer Noguchi’s iconic coffee table, made from a heavy glass tabletop that rests on two undulating wooden legs, has pride of place in the living room of City Beach House.
      The interior, created by Australian studio Design Theory, responds to the design and natural material palette of the house itself, which is from the 1960s.
      Find out more about City Beach House ›
      Photo by Jim StephensonHallen, Sweden, by Åsa Hjort Architects
      This newly built home in the southern Swedish region of Österlen has a blocky geometric design and large windows that provide views out across the Baltic Sea.
      An Eames lounge chair adds a comfortable resting space in one of the rooms, where its dark hues contrast against sheer white curtains and pale wood flooring.
      Find out more about Hallen ›
      Photo is by Joe FletcherMoore House, US, by Woods + Dangaran
      A pair of vintage globe-shaped pendants by Dutch designer Frank Ligtelijn light up the bathroom in this 1960s California home designed by architect Craig Ellwood.
      The bathroom also features a dark Emperador marble countertop and a wall clad in Japanese porcelain tiles.
      Find out more about Moore House ›
      Photo by Felix Speller and Child StudioMayfair residence, UK, by Child Studio
      The “Pernilla” lounge chair by Swedish designer Bruno Mathsson is among the many mid-century modern furniture pieces on show in this London apartment.
      Local practice Child Studio told Dezeen that the spacious lounge that houses the chair was informed by the grand salon in fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent’s Paris home.
      Find out more about the Mayfair residence ›

      Studio apartment, France, by Le Corbusier
      Le Corbusier’s apartment in his Immeuble Molitor apartment building in Paris, where he lived for more than three decades, reopened to the public in 2018.
      Visitors to the modernist flat can admire mid-century modern furniture pieces including a black leather edition of the designer’s signature LC2 lounge chair, which sits next to a cowhide rug at the entrance of the apartment.
      Find out more about Le Corbusier’s apartment ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring perforated brick-walls, budget home interiors and immersive saunas in peaceful settings.

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      Dezeen’s top 10 lookbooks of 2023

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      Continuing our 2023 review, we revisit the most popular lookbooks of the year – from minimalist bedrooms and biophilic homes to marble-lined bathrooms and kitchens with tiled worktops.

      This year, the most-read lookbooks included wood-panelled dining rooms, homes with space-saving pocket doors and rooms with beautiful and practical bookshelves.
      Read on to discover 10 of our most popular lookbooks of 2023:
      Above: photo by Imagen Subliminal. Top: photo by Edmund SumnerEight homes with beautiful and practical bookshelves
      This lookbook for booklovers was our most-read lookbook this year. It showcased homes where designers have created stylish bookshelves – both wall-mounted and built-in.

      Among the projects on show is an apartment in Madrid, Spain, which was designed by Spanish studio Zooco Estudio and features white shelving units that span two floors and provide plenty of space to store reading materials.
      See more homes with beautiful bookshelves ›
      Photo by Nicole FranzenEight kitchens with tiled worktops that are pretty but practical
      There’s plenty of kitchen inspiration to be found in this lookbook, which explored kitchens with tiled worktops.
      Among the examples is a New York apartment that features a kitchen island covered in oxblood-coloured tiles (above), as well as a pastel-hued Belgian kitchen and a colourful Spanish kitchen in a former motorcycle workshop.
      See more kitchens with tiled worktops ›
      Photo by Anson SmartEight calming bedrooms with minimalist interiors
      The bedrooms in this lookbook range from a Mexican bedroom with a concrete bed to a cosy space in a former girls’ school in Puglia, all in a colour palette that mainly features beige, gray, and warm brown hues.
      To create soothing, calming bedroom spaces, walls were left bare and the amount of artworks and personal items were kept to a minimum in these projects.
      See more calming bedroooms ›
      Photo by Delfino Sisto Legnani and Alessandro Saletta from DSL StudioTen modern homes with interiors informed by biophilic design
      Biophilic design, which aims to create spaces in which humans are more connected to nature, has been a trend this year and looks set to continue its ascent in 2024.
      Homes with indoor trees, aquaponic systems with live fish, green roofs and verdant courtyards filled with plants are among the biophilic interior design examples in this lookbook.
      See more homes with biophilic design ›
      Photo by Sobajima, ToshihiroTen residential interiors that make the most of narrow spaces
      Narrow interior layouts can be hard to decorate, but this roundup gave plenty of examples of how to work with tight living areas, kitchens wedged into corridors and interiors in skinny Japanese houses.
      Tips include adding split-level floors, using built-in furniture to add visual depth and using glass doors to allow more light to penetrate the house.
      See more residential interiors with narrow spaces ›
      Photo by Megan TaylorEight tidy kitchens with slick storage solutions
      This lookbook presented eight well-organised kitchens, where smart storage solutions help to hide clutter and create a more pleasant cooking experience. The projects, which range from compact apartments to home extensions, use hooks, nooks, racks, shelves, cubby holes and display units to make the best use of space.
      Featured kitchens include the above example from London, which uses multifunctional plywood partitions with arched openings and alcoves for storing belongings.
      See more tidy kitchens ›
      Photo by Salva LópezTen earthy bedrooms that use natural colour to create a restful environment
      Dreamy bedrooms from Mexico to Thailand were showcased in this lookbook, which gathers interiors that use earthy colour palettes and natural materials to evoke a sense of calm and tranquility.
      Earthy browns, neutral beige and tan colours are complemented by terracotta and green hues to create bedrooms with a peaceful atmosphere, while materials include stone, timber, linen, clay accents and limewash finishes.
      See more earthy bedrooms in neutral colours ›
      Photo by Yoshihiro MakinoTen bathrooms where marble lines the walls
      Carrera and Verde Aver marble, as well as similar natural stones such as travertine and quartzite, decorate these 10 bathrooms.
      Whether it’s a renovated 1920s Stockholm apartment clad in Swedish Ekeberg marble, or a bathroom in an art-deco building covered in green Verde Aver marble (above), this lookbook showcases how the durable material can be used to create elegant interiors.
      See more marble-lined bathrooms ›

      Ten homes with space-saving pocket doors that disappear into the walls
      Pocket doors – sliding doors that are designed to slot into a wall cavity so they can stay hidden from view – were the subject of this lookbook, which was one of the most popular of last year.
      The solution is especially useful for rooms where there isn’t enough space for a door to open outwards and for locations where it makes sense for the door to integrate into surrounding joinery.
      See more homes with pocket doors ›
      Photo by Roland HalbeEight welcoming wood-panelled dining rooms
      The cosiness of a wood-panelled dining room was the focus of this lookbook, which collected eight examples of homes where wood took centre stage.
      Among the examples is this house in Chile, above, which features an open-plan kitchen and dining room with a vaulted ceiling that is clad in laminated pine.
      See more wood-panelled dining rooms ›

      2023 review
      This article is part of Dezeen’s roundup of the biggest and best news and projects in architecture, design, interior design and technology from 2023.

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      Eight bright and airy interiors illuminated by perforated brick walls

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      Dezeen’s latest lookbook explores eight interiors – from bright, airy residential spaces to cool, open-plan offices – illuminated by perforated brick walls.

      Perforated brick walls are often used as a cooling strategy in warmer climates. This lookbook highlights their effect on the lighting and shading of interior spaces and how they can be used to create a playful, light atmosphere.
      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 light-filled kitchens, sculptural wooden staircases and airy, pared-back loft conversions.
      Photo by Hemant PatilStudio by the Hill, India, by Mind Manifestation
      This converted apartment in Pune, India – designed by architecture studio Mind Manifestation to house the studio’s office – uses perforated bricks to create a well-lit and ventilated workspace.

      Bricks was used extensively across the flooring and complemented by green lime plaster walls.
      “The material palette has been tastefully chosen so as to match with the different shades of the hill throughout the year,” Mind Manifestation explained.
      Find out more about Studio by the Hill ›
      Photo by Oki HiroyukiCuckoo House, Vietnam, by Tropical Space
      Cuckoo House, designed by Tropical Space, is a two-storey home situated atop a cafe in Da Nang, Vietnam, encased by a shell made from local clay bricks.
      Living spaces on the upper floor feature perforated brick for privacy and ventilation, with the design resulting in a playful chequered lighting pattern across the wooden and concrete interior.
      Find out more about Cuckoo House ›
      Photo by Oki HiroyukiWall House, Vietnam, by CTA
      Square perforated bricks salvaged from nearby buildings sites are used on the exterior of CTA’s Wall House in Bien Hoa, Vietnam.
      Stacked in an irregular formation, the punctured bricks filter sunlight and air into the space, creating dotted shadows across the plant-filled double-height living room.
      Find out more about Wall House ›
      Photo by Hemant PatilGadi House, India, by PMA Madhushala
      Gadi House in Maval, India, by PMA Madhushala is a compact arrangement of volumes and courtyards.
      Dimly-lit courtyards and living spaces are illuminated by pockets of sunlight accessed through perforations in the brick and stone walls.
      Find out more about Gadi House ›
      Photo by Federico CairoliIntermediate House, Paraguay, by Equipo de Arquitectura
      The Intermediate House by Paraguay-based studio Equipo de Arquitectura is a narrow residence in Asunción organised around an open-air courtyard.
      Manually pressed, unfired bricks form the perforated street-facing facade – drawing sunlight and air through the vaulted brick-roofed dining room and into adjacent spaces.
      Find out more about Intermediate House ›
      Photo by Oki HiroyukiThe Termitary House, Vietnam, by Tropical Space
      Patterned shadows decorate the dimly-lit brick and wood interior of The Termitary House in Da Nang, Vietnam, designed by Tropical Space.
      Inspired by earthen termite nests, the studio used perforated brick on the facade and internal walls to bring natural light into the interiors during the day and draw in artificial light at night.
      Find out more about The Termitary House ›
      Photo by Timothy KayeCloud House, Australia, by Dean Dyson Architects
      Australian studio Dean Dyson Architects designed the Cloud House – a two-storey home in Malvern – using an exterior layer of grey, perforated brickwork.
      Intended to create a “private oasis” for the clients, the perforated brick pours light into the interior living spaces, with passive ventilation enabled by operable windows.
      Find out more about Cloud House ›
      Photo by Joana FrançaTropical Shed, Brazil, by Laurent Troost Architectures
      Located on a long, narrow plot in Manaus, Tropical Shed is a plant-filled office with a centralised courtyard designed by Brazilian studio Laurent Troost Architectures.
      Interlocking bricks – repeated throughout the design – form a perforated wall in the double-height office to create a cool work environment decorated with playful shadows.
      Find out more about Tropical Shed ›
      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 light-filled kitchens, sculptural wooden staircases and airy, pared-back loft conversions.

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      in Rooms

      Eight imaginative home interiors created on a budget

      by

      In this lookbook, we collect eight residential interiors that were put together with limited funds but still have a certain richness.

      Featuring exposed structures, simple materials and sparing use of finishes, these budget interiors prove that adventurous design doesn’t have to be reserved for the very wealthy.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors made with reclaimed materials, inviting entrance halls and industrial-but-cosy living rooms.
      Photo by José Hevia10K House, Spain, by Takk
      Renovated on a material budget of only 10,000 euros, this Barcelona apartment takes raw, pared-back aesthetics to extremes.

      Leaving traces of dismantled fixtures visible, Spanish studio Takk chose not to apply coatings to the floors and walls, while utilitarian medium-density fibreboard features throughout.
      Find out more about 10K House ›
      Photo by Trieu ChienBinh Thuan House, Vietnam, by MIA Design Studio
      Simple white curtains divide spaces inside the Binh Thuan House, designed by MIA Design Studio for a family of four using limited resources.
      An exposed steel frame lends a distinctly industrial feel and is also an easily adaptable means of fitting windows, curtains, furniture and pictures.
      Find out more about Binh Thuan House ›
      Photo by Taran WilkhuSegal House, UK, by Fraher & Findlay
      UK architecture studio Fraher & Findlay avoided using specialist trades and bespoke products to keep costs down in the renovation of this house in south London that was originally designed according to Walter Segal’s self-build methods.
      Extensive use of plywood meant there was no need to hire a plasterer, for example, while other materials and products were chosen for being widely available off the shelf.
      Find out more about Segal House ›
      Photo by Ariadna Polo/Sandra Perez NietoCasa Nakasone, Mexico, by Escobedo Soliz
      This small, simple house on the outskirts of Mexico City was designed by Escobedo Soliz for a retired teacher.
      Cheap structural materials were left exposed in the interiors, such as brickwork walls, tiled floors and pale wooden beams on the ceilings.
      Find out more about Casa Nakasone ›
      Photo by Jumpei SuzukiMinimum House, Tokyo, by Nori Architects
      Minimum House, in Tokyo, was designed by Nori Architects as a prototype for a low-cost, low-waste, adaptable model of urban housing.
      Ductwork and wiring was left exposed with only simple light fittings, while the timber structure is left uncovered on the walls and used for kitchen and storage units.
      Find out more about Minimum House ›
      Photo by José Hevia105JON, Spain, by Vallribera Arquitectes
      Simple materials feature throughout this house in Vallès, Spain, modernised by Barcelona studio Vallribera Arquitectes.
      Chunky chipboard is a recurring motif, contrasting with blue linoleum flooring in the bathroom and with exposed brick party walls in the living spaces.
      Find out more about 105JON ›
      Photo by Richard ChiversMaison Pour Dodo, UK, by Studio Merlin
      Studio Merlin incorporated an abundance of storage in its revamp of this Stoke Newington flat to ensure that the available space could be kept luxuriously serene and clutter-free.
      Touches include a large floor-to-ceiling shelving unit in the living and dining area, and a wall of deep-set IKEA cabinets with smokey blue door fronts from Danish brand Reform in the kitchen.
      Find out more about Maison Pour Dodo ›
      Photo by Javier de Paz GarcíaUpHouse, Madrid, by CumuloLimbo Studio
      Completed on a shoestring budget of $39,000, this extensive renovation of an apartment in Madrid by CumuloLimbo Studio prioritised using inexpensive materials such as salvaged plywood.
      The kitchen area features a simple open shelving system with a black-tile backsplash, while the counter forms part of an unusual staircase leading up into a newly inserted mezzanine.
      Find out more about UpHouse ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors made with reclaimed materials, inviting entrance halls and industrial-but-cosy living rooms.

      Read more: More