Lookbooks

Subterms

    More stories

    • 75 Shares129 Views

      in Rooms

      Eight immersive saunas in peaceful settings

      by

      A floating sauna and a cavernous coastal grotto feature in our latest lookbook, which collects eight sauna interiors that provide a warming antidote to colder months.

      Usually contained within a single room, a sauna is a sealed place where visitors experience dry or wet heat produced through a variety of mechanisms that are designed to clean and refresh the body – a ritual that is reported to date back to as early as 4000 BC.
      Saunas are typically made of wood due to the material’s ability to absorb heat but remain cool to the touch. The following projects demonstrate how architects and designers have interpreted this longstanding practice in contemporary settings.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring cosy living rooms, retro eateries and dining rooms with built-in seating.
      Photo is by Filip GränströmBig Branzino, Sweden, by Sandellsandberg 

      The Big Branzino is a floating sauna by Swedish studio Sandellsandberg that was topped with a distinctive bow-shaped roof.
      Designed to drift against the shifting backdrop of the Stockholm archipelago, the sauna features a red cedar-clad interior including a bespoke stove flanked by two-tiered seating.
      Find out more about Big Branzino ›
      Photo is courtesy of PartisansGrotto, Canada, by Partisans
      Canadian studio Partisans designed a cavernous cedar interior for a private burnt-timber sauna that was created to emulate a seaside grotto.
      Situated on a craggy spot on the shore of Lake Huron, north of Toronto, the structure features skewed porthole windows and a curvy alternative to traditional geometric stepped sauna seating.
      Find out more about Grotto ›
      Photo is by Jonas Aarre SommarsetThe Bands, Norway, by Oslo School of Architecture and Design students
      A trio of staggered timber bands forms this student-designed sauna, which also functions as a picnic terrace and has a sunken hot tub on its exterior.
      The building has three different gabled roof profiles, as well as glass and translucent polycarbonate plastic windows that illuminate the larch-clad interior.
      Find out more about The Bands ›
      Photo is courtesy of HaeckelsSauna, UK, by Haeckels
      Skincare brand Haeckels took cues from traditional Victorian bathing machines – wooden carts that provided privacy for people to change clothes at the seaside – when creating this sauna on the beach of southeast England’s Margate.
      The brand used materials that were as close as possible to those that would have been used to design original bathing machines. A wood-burning stove features inside, while timber benches provide seating with a sea view framed by an external wax-cloth awning.
      Find out more about this sauna ›
      Photo is Riikka KantinkoskiTullin, Finland, by Studio Puisto
      Finnish practice Studio Puisto paid tribute to the concept of the late nineteenth-century korttelisauna, or neighbourhood sauna, when designing this communal complex in the city of Tampere.
      Throughout the complex, the interior is characterised by rough concrete finishes layered with warm local pine – a material used in saunas all over Finland.
      Find out more about Tullin ›
      Photo is by Noé CotterLöyly, Switzerland, by Trolle Rudebeck Haar
      Designer Trolle Rudebeck Haar built a prefabricated floating sauna on Lake Geneva while studying at the Lausanne University of Art and Design.
      Created to explore the concept of micro-architecture, Löyly spans 2.2 square metres and features a Japanese sliding door – known as a shōji – made from ribbed translucent glass.
      Find out more about Löyly ›
      Photo is by RaumlaborGothenburg Public Sauna, Sweden, by Raumlabor
      German studio Raumlabor worked with local residents in Gothenburg to design this public sauna, which is raised over the water in the Swedish city’s Frihamnen port and accessed via a wooden bridge.
      Thin larch strips line the interior and create texture across the curved and angular surfaces of the ceiling and walls.
      Find out more about Gothenburg Public Sauna ›
      Photo is by Riikka KantinkoskiSaunaravintola Kiulu, Findland, by Studio Puisto
      Studio Puisto designed the Saunaravintola Kiulu wellness centre to combine a duo of saunas and a restaurant.
      Characterised by dark wood cladding and red epoxy flooring, the smaller of the two saunas is contained within its own independent timber cabin.
      Find out more about Saunaravintola Kiulu ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring cosy living rooms, retro eateries and dining rooms with built-in seating.

      Read more: More

    • 113 Shares139 Views

      in Rooms

      Eight homes with light-filled kitchens from Australia to Slovenia

      by

      For our latest lookbook, we’ve chosen eight kitchens in contemporary homes where strategically placed windows and glazing create well-lit spaces for cooking and spending quality time with family and friends.

      These light-filled kitchens feature different finishes, including marble, concrete, wood and glass, but are joined together by the sunlight that streams through their large windows, glazed doors or skylights.
      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 furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.
      Photo is by Matthew WilliamsMonroe Street House, USA, by TBo
      New York studio TBo updated a 124-year-old townhouse in Brooklyn to meet the demands of a modern, multi-generational family’s lifestyle.

      Featuring a window that stretches from the worktop to the ceiling and glass doors that lead to an outdoor deck, the kitchen has maximised access to daylight and to the outdoors.
      Find out more about Monroe Street House ›
      Photo is by Rohan VennSydney bungalow extension, Australia, by Emily Sandstrom
      Australian architect Emily Sandstorm restored this out-of-use 1930s bungalow in Sydney with reclaimed materials from the demolition of its small rear kitchen.
      She sees the new kitchen, which features a kitchen island with a worktop of recycled Australian hardwood, as the centre of the home. A window wall creates views of an outdoor dining area and fills the room with light.
      Find out more about the bungalow ›
      Photo is by Nick DeardenGlazed house extension, UK, by DHaus
      As part of the rear extension to a house in Hertfordshire, UK, London studio DHaus opened up the original dark and cramped kitchen with a material palette of concrete, glass and Douglas fir timber.
      The studio lowered the kitchen floor by one metre and connected the interior to the garden, with glazing lining the entire end of the extension to create a bright, welcoming space.
      Find out more about the glass extension ›
      Photo is by Jason RickQuarry House, USA, by AB Design Studio and House of Honey
      West Coast-based architecture practice AB Design Studio renovated the Quarry House in California, a 1954 house that had fallen into disrepair, in collaboration with House of Honey, which was responsible for the interior design.
      The kitchen was renewed with textured marble surfaces and a kitchen island, as well as Crittall-style windows and doors.
      Find out more about Quarry House ›
      Photo is by Ana SkobeHouse MM, Slovenia, by A202 Arhitekti
      A202 Arhitekti transformed the traditional gabled house in Slovenia by removing all non-structural interior elements and adding a timber extension inside while preserving the shell of the property.
      The studio built the kitchen with light-coloured materials in a minimalist style, adding a large window with a comfortable window seat for reading or contemplation.
      Find out more about House MM ›
      Photo is by Lorenzo ZandriHouse extension, UK, by ConForm
      Designed by ConForm, the light-filled kitchen in this Hampstead home is covered with white marble panels.
      The patterns of light grey veins on adjoining surfaces were unmatched to “encourage a natural and textural language”, the studio said. Sliding doors open the room up to the garden.
      Find out more about the Hampstead extension ›
      Photo is by Peter Bennetts10 Fold House, Australia, by Timmins + Whyte
      Australian studio Timmins + Whyte added an extension with a folded roof that brings in extra natural light to this Melbourne home.
      The kitchen included in the extended space was combined with the living room through a shared material palette of ribbed wood, marble and grey terrazzo.
      Find out more about 10 Fold House ›
      Photo is by Jeroen VerrechtHouse C-DF, Belgium, by Graux & Baeyens Architecten
      Belgian studio Graux & Baeyens Architecten was tasked to maximise the space in a narrow townhouse in Ghent that already had a rear kitchen extension.
      The studio changed the gap between the old extension and the original house into a skylight and replaced the wall between the garden and the kitchen with a glass sliding door, which introduced additional light to the ground-floor kitchen.
      Find out more about House C-DF ›
      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 furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.

      Read more: More

    • 100 Shares99 Views

      in Rooms

      Seven cosy living rooms with industrial material palettes

      by

      Living rooms with tactile brick, concrete and wood surfaces feature in this lookbook, which shows that opting for industrial materials doesn’t have to sacrifice cosiness.

      Typically informed by old and unrefined factories, lofts and warehouses, industrial-style interiors are a go-to for many contemporary designers.
      Homes of this style are often characterised by a combination of man-made and natural materials, including brick, wood, concrete and metal, and the exposure of details that are usually concealed, such as ductwork.
      While, for some, the image of industrial spaces can conjure up feelings of being cold and unwelcome, this list of living rooms proves that with the right finishes, the style can actually be warm and inviting.
      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 furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.

      Photo by Mariell Lind HansenSt John Street, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
      Emil Eve Architects retained the raw aesthetic of this former warehouse while transforming it into a warm and inviting home.
      In the living room, old brick walls, metal window frames and a rough concrete ceiling form a tactile backdrop to contemporary wooden furnishings and an abundance of tall plants.
      Find out more about St John Street ›
      Photo by Mike SchwartzMichigan Loft, USA, by Vladimir Radutny Architects
      A suspended black-metal fireplace is the centrepiece of this lofty apartment, which is located in Chicago and dotted with floor furnishings including a Toga sofa.
      The fireplace is complemented by exposed black ducting and hanging lights, which pop against the surrounding brick, warm wood and concrete elements.
      Find out more about Michigan Loft ›
      Photo by Fran ParenteGale Apartment, Brazil, by Memola Estudio
      Exposed services, ducting and concrete help achieve an industrial look in this living room, which is located in a Brazilian apartment designed by Memola Estudio.
      To add warmth to the space, these finishes are balanced with natural details including dark wooden floorboards and furniture, suede chairs and a textile wall tapestry.
      Find out more about Gale Apartment ›
      Photo by Andrey Bezuglov and Maryan BereshRelogged House, Ukraine, by Balbek Bureau
      This living room belongs to a Ukrainian cabin, designed by Balbek Bureau with a utilitarian aesthetic that aims to challenge conventional cabin interiors.
      Concrete is the predominant material, but stainless steel and wooden elements such as horizontally stacked logs also feature throughout. To add warmth, a giant fireplace takes centre stage and is positioned opposite a modular sofa on which visitors can cosy up.
      Find out more about Relogged House ›
      Photo by Casey DunnSouth 5th Residence, USA, by Alterstudio Architecture
      In this lounge, the stripped-back material palette helps to draw attention to the “dramatic vistas” over a valley in Austin, Texas.
      Rough-textured concrete forms the walls of the space, while polished concrete lines the floor. Window frames made of wood and steel add to the room’s industrial look, and colour is introduced through furnishings including a tubular pink-metal armchair.
      Find out more about South 5th Residence ›
      Photo by JAG studioA Forest House, Ecuador, by Aquiles Jarrín
      Aquiles Jarrín married dark Chonta wood with black-steel beams and rough concrete for the design of this textural living room, found in A Forest House in Quito.
      The wooden elements help break up the open-plan interior, carving out cosy nooks and storage spaces for the owner. The seating area is warmed by a cowhide rug and tan butterfly chairs.
      Find out more about A Forest House ›
      Photo by Joe FletcherAnalog House, USA, by Olson Kundig Architects
      A tactile material palette of metal, concrete and glass tones was used for the living room of Analog House, a home in a Californian forest created by Olson Kundig Architects with the ​​founder of Faulkner Architects – the client for the project.
      In the lounge, these materials are paired with light wooden floors and minimalist furnishings including hanging lights, a sleek black sofa and tubular chairs.
      Find out more about Analog House ›
      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 furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.

      Read more: More

    • 125 Shares99 Views

      in Rooms

      Five interiors with furry walls that beg to be touched

      by

      Faux fur is liberated from the realm of fashion and used to cover entire walls in this lookbook, which rounds up five interior projects including an igloo-shaped children’s room and a surreal Prada set by AMO.

      Rendered in grabby colours, furry textiles are increasingly being used by interior designers to make retail environments feel more enticing, as seen below in the all-pink makeover of Balenciaga’s London store and the monochrome grey fit-out of Chinese womenswear boutique SND.
      But in colder climes – like the ski town of Aspen – fake fur can also serve a practical purpose by providing some much-needed cosiness.
      Read on for five examples of interiors that are using this unconventional material on an architectural scale.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring subway-tiled bathrooms, chequerboard floors and rustic Italian interiors.

      Photo by Billal Baruk TarightSant Ambroeus Coffee Bar Aspen, US, by Giampiero Tagliaferri Studio
      Cosy Alpine touches meet midcentury Italian glamour inside this coffee bar that designer Giampiero Tagliaferri has completed in the ski town of Aspen.
      Here, the walls are clad in alternating panels of walnut wood, deep green Verde Alpi marble and faux fur that was designed to resemble shaggy Mongolian lamb wool.
      Find out more about the Sant Ambroeus Coffee Bar Aspen ›

      Mount Street store, UK, by Balenciaga
      Every surface inside Balenciaga’s London store – from the walls and floors to the columns and shelves – was wrapped in furry bright pink textile as part of a temporary installation last April.
      The intervention was designed to celebrate the brand’s popular Le Cagole bag and its maximalist spirit, with the materials used now set to be reused for future projects.
      “We are currently researching the best way in which we can donate the faux fur, so that it can be reused in manufacturing toys for example,” Balenciaga told Dezeen.
      Find out more about the Mount Street store ›
      Photo by José HeviaWinter Bedroom (for a Big Grrl), Spain, by Takk
      This winter-themed bedroom belongs to the young daughter of Spanish designers Mireia Luzárraga and Alejandro Muiño and is topped with a 3.5-metre-high dome designed to resemble an igloo.
      Fuzzy white carpet clads almost every inch of the space to create the impression that the all-white interior is covered in a blanket of snow.
      Find out more about Winter Bedroom (for a Big Grrl) ›
      Photo by Agostino OsioPrada AW21 2021 menswear show, Italy, by Rem Koolhaas and AMO
      For Prada’s Autumn Winter 2021 menswear presentation, research studio AMO created a sequence of four geometric rooms designed to create “the illusion of a never-ending route”.
      Each room inverts the material arrangements of the one that came before, with white marble walls and fluffy sky-blue carpet making way for glossy stone flooring and furry walls in a moody magenta colour.
      Find out more about the Prada AW21 menswear show ›
      Photo by Shao FengSND boutique, China, by Various Associates
      In the absence of colour, Chinese studio Various Associates relied on contrasting textures and dramatically slanted walls to provide aesthetic interest inside this womenswear store in Chongqing, China.
      The interior combines furry changing-room pods will full-height mirrors to make the store feel more “visually magical and spacious”.
      Find out more about SND boutique ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring subway-tiled bathrooms, chequerboard floors and rustic Italian interiors.

      Read more: More

    • 125 Shares149 Views

      in Rooms

      Eight sculptural wooden staircases that bring warmth to the home

      by

      Our latest lookbook features eight sculptural staircases made of wood that make a statement and bring warmth to apartments from Hong Kong to Boston.

      Often the organizing principle in the planning of any space, a staircase can either blend in or stand out.
      The eight gathered in this lookbook lean into the latter – showcasing both the structural abilities of wood like larch, birch and plywood and demonstrating how circulation need not be boring.
      From a completely pre-fabricated staircase in a Boston apartment to a plywood spiral staircase twisting from the loft of a renovated barn in the Netherlands, these sculptural stairs create a visually striking centrepiece, as well as a fun way to traverse a house.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring rustic Italian interiors, autumnal bedrooms and show-stealing dining room tables.

      Photo by James LengHairpin House, USA, Studio J Jih and Figure
      Located in Boston’s South End neighbourhood, this historic townhouse renovation sees a four-storey interior plan wrapped around a white oak staircase that spirals around a 40-foot-high (12-metre-high) atrium.
      “Aptly named Hairpin House, the project takes the tight, unpredictable, and ultimately poetic switchback turns of a mountain road as inspiration for the overall renovation – and in particular a new unravelling central stair,” said the design team.
      Find out more about Hairpin House ›
      Photo by Jonathan LeijonhufvudCape Drive Residence, Hong Kong, Linehouse
      Just a short walk from the beaches of Hong Kong’s south side, this three-storey house channels “coastal essence” through natural materials and light, Chinese studio Linehouse told Dezeen.
      An “easy flow” was also imbued into the design, created in part by a timber stairwell that’s tucked to the side and – save for a white metallic screen – is open to the living spaces.
      Find out more about Cape Drive Residence ›
      Photo by Frank FrancesMass Timber House, USA, Schiller Projects
      According to design studio Schiller Projects, this renovated carriage home in Brooklyn is the borough’s first single-family residence that uses mass timber construction.
      Besides repurposed wooden elements like timber panels and floorboards used for the project, the house features a pre-fabricated glue-laminated timber (glulam) staircase that can be completely disassembled.
      Find out more about Mass Timber House ›
      Photo by Alex BaxterBarn at the Ahof, the Netherlands, Julia van Beuningen
      Architectural designer Julia Van Beuningen converted this Gelderland barn into a holiday home complete with a spiral staircase made out of plywood at the heart of the floor plan, which contrasts the more rustic materials of the surrounding building.
      “This is very different and very unusual in a barn like this,” said Van Beuningen. “It’s something you either love or hate, but it’s definitely a statement.”
      Find out more about Barn at the Ahof ›
      Photo by Eric PetschekCarroll Gardens Townhouse, USA, Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design
      New York studios Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design merged a two-family dwelling into one for the owner’s growing family.
      White oak running throughout the two units unifies the project, which includes the addition of a new wooden staircase covered by a slated screen made of the same material.
      Find out more about Carroll Gardens Townhouse ›
      Photo by Jim StephensonStoke Newington loft, UK, Whittaker Parsons
      Architecture firm Whittaker Parsons was tasked with adding a loft to a house in Stoke Newington, London, as well as updating spaces throughout the lower floors.
      With efficiency and quality in mind, the studio used prefabricated structural insulated panels (SIP) to construct the new loft. The space is accessed by a spiral staircase made of larch that’s topped with a skylight.
      Find out more about Stoke Newington loft ›
      Photo is by Tim CrokerDragon Flat, UK, Tsuruta Architects
      A floating timber staircase features in this flat in London, which is outfitted with walls CNC-etched with images of peonies, dragons, bats and the Thames.
      The central staircase allows light to filter into the kitchen and living room below, while solid timber bricks act as landings on either side.
      Find out more about Dragon Flat ›
      Photo by Rory GardinerElsternwick penthouse, Australia, Office Alex Nicholls
      The timber staircases in this Melbourne house were integrated into its “library spine” an organizing corridor that contains the family’s collection of books, art and artefacts.
      “From a practical standpoint, it allowed everything to be easily accessible and displayed but it also helps to draw people through the apartment and celebrate the two staircases to the roof garden at either end,” said Office Alex Nicholls founder Alex Nicholls.
      Find out more about Elsternwick penthouse ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring rustic Italian interiors, autumnal bedrooms and show-stealing dining room tables.

      Read more: More

    • 138 Shares119 Views

      in Rooms

      Ten rustic Italian interiors that evoke the history of the Mediterranean

      by

      This lookbook collects 10 interiors in Italy with a distinctly rustic feel, including homes and hotels replete with wooden beams, cool stone and other rich textures.

      As well as being known for its contemporary furniture and lighting design, Italy is home to some of Europe’s oldest buildings and has numerous historic cities and villages.
      From a 17th-century house in Puglia to a hotel in a 1,000-year-old castle, below are 10 examples of projects that pay homage to the Mediterranean country’s history while catering to modern tastes.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring chequerboard floors, lime plaster walls and Mediterranean-style interiors.
      Photo courtesy of Monteverdi HotelMonteverdi Hotel, Tuscany, by Ilaria Miani

      Restoration specialist and interior designer Ilaria Miani helped transform several crumbling buildings in Val d’Orcia into a boutique hotel that aims to balance the history of the area with contemporary design influences from Milan and Rome.
      In the bedroom suites, chunky exposed beams made from salvaged wood are complemented by natural colours and textures, while nearly all the furniture is handmade by local artisans.
      Find out more about Monteverdi Hotel ›
      Photo by Francesca IoveneCascina, Piemonte, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
      London-based Jonathan Tuckey Design was tasked with returning this 19th-century farmhouse in northern Italy to its original state following a heavy 1980s renovation.
      Stone walls and wooden beams now feature prominently, with a cool chalky palette offset by brass lamps and chestnut panelling and furniture.
      Find out more about Cascina ›
      Photo by Salva LópezCasa Soleto, Puglia, by Studio Andrew Trotter and Marcelo Martínez
      Parts of Casa Soleto in Puglia are more than 400 years old. Architecture firm Studio Andrew Trotter and its studio manager Marcelo Martínez renovated the building without making any structural changes, leaving the irregular walls in place.
      To give the interiors an authentic, natural feel, the designers used lime plaster for the walls, linen fabrics for the sofas and curtains, jute rugs, terracotta ceramics and antique furniture.
      Find out more about Casa Soleto ›
      Photo by Alex FilzMonastero Arx Vivendi, Trentino-Alto Adige, by Network of Architecture
      Network of Architecture applied rippled antique-effect plaster to the walls of this 17th-century ex-monastery near Lake Garda, which is now a hotel.
      The plaster is complemented by pale wooden floors, black iron furniture and earth-toned fabrics, while the original doors have been retained and restored.
      Find out more about Monastero Arx Vivendi ›
      Photo by Salva LópezCasolare Scarani, Puglia, by Studio Andrew Potter
      Casolare Scarani is a home created from the renovation of a long-abandoned girls’ school built in the style of a traditional Puglian villa – but still modest in size.
      The vaulted ceilings were kept intact and covered in lime plaster, while the rooms were finished with earthy tones and traditional stone flooring.
      Find out more about Casolare Scarani ›
      Photo courtesy of Hotel Castello di ReschioHotel Castello di Reschio, Umbria, by Count Benedikt Bolza
      Hotel Castello di Reschio occupies a 1,000-year-old castle in the Umbrian hills that was transformed by count Benedikt Bolza and his family.
      Rooms have been decorated with terracotta-brick or wooden floors, hand-stitched linen curtains, Italian fabrics and locally crafted marble and brass vanities alongside portraits sourced from nearby antique markets in a reference to the building’s rich history.
      Find out more about Hotel Castello di Reschio ›
      Photo by Davide Galli AtelierBrolettouno Apartment, Lombardy, by Archiplan
      Located in a building in Mantua that dates back to the 15th century, this apartment was overhauled on a budget by local design studio Archiplan.
      The studio decided to honour the interior’s timeworn aesthetic by retaining the distressed floor tiles and faded frescos, combining these features with functional light-hued wooden furniture.
      Find out more about Brolettouno Apartment ›
      Photo by Salva LópezCasa Maiora, Puglia, by Studio Andrew Trotter
      Another project from Studio Andrew Trotter, this villa is in fact a newly built project – but carries heavy rustic influences from traditional homes in the area.
      Flagstone floors, lime-washed walls and locally sourced antiques combine to create a soothing, timeless feel.
      Find out more about Casa Maiora ›
      Photo by Serena EllerG-Rough, Lazio, by Gabriele Salini
      Features showcasing the building’s 400-year-old history were juxtaposed with contemporary art and mid-century furnishings at this boutique hotel in Rome, Italy’s capital.
      The imperfections of age, particularly on the patina walls, combine with furniture inspired by modernist Italian designers like Ico Parisi, Giò Ponti and Piero Fornasetti for a rough-yet-refined aesthetic.
      Find out more about G-Rough ›
      Photo by Irina Boersma César MachadoPalazzo Monti hotel, Lombardy, by Julie Cloos Mølsgaard and Vipp
      A collaboration with Danish homeware brand Vipp saw interior designer Julie Cloos Mølsgaard create a pop-up hotel in a 13-century palazzo in Brescia.
      To keep the focus on the building’s many historic features, Mølsgaard took a minimalist approach to the furnishings, with mattresses sitting directly on the floor and artwork propped up against the walls.
      Find out more about the Palazzo Monti hotel ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring chequerboard floors, lime plaster walls and Mediterranean-style interiors.

      Read more: More

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Rooms

      Ten dining rooms where built-in seating provides extra space around the table

      by

      Our latest lookbook explores homes where built-in benches or banquettes offer an inviting place to sit around the dining table, while also helping to save space.

      Built-in seating is a popular solution in kitchens and dining rooms where the optimal position for a table is along a wall rather than in the centre of the space.
      For homes where space is limited, a fixed bench can provide more seats than would otherwise be possible. It can also be a clever way of integrating extra storage, with concealed compartments under the seat.
      The most straightforward approach is to build a fixed seat along one side of the table and then add dining chairs on the opposite side, although L-shaped or curved seating installations can also be possible, depending on the layout.
      Whatever the design, the key to getting it right is ensuring that the table legs don’t clash with the base of the bench, so that it’s easy for people to get in and out.

      Read on for 10 examples, ranging from a minimalist terrace in London to a warm and tactile family home in Melbourne.
      This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, other recent lookbooks feature colourful shower rooms and kitchens with tiled worktops.
      Photo is by Peter Bennetts10 Fold House, Australia, by Timmins + Whyte
      This extension to a family home in Melbourne, designed by architecture and design studio Timmins + Whyte, includes a casual dining space that slots into a corner between the kitchen counter and the end wall.
      The L-shaped bench is topped with peach-toned cushions, which match the warm tone of the mid-century-style oak table. As well as providing comfort, they conceal storage areas underneath.
      Find out more about 10 Fold House ›
      Photo is by Rory GardinerSpruce House, UK, by Ao-ft
      A bench seat forms an extension of the polished concrete floor in this cross-laminated timber-framed house in east London, designed by Ao-ft founders Liz Tatarintseva and Zach Fluker as their own home.
      This is possible because the living space is slightly sunken. This means the concrete plinth, which actually sits at ground level, is the perfect height for sitting at the table.
      Find out more about Spruce House ›
      Photo is by Tim Van de VeldeKarper, Belgium, by Hé!
      This converted warehouse in Brussels was designed to serve as either a family home or a co-living building, so it features a range of different live and work spaces. One of these is a casual dining space located next to the kitchen on the second floor.
      A custom-made bench anchors this space to the side wall. A matching table has a squashed circle shape, creating the feel of a round table while also aligning with the seating fixture.
      Find out more about Karper ›
      Photo is by Gilbert McCarragherFrame House, UK, by Bureau de Change
      When remodelling this south London terrace, architecture studio Bureau de Change added a three-tiered extension at the property’s rear.
      The stepped terrazzo floor was designed to incorporate casual seating areas, with one of them serving as a seating area for the adjacent dining table.
      Find out more about Frame House ›
      Photo is by Lorenzo ZandriSteele’s Road House, UK, by Neiheiser Argyros
      If a kitchen has a window bay, this can be a good place to create a seating area. This is what London studio Neiheiser Argyros did in its renovation of a Victorian terrace in the west of the city.
      A curved banquette wraps the base of the window, framing a fixed cafe-style round table.
      Find out more about Steele’s Road House ›
      Photo is by José HeviaGirona Street Apartment, Spain, by Raúl Sanchez Architects
      Barcelona studio Raúl Sanchez Architects employed colour-blocking to create the dining space for this renovated apartment in the city’s Dreta de l’Eixample neighbourhood.
      A seating bench and the wall behind it are both painted deep blue, in contrast with the white tones elsewhere, which gives the dining space an increased emphasis.
      Find out more about Girona Street Apartment ›
      Photo is by Tom RossSunday, Australia, by Architecture Architecture
      A kitchen island provides the backdrop to the dining table in this house in Melbourne designed by local studio Architecture Architecture.
      Upholstered in a muted colour textile, the banquette has a cantilevered seat that slots neatly under a long, slender table, while traditional dining chairs are positioned on the opposite side.
      Find out more about Sunday ›

      Scalloped Concrete House, USA, by Laney LA
      California-based studio Laney LA found another way to position a dining space beside a kitchen island for this home in Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles.
      Instead of extending out, the bench seat is built into a recess within the wooden volume.
      Find out more about Scalloped Concrete House ›
      Photo is by Ståle EriksenKensington Place, UK, by O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects
      In this extension of a mid-terrace property in London’s Kensington, a built-in bench allowed O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects to fit a dining table into a narrow space.
      Built from plywood, the bench incorporates storage. It is slightly recessed at the base, while a backboard makes it feel more integrated with the wall behind.
      Find out more about Kensington Place ›

      Nido House, Australia, by Angelucci Architects
      The ground floor spaces of this family home in Melbourne wrap around a glazed courtyard, so an L-shaped seat was the best solution for fitting in a dining table.
      Designed by Angelucci Architects, the space incorporates a green leather banquette and a dining table featuring a marble surface and a base wrapped in ceramic tiles.
      Find out more about Nido House ›

      Read more: More

    • 125 Shares189 Views

      in Rooms

      Eight interiors where chequerboard flooring adds a sense of nostalgia

      by

      A cannabis dispensary, a hotel gym and an office in a converted 1930s military warehouse feature in this lookbook, proving that chequered floors aren’t just for kitchens.

      Alternating squares of colour, a style hearkening back to the nostalgia of 1950s American diners and Victorian entryways, can provide a graphic backdrop to any room.
      The examples below were realised using a range of materials, from tiles and stone slabs to wood parquet and paint, providing a clever way of bringing colour, pattern and texture into interiors.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring autumnal bedrooms, loft conversions and kitchen islands with sleek waterfall edges.
      Photo by Mikael LundbladCafe Banacado, Sweden, by ASKA

      The sun-drenched bars of Cuba and the symmetry of Wes Anderson films informed the design of this all-day breakfast cafe in Stockholm.
      This is reflected in its butter-yellow colour palette and the tonal squares painted onto the concrete floor, complemented by vintage touches including a vinyl player and a wall of Polaroid pictures.
      Find out more about Cafe Banacado ›
      Photo by Marine BilletIl Capri Hotel, Italy, by Graziella Buontempo and Arnaud Lacombe
      When renovating this hotel in a 19th-century Venetian-style palazzo, husband-and-wife duo Graziella Buontempo and Arnaud Lacombe aimed to balance the building’s old-school grandeur with a more pared-back contemporary elegance.
      A classic black-and-white checked floor runs through all of the hotel’s communal spaces and was paired with a mix of new and antique furniture pieces to create a homely, lived-in feel.
      Find out more about Il Capri Hotel ›
      Photo by Brian W FerryBonne Vie patisserie, USA, by Home Studios
      Alternating slabs of red and white marble pave the Bonne Vie patisseries at The Grand America Hotel, which was designed to bring European cafe culture to Salt Lake City.
      Matching crushed velvet chairs create a small seating area and are offset against duck-egg blue millwork and art deco-style opal globe lights mounted on brass fixtures.
      Find out more about Laurel Brasserie and Bar ›
      Photo by Ricardo GonçalvesRua Rodrigo da Fonseca apartment, Portugal, by Aboim Inglez Arquitectos
      Portuguese studio Aboim Inglez Arquitectos stripped back the interior of this 1930s apartment in Lisbon to reveal its original parquet floors during a renovation.
      Fulfilling much the same function as area rugs, the carefully restored patterns feature timber in different shades, laid into a subtle chequerboard pattern bordered by strips of light wood.
      “We believe it was used to stress the independence of the rooms and circulation areas and at the same time acting as the element that unifies the whole house,” architects Maria Ana and Ricardo Aboim Inglez told Dezeen.
      Find out more about Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca apartment ›
      Photo by Ernest WińczykClay.Warsaw office, Poland, by Mateusz Baumiller
      Tiled chequerboard floors are original to this former 1930s military warehouse in Warsaw, which now houses the joint offices of production companies Menu, Analog/Digital and Photoby.
      To soften the building’s industrial shell, architect Mateusz Baumiller furnished the office much like a residential interior, bringing in modern Polish art and a mix of contemporary and vintage design pieces from local brands and artisans.
      Find out more about the Clay.Warsaw office ›
      Photo by Alex LysakowskiThe Annex, Canada, by Superette
      This cannabis dispensary in Toronto was modelled on an Italian delicatessen, complete with a deli counter that contains an array of pre-rolled joints and different strains and strengths of marijuana.
      The kitschy nostalgic atmosphere was rounded off with green-and-white chequered flooring, while contrasting splashes of tomato red was used across stools and pendant lights.
      Find out more about The Annex ›
      Photo by David ZarzosoCasa Cabanyal, Spain, by Viruta Lab
      A mosaic of small navy blue and white tiles brings a subtle nautical feel to this home in Valencia’s traditional fishing neighbourhood El Cabanyal.
      Featured throughout all the rooms, from the bathroom to the sleeping quarters, they nod to the traditional azulejo tiled facades found across the city, which has been a prolific exporter of ceramics since the 15th century.
      Find out more about Casa Cabanyal ›
      Photo by Benoit LineroHotel Les Deux Gares, France, by Luke Edward Hall
      Colours and patterns clash merrily inside this renovated hotel, designed by British designer Luke Edward Hall to have an “anti-modern” feel that hearkens back to the Paris of the past.
      Even its gym has been reimagined with wooden equipment, graphic red-and-white flooring and mismatched floral wallpaper designed by Austrian architect Josef Frank.
      “I really wanted this space to feel above all joyful and welcoming and alive, classic but a little bonkers at the same time,” Hall told Dezeen.
      Find out more about Hotel Les Deux Gares ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring autumnal bedrooms, loft conversions and kitchen islands with sleek waterfall edges.

      Read more: More