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    Eight home interiors that make a feature of exposed services

    Our latest lookbook showcases eight home interiors that make a visual statement by revealing their services, including wires, cables, ducts and plumbing.

    Stripping back interiors can expose services including pipework that runs along walls and ceilings to provide heating, water, electricity and airflow to our homes.
    This roundup features homes with industrial and unfinished appearances that make a feature of exposed services, including a Parisian studio that uses copper pipework as hanging space and a stripped-back apartment in Brazil with blue-painted pipes.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring Milanese home and hotel interiors, living rooms decorated in the primary colours and terracotta-tiled kitchens.
    Photo is by Fran ParenteGale Apartment, Brazil, by Memola Estudio

    Brazilian studio Memola Estudio renovated this São Paulo apartment to better suit the owner’s tastes, stripping back finishes on the walls and ceilings to expose the building’s concrete structure, piping, wiring and ductwork.
    The studio contrasted the industrial look of the apartment with warm, earthy-toned furniture and contemporary artwork.
    Find out more about Gale Apartment ›
    Photo is by Cyrille LallementShakers Studio, France, by Ariel Claudet
    A network of copper pipes snakes around the perimeter of this studio apartment in a 17th-century Parisian building, which architect Ariel Claudet added to make it stand out on Airbnb.
    Informed by traditional Shaker peg rails, the pipes conceal electrical cables and double as a hanging rail to display ornaments and household items.
    Find out more about Shakers Studio ›
    Photo is by Maíra AcayabaRF Apartment, Brazil, by SuperLimão
    Located inside a modernist São Paulo building completed in 1958, Brazilian studio SuperLimão exposed the pipes in the RF Apartment and painted them a pale shade of blue-green that was in keeping with the period the building was constructed.
    SuperLimão also painted the ceiling a burnt pink colour and peeled back the edges of the entryways to reveal large chunks of plaster and brick.
    Find out more about RF Apartment ›
    Photo is by José HeviaNZ10 Apartment, Spain, by Auba Studio
    Spanish architecture firm Auba Studio transformed a former bakery in Palma into an apartment, stripping back the interior to reveal the building’s high ceilings and bare structure.
    Auba Studio added a stainless steel kitchen island to complement the industrial look of the exposed ductwork and light fittings.
    Find out more about NZ10 Apartment ›
    Photo is by José Hevia10K House, Spain, by Takk
    10K House is a 50-square-metre Barcelona apartment that Spanish studio Takk renovated, adding rooms nestled inside one another to maximise insulation.
    Water pipes and electrical fittings were left exposed to allow free passage between the Russian-doll-like rooms and to keep material costs down.
    Find out more about 10K House ›
    Photo is by Tim van de VeldeDe Lakfabriek apartments, the Netherlands, by Wenink Holtkamp Architecten
    Eidenhoven studio Wenink Holtkamp Architecten converted a 20th-century factory in Oisterwijk, the Netherlands, into apartments that maintain the industrial character of the building.
    The apartments have an open-plan layout with the building’s raw concrete structure, metal ductwork and wiring left visible.
    Find out more about De Lakfabriek apartments ›
    Photo is by Takumi OtaFishmarket, Japan, by Ab Rogers Design
    Fishmarket is an artist’s studio and residence in Kanazawa, Japan, with an interior that was stripped back to its industrial shell by London-based studio Ab Rogers Design.
    The studio added a series of fluorescent rotating partition walls that transform how the space is used and add bright pops of colour that stand in contrast against the grey concrete and metal pipework.
    Find out more about Fishmarket ›
    Photo is by Lorenzo ZandriEarthrise Studio, UK, by Studio McW
    London-based architecture practice Studio McW transformed this London warehouse into a studio and office that enhances the building’s original features.
    The practice removed some of the redundant overhead services that were restricting the ceiling height. The remaining exposed services add to the industrial look of the property, while custom oak joinery adds warmth to the spaces.
    Find out more about Earthrise Studio ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring Milanese home and hotel interiors, living rooms decorated in the primary colours and terracotta-tiled kitchens.

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    Eight Milanese interiors with eye-catching material palettes

    In the lead-up to Milan design week, we have rounded up eight residential and hotel interiors in the Italian city that are united by their use of muted colours and diverse materials.

    As the Salone del Mobile furniture fair is set to kick off next week, alongside its surrounding Fuorisalone events programme, these interiors provide a glimpse into some of the city’s design-led apartments, homes and hotels.
    Among the featured projects in Italy’s industrial capital is a hybrid home and office space in a former dental studio, a home set within a 200-year-old palazzo and a nunnery-turned-hotel.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring accent walls, bookshelves and terracotta tiles.
    Photo is by Carola RipamontiTeorema Milanese, Italy, by Marcante-Testa

    With the exception of removing a partition wall to create an open-plan living and dining area, Italian design studio Marcante-Testa looked to maintain the classic layout of this apartment in a 1960s building on Corso Sempione during its renovation.
    The studio decorated the apartment in muted colours and used pale grey cipollino tirreno marble as a “carpet” across the sitting area. Elsewhere, a pale lemon-hued cabinet functions as a partition while the bathroom is clad in a maroon-streaked salomè marble.
    Find out more about Teorema Milanese ›

    Out of the Blue, Italy, by AIM
    Italian design studio AIM made liberal use of the colour grey when renovating the interior of this 150-square-metre home in Milan. The concealed staircase that forms the centre of the renovation is framed in the distinctive bluey-grey hue.
    And in the dining area, the home’s wooden flooring was decorated with a painted rectangle that aims to visually zone and separate the space from its surroundings. Brass fixtures complement its grey hue, which can also be found across light fixings and ornaments.
    Find out more about Out of the Blue ›
    Photo is by Giovanni Emilio GalanelloPrivate apartment, Italy, by Untitled Architecture
    A cylindrical staircase and metal structural elements are the focal features of this small apartment, designed by local studio Untitled Architecture.
    The apartment has a minimal paired-back aesthetic, with white-painted walls and bleached wood elements contrasted against tiny pops of colour introduced through blue-hued grouting and balustrades.
    Find out more about the private apartment ›
    Photo is by Michele FilippiCPR Apartment, Italy, by +R Piuerre
    Housed in a former dental studio, this hybrid home and office belongs to a young remote-working couple and was designed to combine Milanese modernism with Nordic design.
    Two areas of the apartment were colour-coded according to their function, with the bedroom, office and entryway covered in tones of grey while the living area and kitchen are marked by a bright yellow hue. The spaces are connected by a white-painted staircase constructed from sheets of folded metal.
    Find out more about CPR Apartment ›

    Room Mate Giulia, Italy, by Patricia Urquiola
    Pistachio green was used to colour the dado wall panelling and soft furnishings inside this suite in Milan’s Room Mate Giulia hotel decorated by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola. Meanwhile, the upper half of the walls and the ceilings are covered in white wallpaper with a geometric grid pattern.
    Industrial materials and furnishings, including a galvanised metal shelving unit, were repurposed as boutique storage solutions and room partitions.
    Find out more about Room Mate Hotels ›

    Casa Salvatori, Italy, by Elissa Ossino Studio
    This home, designed by Milanese architecture practice Elissa Ossino Studio for the head of Italian stone company Salvatori, brings together marble furnishings and flecked terrazzo floors to link the interior with Salvatori’s stone manufacturing history.
    Dulled hues of blue, peach, green and yellow were carried through the interior of the home, which is set within a 200-year-old palazzo in the city’s Brera district.
    Find out more about Casa Salvatori ›
    Photo is by Giovanna SilvaHouse with an iron staircase, Italy, by Roberto Murgia and Valentina Ravara
    An iron staircase with a zig-zagging framework reminiscent of structural trusses was installed along one wall of this apartment in the Isola district, designed by Italian architects Roberto Murgia and Valentina Ravara.
    The floor of the main living space features a geometric design, achieved through the use of hexagonal cement tiles. Each of the tiles is handmade and coloured in shades of light blue and white to provide tonal variation.
    Find out more about House with an iron staircase ›
    Photo is by Alberto StradaThe Sister Hotel, Italy, by Quincoces-Dragò
    Housed in a former 16th-century nunnery in Milan’s city centre, The Sister Hotel features decadent yet eclectic interiors by architecture studio Quincoces-Dragò.
    The studio looked to grandiose private townhouses when designing the interiors, opting for moody shades of navy blue and deep green within the bedrooms. Furnishings introduce brighter colours into the suites, including a velvet-upholstered orange sofa.
    Find out more about The Sister Hotel ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring accent walls, bookshelves and terracotta tiles.

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    Ten living spaces that are punctuated by saturated primary colours

    Our latest lookbook compiles residential living rooms that have been given an air of playfulness through their use of the three primary colours.

    In design, the primary colours are yellow, blue and red. They usually appear in this context as strong cobalt blues, vivid sunshine yellows and intense fire-engine reds.
    This trio of colours is prevalent throughout design history and can be seen in paintings by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian and suspended mobiles by American sculptor Alexander Calder.
    They are often used when designing products for children due to the visually stimulating nature of their bright, dense hues.
    In interior design, they have a similarly invigorating effect, whether applied directly to structural elements such as walls and columns or found in soft furnishings and accessories.

    They primary colours help to bring energy into living areas both when used in isolation and when appearing in tandem with one another.
    This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring four-poster beds, split-level living areas and colourful bathrooms.
    Photo by Paolo FuscoRetroscena apartment, Italy, by La Macchina Studio
    Vibrant pops of blue, yellow and red are set against a neutral backdrop of white walls and terrazzo stone floors in the living room of this mid-century one-bedroom apartment in Rome.
    The space represents the distilled interior scheme devised by Italian architecture practice La Macchina Studio that characterises the apartment, which is also home to floor-to-ceiling citrus-toned curtains and bright blue doorways.
    Find out more about Retroscena ›
    Photo by José HeviaHouse in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Spain, by Arquitectura-G
    A monochromatic red colour scheme dominates both the exterior and interior of this rural house near Barcelona designed by Spanish design studio Arquitectura-G.
    The split-level living space features a rhythm of striking red-painted columns and ceiling-height cupboard doors combined with rosy clay tiles.
    Find out more about House in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor ›
    Photo by Will PryceRed House, UK, by David Kohn Architects
    Red House in Dorset, England, was given its name by David Kohn Architects in reference to its red brick facade, however, splashes of the colour also appear throughout its eclectic interior.
    Primary coloured furnishings – including a blue rug and footstool, red wall hanging and yellow upholstered armchair – are dotted around the living space, offset by white-painted cinderblock walls and warm wooden accents.
    Find out more about Red House ›
    Photo by The Fishy ProjectOut of the Blue, India, by The Act of Quad
    Renovated by Mumbai-based studio The Act of Quad, this apartment in the Indian city of Thane is defined by its consistent use of cobalt blue in an otherwise neutral interior.
    Soothing splashes of the colour appear in pieces of bespoke furniture – including hemispherical and spherical inclusions on light fittings and tables – and line the inside of a wall-mounted drinks cabinet.
    Find out more about Out of the Blue ›
    Photo by Jesper WestblomApartment renovation, Sweden, by Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor
    The full trio of primary colours is used across this apartment in Stockholm by local practice Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor.
    Blue, yellow and red are seen in both full saturation and muted hues on walls, ceilings, soft furnishings and furniture, creating a colourful yet cohesive interior.
    Find out more about apartment renovation ›
    Photo is by José HeviaApartment renovation, Spain, by Arquitectura-G
    Spanish studio Arquitectura-G used a colour palette governed by shades of yellow in its refurbishment of this apartment in Barcelona.
    The living space contains a sunny yellow modular sofa and matching kitchenette, with the spaces united by a backdrop of small golden wall tiles, a honey-coloured wooden floor and white plasterwork.
    Find out more about this apartment renovation ›
    Photo by Johanna LinkFàng Sōng, Germany, by Crossboundaries
    Beijing-based architecture practice Crossboundaries reconfigured the interior of a houseboat moored in Berlin, which features modular furniture and storage solutions all finished in either red or yellow in reference to the Chinese imperial colours.
    An adaptable living area onboard contains a lemon-yellow sofa that folds away to support a double bed, as well as a cantilevered desk integrated into a wall panel that can be stowed away when not in use.
    Find out more about Fàng Sōng ›
    Photo by Yiannis Hadjiaslanis and Point SupremeIlioupoli Apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme
    Graphic primary-coloured details are scattered around this 56-square-metre subterranean apartment in Athens renovated by local architecture studio Point Supreme.
    The rough concrete walls and ceilings of the small living area are contrasted by red items – including a bench and window panes – as well as a trio of deep blue flags suspended in the entryway.
    Find out more about Ilioupoli Apartment ›
    Photo by Mattias HamrénFunction Walls, Sweden, by Lookofsky Architecture
    This apartment in Stockholm, which was renovated by local studio Lookofsky Architecture, is designed around a multifunctional wall that snakes through the interior.
    In the living area, the zesty yellow structure contains a sofa snuggled inside an extruded frame, accompanied by integrated shelving and matching golden upholstery.
    Find out more about Function Walls ›
    Photo by Prue RuscoePolychrome House, Australia, by Amber Road and Lymesmith
    Australian design studio Amber Road worked with colour consultants Lymesmith on this house in suburban Sydney, which is charactertised by its excessive use of colour.
    The aptly named Polychrome House is finished in a kaleidoscopic spectrum of colours, including in its living room where a wall mural of abstract shapes featuring red, blue and yellow is echoed by red and blue seating.
    Find out more about Polychrome House ›
    This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring four-poster beds, split-level living areas and colourful bathrooms.

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    Eight earthy kitchens where terracotta tiles add warmth and tactility

    For this lookbook, we’ve collated eight kitchens from Dezeen’s archive that use terracotta tiling to bring a sense of warmth into the functional space.

    Terracotta – meaning baked earth in Italian – technically refers to any object made from fired clay. But most commonly, the term is used to describe pottery made from a porous type of earthenware clay that is high in iron oxides, giving it a rusty reddish brown colour.
    Unlike ceramic stoneware or porcelain, terracotta is fired at lower temperatures so it does not vitrify – meaning the clay retains a coarse, organic texture and isn’t waterproof unless it is glazed.
    Used as a backsplash or flooring, this can bring some much-needed colour and texture into the kitchen while helping to create a connection to the outdoors.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring accent walls, bookshelves and sunken baths.

    Photo by Prue RuscoeBudge Over Dover, Australia, by YSG
    Australian studio YSG used narrow terracotta tiles to “draw the outside in” to this house in Sydney, spilling from the floor of the garden patio onto the adjacent kitchen and dining area, which can be opened up to the exterior using sliding glass doors.
    The rough clay is paired with shiny aubergine-coloured plaster and travertine in the sunken living room beyond, creating a contrast between raw and polished surfaces.
    Find out more about Budge Over Dover ›
    Photo by Mariell Lind HansenFarley Farmhouse, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
    When Emil Eve Architects added a gabled kitchen to a farmhouse in Wiltshire, the British studio set out to mirror the material palette of the existing home by adding arrowhead terracotta tiles to the extension’s exterior.
    Inside, matching rectangular tiles were laid in a herringbone pattern on the floor while a row of clay pendant lights hang from the wooden roof beams.
    Find out more about Farley Farmhouse ›
    Photo by Denilson MachadoHygge Studio, Brazil, by Melina Romano
    Terracotta flooring and tan brick walls lend a “rustic charm” to this São Paulo apartment, designed by Brazilian designer Melina Romano.
    The tiles spill out across the entire home including the bedroom and lounge, which is framed by a screen made of decorative perforated cobogó blocks.
    Find out more about Hygge Studio ›
    Photo by José HeviaLas 3 Marías, Spain, by Bajet Giramé and Nicolas Burckhardt
    All-over terracotta flooring was one of the ways that Spanish studio Bajet Giramé found to connect the kitchen of this 1960s holiday home to its generous backyard, alongside the addition of generous arched openings and perforated steel doors.
    “We ended up working on the whole plot, treating both house and garden as a playful matrix of varied interconnected rooms,” the studio told Dezeen.
    Find out more about Las 3 Marías ›
    Photo by Adrià GoulaLa Odette, Spain, CRÜ
    To create a bright, open floor plan inside this apartment in a Barcelona housing block that dates back to 1877, Spanish studio CRÜ tore down most of the internal petition walls
    Instead, the kitchen is now delineated by a statement wall clad in terracotta tiles – left over from the flooring and turned back-to-front to reveal their ribbed underside.
    Find out more about La Odette ›

    West Bend House, Australia, by Brave New Eco
    Three kinds of tiling provide textural interest inside the kitchen of this “forever home” in Melbourne, with sections of rustic terracotta contrasted against a backsplash of teal-glazed ceramics.
    Corrugated tiles were also folded around the pendant light above the island that illuminates the work area, courtesy of Australian lighting brand Southdrawn.
    Find out more about West Bend House ›
    Photo by Conrad BrownComo Taperia, Canada, by Ste Marie
    Both the seating area and the open kitchen of this Spanish tapas bar in Vancouver were lined with terracotta, in a nod to the brick chimneys of Barcelona’s industrial Poble Sec power station.
    Other Catalan references can be found in the restaurant’s cobalt blue accents – informed by the paintings of Joan Miró – and various abstract details that nod to the work of architect Antoni Gaudí.
    Find out more about Como Taperia ›
    Photo by German SáizConde Duque apartment, Spain, by Sierra + De La Higuera
    Different spaces in this open-plan apartment in Madrid were defined by traditional Moroccan zellige tiles, with glossy yellow and green glazes and organic handcrafted surfaces.
    To balance out these flashier surfaces, terracotta was used to ground the kitchen and dining area, paired with plain white walls and custom timber joinery.
    Find out more about Conde Duque apartment ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring accent walls, bookshelves and sunken baths.

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    Eight living spaces with industrial Crittal-style windows

    Industrial-looking living spaces with Crittal-style windows and doors are the focus of this lookbook, which includes an apartment in Israel and a rural Chinese house.

    Crittal-style windows and doors are characterised by their gridded metal frames, traditionally made of steel with a bold black finish.
    They are modelled on the iconic Crittal windows by ironmonger Francis Henry Crittall, which were developed in the late-19th century and became a feature in many art deco and modernist buildings.
    Today they are seeing a resurgence in popularity, with their clean graphic lines bringing an industrial quality to contemporary homes around the world.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring striking accent walls, stylish bookshelves and tranquil sunken baths.

    Photo is by Felix MooneeramGhost House, UK, by BPN Architects
    This double-height Crittall-style window doubles as the wall to an open-plan living and dining room in an industrial concrete house in Warwickshire, England.
    It is one of several steel-framed windows that enclose the home, which was designed by BPN Architects to have an “ethereal presence” – leading to it being named Ghost House.
    Find out more about Ghost House ›
    Photo is by 181Tel Aviv apartment, Israel, by Maayan Zusman and Amir Navon
    Interior designer Maayan Zusman and architect Amir Navon opted for gridded black window frames when renovating this apartment in Tel Aviv.
    Complemented by other delicate black furnishings, the windows form part of a wider design strategy that centred on creating an interior that felt “airy yet framed”.
    Find out more about the Tel Aviv apartment ›
    Photo is by Wu Yong-ChangReturning Hut, China, by Xu Fu-Min
    The Returning Hut is a two-storey home just outside the city of Xiamen in China, designed by Xu Fu-Min to offer their client a peaceful retreat where they can connect with nature.
    Among its key features is an open living room with a giant wall of glazing. Lined with gridded metal frames, it slides open to create a seamless connection to the garden. 
    Find out more about Returning Hut ›
    Photo is by Johan DehlinDitton Hill House, UK, by Surman Weston
    Surman Weston honoured its “client’s love for all things industrial” when creating the Ditton Hill House, a London residence with an exposed steel frame that nods to mock-Tudor homes nearby.
    This steel framework enabled the studio to create spacious, column-free interiors, such as this open-plan living area. Here, Crittal-style windows overlook the garden and are paired with exposed steel floor decks for a warehouse-like aesthetic.
    Find out more about Ditton Hill House ›
    Photo is by Greta RybusLittle Peak, USA, by Berman Horn Studio
    Black gridded windows and doors puncture the facade of Little Peak, a holiday home that the founders of Berman Horn Studio, Maria Berman and Brad Horn, built themselves on an island in Maine.
    According to the duo, they were chosen for their industrial look and to help “bring focus onto the textures and colours of the stone, huckleberry, bay and lichen that surround the house”.
    Find out more about Little Peak ›
    Photo is by Ståle EriksenBurnt House, UK, by Will Gamble Architects
    These Crittal-style windows and doors help to create a minimalist aesthetic for the Burnt House, a residential extension that Will Gamble Architects has modelled on a Japanese tea house.
    They are intended to evoke a shoji screen and were complemented by a large window seat finished in blackened wood that sits up against the glazing.
    Find out more about Burnt House ›
    Photo is by Trieu ChienBinh Thuan House, Vietnam, by MIA Design Studio
    MIA Design Studio used white gridded frames on the sliding doors at the Binh Thuan House in Vietnam.
    The steel frames were complemented by its industrial all-white structure, which is modular and designed for easy modification or expansion in the future.
    Find out more about Binh Thuan House ›
    Photo is by William AbranowiczHarrison Residence, USA, by Jeffrey Dungan Architects
    These black Crittal-style windows form the focal point of the living space at the Harrison Residence, a home in Florida designed by Jeffrey Dungan Architects.
    Framing the surrounding tall trees, the windows help bring colour into the otherwise monochrome interior, which features black shelving and a coffee table, and white walls and sofas.
    Find out more about Harrison Residence ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring striking stylish bookshelves and tranquil sunken baths.

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    Eight eclectic interiors enhanced by striking accent walls

    Blotchy slate tiles, playfully patterned murals and a single oversized circle form these eye-catching interior accent walls that we have collected for our latest lookbook.

    An accent or feature wall is one that differs in colour, material or texture from the other walls that surround it. Accent walls can feature in both interior and exterior locations.
    Architects and designers often use these statement walls to delineate different spaces in a room, or simply to create striking and joyful interior details.
    From a New York apartment to a Helsinki teahouse, here are eight eclectic interiors defined by eye-catching accent walls.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring offbeat bakeries, inviting entrance halls and homes with split-level living areas.

    Photo is by A AvdeenkoHeat 360, Ukraine, by Azovskiy & Pahomova Architects
    This house in the Dnepropetrovsk region of Ukraine features a bedroom with a dark slate-tile wall defined by dramatic rust blotches.
    Azovskiy & Pahomova Architects made the adjacent wall from floor-to-ceiling glazing that illuminates the room’s earthy-hued interiors.
    Find out more about Heat 360 ›
    Photo is by Prue RuscoePolychrome House, Australia, by Amber Road and Lymesmith
    An abstract mural packed with colourful geometric shapes covers one of the walls in the living space at Polychrome House in Sydney.
    The bold interiors are enhanced by graphic paved floors and a mismatch of bright furniture in hues ranging from burnt orange to sea green.
    Find out more about Polychrome House ›
    Photo is by Dylan ChandlerNew York apartment, USA, by Harry Nuriev and Tyler Billinger
    Designer Harry Nuriev and partner Tyler Billinger – both of Crosby Studios – renovated their New York home with Nuriev’s “signature boldness”.
    A white-tiled accent wall features in the otherwise colourful bedroom, which features a plush gold-lame headboard and ultraviolet elements including a hand-shaped bedside lamp.
    Find out more about this New York apartment ›
    Photo is by Aleksi TikkalaTeemaa, Finland, by Yatufo
    A combination of traditional flat bricks and grooved bricks comes together in the tasting room of Helsinki’s Teemaa teahouse to create an eclectic accent wall.
    Design studio Yatufo aimed to reference the raw tactility of tea leaves when creating the interiors, which are also characterised by elements of oak and oxidised steel.
    Find out more about Teemaa ›
    Photo is by José HeviaCasa A12, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil
    The white floors and sheets in the bedroom suite at Casa A12 form a neutral backdrop for a large cobalt blue dot circle that creates a playful feature wall.
    Local studio Lucas y Hernández-Gil added various other space-delineating accents to the Madrid apartment, including swathes of silvery curtains and corrugated metal partitions.
    Find out more about Casa A12 ›
    Photo is by Serhii KadulinShkrub, Ukraine, by Sergey Makhno
    Built by architect Sergey Makhno for him and his family, the Shkrub house includes a feature wall made up of rows of rounded ceramic tiles that resemble jumbo fish scales.
    These were made from several types of clay finish that were usually mixed with flax seeds, rye and wheat in accordance with Ukrainian traditions.
    Find out more about Shkrub ›
    Photo is by David MitchellChelsea Pied-à-Terre, USA, by Stadt Architecture
    Decadence takes centre stage at this renovated New York apartment in the form of a green bedroom mural that is “dripping” with globules of gold paint.
    Covering an entire wall and moving up into the ceiling, the design was created by Brooklyn-based Calico Wallpaper and references the lush nature of Vancouver’s Stanley Park – a location that is meaningful to the dwelling’s Canadian occupants.
    Find out more about Chelsea Pied-à-Terre ›
    Photo is by Alexandria Hall582 Rydon Street, London, by Moxon Architects
    British studio Moxon Architects renovated a Victorian townhouse in north London’s Islington area by adding a sunken garden and minimalist interiors.
    Throughout the home, subtle reminders of its early 19th-century history were inserted into the design. These include a floral gridded feature wall in the primary bedroom.
    Find out more about 582 Rydon Street ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring offbeat bakeries, inviting entrance halls and homes with split-level living areas.

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    Eight homes with beautiful and practical bookshelves

    For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight homes where stylish wall-mounted and built-in bookshelves add storage and visual interest.

    For book lovers, storage can quickly become a problem. But well-designed shelves can solve this issue and simultaneously function as a decorative detail.
    This lookbook showcases practical bookshelves from across the globe, including custom-made steel shelving in Chicago and a floor-to-ceiling wooden bookcase in Shanghai.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with sunken baths, bedrooms with regal four-poster beds and interiors with natural materials and timeless accents.
    Photo by Tom Rossiter PhotographyResidence for Two Collectors, US, by Wheeler Kearns Architects

    Local studio Wheeler Kearns Architects designed this Chicago home for two art collectors to have enough space for their extensive collection.
    In the penthouse’s living room, a custom-made shelf in patinated steel with its own circular staircase takes up almost an entire wall. This is filled not just with books but also with various artworks in wood and clay.
    Find out more about Residence for Two Collectors ›
    Photo by Imagen SubliminalHouse 6, Spain, by Zooco Estudio
    Bookshelves span two levels of this flat in Mallorca, designed by Spanish studio Zooco Estudio. Colourful book covers contrast against the white shelving unit, which rises up from the ground floor.
    “As a unifying element, a shelf rises colonising both living and lobby spaces,” the studio said. “This way we integrate aesthetic and functionality in one single element.”
    Find out more about House 6 ›

    Pedro Reyes House, Mexico, by Pedro Reyes
    The Mexico City home of sculptor Pedro Reyes and fashion designer Carla Fernandez is filled with sculptural details including a double-height staircase and a library made from coarse concrete.
    The concrete is left exposed both here and throughout the rest of the house, which takes cues from the city’s modernist and brutalist buildings, including examples by Luis Barragán.
    Find out more about Pedro Reyes House ›
    Photo by Santiago Barrio and Shen Zhong HaiLibrary Home, China, by Atelier Tao+C
    This Shanghai apartment, located in the ISS Normandy Apartments designed by Hungarian-Slovak architect László Hudec in 1924, is almost completely lined with bookshelves.
    The wooden storage matches the flat’s parquet flooring and contrasts with the white marble staircase in the living area, where a wine fridge adds to the relaxed feel of the room.
    Find out more about Library Home ›
    Photo by Adam ScottA Cloistered House, UK, by Turner Architects
    When Turner Architects renovated this Georgian terraced house in south London, the British studio was careful to restore the building’s original features while still keeping it modern.
    Built-in shelves filled with books add a splash of sage green to the living room, where a cosy mustard-yellow sofa creates an inviting reading spot.
    Find out more about A Cloistered House ›
    Photo by Lorenzo ZandriFarleigh Road House, UK, by Paolo Cossu Architects
    A smooth wooden bookshelf lines the wall and connects to a chunky wooden staircase inside Farleigh Road House in east London, designed by local studio Paolo Cossu Architects.
    Its deep shelves provide space for books as well as magazines, plants, vases and lamps.
    Find out more about Farleigh Road House ›
    Photo by Rafael GamoCuernavaca House, Mexico, by Tapia McMahon
    Inside this family home in Mexico City, a huge timber bookcase adds a warm feel to the concrete walls.
    “Large timber bookshelves and a kitchen assembly mimic furniture installations and help to break up the use of fair-faced concrete walls and slabs throughout,” architecture studio Tapia McMahon said.
    Find out more about Cuernavaca House ›

    Charlotte Road warehouse, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
    The living room inside this apartment in a former warehouse in Shoreditch, east London, features a built-in wooden bookcase that complements the exposed wooden beams in the ceiling.
    Reaching all the way up to the ceiling, the oak shelving was designed to add to the warm material palette of the brick-and-timber building.
    Find out more about Charlotte Road warehouse ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with sunken baths, bedrooms with regal four-poster beds and interiors with natural materials and timeless accents.

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    Eight inspirational bathrooms with tranquil sunken baths

    For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight bathrooms with decorative sunken baths that create a relaxing atmosphere.

    Sunken baths are bathtubs that have been sunk into the bathroom floor, decks or patios. They can help to save space in the bathroom and to create a luxurious spa-like feeling.
    In this lookbook, we’ve gathered inspirational sunken bathtubs in homes from South Korea to Ukraine, including a peaceful sunken bath on a wood patio and a bath clad in green tiles.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring offbeat bakeries, minimalist Tokyo apartments and interiors with natural materials and timeless accents.
    Photo by Rohan VennSydney extension, Australia, by Emily Sandstrom

    Architect Emily Sandstrom’s extension to a 1930s bungalow in Sydney includes a bathtub that was sunk below floor level.
    Clad in small black and grey tiles, the bath was informed by Japanese bathing rituals and also has timber decking that covers the drainage points for an overhead shower. Glass sliding doors provide restful garden views.
    Find out more about the Sydney extension ›
    Photo by Casey DunnThe Preston Hollow, US, by Specht Architects
    The Preston Hollow was designed to reference brutalist architecture and its clean concrete lines are visible in the interior, too, including in the minimalist bathroom.
    Here, a sunken bathtub blends into the wood floor. Marble details and a sculptural chair add decorative, organic touches to the spartan space.
    Find out more about The Preston Hollow ›
    Photo by Rob MaverBruny Island Cabin, Australia, by Maguire + Devin
    This wood-lined off-grid cabin in Tasmania comes with two decks to let the owner enjoy both the sunset and the sunrise. The western deck, which provides views of the sunset, has a cosy, sunken outdoor bathtub.
    The tub can be hidden under removable decking panels when it is not in use.
    Find out more about Bruny Island Cabin ›
    Photo by Texture on TextureNuwa guesthouse, South Korea, by Z_Lab
    This tiny guesthouse (above and main image) in Seoul, South Korea, is located in a small alley in the city’s Seochon neighbourhood. Inside, the serene living spaces are finished in neutral colours.
    The living space features a long walnut table with a rough stone base. Next to it sits a sunken bath in which guests can wash their feet.
    Find out more about Nuwa guesthouse ›
    Photo by José HeviaPalma hideaway, Spain, by Mariana de Delás
    In the all-white bathroom of this Spanish apartment, the floor has been raised in order to accommodate a sunken bath that was lined with green tiles also used elsewhere in the project.
    A white marble sink and a couple of green plants add decorative details.
    Find out more about Palma hideaway ›
    Photo by Andrey AvdeenkoFamily apartment, Ukraine, by Sergey Makhno
    Japanese influences were blended with Ukrainian design in this family flat in Kyiv, Ukraine.
    A bathroom with a sunken bath and garden views is divided from the main bedroom by a gridded Crittall-style glass wall. A small bonsai tree on the floor and a stone sink create a natural feel in the bathroom.
    Find out more about the family apartment ›

    Sydney cottage, Australia, by Panovscott
    The bathroom inside this Australian cottage extension has four alcoves in different sizes and walls and floors made from compressed cement.
    A sunken bath made from a single piece of concrete is merged into the floor.
    Find out more about the Sydney cottage ›
    Photography by Radu PalicicaSunken Bath, UK, by Studio 304
    This glazed bathroom, called Sunken Bath, was added to a Victorian terraced house in east London by local designers Studio 304.
    The bathing area is enclosed by glass walls and a glass roof and features a sunken bath designed to follow the Japanese ritual of bathing.
    Find out more about the Sunken Bath ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring offbeat bakeries, minimalist Tokyo apartments and interiors with natural materials and timeless accents.

    Read more: More