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      Eight open-plan living areas with mix-and-match flooring

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      This lookbook collects eight homes with spacious open-plan interiors, where different floor designs have been used to subtly define areas for cooking, dining and lounging.

      Open-plan interiors are an enduring trend in residential design, used most commonly to blend kitchen and living spaces and create a social heart for the home.
      However, this is now competing with an increase in homeowners opting for broken-plan layouts that cater to different activities and bring more variety to their interiors.
      In this roundup, we explore the middle ground: open-plan rooms where mix-and-match flooring is used to softly demarcate kitchens, dining and living areas, visually reducing the size of the space without truncating it.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring discreet lifts, concrete bathrooms and non-boring beige home interiors.

      Photo is by Mariela ApollonioCas 8 House, Spain, by DG Arquitecto
      A decorative range of mosaic tiles is used across the floors of Cas 8 House, a 1920s penthouse in Valencia that was recently modernised by local studio DG Arquitecto.
      As part of the project, the studio created an open-plan living area with an integrated kitchen. Here, the tiles help to set apart zones for lounging and food preparation, without breaking up the room.
      Find out more about Cas 8 House ›
      Photo is by Nicholas WorleyHackney House, UK, by Applied Studio
      London architect Applied Studio used mix-and-match chevron flooring in the rear extension of this house in Hackney, where two different finishes help divide the space.
      On one side, black granite tiles outline the kitchen area, complemented by jet-black timber cabinetry. The opposite side of the room, which is used for dining, is lined with wooden planks teamed with white walls and matching furnishings.
      Find out more about Hackney House ›
      Photo is by Roberto RuizKlinker Apartment, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture
      Colour-blocking marks out different spaces in the Klinker Apartment, which Serboli Architecture created within the shell of a fire-damaged residence in Barcelona.
      In the open-plan living area, a terracotta-hued strip of micro-cement flooring decorates the kitchen, which has a matching ceiling, splashback and cabinetry that is contrasted with a neutral tiled lounge area.
      Find out more about Klinker Apartment ›
      Photo is by José HeviaVillarroel, Spain, by Raúl Sánchez Architects
      This open-plan cooking, dining and sitting area in the Villarroel apartment is divided into two sections by the flooring, which marries grey-coloured stone slabs with warm wood.
      This reflects architecture studio Raúl Sánchez Architects’ overall design strategy for the home, which was to arrange it into zones without partition walls, opting for “material codes” that distinguish rooms from one another instead.
      Find out more about Villarroel ›
      Photo is by Trieu ChienMài Apartment, Vietnam, by Whale Design Lab
      Chunky white-marble terrazzo is teamed with smooth cement for the flooring of this monolithic, multi-purpose room in the Mài Apartment in Ho Chi Minh City.
      The graphic terrazzo used for the kitchen and food preparation area also covers its cabinets and worksurfaces, making the area feel like its own room despite opening out into the dining area.
      Find out more about Mài Apartment ›
      Photo is by Tim Van de VeldeHouse Mellinet, Belgium, by Atelier Fréderic Louis
      Architecture studio Atelier Fréderic Louis opted for a more subtle terrazzo for the floor in the kitchen of House Mellinet, which shares the same room as the dining area.
      While the terrazzo gives a functional feel to the kitchen, the dining area adjacent has wooden parquet flooring that establishes a warmer and more intimate atmosphere more suited to gathering at the dinner table.
      Find out more about House Mellinet ›
      Photo is by is by Jan VranovskyNagatachō Apartment, Japan, by Adam Nathaniel Furman
      Designer Adam Nathaniel Furman designed the colourful Nagatachō Apartment in Tokyo as a “visual feast”, with open-plan rooms that are filled with an eclectic mix of colours, patterns and textures.
      At the heart of the plan is a candy-pink kitchen suite, which is finished with watermelon-green vinyl flooring. It connects to a sitting room with a contrasting soft lilac carpet that “looks like icing”.
      Find out more about Nagatachō Apartment ›
      Photo is by David FoesselApartment in Paris by Septembre Architecture
      Sleek poured-concrete flooring is juxtaposed with rustic wooden planks in this large, light-filled multi-purpose room, which is located in a renovated Parisian apartment.
      The concrete is used to mark out the kitchen area, which is overlooked by a lounge and dining space with Les Arcs chairs by architect Charlotte Perriand and a statement Tulip table by architect Eero Saarinen.
      Find out more about this apartment in Paris ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring discreet lifts, concrete bathrooms and non-boring beige home interiors.

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      Seven homes with discrete cleverly designed lifts

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      A converted showroom in London and a São Paulo penthouse with a wood-wrapped elevator are included in this lookbook of homes with smart residential lifts.

      Lifts, also known as elevators, are mechanical shafts that carry people, cars and loads between multiple levels and are typically used in tall buildings.
      But they can also be found in residential buildings, where they can be used to quickly move between floors and ensure that people with mobility issues can easily access the different levels of their homes.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring beige interiors, cosy cabins, space-saving pocket doors.
      Photo is by Ema PeterSyncline, Canada, by Omar Gandhi Architect

      Canadian architecture firm Omar Gandhi Architects built this three-storey home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The home was named after a syncline – a type of rock formation – and comprises two white volumes that flank a double-height glazed core at its centre.
      A lift was added to the home and set within locally-sourced spruce housing. This elevator is located at the corner of the home and leads to its open-plan kitchen from behind a white door.
      Find out more about Syncline ›
      Photo is by Masao NishikawaEspirit House, Japan, by Apollo Architects & Associates 
      Espirit House was designed by Japanese architecture studio Apollo Architects & Associates for a client who works in landscaping.
      The main bulk of the home has a blocky concrete form and is suspended above a garage. An elevator leads to the interior of the home,  where it is located next to the staircase in the main dining area. Floor-to-ceiling windows flank each side of the home, bringing light to the wood-clad interior.
      Find out more about Espirit House ›
      Photo is by Joe FletcherCole Valley Residence, US, by Jensen Architects
      Completed by San Francisco-based practice Jensen Architects, this home was built for a couple who wanted a home with a serene feel that had views of San Francisco.
      Totalling five storeys, the home is composed of a number of stacked boxes with cantilevered areas. Jensen Architects added a simplistic interior palette of white oak, plaster and polished concrete.
      An elevator was added to the home so that its owners can enjoy the space and its views as they age. On the fourth floor, it is located within a white-painted volume and opens up towards an outdoor terrace.
      Find out more about Cole Valley Residence ›
      Photo is by Fran ParenteSão Paulo penthouse, Brazil, by Tria Arquitectura
      At this São Paulo penthouse, which was designed by Brazilian studio Tria Arquitectura, an elevator shaft was wrapped in vertical strips of slatted wood.
      Other textural materials were used throughout the home, including travertine floors, fabric and wood-panelled walls, which contrast against the home’s stark white walls.
      Find out more about São Paulo penthouse ›
      Photo is by Rachael SmithDanish Mews House, UK, by Neil Dusheiko
      In this west London home that was converted from a showroom to a residence for its elderly owners, British architect Neil Duskeiko installed a lift so that its residents could gain access to the upper floors of the home with ease.
      The elevator runs from the ground floor to the living area and finally to the primary bedroom, which was decorated with floral wallpaper. The elevator has a wooden door with a decorative grain that matches the ceiling.
      Find out more about Danish Mews House ›
      Photo is by Kyle MonkCase Room, US, by Geoffrey von Oeyen
      A glass door fronted elevator was added to the ground and first floor of this Malibu home that was designed by American designer Geoffrey von Oeyen.
      Von Oeyen extended the home and incorporated a paired back interior palette that was comprised of light wood panelling, dark stone floors and white walls. The elevator, which is located to the right of the front entrance, allows visitors with limited mobility to easily access the home’s renovated media room.
      Find out more about Case Room ›
      Photo is by Stijn Poelstra FotografieAmsterdamsestraatweg Water Tower, the Netherlands, by Zecc Architecten
      A former water tower in Utrecht was converted into a series of apartments that have 360-degree views of the city. Dutch studio Zecc Architecten retrofitted the building and added the largest of its apartments, a six-level home, to its very peak.
      A private elevator, located within a white volume and beside a floating staircase, provides access to the six-floor apartment and opens out to an entrance space that features a rusted metal convexed ceiling constructed from the tower’s former water tank.
      Find out more about Utrecht Water Tower ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring beige interiors, cosy cabins, save-saving and pocket doors. 

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      Eight practical and beautiful concrete bathrooms around the world

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      Our latest lookbook explores eight bathrooms with striking concrete interiors, ranging from a Mexico City bathroom that also features a rough-hewn stone bathtub to a UK bathroom built around a “concrete sculpture”.

      Concrete is a practical choice for bathroom interiors since the material is water-resistant, hardwearing and easy to clean. It can also be a decorative option – the material has a rugged, industrial look that gives bathroom interiors a brutalist feel.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors that prove beige doesn’t have to be boring, tidy kitchens with slick storage solutions and save-saving pocket doors.
      Photo by Nicholas WorleyUntitled House, UK, by Szczepaniak Astridge
      This residential extension in south London was designed around a “concrete sculpture”, a concrete-walled void that travels through the house from the kitchen up to the bathroom.

      Here, concrete was poured in situ to form the foundations, floors, walls and ceilings. A monolithic bathtub, also made from concrete, adds to the brutalist feel of the bathroom.
      Find out more about Untitled House ›
      Photo by Givlio AristideCloister House, Australia, by MORQ
      The almost-windowless Cloister House in Perth surrounds a plant-filled courtyard and was designed to have a sense of privacy.
      Made from thick concrete, its interior walls only have thin, arrow-slit openings. In the home’s bathroom, the rammed-concrete finish of the walls was left exposed and softened with a floor made from wooden slats and a red hardwood ceiling.
      Find out more about Cloister House ›
      Photo by Radu PalicicaSunken Bath, UK, by Studio 304
      Sunken Bath is a glazed bathroom that local studio Studio 304 designed for a London flat to create space for Japanese ritual bathing – a relaxation practice.
      The shower and toilet are separated from the concrete bathtub, which is enclosed by glass walls and a glass roof and offers views of the peaceful bamboo-filled garden.
      Find out more about Sunken Bath ›
      Photo by Gilbert McCarragherHouse and Studio Lambeth, UK, by Carmody Groarke
      Architecture office Carmody Groarke designed House and Studio Lambeth to slot inside the fabric of an old warehouse. Its design combines a brick “skin” with a smooth concrete interior.
      A concrete bathroom unit finished with a large shadow gap underneath the ceiling divides one of the home’s four bedrooms. This is contrasted with a decorative marble sink and copper-hued taps and details.
      Find out more about House and Studio Lambeth ›
      Photo by Maxime BrouilletUnit 622, Canada, by Rainville Sangaré
      Moshe Safdie’s famous brutalist Habitat 67 in Montreal is home to this apartment, which is one of 158 homes in 354 stacked, prefabricated concrete “boxes”.
      Its bathroom features a shower fronted by dichroic glass that changes colour depending on which angle it’s viewed from. Vertical concrete wall tiles were designed in a nod to the brutalist building’s structure.
      Find out more about Unit 622 ›
      Photo by Edmund SumnerPedro Reyes House, Mexico, by Pedro Reyes and Carla Fernandez
      This Mexico City home was made primarily from concrete, applied in varying degrees of coarseness, and was designed for and by a Mexican sculptor and fashion designer.
      In the bathroom, the sink was moulded into a shape that resembles pottery and the bathtub is made from stone to look like a rock pool. The rough-hewn shapes match the rough feel of the concrete walls and ceiling.
      Find out more about Pedro Reyes House ›
      Photo by BoysPlayNiceArt Villa, Costa Rica, by Formafatal and Refuel Works
      The Art Villa is nestled into the Costa Rican jungle and was designed to reference the tropical landscape and buildings by architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, which are known for their monolithic concrete forms.
      The concrete walls and ceilings in its bathroom match the large stone bathtub and contrast the wood used for the floor. Large floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the verdant countryside.
      Find out more about Art Villa ›
      Photo by Amy Barkow S-M-L Loft, US, by BC–OA
      Located in a cast-iron building dating from 1880 in New York’s Soho district, the S-M-L Loft draws on its past as a warehouse.
      The functional, industrial vibe of the flat can also be seen in the bathroom, which has solid walnut millwork paired with raw concrete panels and white porcelain tiles.
      Find out more about S-M-L Loft ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors that prove beige doesn’t have to be boring, tidy kitchens with slick storage solutions and save-saving pocket doors.

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      Eight neutral home interiors that prove beige doesn't have to be boring

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      A residence for retirees in Tel Aviv and a stripped-back Barbican apartment by minimalist architect John Pawson feature in this lookbook of beige interiors designed to bring a sense of calm into the home.

      To compensate for their desaturated colour palette, these spaces rely on a varied material palette – ranging from pale timbers and limestone to textured plaster – in order to add visual and tactile interest.
      Accompanied by plenty of storage, this helps to create peaceful, decluttered spaces even in tight urban areas.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring cosy cabins, save-saving pocket doors and Spanish apartment renovations with eclectic tiles.
      Photo by Ståle EriksenDollis Hill Avenue, UK, by Thomas-McBrien

      British architecture firm Thomas-McBrien used pale bricks and whitewashed oak joinery to create a “calm and relaxing” atmosphere inside this house extension in London’s Dollis Hill.
      In the pursuit of continuity, the timber was used to line everything from the kitchen cupboards and the floors to a newly added partition wall, which conceals a hidden utility room on one side and forms a cosy reading nook on the other.
      Find out more about Dollis Hill Avenue ›
      Photo courtesy of Makhno StudioMureli House, Ukraine, by Makhno Studio
      Completed just two months before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this home near Kyiv was designed to celebrate Ukrainian craft traditions and is finished almost entirely in beige.
      “All materials in the home are natural,” architect Serhii Makhno told Dezeen. “The team used almost all Ukrainian brands and worked with several local contractors to minimise the distance and logistics.”
      Find out more about Mureli House ›
      Photo by Mikaela BurstowIceberg apartment, Israel, by Laila Architecture
      Israeli architect Talia Davidi of Laila Architecture used only pale, muted colours when designing this apartment in Tel Aviv, with the aim of turning it into a calm refuge for its retired owners.
      To form a brighter, more open floor plan, almost all of the home’s partition walls were removed, while many of the surfaces – including the kitchen and the storage volume-cum-room divider in the living room – were finished in light birch plywood.
      Find out more about Iceberg apartment ›
      Barbican apartment designed by John PawsonBarbican apartment, UK, by John Pawson
      In keeping with his typically minimalist style, British designer John Pawson stripped this Barbican apartment back to its bare bones, adding only a smattering of furnishings and pale surfaces all around.
      Full-height cupboards were integrated into a central timber volume made of bleached maple wood so that all belongings can be stowed away rather than cluttering the space.
      Find out more about the Barbican apartment ›
      Photo by Jonas Bjerre-PoulsenForest Retreat, Sweden, by Norm Architects
      Sandy-hued Dolomite plaster, plump greige sofas and a sheepskin-covered lounge chair were used to dress the living room of this traditional timber cabin in a Swedish forest, which Danish studio Norm Architects has converted into a pared-back holiday home.
      “Creating homes is often an exercise in restraint,” explained co-founder Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen. “And while the creation of a simple, authentic and welcoming space might seem effortless and natural once completed, the journey to simplicity and the exercise of finding essence is often rather complex and not an easy task.”
      Find out more about Forest Retreat ›
      Photo by Lorenzo Zandri and Christian BraileyLow Energy House, UK, by Architecture for London
      Architecture for London founder Ben Ridley aimed to celebrate the “modest beauty” of this three-floor Edwardian house in Muswell Hill when turning the neglected building into his own home.
      Instead of cement-based products, natural materials including limestone, lime plaster and timber were used throughout the scheme to emphasise the home’s original details while also lowering its embodied carbon footprint.
      Find out more about A Brutalist Tropical Home ›
      Photo by Do SyBrown Box apartment, Vietnam, by Limdim House Studio
      Creamy terrazzo features not just on the kitchen counters but spills out across all of the floors of this apartment in the Vietnamese port city of Huế, designed by local practice Limdim House Studio.
      Curving walls covered in textural plaster provide a backdrop for the interior’s restrained colour palette, which is warmed up with a handful of wooden furnishings to evoke a sense of quiet sophistication.
      Find out more about Brown Box apartment ›
      Photo by Salem MostefaouiWood Ribbon apartment, France, by Toledano + Architects
      A sinuous plywood wall snakes its way through this Haussmann-era apartment in Paris, forming integrated shelves in the sitting room and storage cupboards in the kitchen that can be pushed back to reveal the sink and appliances.
      The pale wood complements the apartment’s original parquet flooring and ornate plasterwork, paired with tonal furnishings including an oatmeal-coloured sofa in one room and a travertine island in the other.
      Find out more about Wood Ribbon apartment ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring cosy cabins, save-saving pocket doors and Spanish apartment renovations with eclectic tiles.

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      Eight tidy kitchens with slick storage solutions

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      As people’s interest in ultra-organised homes shows no signs of abating, we’ve collected eight clutter-free kitchens with smart storage solutions in our latest lookbook.

      Spearheaded by Japanese organisational guru Marie Kondo, well-organised interiors have become a global trend. In no room is this more evident than in the kitchen, where pantries are stocked up with decanted jam jars, spice racks are labelled and shelving units are customised to house specific utensils.
      The following projects, which range from compact apartments to home extensions, use hooks, nooks, racks, shelves, cubby holes and display units to create tidy kitchens where not a grain is out of place.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring Spanish apartment renovations, cosy cabins and interiors with statement carpets.
      Photo is by Edmund SumnerMap House, UK, by SAM Architects

      Paolo Vimercati and Melanie Schubert of SAM Architects demolished a garage hidden behind several listed buildings in south London in order to create this mews house for themselves.
      Designed to accommodate their “modern lifestyles”, the home’s interior is clad in vertical planks of charred larch and has plenty of open-plan spaces.
      The kitchen has pink, blue and orange plywood units that are filled with cooking books and glassware, while a pegboard display area is used to hang crockery.
      Find out more about Map House ›
      Photo is by Perry E HallFifth Avenue Kitchen, US, by Handwerk Art and Design
      Space-saving storage solutions can be found in Fifth Avenue Kitchen, a compact New York apartment created by interior design studio Handwerk Art and Design for a client who works in the film industry.
      Aiming to make the most of the 160-square-foot (15 square-metre) space, Handwerk retrofitted the kitchen with features including a pegboard wall for hanging mugs, aprons and other items.
      “Starting with a study of their cooking habits and spatial needs, we designed a set of custom cabinets for the whole kitchen that placed everything specifically and precisely,” said the studio.
      Find out more about Fifth Avenue Kitchen ›
      Photo is by Megan TaylorFruit Box, UK, by Nimtim Architects
      Plywood and planed softwood structures with square tiles characterise this playful galley kitchen designed by Nimtim Architects for a home extension project in Forest Hill, London.
      A kitchen island features a tiled waterfall countertop above a sink and shelving. The kitchen walls were designed to be filled in to increase privacy, or easily removed to maximise open space depending on the family’s future needs.
      Find out more about Fruit Box ›
      Photo is by Hey CheeseThe Family Playground, Taiwan, by HAO Design
      This family home in Taiwan was reorganised by studio HAO Design so that its occupants could spend more time with each other. In the kitchen, the parents are able to watch their children play games or listen to them play the piano while they are making dinner.
      High ceilings in the kitchen meant there was room for a large black steel storage rack to be hung above a white-tiled island. The cage-like storage system serves as a “visual focus” and can also be used to hold plants or kitchenware.
      Find out more about The Family Playground ›
      Photo is courtesy of Position CollectiveAir-BnP, Hungary, by Position Collective
      This former studio flat in Budapest was reorganised by Hungarian studio Position Collective to create an Airbnb property suitable for two guests. Rather than rearranging the layout – and mindful of the small budget – the studio installed a plywood furniture and storage system that caters to temporary occupants’ needs.
      In the kitchen, it features a modular pegboard storage wall with adjustable shelves to showcase different pieces of local Hungarian art books, home accessories and cooking equipment.
      Find out more about Air-BnP ›
      Photo is by Megan TaylorCurve Appeal, UK, by Nimtim Architects
      London studio Nimtim Architects transformed a 1920s semi-detached house in Southwark using multifunctional plywood partitions with arched openings and alcoves for storing belongings.
      A limited, neutral-toned material palette was employed in the kitchen, comprised of handmade terracotta floor tiles, laminated countertops and sustainably sourced plywood.
      Find out more about Curve Appeal ›
      Photo is by Richard ChiversMaison Pour Dodo, UK, by Studio Merlin
      For the revamp of a flat in Stoke Newington, British interior firm Studio Merlin added an abundance of storage to form serene, clutter-free living spaces.
      An opening in the living room connects the kitchen, where there’s a wall of deep-set IKEA cabinets with smokey blue door fronts and a seating nook. Above this, a series of pantry-style shelves means the owner can easily access jars of cooking ingredients.
      Find out more about Maison Pour Dodo ›
      Photo is by Cristobal PalmaPunta Chilen, Chile, by Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados
      Named after the peninsula of land that the residential complex sits on, this red home extension was constructed by Santiago-based architecture studio Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados using pine stilts.
      An open-plan room in the heart of the home is a communal space designed for cooking and eating. Large pine shelves filled with ornaments and tableware line the walls.
      Find out more about Punta Chilen ›
      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 sliding doors, earthy bedrooms with natural colours and kitchens with marble surfaces.

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      Ten Spanish apartment renovations characterised by eclectic tiles

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      For our latest lookbook, we have collected 10 apartments in Spain that have been brought to life using decorative tiles, from preserved 20th-century features to speckled contemporary terrazzo grout.

      Known for its abundance of colourful tiles, Spain has many period apartments with original details including ornate archways and eclectic tiling.
      The following architecture and interior design studios have made the most of these traditions when renovating homes, which often involved refreshing the homes’ interiors while maintaining their history, or adding contemporary elements that nod to the past.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring statement carpets, pop-up shops and homes with sliding doors.
      Photo is by José HeviaYurikago House, Barcelona, by Mas-aqui

      Architecture studio Mas-aqui opened up an apartment in Barcelona by creating multiple levels lined with slabs of exposed concrete, slatted wood and reddish ceramic tiles.
      The dwelling was named  Yurikago House after the Japanese word for a cradle, which references the shape of the timber structure that supports part of a new mezzanine that was created in the renovation.
      Find out more about Yurikago House ›
      Photo is by German SáizMadrid apartment by Sierra + De La Higuera
      Set within a 1940s building, interior spaces in this Madrid apartment were delineated with vibrantly hued Moroccan zellige tiles, from bold yellow accents in the living room to an emerald green kitchen.
      The tiles are defined by imperfect hand-moulded surfaces and feature throughout the home in the form of decorative skirting as well as flooring and cabinetry.
      Find out more about this Madrid apartment ›
      Photo is by Mariela ApollonioValencia apartment by DG Arquitecto
      During the minimalist renovation of a 1920s apartment in Valencia, local studio DG Arquitecto preserved the original mosaic elements – flooring that the firm called “typical” of the city.
      The studio paired mid-century rattan dining chairs and delicate timber elements with the colourful tiles while original mouldings and decorative arched doorways were also maintained.
      Find out more about this Valencia apartment ›
      Photo is by José Hevia1040 Unit, Madrid, by Studio Noju
      Working within Madrid’s iconic brutalist Torres Blancas tower, emerging practice Studio Noju created an apartment that balances contemporary details with the building’s brutalist history.
      Each of the dwelling’s three bathrooms were individually colour-coded with small geometric mosaics that nod to the green ceramic tiles that clad the apartment’s terraces.
      “The [mosaic] material allowed us to solve all the elements of the bathroom such as shower areas, vanities, walls and floors, referencing a similar material strategy used in the original design,” studio co-founder Antonio Mora told Dezeen.
      Find out more about 1040 Unit ›
      Image is courtesy of NarchBarcelona apartment by Narch
      Eclectically arranged decorative floors dating back to the early 20th century take centre stage in this Barcelona apartment that was renovated by Narch architecture office.
      Known as encaustic tiling, which is common in the city, each tile is created by pouring pigmented ceramics into moulds and pressing them to create a pattern.
      Elsewhere in the apartment, doors made from laminated glass screen off its bedrooms. This material was chosen for its neutrality in order to emphasise the space’s ornate flooring.
      Find out more about this Barcelona apartment ›
      Photo is by Asier RuaCasa Olivar, Madrid, by Matteo Ferrari and Carlota Gallo
      Casa Olivar is a two-storey apartment by designers Matteo Ferrari and Carlota Gallo, which is characterised by handmade terracotta floor tiles that complement the home’s muted colour palette.
      Created as a “sensorial refuge”, the dwelling includes two large windows in the living room that flood the space with natural light. Earthy-toned, simple materials feature throughout, including textured plaster finishes.
      Find out more about Casa Olivar ›
      Photo is by Judith Casas SayósBarcelona apartment by Parramon + Tahull
      Barcelona studio Parramon + Tahull added bespoke birch plywood joinery and continuous tiled flooring to an apartment in the city’s Gracia neighbourhood, in order to blend with the building’s original features.
      Created by Spanish manufacturer Wow, the terracotta tiles feature a mismatched geometric design that covers the entire apartment, including the kitchen and the bathroom.
      Find out more about this Barcelona apartment ›
      Photo is by José HeviaLaia and Biel’s House, Barcelona, by TEd’A
      Architecture office TEd’A used crushed tiles to create playful terrazzo grout in a renovated apartment that belongs to the owners of the Mallorcan tile brand Huguet.
      The grout was made from the original terracotta tiles that lined the home before its revamp, which were crushed into tiny pieces to form a reddish-hued aggregate that was mixed with existing white tile grout.
      “Our idea was to keep the best parts of the old flat we bought,” Biel told Dezeen, citing sustainability and honouring the apartment’s original design.
      Find out more about Laia and Biel’s House ›
      Photo is by Yago PartalEnd of the Roc, Barcelona, by Nook Architects
      Nook Architects redesigned another apartment in Barcelona while maintaining its distinctive historical details, including a striking mural-style wall that is over 40 years old, timber beams and intricately patterned floor tiles.
      “Our approach to End of the Roc revolved around the restoration and consolidation of the building’s original character,” said the architecture studio.
      Find out more about End of the Roc ›
      Photo is by Jordi FolchCasa Burés, Barcelona, by Vilablanch and TDB Arquitectura
      Interior design studio Vilablanch collaborated with TBD Arquitectura to refurbish all 26 apartments within Case Burés – a 20th-century building constructed by the late architect Francesc Berenguer i Mestres.
      The team selected “silent” contemporary furnishings to complement Case Burés’ original decorative features, such as stainless steel geometric cabinetry that was chosen so as not to “compete with” or “imitate” the colourful tiled flooring.
      Find out more about Casa Burés ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring statement carpets, pop-up shops and homes with sliding doors. 

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      Ten homes with space-saving pocket doors that disappear into the walls

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      Our latest lookbook explores homes where pocket doors slide into gaps within the walls, as a way of saving space or giving a more open feel to an interior.

      A pocket door is a specific type of sliding door designed to slot into a wall cavity. This means that when the door is open, it is completely hidden from view.
      For homes where an open-plan layout is desirable but not practical, pocket doors offer a viable alternative. When open they are almost invisible, allowing adjacent rooms to feel more connected.
      Pocket doors can also be used for rooms where there isn’t enough space for a door to open outwards, or for locations where it makes sense for the door to integrate into surrounding joinery.
      Read on to see 10 different examples, in homes that include a courtyard house in Arizona and a renovated 1920s apartment in New York.

      This is the latest piece in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. Other recent editions showcase cabins with cosy interiors and homes that make the most of narrow spaces.

      St John Street, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
      Pocket doors slot in behind bookcases in the entrance lobby of this converted loft apartment in London.
      Emil Eve Architects designed various oak joinery elements to divide up the interior of the former industrial space. Pocket doors are made from the same wood, so they feel integrated.
      Behind the doors are two bedroom spaces and a bathroom.
      Find out more about St John Street ›

      Riverside Apartment, USA, by Format Architecture Office
      In this 1920s apartment in New York’s Upper West Side, recently renovated by Format Architecture Office, a pocket door separates the main lounge and dining room from an adjacent study.
      This means that, when the study is not required as a quiet workspace, it can become an extension of the day-to-day living space.
      The door sits within a deep frame made from Anigre wood – an African hardwood commonly used for furniture and cabinetry – which matches the design of the kitchen entrance opposite.
      Find out more about Riverside Apartment ›

      Logan Certified, USA, by Moss
      This converted bodega in Chicago serves as the home and workplace of Matt Nardella, founder of architecture and design firm Moss, and his wife and colleague Laura Cripe.
      The couple’s bedroom is located behind an oak-panelled wall. By installing a pocket door made from the same material, they have made the entrance feel more discrete.
      Find out more about Logan Certified ›

      Apartment in Föhr, Germany, by Karin Matz and Francesco Di Gregorio
      Pocket doors lead through to cabin-style bedrooms in this converted attic apartment on the island of Föhr, designed by architects Francesco Di Gregorio and Karin Matz.
      The doors are made from transluscent polycarbonate, giving them a soft glow that contrasts with the vivid blue-green colour of the walls.
      Find out more about Apartment in Föhr ›

      A Gabled Roof in Kawagoe, Japan, by Tailored Design Lab
      A popular use of pocket doors is to make a patio deck feel like a continuation of the indoor living space, as Tailored Design Lab did at this family house in Saitama Prefecture.
      The project features a three-panel pocket door system, allowing a four-metre-wide window to slot into a cavity that is significantly smaller.
      Find out more about A Gabled Roof in Kawagoe ›

      O-asis, USA, by The Ranch Mine
      This home for a musician in Arizona features a series of four glazed pocket doors that allow a combined living room, kitchen and piano room to be completely opened up to the elements.
      Two of the doors connect the room with a secluded courtyard filled with desert plants, while the other two lead out to a sheltered terrace overlooking a swimming pool at the rear.
      All four doors are full-height, making them feel more like moving walls.
      Find out more about O-asis ›

      Bank Street Apartment, USA, by MKCA
      An unusually shaped pocket door was required for this renovation of an apartment in New York’s West Village, by Michael K Chen Architecture (MKCA).
      The works included adding a continuous storage unit along one wall, extending from the lounge and kitchen into a small  home-office slotted in the corner.
      The pocket door slots around this unit, thanks to a rectangular cutaway in one corner, meaning one of the owners could work from home without being disturbed by their partner.
      Find out more about Bank Street Apartment ›

      Writer’s Studio, USA, by Eric J Smith
      Using a pocket door as a main entrance is less common but not impossible, as proved by this writing studio at the Connecticut home of poet John Barr.
      The glass pocket door is set behind a stone facade, protected by a sliding panel made of distressed oak. It aligns with the owner’s desk, allowing the breeze to easily flow through.
      Find out more about Writer’s Studio ›

      Hipped House, UK, by Oliver Leech Architects
      The dining room of this family home in Surrey is previously separate from the kitchen and living space.
      In order to create more spacious, open living spaces, Oliver Leech Architects replaced the old door with a much larger opening. A pair of pocket doors mean it the room can still be closed up if required.
      Find out more about Hipped House ›

      Yurikago House, Spain, by Mas-aqui
      Pocket doors are a favourable solution for en-suite bathrooms, where a standard door might get in the way of a basin, toilet or shower.
      In this house in Barcelona, the pocket door extends all the way up to the ceiling to enhance the sense of spaciousness when it is open.
      Find out more about Yurikago House ›

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      Ten residential interiors that make the most of narrow spaces

      by

      Including tight living areas, kitchens wedged into corridors and interiors in skinny Japanese houses, this lookbook features 10 homes that make clever use of narrow spaces.

      Projects on constricted urban sites or working within historical buildings often must contend with long-and-narrow interior layouts.
      Here are 10 examples of interiors where narrow spaces have been utilised to their full potential thanks to intelligent design.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring mezzanine bedrooms, creative built-in furniture and homes that make a highlight of their corridors.
      Photo by Sobajima, Toshihiro1.8m Width House, Japan, by YUUA Architects & Associates

      As its name suggests, the rooms in this house in central Tokyo are just 1.8 metres wide, so Japanese studio YUUA Architects & Associates had to plan the interior with meticulous care.
      They used split-level floors to create natural partitions between different spaces, with a kitchen and dining area lined up along a single wall, while a dark colour scheme is intended to provide “a sense of depth”.
      Find out more about 1.8m Width House ›
      Photo by by Mariela ApollonioHorta Nord townhouse, Spain, by DG Arquitecto Valencia
      DG Arquitecto Valencia sneaked a kitchen into a passageway in this Valencian townhouse as part of a renovation project for a young family.
      White floor tiles and downlighting hanging from the high ceiling help the space maintain a sense of generous scale despite the narrow proportions.
      Find out more about this Horta Nord townhouse ›
      Photo by Colin Miller196 Orchard apartment, USA, by Alex P White
      American designer Alex P White created a model unit for a high-end condominium building in Manhattan’s Lower East Side characterised by exposed calming concrete ceilings, grey plaster walls and neutral-toned decor.
      In the narrow living room, a mix of shapes and textures combine with built-in furniture to provide added visual depth, from a series of ivory wall hangings by Los Angeles artist Mary Little to a large walnut shelving unit designed by White and a cardboard chair by Frank Gehry.
      Find out more about this 196 Orchard apartment ›
      Photography is by Lorenzo ZandriNotting Hill maisonette, UK, by Francesco Pierazzi Architects
      A petite plywood study space was nestled into a hallway in this London maisonette overhauled by Francesco Pierazzi Architects.
      To emphasise the home’s sense of height, the studio placed floor-to-ceiling doorways in all of its narrower rooms and left the brick shell exposed, offset by dark flooring.
      Find out more about this Notting Hill maisonette ›
      Photo by Texture on TextureSeochon micro guesthouse, South Korea, by Z_Lab
      Z_Lab’s serene interiors for this tiny guesthouse tucked down an alleyway in northern Seoul occupy a former traditional Korean home, otherwise known as a hanok.
      In the main space, long and rectilinear, different functions are lined up from a cosy reading area on a timber bench to a lengthy walnut table for enjoying tea that sits directly beside a sunken water bath.
      Find out more about this Seochan micro guesthouse ›
      Photo by Eric PetschekWest Chelsea Apartment, USA, by BoND
      This long and narrow apartment in New York’s Chelsea neighbourhood was overhauled by architecture studio BoND, which replaced partition walls with glass doors to allow more light to reach the middle section while also “celebrating the apartment’s elongated proportions and maximising the illusion of depth”.
      All utilities, including kitchen and bathroom fixtures, were moved to one wall to leave the other free for displaying art, while the direction of the floorboards and linear lighting fixtures help to emphasise the length of the interior.
      Find out more about West Chelsea Apartment ›
      Photo by Itay BenitBauhaus Tel Aviv apartment, Israel, by Amir Navon and Maayan Zusman
      A “safe room” was turned into a snug spare bedroom as part of a refurbishment of this Tel Aviv apartment by architect Amir Navon and interior designer Maayan Zusman, who worked alongside graduates Dana Sagive and Naama Tison Vilotsky.
      To compensate for a lack of width a light-toned oak herringbone floor was paired with pale colours, while two wooden plates with holes pierced in them to support brass hooks are a space-saving storage solution.
      Find out more about this Bauhaus Tel Aviv apartment ›
      Photo by by Koji Fujii Nacasa and PartnersLove2 House, Japan, by Takeshi Hosaka
      This Tokyo micro home designed by architect Takeshi Hosaka for himself and his wife gathers household amenities into a linear floorplan spanning just 19 square metres.
      Borrowing principles from the architecture of villas in ancient Roman villas, Hosaka divided up spaces for sleeping, bathing, eating and study using seven partitions that extend out from the concrete walls.
      Find out more about Love2 House ›
      Photo by Ståle EriksenBirch and Clay Refugio, UK, by Rise Design Studio
      By cutting shelving into one wall, retaining a generous window sill and subtly overlapping the chunky sink and bathtub, Rise Design Studio was able to make the most of limited lateral space in this bathroom.
      The room’s proportions were chosen to match an adjacent lightwell in the remodelled London flat, while the dark blue tadelakt walls and floor contrast with a birch plywood ceiling to convey an impression of solidity.
      Find out more about Birch and Clay Refugio ›

      La Odette, Spain, by CRÜ
      Architecture studio CRÜ was tasked with transforming this Barcelona apartment from a cramped three-bedroom home into a spacious two-bed while optimising the use of space.
      In the kitchen-living area, it removed the partition walls to create an open-plan space, with large terracotta floor tiles and white-painted brick walls.
      Find out more about La Odette ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring mezzanine bedrooms, creative built-in furniture and homes that make a highlight of their corridors.

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