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      in Rooms

      Ten living rooms that use warm neutrals to create a cosy ambience

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      As the days get darker in the northern hemisphere, our latest lookbook spotlights 10 living rooms rendered in warm yet discrete colour palettes, proving that neutrals don’t have to feel clinical.

      Mixing tactile natural materials with toasty shades of chocolate brown, creamy beige and blush pink can help to create a sense of homeliness in a room without being overbearing.
      From a São Paulo apartment filled with Brazilian modernist design to a converted biscuit factory in Los Angeles, here are 10 American homes that show how it’s done.
      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 statement sinks, homes with Eames chairs and contemporary living rooms in Victorian and Georgian houses.
      Photo is by Joe FletcherTwentieth, USA, by Woods +Dangaran

      This Santa Monica home features two separate living areas – a family room (top image) and a formal living room (above) – which flank a central courtyard housing a decades-old olive tree.
      Despite being framed by glazing, the rooms maintain a homely atmosphere with the help of an earthy material palette ranging from the travertine fireplace to a rose-gold cashmere rug and club chairs finished in tactile chocolate-brown corduroy.
      Find out more about Twentieth ›
      Photo is by Sean DavidsonAmity Street Residence, USA, by Selma Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas
      Architectural designers Selma Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas used warm oak floors and cream-hued walls, contrasted against dark stone and stained-wood bookshelves, to enliven this “neglected” apartment in a 20th-century building in Brooklyn.
      “A dialogue of opposites was the main theme behind the creation; minimal but warm, understated yet rich,” Muqaddas told Dezeen.
      Find out more about Amity Street Residence ›
      Photo is by Denilson Machado of MCA EstúdioHygge Studio, Brazil, by Melina Romano
      A black fireplace is suspended from the ceiling in this living room to contrast with the otherwise soft colour scheme of the interior, reflected in everything from the cream sofa and woven rug to the cobogó block screen that acts as a room divider.
      Walls and floor throughout the São Paulo apartment are covered in terracotta tiles, chosen by local designer Melina Romano to strike a balance between “modern and bucolic”.
      Find out more about Hygge Studio ›
      Photo is by Nicole FranzenEast Village Apartment, USA, by GRT Architects
      New York-based GRT Architects used warm tones and materials to modernise this renovated East Village apartment – set in a Beaux-Arts building on Second Avenue – while “preserving its turn-of-the-century disposition”.
      In the lounge, this was achieved by adding a storage wall backed with sienna-coloured panels and complementing it with a geometric, art deco-style rug rendered in muted shades of sage green and dusty rose.
      Find out more about this East Village Apartment ›
      Photo is by The Ingalls and Matthieu SalvaingSanta Monica Proper, USA, by Kelly Wearstler
      Although not technically a living room, the lounge of the Santa Monica Proper hotel features all the trappings of a cosy den – timber bookshelves, creamy-white Soriana lounge chairs and a Coulmier limestone coffee table with three orbs for legs.
      Interior designer Kelly Wearstler used natural materials and neutral colours throughout the hotel to reference its seaside setting.
      “Organic materials, neutral colour stories, everything has a texture,” Wearstler told Dezeen. “There’s a patina, there’s a hand, there’s something that feels very warm.”
      Find out more about Santa Monica Proper ›
      Photo is by Sean DavidsonWest Village apartment, USA, by Olivier Garcé
      American interior designer Olivier Garcé found a creative outlet during last year’s coronavirus lockdown by working remotely with friends and colleagues to transform his West Village home into a show space for contemporary art and design.
      His lounge now houses a vintage Axel Einar Hjorth rocking chair, paired with a lava-stone coffee table and side chair upholstered in alpaca wool by New York designer Ian Felton, complementing the terracotta-coloured tiling on the building’s original fireplace surround.
      Find out more about this West Village apartment ›
      Photo is by Brian Ferry20 Bond apartment, USA, by Home Studios
      Curves feature liberally throughout this family apartment in New York’s NoHo neighbourhood, from its copper-edged skirting to the rounded oak-and-brass shelving unit in the living room, which was made bespoke by interior practice Home Studios.
      The muted tones of the timber are complemented by a set of antique Danish armchairs with woven leather seats and a blush-coloured version of designer Sabine Marcelis’s Candy Cube side tables.
      Find out more about 20 Bond apartment ›
      Photo is by Fran ParenteGale Apartment, Brazil, by Memola Estudio
      Furnishings are coloured in grounding, earthy hues inside this lounge flanked by two double-height statement walls – one housing the owners’ art collection and the other clad in a broken-edge stone mosaic.
      “Furniture has been reupholstered to match the new colour palette, inspired by the autumn and the sunset colours found in the horizon,” said design practice Memola Estudio, which was responsible for renovating the São Paulo apartment.
      Find out more about Gale Apartment ›
      Photo is by Justin ChungBiscuit Loft, USA, by OWIU Studio
      Japanese design informed this apartment in a converted 1920s biscuit factory in Downtown Los Angeles, with a guest room modelled on a traditional Ryokan inn that also functions as a space for hosting gatherings and tea ceremonies.
      Local practice OWIU Studio added Noguchi pendant lights to bathe the room in a warm glow, while a convertible platform made from pale wood conceals extra storage and functions as a base for a futon when guests are staying over.
      Find out more about Biscuit Loft ›
      Photo is by Denilson MachadoDN Apartment, Brazil, by BC Arquitetos
      Walnut wood panelling and soft furnishings upholstered in caramel-coloured leather help to temper the chunky concrete columns of this apartment, housed in a 1970s building in São Paulo’s traditional Jardins neighbourhood.
      Local practice BC Arquitetos describes the home as a “gallery apartment” as it houses an extensive collection of mid-20th century Brazilian art and design, ranging from the net-backed Janguada armchair by Jean Gillon to Jader Almeida’s Verde Corvo sofa, which is finished in a faded olive green.
      Find out more about DN Apartment ›
      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 statement sinks, homes with Eames chairs and contemporary living rooms in Victorian and Georgian houses.

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      in Rooms

      Ten bedrooms with wardrobes that are disguised as walls

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      This lookbook rounds up 10 bedrooms where architects have designed discreet built-in wardrobes to conceal clothing and clutter, creating the illusion of a seamless wall.

      Built-in wardrobe walls are an efficient way to supersize storage and utilise every centimetre of space in a bedroom, unlike freestanding units that often leave dead spaces around their edges.
      When finished with a minimalist design, they can also blend into the background, helping to create spacious and serene interiors that are suitable for sleep.
      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 arched openings, bathrooms with statement sinks and living rooms in Victorian and Georgian-era homes.
      Photo is by Mattias Hamrén with styling by Hanna TunemarFunction Walls, Sweden, by Lookofsky Architecture

      This wall of storage surrounds the doorway of a bedroom in the Function Walls apartment, which was recently renovated by Lookofsky Architecture in Stockholm.
      The pale grey units contain a mix of different-sized cupboards without handles, forming a neutral backdrop to bright yellow bedroom furnishings including a 1970s IKEA floor lamp.
      Find out more about Function Walls ›
      Photo is by Lorenzo ZandriWakehurst Road, UK, by Matthew Giles Architects
      Matthew Giles Architects designed a series of white-oak storage units for the Wakehurst Road house in London, including this pared-back wardrobe wall in one of the bedrooms.
      Its deliberately simple design ties in with a calming colour and material palette of stone, concrete and brick that runs through the updated Victorian residence.
      Find out more about Wakehurst Road ›

      House at the Pond, Austria, by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten
      The compact bedroom in House at the Pond is lined with wooden walls – two of which double as storage.
      Disguising the wardrobes helps keeps the interior details to a minimum, which in turn retains focus on the large window and prevents the small space from feeling cramped.
      Find out more about House at the Pond ›
      Photo is by Ben BlossomBavaria Road Studio, UK, by West Architecture
      Plywood panels are used as fronts for both the tall wardrobes and the doorway of the bedroom at Bavaria Road Studio, helping them to blend in with the rest of the space, which is lined with the same material.
      According to designer West Architecture, the goal was for them to “read as a single wall of flush panelling, effectively disappearing and allowing the room to be read as one seamless, minimalist environment”.
      Find out more about Bavaria Road Studio ›
      Photo is by Richard ChiversMaison Pour Dodo, UK, by Studio Merlin
      Designed to minimise clutter and visual noise, these understated built-in wardrobes are part of the “spectrum of storage” that Studio Merlin created for this flat in London.
      The seven wardrobe doors blend in seamlessly with the grey-hued walls of the main bedroom, while their wooden knobs complement the pale Douglas fir floorboards that run throughout.
      Find out more about Maison Pour Dodo ›
      Photo is by Yiorgos Kordakis with styling by Anestis MichalisXerolithi, Greece, by Sinas Architects
      White grooved doors line the built-in wardrobe wall in this bedroom, which Sinas Architects created at the Xerolithi house on the Greek island of Serifos.
      Aligned with a door to an ensuite bathroom, the wardrobes create a unpretentious backdrop to the space, drawing the occupant’s attention to the uninterrupted view of the sea outside.
      Find out more about Xerolithi ›
      Photo is by Mariell Lind HansenNarford Road, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
      Emil Eve Architects lined the nook of this monochromatic loft extension in London with bespoke wardrobes, which appear to extend up to meet a skylight overhead.
      Finished with wooden handles with brass caps, the units are complemented by a matching window seat with two in-built drawers and pale wood floors that help them blend into the background.
      Find out more about Narford Road ›
      Photo is by Mariko ReedMountain View Double Gable Eichler Remodel, USA, by Klopf Architecture
      A pair of built-in wardrobes have been incorporated within a walnut wall unit in a bedroom of this 1960s residence in Silicon Valley, recently remodelled by Klopf Architecture.
      The same wood has been used for the headboard and plinth for the bed, helping them to read as a single piece. The wardrobes are only distinguishable by two subtle leather handles placed on the front of each one.
      Find out more about Mountain View Double Gable Eichler Remodel ›
      Photo is by Andy StaggKennington House, UK, by R2 Studio
      These bedroom cupboards follow the sloped edge of a giant corner window, introduced to Kennington House in London as part of a renovation and loft extension project.
      Designed by R2 Studio as one of many storage facilities for the house, they help residents keep the room clutter free and have white-coloured fronts that are disguised as part of the wall.
      Find out more about Kennington House ›
      Photo is courtesy of Matt GibsonWellington St Mixed Use, Australia, by Matt Gibson
      Drawers and full-height wardrobes are incorporated into this floor-to-ceiling storage unit, which runs the length of a bedroom in the Wellington St Mixed Use house in Melbourne.
      Its design means it doubles as a tactile wooden wall for the room, which forms a part of a large multi-generational home by architect Matt Gibson. The other bedrooms have similar wardrobe layouts, ensuring plenty of storage for inhabitants.
      Find out more about Wellington St Mixed Use ›
      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 arched openings, bathrooms with statement sinks and living rooms in Victorian and Georgian-era homes.

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      in Rooms

      Ten homes with arched openings that add architectural interest

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      In this lookbook, we’ve rounded up 10 home interiors that use archways to punctuate spaces and elevate the transition between rooms.

      An arch is a curved structure that spans over an opening, typically to distribute the weight above it. Because of their structural effectiveness, arches were used as early as Roman times for the construction of bridges and aqueducts.
      Arches have been reinterpreted throughout history and are often used to evoke classical or traditional architecture.
      They can add charm and architectural detail to doorways, entrances and passageways in residential spaces, and are often framed with ornate mouldings to create a sense of grandeur.
      Arched openings can also be used to mark transitions between rooms and punctuate otherwise plain walls in contemporary interiors.

      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 statement balustrades, interiors that feature the Eames chair and living spaces with decorative use of tiles.
      Photo is by German SáizConde Duque Apartment, Spain, by Sierra + De La Higuera
      Spanish architecture studio Sierra + De La Higuera refurbished this Madrid apartment by organising open-plan living and dining areas on either side of a wood-panelled entrance hall.
      The studio added two arched openings in wooden frames central to the hall, creating an intimate buffer zone in the open apartment.
      Find out more about Conde Duque Apartment ›
      Photo is by Andrew SnowBroadview Loft, Canada, by StudioAC
      Canadian firm StudioAC inserted a millwork box with a large arched cutout into this open rectangular apartment in Toronto, separating the bedroom from the living space.
      The impactful entry and lowered wall height of the box help to mark the transition from the open living space to the cosy sleeping nook.
      Find out more about Broadview Loft ›
      Photo is by Serena EllerDiplomat’s Apartment, Italy, by 02A
      This one-bed flat in Rome was designed by architecture and interiors studio 02A to adequately display the owner’s extensive collection of antique furniture and objects.
      An arched passage with an integrated bookcase leads from the lounge to an intimate dining area. The change of space is also indicated by the change in pattern on the solid-oak parquet flooring.
      Find out more about the Diplomat’s Apartment ›
      Photo is by Darius PetrulaitisGreetings from Rome, Lithuania, by 2XJ
      Three arches punctuate a structural stone wall that separates social and private spaces in this family apartment in the old town of Vilnius, designed by local architecture firm 2XJ.
      The arches reminded the architects of the Colosseum in Rome, lending the project its tongue-in-cheek name – Greetings from Rome – and leading the studio to clad the wall in the material used for the landmark’s external walls, Italian travertine.
      Find out more about Greetings from Rome ›

      Casa Mille, Italy, by Fabio Fantolino
      For his own apartment, Italian architect Fabio Fantolino overhauled the 1930s extension of a 19th-century palatial building in Turin by introducing accents of bright green and blue colours.
      In the living room an opening with curved corners looks through to a dining area, which is complemented by the rounded corners of the taupe sofa.
      Find out more about Casa Mille ›
      Photo is by Ståle EriksenUpper Wimpole Street Apartment, UK, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
      Architecture studio Jonathan Tuckey Design introduced MDF storage walls with built-in cupboards and arched niches to this townhouse apartment in London.
      The studio also added tall arched openings into the joinery, which were informed by 15th-century oil paintings depicting biblical figures under soaring archways.
      Find out more about Upper Wimpole Street Apartment ›
      Photo is by Kazuhisa KotaHouse in Akishima, Japan, Office M-SA
      This house in Akishima, Tokyo, was arranged by Japanese architecture studio Office M-SA around a series of exposed concrete elements, including a staircase that runs over an archway that separates the kitchen and dining area from the study.
      The concrete elements were designed to be permanent anchor points for the home’s timber wall construction, which can be altered or extended in the future to suit the owner’s needs.
      Find out more about House in Akishima ›
      Photo is by Michael SinclairA Room for Two, UK, by Studio Ben Allen
      Built inside a flat in London’s Barbican Estate, this plywood structure designed by architecture firm Studio Ben Allen transforms the room into a pair of bedrooms and studies for two children.
      The cut-out arches, which mimic the barrel-vaulted shape of the housing estate’s terrace apartments, indicate the entrances to each child’s space.
      Find out more about A Room for Two ›
      Photo is by Adrià Goula SardàMaison à Colombages, France, by 05 AM Arquitectura
      Spanish studio 05 AM Arquitectura aimed to incorporate a contemporary aesthetic while maintaining the traditional features of this 19th-century house located near Paris.
      The studio removed partitions in the archways between the kitchen, dining and living spaces to connect the spaces and improve natural lighting while retaining the ornate wall mouldings that frame the openings.
      Find out more about Maison à Colombages ›
      Photo is by José HeviaPenthouse, Spain by PMAA
      Architecture studio PMAA divided the living space of this Barcelona apartment with partition walls punctuated by a series of arched openings.
      A large modular sofa dominates the living space and morphs around the columns of the archways. The geometric repetition of the arch was informed by the apartment’s vaulted ceiling and arched windows.
      Find out more about Penthouse ›
      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 statement balustrades, interiors that feature the Eames chair and living spaces with decorative use of tiles.

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      in Rooms

      Ten inventive bookshop interiors designed to enhance the browsing experience

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      A second-hand bookstore styled like a greengrocer and an outlet modelled on old libraries are among the projects collected in our latest lookbook, which explores bookshop interior designs.

      Architects and designers across the globe have created bookstores with striking interiors that offer more than just a place to buy things.
      From a hall of zigzagged staircases in China to a yellow-hued grotto in east London, here are 10 bookshop interiors that provide immersive and unusual browsing experiences.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring brutalist interiors, light-filled atriums and walk-in wardrobes.
      Photo is by Hu YanyunDeja Vu Recycle Store, China, by Offhand Practice

      Chinese architecture studio Offhand Practice designed a second-hand bookshop in Shanghai to mimic the interior of a greengrocer by displaying items in familiar supermarket-style crates.
      Created to counter the “shabby” image commonly associated with second-hand retailers, Deja Vu Recycle Store features a light interior defined by stone off-cut mosaic tiles and natural pine.
      “[The project] breaks the stereotypical image of a second-hand store and erases the ritualistic impression of a traditional bookstore full of full-height bookshelves,” said Offhand Practice.
      Find out more about Deja Vu Recycle Store ›
      Photo is by Jonas Bjerre-PoulsenNew Mags, Denmark, by Norm Architects
      Coffee table book distributor New Mags commissioned Norm Architects to design the interior of its flagship store in Copenhagen, which nods to the serenity of old libraries.
      Natural oak panels were used to create towering display walls for books. Various publications are also presented on stone plinths that echo a looming, organically shaped stone sculpture by local artist Josefine Winding.
      Find out more about New Mags ›
      Photo is by Shao FengChongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore, China, by X+Living
      A maze of intricate staircases, amplified by a mirrored ceiling, forms a dramatic backdrop for this bookshop in Chongqing by Shanghai-based studio X+Living.
      Thanks to their wide treads, the stairs double as reading nooks for customers, while the overall stepped outline created in the central space intends to reference Chongqing’s urban skyline.
      Find out more about Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore ›

      Photo is by Žiga Lovšin
      Book Centre Trieste, Italy, by SoNo Arhitekti
      Another store interior that takes cues from its setting, this Trieste bookshop features boxy shelving that was informed by the diamond brick patterns of the nearby Trieste National Hall.
      Slovenian studio SoNo Arhitekti repeated this motif on the shop’s two sofas, which have grid-patterned upholstery. It also reserved space for chunky display podiums and a children’s reading corner.
      Find out more about Book Centre Trieste ›
      Photo is by NakanimamasakhlisiThey Said Books, Georgia, by Lado Lomitashvili
      They Said Books is a bookshop-cum-cafe in Tbilisi with an interior characterised by Tetris cube-style shelving, yellowed terrazzo tiles and bubble-shaped reflective wall sculptures.
      Georgian designer Lado Lomitashvili created the store, which is housed inside a 1930s building, to support the “cultural development” of the country’s capital city.
      Find out more about They Said Books ›
      Photo is courtesy of Pulse OnSFC Shangying Cinema Luxe, China, by Pulse On
      Hong Kong-based firm Pulse On was informed by the strings of musical instruments when designing the delicate interior of this Shanghai bookshop, which is also the lobby of a cinema.
      Thin metal slats extend vertically from floor to ceiling to create bookshelves, while integrated lighting bathes various seating areas in a soft glow.
      “We wanted to create a zen resting space for the guests through the mix of ‘strings’ and ‘books’,” explained the designers. “All of this boils down to simplicity and purity of lines – no highly-contrasting colours are used.”
      Find out more about SFC Shangying Cinema Luxe ›
      Photo is courtesy of SelgasCanoLibreria, UK, by SelgasCano
      Author Jorge Luis Borges’ 1940s tale The Library of Babel informed the winding, cavernous interior of Libreria, a London bookshop designed by Spanish studio SelgasCano.
      Handmade shelves were crafted in irregular shapes by artists from the Slade School of Fine Art using unfinished recycled wood. They house the store’s many books, which are arranged thematically rather than categorised traditionally, in order to encourage “chance encounters while browsing”.
      Find out more about Libreria ›
      Photo is by CreatAR ImagesDuoyun Bookstore, China, by Wutopia Lab and Office ZHU
      Five different colours delineate the zones inside this Huangyan bookstore, which includes reproductions of rare books exhibited in a tall, wood-panelled stairwell.
      Duoyun Bookstore was designed by Wutopia Lab and Office ZHU to feature layers of perforated metal on its facade – a move that saw two disused buildings renovated to create the shop.
      Find out more about Duoyun Bookstore ›
      Photo is by Arch-ExistXinglong Lake Citic Bookstore, China, by MUDA Architects
      Chinese studio MUDA Architects topped a lakeside bookstore in Chengdu with a roof shaped like an upturned book that creates a sweeping ceiling on the interior.
      Large rectilinear windows are positioned at the edge of the lake to offer views of the surrounding scenery, while the glass extends beneath the waterline to create a peaceful and immersive setting for reading.
      Find out more about Xinglong Lake Citic Bookstore ›
      Photo is by Fernando GuerraLivraria Cultura, Brazil, by Studio MK27
      The Livraria Cultura – or Culture Bookshop – was designed by Studio MK27 in Brazil’s São Paulo to be “a bookstore of the 21st century” that encourages social interactions.
      A vast double-height room is defined by wooden bleachers that span the 21-metre width of the space, where customers are invited to stay and read or meet up even after they have bought their books.
      Find out more about Livraria Cultura ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring colourful living rooms, decorative ceilings and deliberately unfinished interiors.

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      in Rooms

      Ten homes with staircases that have statement balustrades

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      In our latest lookbook, Dezeen has rounded up 10 home staircases that incorporate contemporary and non-traditional balustrades from circular perforations to bold colour blocking.

      A balustrade is a railing that runs alongside a staircase and prevents a person from falling over its edge. Balusters are vertical posts that typically support a bannister or handrail above, balusters traditionally have a lathe-turned form that results in a bulbous and curving profile.
      Although often focal points of interior settings, balustrades can be relatively similar from home to home. In this lookbook, we have highlighted 10 alternative balustrades that bring a non-traditional and statement look to homes.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring maximalist interiors, homes that use tiles as a decorative feature and interiors with ornate ceilings.
      Phot by Rainer MaderPrivate House in Cologne, Germany, by SMO Architektur

      This perforated balustrade complements the rigid and cubic form of this house in Cologne, which was designed by architecture practice SMO Architektur and informed by Le Corbusier’s Plan Libre.
      A staircase that runs through the home was bounded by a seamless, perforated balustrade that is constructed from a singular sheet of material. The perforations within the balustrade contrast against the square and angular shape profile of the staircase.
      Find out more about Private House in Cologne ›
      Photo by French + TyeMo-tel House, UK, by Office S&M
      This brightly coloured staircase sits within a Georgian townhouse in the London borough of Islington, which was renovated by London studio Office S&M.
      Titled Mo-tel House, the home has a brightly coloured interior scheme with a geometric and boldly coloured staircase. Its vertically slatted balusters were painted pink while a bright yellow handrail folds over and into the staircase’s end post.
      Find out more about Mo-tel House in London ›
      Photo by Tal NisimTel Aviv townhouse, Israel, by David Lebenthal
      In Tel Aviv, architect David Lebenthal suspended a staircase behind a wall of vertically organised steel rods that function as the staircase’s balustrade.
      The home was designed for Lebenthal and his family and was organised around an exposed concrete party wall that hosts the metal staircase that runs through the home. Steel rods stretch between each floor of the home and were fixed to and intersect with the outer edge of the metal-folded tread.
      Find out more about Tel Aviv townhouse ›
      Photo by Andrew MeredithWhite Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker
      Architecture studio Gundry & Ducker fitted a cantilevered staircase into this 1970s house in London.
      Its balustrade is comprised of green-painted vertical rods that run the entire length of the staircase and a one-piece wooden bannister that was placed on top of the green balusters and pierces through an overhanging lip on the tread of the base step.
      Find out more about White Rabbit House ›
      Photo by Tim SoarBonhôte House, UK, by AOC
      Angular brass rods, arranged in a zigzagging formation, flank the sides of this staircase that ascends above an open-plan living and kitchen area in a north London townhouse.
      The home was designed by architecture studio AOC within a contemporary family home. It has an open-plan design with its brass-wrapped staircase used to divide the ground floor living spaces
      Find out more about Bonhôte House ›

      Hearth House, UK, by AOC
      Architecture studio AOC incorporated a negative relief-style balustrade into the staircase at Hearth House in Golders Green.
      On the upper levels of the staircase, the profiles and silhouettes of traditional spindle balusters were laser cut into plywood sheets creating voids where ornamental spindles would sit. Elsewhere, a lamp extends from the handrail of the bannister.
      Find out more about Hearth House ›

      O12, Germany, by Philipp von Matt
      German architect Philipp von Matt fitted a golden-hued, perforated-brass bannister to a solid concrete staircase at O12, an artist’s home in Berlin.
      The mesh brass bannister zigzags along the side of the concrete stairwell from the front door of the home through to its first and second floors. As a result of its perforations, light can travel through the bannister and filter into the monolithic stairwell.
      Find out more about O12 ›
      Photo by Andy StaggAsh House, UK, by R2 Studio
      A full-height ash bannister, which was pierced with circular cut-out openings lines a wooden stairwell that connects two storeys of an Edwardian house in Lewisham, London.
      Architecture studio R2 Studio mimicked the stair profile when creating the hole pattern across the ash bannister, incorporating larger holes at eye level for both adults and children. A groove was cut into the opposite side to form an inset handrail.
      Find out more about Ash House ›
      Photo by James RetiefMaryland House, UK, by Remi Connolly-Taylor
      A red metal staircase at designer Remi Connolly-Taylor’s home in London has a weightless look. It has a red folded tread that sits on top of the home’s stone floors. Besides the tread, a tubular, pipe-like hand rail-cum-balustrade has a similarly weightless look and protrudes from the ground and follows the profile of the steps below.
      The staircase is encased within a glass block-clad stairwell that Connolly-Taylor explained was used to bring light into the interior while also providing privacy from neighbours.
      Find out more about Maryland House ›
      Photo by Johan DehlinCoastal House, UK, by 6a Architects
      A wooden staircase sits at the heart of this home, which was renovated by London-based architecture studio 6a Architects. Thin tapering spindle-shaped balustrades were organised at alternating angles creating a wave-like rhythm across the entire staircase.
      The bannister and balustrade were made from oak and have an unfinished, rustic quality that ties the staircase to the home’s original beams and textural stone walls.
      Find out more about Coastal House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring deliberately unfinished interiors, maximalist interiors and walk-in wardrobes.

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      in Rooms

      Ten homes where classic Eames chairs add a mid-century modern feel

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected 10 interiors featuring some of Charles and Ray Eames’ best-known chair designs, including the couple’s Shell chair and lounge chair.

      The Eames designers were known for their iconic mid-century modern furniture, which is still widely appreciated and can be seen in a number of contemporary interiors.
      Among the most popular Eames designs are their chairs, many of which are still in production. Original chairs have become sought-after vintage finds, and the designs are often copied, 60 years after they were first released.
      Here, we have collected 10 projects on Dezeen that feature Eames chairs, ranging from a penthouse in Belgium to a narrow house in London and the designers’ own home.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring tiled living spaces, decorative ceilings and ornate plasterwork and homes with deliberately unfinished interiors.

      Photo by Olmo PeetersRiverside Tower Apartment, The Netherlands, by Studio Okami Architecten
      The interior of this Belgian apartment in a brutalist concrete building was livened up by tactile furnishings in organic materials and features a number of design classics.
      In the home office area, the Eames Aluminium office chair by Vitra, designed in 1958, adds an elegant touch to the room and is contrasted by an abstract red chair.
      Find out more about Riverside Tower Apartment ›
      Photo by Justin ChungBiscuit Loft, US, by OWIU Studio
      OWIU Studio drew on Japanese style when designing the sun-dappled Biscuit Loft in Los Angeles, and also added a number of mid-century modern furniture pieces.
      A white Eames lounge chair with a matching ottoman sits in pride of place in the living room, matching the white sofa and coffee table as well as the room’s other classic piece, the Knoll Wassily lounge chair designed by architect Marcel Breuer.
      Find out more about Biscuit Loft ›
      Photo by James BrittainCatching Sun House, UK, by Studioshaw
      A collection of the Eames DSR chairs adds colour to the open-plan kitchen and dining room in this Walthamstow home built on a hidden infill site.
      Exposed blockwork was used for both the interior and the exterior, with a plywood ceiling giving the space a cosy feel.
      Find out more about Catching Sun House ›
      Photo by Leslie Schwartz and Joshua WhiteEames House, US, by Ray and Charles Eames
      The Eameses’ own house embodies the couple’s design aesthetic and is filled with their furniture, books, fabrics, art, shells, rocks and straw baskets.
      In the study area of the modernist house, the chosen task chair is naturally one of the duo’s own designs – a Soft Pad armchair that was designed in the 1960s and produced by ICF.
      Find out more about Eames House ›
      Photo by Lit MaGrosvenor Residence, China, by Lim + Lu
      Multidisciplinary design practice Lim + Lu refurbished this Hong Kong family apartment to give it the feel of an “elegant yet quaint summer home”.
      Neutral colours were used throughout, with green plants adding life to the rooms and matching the wood detailing on the furniture, which includes a stylish black leather and rosewood Eames lounge chair.
      Find out more about Grosvenor Residence ›
      Photo by Jim StephensonSlot House, UK, by Sandy Rendel
      A disused alley in Peckham, south London, was transformed into the aptly named Slot House by Sandy Rendel Architects and Sally Rendel.
      The 2.8-metre-wide house has an upstairs study area clad, like the rest of the house, in spruce plywood and with a cork floor. An Eames Shell chair makes for an eye-catching office chair.
      Find out more about Slot House ›
      Photo by Rafael SoldiSeattle home, US, by SHED
      This house on the Pacific West Coast, originally built for cartoonist Irwin Caplan, was refurbished by American studio SHED.
      The studio gave the home, designed in 1951, a refresh with a more open layout but kept its mid-century modern feel with an interior that features numerous design classics.
      In the kitchen and dining area, a set of the Eamses’ Shell chairs create a striking white contrast to the wood-panelled walls.
      Find out more about Seattle home ›
      Photo by Renaat NijsPenthouse BV, Belgium, by Adjo Studio
      Warm autumnal colours were used in this living room in a penthouse in Belgium designed by Adjo Studio. An earth-coloured rug and rust-coloured seating contrast the greenery outside the window, with the colours picked up in a set of decorative tealight holders.
      Wooden panelling above the fireplace, sand-coloured curtains and an Eames lounge chair with a wooden frame complete the interior.
      Find out more about Penthouse BV ›
      Photo by JAG Studio6M House, Ecuador, by Jannina Cabal
      The DCW Eames plywood chair is less well-known that the duo’s Shell chairs, but no less of a design classic. The chair was designed in 1945 from moulded plywood and features a rounded seat and backrest and arched legs.
      In the 6M House in Ecuador, two DCW chairs can be found in the living room, where they blend in well with the wooden bookshelf and panelling.
      Find out more about 6M House ›
      Photo is by Joe FletcherMoore House, US, by Woods + Dangaran
      Moore House in Los Angeles was originally built in 1965 and given an update by local firm Woods + Dangaran in 2021. The studio used both vintage and contemporary pieces for the interior, including the Eames lounge chair in one of the bedrooms.
      On the bedside tables, vintage Akari lights by designer Isamu Noguchi also nod to the house’s mid-century origin.
      Find out more about Moore House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring tiled living spaces, decorative ceilings and ornate plasterwork and homes with deliberately unfinished interiors.

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      Ten homes that don't relegate tiles to the bathroom

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      Our latest lookbook rounds up 10 living spaces that take tiling from practical to decorative, applying it to everything from bars and fireplaces to entire statement walls.

      Tiles in the modern home are often consigned to the bathroom or kitchen, where their durable finish can protect walls from water damage.
      But a growing cohort of designers are using the surfacing much like they would rugs or wallpapers, as a means of bringing colours and patterns into living spaces.
      Whether made from ceramic, stone or concrete, this can help to imbue an otherwise cosy interior with a much-needed sense of depth and dimension.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring maximalist interiors, kitchens with polished granite surfaces and brutalist interiors with a surprisingly welcoming feel.

      Photo is by Prue RuscoeDream Weaver penthouse, Australia, by YSG
      Spanish tapas bars informed the design of this penthouse in Sydney, which belongs to a couple of empty nesters.
      In the open-plan living space, this reference was translated into an entire wall of glossy off-white tiles, providing the backdrop for a custom bar trolley made from white ash and blue granite.
      Find out more about Dream Weaver penthouse ›
      Photo is by German SáizConde Duque apartment, Spain, by Sierra + De La Higuera
      Vibrantly glazed tiles help to define the different zones in this apartment in Madrid, with green used in the kitchen, red and blue in the bathrooms and yellow in the living areas.
      The traditional Moroccan zellige tiles are characterised by their tonal and textural variations, with imperfect surfaces that are moulded by hand.
      Find out more about Conde Duque ›
      Photo is by Pion StudioPuro Hotel Kraków, Poland, by Paradowski Studio
      Polish practice Paradowski Studio mixed and matched different kinds of tiling throughout this lounge, covering everything from the floor to the columns to an entire wall, designed by artist Tomasz Opaliński based on the modernist mosaics of the 1970s.
      To soften up these hard, glossy surfaces and add a sense of warmth, the studio added plenty of textiles plus a stained oak bas-relief, which a couple of doors.
      Find out more about Puro Hotel Kraków ›
      Photo is by Joana FrançaSão Paulo apartment, Brazil, by Casulo
      A bar clad in glossy green tiles forms the centrepiece of this living room, contrasted against the matt black slate on the floor.
      Brazilian studio Casulo repeated this same material palette in the bathroom and kitchen of the São Paulo apartment, which the owners bought at a closed-door auction without seeing its interior.
      Find out more about São Paulo apartment ›
      Photo is by José HeviaYurikago House, Spain, by Mas-aqui
      Hydraulic tiling helps to create a sense of continuity across the various different floors and half-levels of this apartment, designed by architecture studio Mas-aqui.
      The natural tonal variations of the reddish-brown ceramics help to create a sense of depth and texture despite using only one material.
      Find out more about Yurikago House ›
      Photo is by Benoit LineroHotel Les Deux Gares, France, by Luke Edward Hall
      Chevron marble floors, striped pink-satin armchairs and chintzy duck-egg blue wallpaper create a riotous clash of patterns and colours in this lounge by British designer Luke Edward Hall.
      “I really wanted this space to feel above all joyful and welcoming and alive, classic but a little bonkers at the same time,” he explained.
      Find out more about Hotel Les Deux Gares ›
      Photo is by José HeviaReforma de una Vivienda en Ensanche, Spain, by Arquitectura-G
      Barcelona practice Arquitectura-G removed a series of dividing walls from this apartment to let more light into the plan and relied on changing levels and flooring to denote different areas.
      Here, the transition from the hallway to the lounge is signified by a zig-zagging junction between the gridded grey tiling and the neutral-toned carpet, which is made from coarse sisal plant fibres.
      Find out more about Reforma de una Vivienda en Ensanche ›
      Photo is by Adrià GoulaPasseig de Grácia 97, Spain, by Jeanne Schultz
      A pink stone fireplace with chequered tiling served as the starting point for the renovation of this old Barcelona apartment, with doors, window frames and ceiling mouldings throughout the home painted in a matching shade of green.
      Designer Jeanne Schultz also introduced minimal yet characterful modern furnishings to keep the focus on the building’s period features, which also include traditional Catalan vault ceilings and wooden parquet flooring.
      Find out more about Passeig de Grácia 97 ›
      Photo is by Yiannis HadjiaslanisIlioupoli apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme
      Originally popular in the 1970s, when they were used to cover verandas and porticos in holiday homes throughout Greece, these glazed terracotta tiles were salvaged from storage so they could be used to cover the floor of a one-bedroom home in Athens.
      Formerly a semi-basement storage space, the apartment is located at the bottom of a typical Athenian polykatoikia – a concrete residential block with tiered balconies.
      Find out more about Ilioupoli apartment ›
      Photo is by Eugeni PonsCasa AB, Spain, by Built Architecture
      When Built Architecture renovated this 19th-century Barcelona apartment, the Spanish practice retained the traditional mosaic flooring laid throughout most of its rooms, including the hallway, bedroom, living and dining room.
      The spaces between the tiling were filled with oak floorboards to match the custom oak cabinetry the studio installed to run longways through the apartment like a spine, dividing up the private and communal areas.
      Find out more about Casa AB ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring maximalist interiors, kitchens with polished granite surfaces and surprisingly welcoming brutalist interiors.

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      Ten homes that feature decorative ceilings and ornate plasterwork

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      A home in Williamsburg with a bathroom that saw its original tin-panelled ceiling restored and intricate 19th-century plasterwork set within a modern apartment feature in this lookbook, which showcases decorative and ornate ceilings.

      Mouldings are decorative architectural elements that are used as focal elements in interior spaces, contouring the corners of ceilings and light fixtures in the form of ceiling roses, cornices, architraves and coving.
      These elements typically have a highly decorative and ornate finish incorporating seamless patterns, created through reliefs and recesses across their surfaces.
      Mouldings and ornate plasterworks are typically associated with the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras and were drawn from classicism and ancient Greek and Egyptian architecture.
      The architectural elements were often constructed from plaster and timber, however the 20th century saw people look to alternative materials to obtain more durable and cost-effective finishes.

      This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring deliberately unfinished interiors, maximalist interiors and homes with walk-in wardrobes.

      Stockholm Apartment, Sweden, by Note Design Studio
      Swedish design firm Note Design Studio transformed this Stockholm office into a home adding shades of yellow, green and pink across its walls and mouldings and window frames.
      Rooms of the home were painted entirely in single colours adding pastel hues to its 19th-century features.
      Find out more about Stockholm Apartment ›
      Photo is by White ArrowHistoric Schoolhouse, US, by White Arrow
      Brooklyn-based interior design studio White Arrow’s founders, Keren and Thomas Richter transformed this landmarked building in Williamsburg into a bright and airy home while restoring some of its original features.
      In one of the home’s bathrooms, the interior design duo tracked down its original decorative tin ceiling tiles and reinstated them across the vanity area. Tin ceiling tiles are an American innovation and were created as a low-cost and more durable alternative to ornate plasterwork.
      Find out more about Historic Schoolhouse ›

      Bakers House, Sweden, by Färg & Blanche
      This residence, which has belonged to the family of Färg & Blanche co-founder Emma Marga Blanche for four generations, features a traditional and extravagantly ornate interior. The home formerly contained a traditional Swedish crispbread bakery at the rear of the building and is now mainly used to host events.
      Intricately detailed furniture, such as carved-wood trimmed sofas and gilded photo frames complement the home’s decorative ceiling mouldings and ornamentation. In each room, the ceiling details are painted bold colours and incorporate frescoes-like paintings.
      Find out more about Bakers House ›
      Photography is by Norbert TukajYoung family house, Lithuania, by ŠA Atelier
      Lithuanian architecture studio ŠA Atelier renovated the interior of this formerly dilapidated 19th-century apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania. Set within a townhouse built in 1862, the apartment has a minimal finish with some of its remaining original features restored as focal points throughout.
      Expanses of plasterwork mouldings and ceiling roses stretch across the ceilings in the home while parquet wood flooring boasts a neutral, light tone.
      Find out more about Young family house ›
      Photo is by Adrià GoulaPasseig de Grácia, Spain, by Jeanne Schultz Design Studio
      Ornamental details and finishes were added to the renovation of this apartment on Barcelona’s Passeig de Grácia.
      US design firm Jeanne Schultz Design Studio incorporated and re-energised the home’s period and original features. In the main living space, it painted the ceiling’s stepped coving, that runs through the interior of the home, a shade of green which was also applied to the doors, window frames and skirting of the room.
      Find out more about Passeig de Grácia ›
      Photo is by David FoesselNapoléon apartment, France, Freaks
      French studio Freaks renovated this apartment in Paris. It retained period mouldings and architectural features throughout but added modern touches including fluorescent lighting and freestanding angular volumes.
      “One of the main interventions consisted of opening the new kitchen towards the dining room, while taking charge to use a contemporary architectural language,” said the studio.
      Photography is by Salem MostefaouiWood Ribbon apartment, France, by Toledano + Architects
      Set above a ribbon-like plywood wall and contrasting against the apartment’s contemporary decor, ornate plasterwork, which has largely remained untouched since the 19th century, subtly defines and zones this apartment.
      Where French architecture studio Toledano + Architects wanted the home to feel more contemporary, it installed a false, polycarbonate ceiling over its original decorative ceilings.
      Find out more about Wood Ribbon apartment ›
      Photo is by Alex LesageMontreal Home, Canada, by Vives St-Laurent
      Canadian interior design studio Vives St-Laurent renovated and remodelled a family home in Montreal to better highlight its existing architectural elements. The studio looked to incorporate as much of the home’s original 20th-century characteristics including its plaster mouldings.
      In the home’s open-plan kitchen and diner, coving informally zones the dining room from the kitchen while a ceiling rose anchors a pendant light above a light wood dining table and four Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs.
      Find out more about Montreal Home ›

      Carrer Avinyo 34, Spain, by David Kohn Architects
      British architecture studio David Kohn Architects renovated this Barcelona apartment to better reveal and highlight its large windows, high ceilings and ornate mouldings.
      Above the dining space, cornices bound the edges of the room while coffered ceilings stretch across the living areas. Ceiling roses throughout the home became focal points across the ceilings without light fixtures fitted to them.
      Find out more about Carrer Avinyo 34 ›
      Photo is by Mariela ApollonioCasa Cas 8, Spain, by DG Arquitecto
      Panel moulding and corbels protrude from the ceilings at Casa Cas 8 in Valencia, Spain, which was created by Valencia-based architecture studio DG Arquitecto. The 1920s penthouse aims to celebrate its original features including its mosaic floors, mouldings and arched doorways.
      “Small changes in the distribution, very limited by the initial idea of ​​completely maintaining the original floor of the house and the ceilings with mouldings, helped us to transform the existing spaces,” said DG Arquitecto.
      Find out more about Casa Cas 8 ›
      Find out more about Napoléon apartment ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring deliberately unfinished interiors, maximalist interiors and homes with walk-in wardrobes.

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