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    Ten white bathrooms that are far from boring

    Our latest lookbook explores contemporary takes on traditional white bathrooms, proving that monochrome doesn’t have to be monotonous.

    White bathroom interiors are an enduring household trend, typically chosen for being practical but also for their connotations of cleanliness.
    Yet, their simplicity is often seen as being sterile, traditional or devoid of design.
    The ten examples listed below challenge this notion, demonstrating that with the right choice of tiles, plants and layers of texture, a white bathroom can still be an inviting sanctuary.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing colourful staircases, living rooms with stone surfaces and light-filled glass extensions.

    Photo is by Maxime BockenThe Euclid Residence, Canada, by Ancerl Studio
    Wall lights, curtains and a framed print make the white bathroom at The Euclid Residence feel more like a living room than a purely practical space.
    Located off of the house’s main bedroom, the room also features a softly curved tub that grants its user views out onto an adjoining balcony.
    Find out more about The Euclid Residence ›
    Photo is by Fernando GuerraHouse in Fontinha, Portugal, by Manuel Aires Mateus
    To add visual interest to the clean-cut washroom at House in Fontinha, architect Manuel Aires Mateus embedded a bathtub within its floor.
    The level change is demarcated by polished concrete that also helps to break up the space. Beside it, a low-lying window introduces splashes of colour into the room.
    Find out more about House in Fontinha ›
    Photo is by Ben HoskingThe Melburnian Apartment, Australia, by Edition Office
    Skinny white tiles envelop the bathroom at The Melburnian Apartment, covering its curved walls, floor and walk-in shower that is hidden and accessed through a large opening.
    Designed by Edition Office, the tiles are teamed with a large mirror and a vanity cabinet that has a marbled finish and monolithic washbasins on top.
    Find out more about The Melburnian Apartment ›
    Photo is by Hey! CheeseXS House, Taiwan, by Phoebe Sayswow Architects
    Phoebe Sayswow Architects gave this white bathroom a graphic quality by using bright pink grout between its glazed white tiles instead of the traditional grey or white options.
    To add depth to the room, which is located in a small one-bedroom apartment in Taipei, a matching vanity unit projects from the wall. The space is finished with black bathroom products and a suitably-bold begonia maculata plant.
    Find out more about XS House ›
    Photo is by Christoph RokittaBerlin Mitte apartment, Germany, by Atheorem
    Local architect Atheorem brought a serene and ethereal quality to the wetroom of this apartment in Berlin using all-white finishes and minimal fittings.
    A pair of floor-to-ceiling curtains provide privacy for the owners when showering, while also adding a layer of texture and filtering soft natural light into the space.
    Find out more about Berlin Mitte apartment ›
    Photo is by Kevin ScottThe Portage Bay Float Home, USA, by Studio DIAA
    Studio DIAA used square tiles to create the all-white interior of this shower room, located in a floating house in Seattle’s Lake Union.
    Fixed with pale grey grout, the tiles bring a textured appearance to the room that contrasts with its smooth metal accessories. On sunny days, treetops framed through a skylight overhead cast shadows across their surface.
    Find out more about The Portage Bay Float Home ›
    Photo is by Luis ViegasCasa da Volta, Portugal, by Promontorio
    The deliberately simple interior of this ensuite washroom helps to draw attention to three large cactus plants in the white-walled courtyard outside.
    Maximising the sense of lightness and openness in the room, a large mirror lines one wall and the ceiling joists are left exposed overhead, painted white to match the rest of the space.
    Find out more about Casa da Volta ›
    Photo is by Shannon McGrathAlfred Street Residence, Australia, by Studio Four
    One of the most minimalist bathrooms on the list is this all-white interior designed by Studio Four as part of the Alfred Street Residence in Victoria.
    Large white tiles run across its floor and walls, framing a freestanding tub that is illuminated by a skylight above. To add an element of texture, a white-painted wooden stool sits in the corner.
    Find out more about Alfred Street Residence ›
    Photo is by José HeviaPalma Hideaway, Spain, by Mariana de Delás
    Plants, tiles and marble have been used to animate the white-walled bathroom at the Palma Hideaway, designed by Mariana de Delás in Mallorca.
    The floor is raised to accommodate a sunken bath on one side, which is lined with dark-green tiles that also feature elsewhere in the home – helping the room act as an extension to the living spaces.
    Find out more about Palma Hideaway ›
    Photo is by Rafael SoldiHillside Midcentury, USA, by SHED
    This spacious white bathroom and walk-in shower by SHED is sheathed in hundreds of tiny circular tiles and lit by a frosted-glass window that stretches from floor to ceiling.
    The size of the tiles and window help to emphasise the openness of the room, while wood elements and a potted plant help bring an element of cosiness.
    Find out more about Hillside Midcentury ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing colourful staircases, living rooms with stone surfaces and light-filled glass extensions.

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    Ten homes that use colour to turn stairs into statements

    A Swedish house with a stairway hidden behind a bookcase and an architect-revamped new build in the Netherlands feature in our latest lookbook of ten homes with colourful staircases that draw the eye.

    Adding a layer of paint makes it possible to turn even simple stairs into standout architectural features, rather than just functional ones. This is especially helpful in renovation projects, where larger structural changes would be considerably more time- and money-intensive.
    Below, we’ve curated ten examples of residential stairwells from across the colour spectrum, including a baby-blue storage unit that also incorporates stairs leading to a mezzanine and a sunshine-yellow spiral staircase made from gridded steel sheets.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing timber-clad bathrooms, light-filled glass extensions and exposed wooden floorboards.
    Photo is by Noortje KnulstMatryoshka House, Netherlands, by Shift Architecture Urbanism

    When Shift Architecture Urbanism split this derelict four-storey townhouse in Rotterdam into two modern apartments, the Dutch studio removed large sections of the upper floor in each flat to create imposing double-height living spaces.
    The bedrooms are housed on what remains of the upper floors and can be accessed via brightly coloured staircases – painted red in one apartment, electric-blue in the other. The stairs are set inside steel-clad volumes that also conceal a toilet, storage space and kitchen equipment.
    Find out more about Matryoshka House ›
    Photo is by Åke E:son LindmanFagerström House, Sweden, by Claesson Koivisto Rune
    This house in Sollentuna just north of Stockholm was designed by local practice Claesson Koivisto Rune to curve around a huge old oak tree.
    On the interior, the home’s curvature is mirrored by a staircase that is concealed behind a built-in bookcase and painted the same deep red colour as the timber cladding on the building’s exterior.
    Find out more about Fagerström House ›
    Photo is by José HeviaDuplex in Sant Gervasi, Spain, by Arquitectura-G
    Tasked with overhauling a dark, cramped duplex for a “nuclear family” in Barcelona, Spanish studio Arquitectura-G didn’t just knock through some walls but also finished most of the surfaces in bright sunshine-yellow in a bid to lighten up the interior.
    The colour was used for everything from the carpet to the bathroom tiles and the spiral staircase, which features risers made from gridded steel sheets to allow light to filter through the apartment.
    Find out more about Duplex in Sant Gervasi ›
    Photo is by Marcela GrassiLoft in Poblenou, Spain, by NeuronaLab
    Architecture studio NeuronaLab placed a huge baby-blue module at the centre of this compact loft in order to turn it from a bachelor pad into a home for a young family.
    Made from pressed recycled cellulose panels, the unit helps to separate the open floorplan into separate zones and provides extra storage, while also incorporating a staircase that leads up to a newly-created mezzanine.
    Find out more about Loft in Poblenou ›
    Photo is by Andrew MeredithWhite Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker
    A sweeping triple-height staircase curves around into a cantilever at the heart of this renovated 1970s house in London by architecture firm Gundry & Ducker.
    Its contrasting material palette is tied together with different shades of green, ranging from pistachio-coloured walls to racing-green railings and teal-speckled terrazzo steps.
    Find out more about White Rabbit House ›
    Photo is by Matthijs van der BurgtRiverside Tower apartment, Belgium, by Studio Okami Architecten
    Studio Okami Architecten stripped away all the surface coverings inside this apartment in Antwerp’s brutalist Riverside Tower in order to highlight its original concrete structure.
    This rough backdrop is contrasted against a collection of vibrant artworks, alongside peachy resin floors and a sky-blue spiral staircase, which was welded and painted in place due to the limited size of the tower’s circulation areas.
    Find out more about Riverside Tower apartment ›
    Photo is by Joe FletcherCut Out House, USA, by Fougeron Architecture
    Various cut-outs were made in the floor slabs of this century-old Victorian house in San Francisco to create a series of voids that usher in natural light.
    One of these voids is filled with a neon orange staircase, complete with a perforated-metal rail that folds in and out to mimic the shape of the home’s new canted glass facade.
    Find out more about Cut Out House ›
    Photo is by French + TyeMo-tel House, UK, by Office S&M
    London studio Office S&M reimagined the traditional narrow staircase of this Georgian townhouse using a toy box palette of pale pink, butter yellow and bright red.
    Storage is integrated into the spandrel in keeping with the rest of the renovation, which also saw a huge freestanding seating nook with built-in cupboards installed in the kitchen.
    Find out more about Mo-tel House ›
    Photo is by Rubén Dario KleimeerWorkhome-Playhome, Netherlands, by Lagado Architects
    When Victor Verhagen and Maria Vasiloglou of Dutch studio Lagado Architects sought to give their own home in a cookie-cutter new build a more “outspoken character”, they turned the central staircase into a key focal point.
    Instead of altering its structure, the duo simply painted the existing steps in cornflower blue and added a sculptural balustrade punctuated with triangular cut-outs that reveal glimpses of different rooms.
    Find out more about Workhome-Playhome ›
    Photo is by Juan SolanoCasa Blanca, Peru, by Martin Dulanto
    A curving concrete staircase finished in fluorescent orange is the only pop of colour inside this otherwise minimalist, neutral-toned home in Lima.
    “It is very plastic and playful,” architect Martin Dulanto told Dezeen. “As a powerful personality element, you either love it or hate it.”
    Find out more about Casa Blanca ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing timber-clad bathrooms, light-filled glass extensions and exposed wooden floorboards.

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    Ten contemporary living rooms with cool stone surfaces

    Rough-hewn granite and smooth marble are among the materials chosen for the living rooms in this lookbook, which use stone to create elegant interiors.

    While stone surfaces can help rooms feel cooler during hot summer days, they also create a warm, organic atmosphere in modern interiors – especially when contrasted against glass surfaces and other natural materials, such as wood.
    For our latest lookbook, we’ve chosen 10 living rooms from the Dezeen archive in which different types of stone add textural interest and bring a touch of the outdoors into the home.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks on light-filled glass extensions, exposed wooden floorboards and timber-clad bathrooms.
    Photography is by Timothy KayeGrange Residence, Australia, by Conrad Architects

    Australian studio Conrad Architects described its design for Grange Residence as a “split form of minimalist stone blocks.” Inside the four-bedroom home, concrete and stone were used to create a minimalist interior.
    The living room is a smorgasbord of stone detailing, with marble used for both shelves and furniture and a contrasting stone chosen for a built-in bench.
    Find out more about Grange Residence ›
    Photography is by Prue RuscoeBudge Over Dover, Australia, by YSG
    The original travertine flooring was kept in interior design studio YSG’s renovation of Budge Over Dover house in Sydney.
    The smooth, glossy floor is contrasted with an aubergine-hued plaster ceiling and a pale green statement wall, while a black marble coffee table and maroon chairs complete the interior.
    Find out more about Budge Over Dover ›
    Photography is by Joe FletcherAtherton Contemporary, US, by Pacific Peninsula Architecture and Leverone Design
    Texas split-cut limestone was used for both the exterior and parts of the interior of this house in Silicon Valley, California.
    In the living room, the chunky wall creates an interesting backdrop to a low wooden sofa and a warm wooden floor. A shaggy pillow and ridged floor mat pick up on the uneven textures to create a subtly matching interior.
    Find out more about Atherton Contemporary ›
    Photography is by Durston SaylorWriter’s Studio, US, by Eric J Smith
    Located in a forest in Connecticut, US, this writer’s studio, which was designed for a poet, has an unusual writing and living room that has seemingly been attached to the exterior of the cantilevered building.
    The house’s exterior wall, which is made from fieldstone and bluestone, forms the back wall of the glass-cube room. Rough-hewn stone walls are featured throughout the studio.
    Find out more about Writer’s Studio ›
    Photography is by Darius PetrulaitisGreetings from Rome, Lithuania, by 2XJ
    A structured stone wall with arched openings has become a decorative centrepiece in this apartment in Lithuania, designed by local studio 2XJ. The studio clad the wall in slabs of Italian travertine to turn it into an elegant feature.
    “We decided to highlight this wall and create the home around it, to separate the house into active and restful spaces,” the studio explained.
    Find out more about Greetings from Rome ›
    Photography is by Bruce ColeLoghaven Artist Residency, US, by Sanders Pace Architecture
    A decorative rustic stone wall holds the hearth in Sanders Pace Architecture’s Loghaven artist campus, nestled within a forest in eastern Tennessee.
    The rough-hewn stone contrasts against a wooden ceiling and white plaster walls, while a patterned rug and leather daybed add cosy touches to the large living room.
    Find out more about Loghaven Artist Residency ›
    Photography is by Mark Seelen, Ambroise Tezenas and François HalardChalet, Switzerland, by Liaigre
    Paris studio Liaigre refurbished this Swiss chalet in St Moritz, excavating a basement to add a sauna and a spa.
    The granite leftover from the excavation was used to line the living room walls, creating an interior that nods to the snow-capped mountains outside.
    Find out more about this Swiss chalet ›
    Photography is by Jeremy BittermannLaurelhurst, US, by MW Works
    US studio MW Works updated this 1960s home in Seattle to create a more open layout. A material palette of wood, concrete, stone and glass was used for the renovation.
    The studio aimed to create a stronger connection between the interiors and the outdoors, as seen in the living room. Here, floor-to-ceiling windows open up to the outside, while the fireplace has been re-clad in dry-stack limestone to create a decorative textural contrast.
    Find out more about Laurelhurst ›
    Photography is by David CerveraRaw House, Mexico, by Taller Estilo Arquitectura
    Located in Yucatán, Mexico, Raw House opens up towards a leafy courtyard garden. Just inside the courtyard, the living room floor is covered in smooth grey marble, creating an elegant and cooling interior.
    Dark-brown wooden and leather furniture, including a pair of classic Barcelona chairs by Mies van der Rohe, give the room an organic feel.
    Find out more about Raw House ›
    Photography is by Building NarrativesStone House, UK, by Architecture for London
    This extension to a family home in London was designed as a monolithic stone shape, with a playful interior that includes a small arched entrance for the family’s cat.
    The tiered terrace that extends from the outside to form a plinth inside was built from an agglomerate stone made from recycled waste quarried in Lombardy, Italy.
    Find out more about Stone House ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks on light-filled glass extensions, exposed wooden floorboards and timber-clad bathrooms.

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    Ten homes with light-filled glass extensions

    For our latest lookbook, we’ve chosen 10 residential glass extensions that create airy, light-filled and modern additions to homes.

    Glass is a popular material for house extensions as it is durable, weather-resistant and – thanks to its transparency – adds light and brightness to a space.
    While glass extensions are common in cities all over the world, many examples in this lookbook are found in homes in London, where demand for extra space continues to increase.
    The transparent extensions have been constructed to provide additional space to an existing building and are often used by residents for socialising, dining and entertaining.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks on homes framed by shutters and louvres, interiors with cork walls and homes that make use of board-formed concrete.

    Photo is by Will PryceTower House, UK, by Dominic McKenzie Architects
    The lofty structures often found in rural Italy informed Dominic McKenzie Architects’ brick extension for this home in Islington, London.
    The studio added black glass-panelled French doors that open out onto a sunken garden, while a rectangular skylight above allows light to filter into the dining area from overhead.
    Only minor changes were made elsewhere in the home. The pre-existing joinery was repainted and a Carrara marble fireplace was installed in the living room at the front of the house.
    Find out more about Tower House ›
    Photo is by Fionn McCannChurchtown, Ireland, by Scullion Architects
    Located in the suburbs of Dublin, this 1930s semi-detached house called Churchtown has an extension modelled on a traditional conservatory.
    Designed by Scullion Architects as a continuation of the original home, the extension houses an open-plan kitchen and dining space framed by clerestory windows. Both the white terrazzo used on the work surfaces and flooring and the stained-oak panelling were used throughout the house.
    Find out more about Churchtown ›
    Photo is by Adam GibsonMount Stuart Greenhouse, Tasmania, by Bence Mulchay
    Architecture studio Bence Mulchay added an extension with a black steel frame to a 19th-century villa for a client who wanted to maximise views of the surrounding lush gardens in Mount Stuart, Tasmania.
    The open-plan dining area features shelves that connect to the external steel structure and large counter-tops with built-in storage units made from dark timber.
    Find out more about Mount Stuart Greenhouse ›
    Photo is by Logan McDougallFelsham Road, UK, by Giles Pike Architects
    Tasked with extending and improving this Victorian semi-detached house, London-based studio Giles Pike Architects designed a stepped, double-height extension to create an open-plan living, kitchen and dining room.
    As part of its overhaul, the studio added simple finishes throughout the property – dark wood covers the floor and the walls are painted white, while the kitchen cabinets and cupboards are all painted a charcoal grey.
    Find out more about Felsham Road ›
    Photo is by Mark MahaneyFloating Farmhouse, US, Tom Givone
    Designer Tom Givone hoped to combine archaic and modern elements in his renovation of Floating Farmhouse, a two-storey home in rural New York that overlooks a picturesque creek.
    After installing a large wall of glass at the front of the waterside kitchen, he finished the space with a polished concrete floor and a wood-burning stove, while the original colonial touches such as exposed beams and white-painted timber cladding were left intact.
    Find out more about Floating Farmhouse ›
    Photo is by Aisling McCoyThe Glass Ribbon, Ireland, by Scullion Architects
    A large dining area, study and drawing room surrounded by glazed windows and skylights make up the extension of this house in Dublin.
    Irish architecture studio Scullion Architects wrapped the walls in a thick, concrete plinth that doubles up as an informal bench and window sill for potted plants.
    Find out more about The Glass Ribbon ›
    Photo is by Joe FletcherValley Street, US, by Síol Studios and Levy Art and Architecture
    Sweeping views of a historic sloping garden are enjoyed through the window wall of this study in Valley Street – a split-level home in San Fransico’s Noe Valley neighbourhood.
    Created by Síol Studios and Levy Art and Architecture for a couple that is passionate about art, the interiors combine industrial and bold details such as exposed wooden beams.
    Find out more about Valley Street ›
    Photo is by Robert BattersbyLantern Lean-to, UK, by Blee Halligan Architects
    Crittall-style black gridded frames form the exterior of this 100-square-metre extension, which has oak parquet flooring, light-coloured brickwork and timber surfaces inside.
    The large family that occupies Lantern Lean-to wanted local studio Blee Halligan Architects to create more space for entertaining their many guests while still keeping the interior timeless.
    Find out more about Lantern Lean-to ›
    Photo is by Jack HobhouseBurrows Road House, UK, by Rise Design Studio
    To bring plenty of light into this home in North London, an extension made almost entirely of glass was added to the side of the house, with full-height glass doors at the rear.
    Rise Design Studio inserted brass fittings and a white island unit in the large kitchen-cum-dining room at the back of the mid-terrace house.
    Find out more about Burrows Road House ›
    Photo is by Heather HobhouseMile End Terrace, UK, by HÛT
    London-based architecture studio HÛT removed this home’s existing brick extension and replaced it with what the architects described as a “jewel-like glass box extension” that opens onto a sunken patio.
    “The glass box helps bring daylight deep into the centre of the house where the kitchen is located and gives views into the lovely garden,” the studio said.
    In the rest of the property, the architects decided to keep the original historic features wherever possible, in particular making a statement with the listed building’s staircase.
    Find out more about HÛT ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing multi-generational homes, homes filled with decorative ceramics and residential corridors.

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    Ten homes with characterful exposed wooden floorboards

    In this lookbook, we collect 10 homes from the Dezeen archive that use exposed wooden floorboards to give spaces a homely feel.

    Timber floorboards have been a popular choice for centuries thanks to their relative durability and warming aesthetic.
    The 10 examples below showcase how floors made from different woods can work in a wide variety of settings, from bright and colourful spaces to moodier ones.
    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 parquet flooring, terrazzo flooring and wood-clad kitchens.
    Photo is by Ståle EriksenER Residence, UK, by Studio Hallett Ike

    Studio Hallett Ike preserved the existing wooden floorboards in the living room of this renovated Victorian flat in London, sanding them down to expose more of their natural grain.
    The floor is combined with pale grey plaster on the walls and black metal furnishings “to create an overall impression that is minimal and timeless, exuding an assured and understated elegance”, the studio said.
    Find out more about ER Residence ›
    Image courtesy of PauzarqApartment in Bilbao, Spain, by Pauzarq
    Spanish studio Pauzarq integrated the original wooden floorboards of this Bilbao apartment into its broken-plan redesign.
    It extended them out of the kitchen-living area into an adjacent corridor and dressing room, creating a stripy transitional section where the old and new, lighter-coloured boards meet to soften the contrast.
    Find out more about this apartment in Bilbao ›
    Photo is by Cristobal PalmaHouse in La Pedrera, Uruguay, by Alejandro Sticotti
    Lightly distressed wooden floorboards mirror the board-formed concrete ceiling in the living room and bedroom of this holiday home on Uruguay’s Atlantic Coast, designed by Argentinian architect Alejandro Sticotti.
    Combined with bookshelves, two long desks and a large expanse of glass with views out to the ocean, these features come together to give the space a sheltered, serene feel.
    Find out more about this House in La Pedrera ›
    Photo is by Iñaki DomingoApartment in Lavapiés, Spain, by Leticia Saá
    Concrete flooring appears throughout most of this minimalist apartment in Madrid designed by architect Leticia Saá, apart from in the living room.
    Here, to signal a change of mood to something “cosy and natural”, the worn-brick and white-painted walls are complemented by wide, smooth oak floorboards.
    Find out more about this apartment in Lavapiés ›
    Photo is by Louise DesrosiersApartment G, France, by Anne-Laure Dubois
    Local architect Anne-Laure Dubois restored the existing wooden floorboards in this Paris apartment to their original tone as part of a renovation.
    She offset them with a restrained palette defined by dark-blue cement tiles on the kitchen floor and contrasting pale poplar-plywood cupboards.
    Find out more about Apartment G ›
    Photo is by Ståle EriksenMarylebone apartment, UK, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
    In this London flat, overhauled by architecture studio Jonathan Tuckey Design, wooden floorboards contrast with curving pastel-coloured walls of pink, green, blue and cream across the different rooms.
    The combination creates a fresh and contemporary look, while also retaining a classic feel in keeping with the home’s Regency-era origins.
    Find out more about this Marylebone apartment ›
    Photo is by Wu YongchangA Woodwork Enthusiast’s Home, China, by ZMY Design
    ZMY Design wanted this cavernous home, in a converted cement factory in the port city of Xiamen, to evoke a complete sense of calm.
    To achieve this effect in the dramatic living room, the austerity of the pale-grey powder-coated walls and original concrete ceiling is balanced with wide and richly toned oakwood floorboards.
    Find out more about A Woodwork Enthusiast’s Home ›
    Photo is by Richard WoodButterfly House, UK, by Biasol
    Teal-coloured units with golden details are helped to pop by contrasting white walls and original timber floorboards in the kitchen of this London townhouse with interiors by Australian studio Biasol.
    The designers used the same colour-splash technique in the living room, where the floorboards sit below a navy sofa, a blue illustration by British artist Tracey Emin and pale pink dining chairs.
    Find out more about Butterfly House ›
    Photo is by André NazarethHouse in Samambaia, Brazil, by Rodrigo Simão Architecture
    House in Samambaia, designed by Brazilian architect Rodrigo Simão for himself and his family, is an example of how wooden floorboards can also help to make outdoor spaces feel more homely.
    Seven-centimetre-thick wooden planks sourced from a demolition project make up this decking area, which acts as an outdoor living room and is the home’s main spot for socialising.
    Find out more about House in Samambaia ›
    Photo is by French + TyeMo-tel House, UK, by Office S&M
    London studio Office S&M set the pale timber floorboards in this Georgian townhouse renovation against an abundance of brightly coloured elements, from coral-pink bannisters to royal-blue radiators.
    Unusually, the floorboards are laid diagonally across the open-plan space, emphasising the contrast further and adding to the playful feel.
    Find out more about Mo-tel House ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with parquet flooring, terrazzo flooring and wood-clad kitchens.

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    Ten tranquil bathrooms with timber-clad interiors

    Our latest lookbook features ten bathrooms where timber cladding has been used to create interiors with a luxurious, warm feel.

    While bathrooms with ceramic and stone interiors can feel sterile and spartan, using timber creates a cosy and enveloping atmosphere, as demonstrated by these ten projects.
    Ranging from cypress to spruce and cork, the materials used here illustrate how using wooden cladding can elevate even the most basic bathroom into a peaceful sauna-like refuge.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing statement windows, cork-covered walls and board-formed concrete.
    Photo is by Stephen Kent JohnsonAce Hotel Kyoto, Japan, by Kengo Kuma and Commune

    For hotel chain Ace’s first Japanese edition, it recruited Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and Los Angeles design studio Commune to convert a 1920s building into a modern hotel.
    Inside, Commune added wooden panelling and furniture designed by local Kyoto-based craftsmen. In the bathroom, a wooden sink with a stone top and wooden storage spaces give the room a harmonious, organic feel.
    Find out more about Ace Hotel Kyoto ›
    Photo is by Mariell Lind HansenLondon townhouse, UK, by Studio Hagen Hall
    A north London townhouse was given a 1970s-style makeover by Studio Hagen Hall, which added a bathroom with decorative cork tiles – a natural material sustainably harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree.
    Here, it was used for the floor as well as part of the walls and to clad the bathtub itself. Soft pastel-coloured peach and pink hues create a peaceful environment for the bathroom.
    Find out more about London townhouse ›
    Photo is by Fionn McCannPortobello House, Ireland, by Scullion Architects
    The bathroom at Portobello House in Dublin, Ireland, has views of an enclosed plant-filled courtyard, lending the space a feeling of zen.
    The ground and first-floor extensions to the house feature large glazed areas and wooden cladding, including in the bathroom, which was designed to offer a “sense of retreat and withdrawal”.
    Its dark-timber detailing contrasts with a rough-hewn wall and minimalist bathroom furniture.
    Find out more about Portobello House ›
    Photo is by Joe FletcherSurf House, US, by Feldman Architecture
    American studio Feldman Architecture clad Surf House in Santa Cruz in salvaged cypress wood to evoke a “casual Californian aesthetic.”
    The interior of the weekend house follows the same theme, with an interior by Commune that uses wood throughout.
    In the bathroom, a large white tub sits in front of windows that overlook the Pacific Ocean, and wooden sculptures and furniture add to the laid-back bohemian atmosphere.
    Find out more about Surf House ›
    Photo is by Marc Goodwin, ArchmospheresNiliaitta, Finland, by Studio Puisto
    Studio Puisto’s Niliaitta cabin has a black exterior and a dramatic design – it balances on a single slender column. Inside, the studio kept the interior simple to focus on the views of the surrounding forest.
    In the bathroom, a spacious shower is surrounded by light wooden panels. These were used for the floor, the walls and the slanted ceiling, creating a simple design that feels thoroughly Scandinavian.
    Find out more about Niliaitta ›
    Photo is by Spyros Hound PhotographyWooden Cave, Greece, by Tenon Architecture
    Over 1,000 pieces of hand-cut spruce were used to create the Wooden Cave hotel suite in Greece. The space lives up to its name, featuring sinuous spruce-wood walls in the entire space.
    Interior designer Tenon Architecture also used wood in the bathroom, which features a tub next to a window that gives guests views of the nearby mountain peaks.
    Find out more about Wooden Cave ›
    Photo is by Alan TanseyHouse 23, US, by Vondalwig Architecture
    Vondalwig Architecture’s design for House 23 features a blackened-wood exterior and an interior that has white brick walls and pale wood floors.
    One of the house’s bathrooms has been completely clad in timber, making it resemble a sauna. Even the large built-in tub, which sits beneath a window overlooking a nearby forest, is made from wood.
    Find out more about House 23 ›

    Mountain Refuge, Italy, by Massimo Gnocchi and Paolo Danesi
    Mountain Refuge is a prefabricated cabin-style micro-home built from plywood. The material has been left bare inside, creating a minimalist yet cosy interior.
    In the small bathroom, a shower is tucked away in a corner and a built-in shelf holds a deep sink as well as bathroom accessories. Hooks have been added to the wooden walls for practical storage.
    Find out more about Mountain Refuge ›
    Photo is by Rory GardinerBilgola Beach House, Australia, by Olson Kundig
    US studio Olson Kundig’s first project in Australia, a seaside home in Sydney, is raised above sand dunes where it sits among palm trees and Norfolk pines.
    The natural surroundings informed the interior, which features plenty of pale timber. In the bathroom, which is next to an airy terrace, the timber walls have been hung with paintings to create a room that feels like a combination of a bathroom and a living room.
    Find out more about Bilgola Beach House ›
    Photo is by Andrew PogueHood Cliff Retreat, US, by Wittman Estes
    Tucked into a coastal forest in Washington, Hood Cliff Retreat has exterior walls clad in rough-sawn cedar and large expanses of glass that bring in natural light.
    Wood was used throughout, with white oak floors paired with walls and ceilings wrapped in pine plywood. In the main bathroom, a cast-iron vintage tub contrasts against the wooden walls.
    Find out more about Hood Cliff Retreat ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing statement windows, cork-covered walls and board-formed concrete.

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    Ten playful pink kitchens that use colour in unexpected ways

    From the bubble-gum-coloured cabinets of a Tokyo apartment to the rosy mosaics found in a modernist Grecian villa, our latest lookbook rounds up 10 pink kitchens from the Dezeen archives.

    Architects and designers often reach for different shades of pink when they want to add interest and personality to a functional space, such as a kitchen.
    Sometimes this takes the form of isolated pops of colour, as seen below in the kitchen islands in a Minsk design office and a creekside home in Lithuania.
    Elsewhere, all of the surfaces from the walls and floors down to the kitchen sink are finished tonally in different shades of pink, as evidenced here by two different Spanish apartments.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing home interiors that make use of statement windows, board-formed concrete and textured cork-covered walls.

    Photo is by Jan VranovskyNagatachō Apartment, Japan, by Adam Nathaniel Furman
    A saccharine, bubblegum-pink kitchen suite sits at the heart of this apartment in Tokyo by British designer Adam Nathaniel Furman, clashed playfully with stripes of “watermelon-green” vinyl flooring.
    “A lot of the way I described the project as I was developing it was through taste and references to cooking and food, so that the colour scheme became a matter of choosing ingredients for a beautifully calibrated visual feast,” Furman told Dezeen.
    Find out more about Nagatachō Apartment ›
    Photo is by Lorenzo ZandriSt Minas House, Greece, by Neiheiser Argyros
    Neiheiser Argyros used playful colours and materials to complement the existing modernist details of a 1970s villa near Athens, which the architecture practice overhauled last year.
    The kitchen’s limited material palette of exposed brick and board-formed concrete was rounded off with unexpected touches, such as perforated aluminium cabinets and a dusty-pink mosaic backsplash with matching counters.
    Find out more about St Minas House ›
    Photo is by JC de MarcosMinimal Fantasy apartment, Spain, by Patricia Bustos Studio
    All of the rooms and most of the surfaces in this holiday apartment in Madrid are finished in some shade of pink – all the way down to the kitchen sink.
    Local practice Patricia Bustos Studio only broke from the colour scheme when it came to the cupboard fronts, which are interrupted by brass detailing and geometric shapes in denim and baby blue.
    Find out more about Minimal Fantasy apartment ›
    Photo is by Luis Díaz DíazMixtape Apartment, Spain, by Azab
    Pale pink walls and cupboard doors help to jazz up this kitchen in a 1960s apartment, which Spanish architecture studio Azab has overhauled for a retiree in Bilbao.
    Mismatched herringbone floor tiles tie the colour scheme together, bringing in little flavours of mint green and cherry red alongside a muted beige to match the timber trim on the kitchen frons.
    Find out more about Mixtape Apartment ›
    Photo is by Dmitry TsyrencshikovStudio11 office, Belarus, by Studio11
    When designing its own workplace in Minsk, interiors practice Studio11 aimed to steer clear of the simple industrial aesthetic favoured by many design and architecture offices.
    That meant juxtaposing the interior’s raw concrete and plaster surfaces with vibrant accents, such as an abstract portrait by Belarusian painter Zakhar Kudin or a blush-coloured counter, which is set in front of the half-painted blue walls in the shared kitchen.
    Find out more about the Studio11 office ›
    Photo is by Javier Agustín RojasLerma workshop, Argentinia, by Estudio Nu
    Argentinian practice Estudio Nu created this communal kitchen when dividing up its own design studio, set in a former dental mechanics workshop in Buenos Aires, in order to create accessible office spaces for other local creatives.
    Here, speckled pink tiles were chosen to match the interior’s muted material palette, which combines rippled glass doors with pale timber walls and concrete floors.
    Find out more about Lerma workshop ›
    Photo is courtesy of ReformDesigners Remix showroom, Denmark, by Reform
    Danish brand Reform, which specialises in customising IKEA kitchen suites, took inspiration from the colour schemes and gradients of makeup palettes when designing the break-out area of this fashion showroom in Copenhagen.
    Here, kitchen fronts from Reform’s Basis collection are finished in progressively deeper pastel shades ranging from peach to blush and dark rose, contrasted against a jet-black sink and tap.
    Find out more about Designers Remix showroom ›
    Photo is by Giedrius MamavičiusHouse and the River, Lithuania, by After Party
    White walls, floors and ceilings create a bright, modern backdrop inside this creek-side house in northern Lithuania, with character added in the form of antique Soviet-era furnishings and splashes of unexpected colour.
    Its monochrome kitchen is tucked under a mezzanine and punctuated by a salmon-coloured island with a terrazzo countertop in ballet-slipper pink.
    Find out more about House and the River ›
    Photo is by Roberto RuizApartment in Born, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture
    An arched, coral-pink volume squeezes in a second bathroom next to the kitchen of this compact apartment, which is set in a 13th-century residential building in Barcelona’s historic El Born neighbourhood.
    This same motif is repeated in the breakfast island with its curved worktop made of pink quartz and the matching rose-tinted dining table.
    Find out more about Apartment in Born ›
    Photo is by Richard ChiversMaison Pour Dodo, UK, by Studio Merlin
    Pale, plaster-coloured walls and Douglas fir floorboards are contrasted against smokey blue cabinets inside this flat in London’s Stoke Newington, which local practice Studio Merlin overhauled for founder Josh Piddock and his girlfriend.
    The interior combines what Piddock describes as a “spectrum of storage”, ranging from a hacked IKEA kitchen suite topped with a concrete Caesarstone counter to open, pantry-style shelves squeezed in above a small seating nook.
    Find out more about Maison Pour Dodo ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing statement windows, board-formed concrete and textured cork-covered walls.

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    Ten residential interiors framed by statement windows

    From circular openings in an Indonesian dwelling to the lofty skylights of an English barn-style house, our latest lookbook features 10 residential interiors with striking windows.

    At their most basic, windows are defined as openings in walls, doors and roofs that are typically sealed by a transparent material such as glass that allows you to look through it, and can be opened to introduce fresh air into a space.
    Architects and designers often use unusual windows in their projects to create visual interest within both residential and commercial interiors.
    These can include distinctive floor-to-ceiling glazing, dramatic lightwells, and windows with added window seats for peaceful contemplation, as seen below.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing multi-generational homes, eye-catching corridors and tiled bathrooms.

    Photo is by Peter BennettsBismarck House, Australia, by Andrew Burges Architects
    Bismarck House is a holiday home in the Sydney suburb of Bondi, Australia, with floor-to-ceiling glazing that was designed with the idea of a “continuous garden” in mind.
    To reinforce this concept, Andrew Burges Architects applied a robust material palette to the ground floor that intends to connect interior and outdoor spaces, including curvy wicker armchairs set against galvanised steel columns.
    Find out more about Bismarck House ›
    Photo is by Sanden+Hodnekvam ArkitekterBrickhouse with Tower, Norway, by Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter
    Oslo studio Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkiteker added a brick-clad tower to this house in Lillehammer, Norway, which features a double-height living space illuminated by large rectilinear windows.
    Surrounding city and lake views are framed by wood-lined interiors including ash plywood ceilings and exposed pine beams, which were chosen for their warm and welcoming feel.
    Find out more about Brickhouse with Tower ›
    Photo is by Ståle EriksenBurnt House, UK, by Will Gamble Architects
    A charred-wood window seat takes centre stage at Burnt House, an extension to a Victorian property in west London by Will Gamble Architects that has a design informed by Japanese teahouses.
    Built into a large expanse of glazing with gridded steel frames, the window seat offers a quiet space to relax. It was charred with a blowtorch using the traditional technique known as Shou Sugi Ban.
    Find out more about Burnt House ›
    Photo is by Eric DinardiThe Guild, Indonesia, by Realrich Sjarief
    Architect Realrich Sjarief created The Guild as a multipurpose house and studio for his firm RAW Architecture in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    The geometric building is defined by circular windows flanked by arch-shaped openings that offer views of the garden’s tranquil pond from the living and dining room on the ground floor.
    Find out more about The Guild ›
    Photo is by Mariell Lind HansenSt John Street, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
    Local practice Emil Eve Architects paired tiled, loft-like windows with exposed brick walls in this renovated warehouse apartment in Clerkenwell, London.
    “Although an industrial palette can feel quite raw and harsh, the materials here had such a beautiful range of tones and textures that we knew we wanted to retain them,” explained Emil Eve co-founder Emma Perkin.
    Find out more about St John Street ›
    Photo is by VATRAALondon home, UK, by VATRAA
    Another London home, this converted artist’s studio by VATRAA includes a six-metre-high lightwell that illuminates the house from its top level to its basement.
    The open-plan ground floor is decorated with minimal furniture including a silver-toned rectilinear kitchen island and slouchy grey sofa, while a petite, cottage-style window adds further light to the interior.
    Find out more about this London home ›
    Photo is by White ArrowThe Historic Schoolhouse apartment, USA, by White Arrow
    A trio of arched windows creates an airy but cosy atmosphere in this former Williamsburg schoolhouse in New York, which was converted into an apartment by design studio White Arrow.
    “To celebrate the heritage of a landmarked 1800s Brooklyn schoolhouse, we transformed a utilitarian artist loft into a glamorous home, rich with period-appropriate detail,” said the firm.
    Find out more about The Historic Schoolhouse apartment ›
    Photo is by Jill TateNorth Bank, UK, by Elliott Architects
    This barn-like house in England’s Tyne Valley includes a double-height living space with square windows along the ground floor and skylights embedded in the roof, which follow the path of the sun throughout the day.
    Soft, shaggy rugs and cylindrical cushions contrast rustic wooden furniture in a casual seating area that is positioned directly below the volume’s exposed wooden gabled roof.
    Find out more about North Bank ›
    Photo is by Jeroen VerrechtDestelbergen home, Belgium, by Graux & Baeyens Architecten
    Light-filled interior spaces are positioned atop a concrete plinth at a renovated 1960s chalet in Destelbergen, Belgium, by Ghent-based practice Graux & Baeyens Architecten.
    Terrazzo flooring and neutral-hued furniture blend with the leafy scenery seen from large timber-framed windows in the living room, while the space’s chunky concrete accents double as bench-like seating.
    Find out more about this Destelbergen home ›
    Photo is by Dane AlonsoCasa UC, Mexico, by Daniela Bucio Sistos
    Mexican architect Daniela Bucio Sistos matched circular windows with a disc-shaped canopy positioned over a courtyard at Casa UC in Morelia.
    Set into pigmented concrete walls, the smooth glazed windows juxtapose a series of textured red brick partitions laid in a non-flush manner that alternates between protruding and receding.
    Find out more about Casa UC ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing homes with water features, open-plan studies and bedrooms on mezzanines. 

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