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      Eight compact micro interiors that make the most of their small space

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight micro apartments and micro homes that use clever solutions to fit the most into a single room, which often functions as both the living room and the bedroom.

      A “sleeping cocoon” and built-in space-saving furniture are among the solutions used to create comfortable living and sleeping spaces in these projects.
      The interiors, which range from a home in Taipei to a small apartment in Beirut, feature a number of innovative designs that allow their owners and tenants to stretch out – even in spaces that are as small as 15 square metres.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring minimalist kitchens and homes with pyramidal ceilings.
      Photo by Pierce ScourfieldFerguson, Scotland, by Lee Ivett, Simon Harlow and Duncan Blackmore

      Colour decorates the walls in this 25-square-metre apartment in Glasgow, which doesn’t contain any freestanding furniture. Instead, a fixed bench and a shelf that functions as a desk create a living room and workspace.
      The bed can be found on a mezzanine that sits above a compact shower room and is reached via wooden steps. Custom-made sinks ensure that the white goods don’t take up too much space in the flat, which the owner uses as a temporary base in the city.
      Find out more about Ferguson ›

      Corten steel micro home, Lithuania, by IM Interior
      This micro home located inside a former garage in Lithuania shows “how little a person needs,” said designer Indrė Mylytė-Sinkevičienė, founder of IM Interior.
      The home measures 21 square metres and has warm birch wood lining. Its bed is positioned like a window seat beneath one of its two narrow windows and surrounded by concealed storage. A slim, built-in shelf functions as both a desk and a dining table.
      Find out more about the Corten steel home ›
      Photo is by Hey! CheeseMicro-flat, Taiwan, by A Little Design
      Local studio A Little Design used built-in, space-saving furniture for this Taipei apartment, which measures just 17.6 square metres.
      Built-in cabinets provide storage next to a staircase that leads up to a mezzanine bed, while a foldable table can be used as a desk or dining space.
      Find out more about the micro-flat ›
      Photo is by Peter BennettsMicroloft, Melbourne, by Studio Edwards
      Chipboard was used to create much of the furniture in this 24-square-metre apartment in Melbourne, including storage units, a sofa and a bed.
      The designers also customised IKEA furniture for the home, wrapping a bedside stool in recycled aluminium to help with the acoustics and using aluminium legs to extend the same stools to create seats for dining.
      Find out more about Microloft ›
      Photo by Ståle EriksenShoji Apartment, UK, by Proctor & Shaw
      A translucent “sleeping cocoon” wrapped in panels that reference Japanese shoji screens gave this flat its name. Designed by London studio Proctor & Shaw, it measures 29 square metres and has a design that takes advantage of its high ceilings.
      “This apartment renovation project is conceived as a prototype for micro-living in existing housing stock with constrained floor areas but traditionally generous ceiling heights,” explained the studio.
      Find out more about Shoji Apartment ›
      Photo by Marwan HarmouchShoe Box, Lebanon, by Eliemetni
      This compact Beirut apartment, located on the roof of an old building, has just 15 square metres of floor space but manages to fit everything into one room.
      The floor was coated in white epoxy to maximise the light in the small space, which has lots of under-bed and under-seating storage in its custom-built space-saving furniture. Matching white walls add an airy feel to the space.
      Find out more about Shoe Box ›
      Photo by Koji Fujii Nacasa and PartnersLove2 House, Japan, by Takeshi Hosaka
      This Tokyo micro home, which measures 19 square metres, receives plenty of natural light from its two large skylights.
      Architect Takeshi Hosaka built it for himself and his wife, designing the compact home with seven partitions that extend out from the reinforced concrete walls to define the dining, kitchen and sleeping zones.
      A large sliding door opens the home up to the street, creating additional space in the warm months.
      Find out more about Love2 House ›
      Photo by JAG StudioDoméstico, Ecuador, by Juan Alberto Andrade and María José Váscones
      Located inside the Qorner building in Quito, Ecuador, this micro apartment measures 27.5 square metres and features a floor-to-ceiling unit that the designers described as a “habitable artifact”.
      It contains storage space as well as a bed and desk, both of which fold up. A door in the corner leads to a bathroom with a sink, shower and toilet.
      Find out more about Doméstico ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring minimalist kitchens and homes with pyramidal ceilings.

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      Eight converted-barn interiors that reveal echoes of their pasts

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      An “unprecious” restaurant, a sculptor’s studio and a handful of holiday homes are among the converted barns in our latest lookbook, which explores how to transform the interiors of these agricultural buildings.

      Traditionally, barns are farm buildings that house livestock or store resources such as grain or hay.
      But around the world, architects and designers have renovated these spaces – often hundreds of years old – to create homes or for them to be used for other contemporary purposes.
      While the insides of some barns have been entirely remodelled, others purposefully celebrate their original features such as timber beams and gabled roofs.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring minimalist kitchens, pyramidal ceilings and eclectic hotels.

      Photo by José HeviaRelámpago House, Spain, by H3O
      Barcelona practice H3O transformed an old barn in Sant Just Desvern, Spain, into a one-storey home with an unusual interior layout.
      The studio created zigzagging walls for Relámpago House in to reference an old family legend told by the homeowner, whose ancestors are said to have survived a lightning bolt that struck the barn and entered the building through the chimney, narrowly avoiding the family members sheltering under the dining table.
      Find out more about Relámpago House ›
      Photo by Rory GardinerRedhill Barn, UK, by TYPE
      A dilapidated barn in Devon, southwest England, was transformed into a secluded house that has retained its 200-year-old stone walls.
      London architecture studio TYPE used neutral hues for the interiors, designed to complement the barn’s original stone and lime plaster walls and columns.
      The studio also created a new Douglas fir floor and roof structure that was chosen to evoke the rhythm and simplicity of traditional agricultural buildings.
      Find out more about Redhill Barn ›
      Photo by Alex BaxterBarn at the Ahof, the Netherlands, by Julia van Beuningen
      Designer Julia van Beuningen added a plywood spiral staircase to this thatched barn in Gelderland, the Netherlands, which she converted into a holiday home.
      The staircase’s smooth timber and sinuous curves contrast the ceiling’s rustic wooden beams. A slender steel kitchen island also features on the ground floor and imbues the 19th-century barn with a contemporary touch.
      Find out more about Barn at the Ahof ›
      Photo by David BarbourCroft 3, UK, by Fardaa
      Set within an abandoned basalt barn, Croft 3 is a gabled restaurant on Scotland’s Isle of Mull by emerging studio Fardaa.
      “Unprecious” interiors characterise the eatery, which features salmon-hued, exposed plaster walls and long communal tables carved on the island from a single Douglas fir tree.
      Find out more about Croft 3 ›
      Photo by Lorenzo LandriniWraxall Yard, UK, by Clementine Blakemore Architects 
      The Wraxall Yard complex is a series of holiday homes in Dorset, southwest England located in formerly derelict stone barns.
      Clementine Blakemore Architects designed the project, accessed via a curved pathway, with accessibility in mind. Brick and timber accents characterise the interior, created to feel homely rather than clinical.
      Find out more about Wraxall Yard ›
      Photo by Thomas HeimannLandhaus, Germany, by Thomas Kroeger Architekt
      Landhaus – or Country House – is a holiday home and guest annexe in a converted 140-year-old barn in Uckermark, Germany.
      Designed by Thomas Kroeger Architekt, the building has a double-height large hall at the centre of the former barn. A statement red-brick fireplace with integrated seating on its sides features on one side of the paved courtyard.
      Find out more about Landhaus ›
      Photo by Brigida GonzálezKressbronn Library, Germany, by Steimle Architekten
      Also in Germany, Steimle Architekten converted a former barn into a library and community centre for the village of Kressbronn am Bodensee.
      The vertical wooden slats that clad the building allow diffused daylight to enter the interior, which features concrete flooring and an open gallery tucked beneath the preserved timber trusses.
      Find out more about Kressbronn Library ›
      Photo by Jim StephensonArt Barn, UK, by Thomas Randall-Page
      Architect Thomas Randall-Page designed an artist’s studio and airtight archive space for his sculptor father, Peter Randall-Page.
      The project is a converted barn in Devon with a largely open interior except for a cosy “winter studio” contained within a cork-clad structure positioned on timber supports. The space underneath the studio creates a lounge area with a wood-burning stove.
      Find out more about Art Barn ›
      The main image of Art Barn is by Jim Stephenson.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring minimalist kitchens, pyramidal ceilings and eclectic hotels.

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      Eight minimalist kitchens where materials provide the decoration

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve compiled eight functional kitchens that prove that conventional construction materials have their place in domestic interiors.

      The kitchens featured in this roundup utilise common construction materials, including wood, metal and concrete, to create an atmosphere of durability and serenity.
      Combining these materials creates a balanced interior scheme, with wood providing a sense of warmth, while metals such as stainless steel and concrete add an air of functionality.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring interiors punctuated by red accents, homes with internal windows and spaces energised by colourful window frames.
      Photo by Iñaki DomingoMadrid apartment, Spain, by Leticia Saá

      An open-sided kitchen island flanked by a duo of three-legged stools features in this kitchen in a Madrid flat by architect Leticia Saá.
      A shelf-like surface holds the cooktop and a simple coat of white paint covers the walls and ceilings, creating a casual and bright kitchen area.
      Find out more about Madrid apartment ›
      Photo by Maxime DelvauxNormandy farmhouse, France, by Studio Guma
      Vast picture windows and a blush pink concrete island characterise this kitchen, which sits inside a rural farmhouse in northern France designed by Studio Guma.
      Original rustic beams and a stone wall compliment the minimalist kitchen, in which the designers chose to forgo conventional wall cabinets in favour of a slimline shelf.
      Find out more about Normandy farmhouse ›
      Photo by Asier RuaCasa Olivar, Spain, by Matteo Ferrari and Carlota Gallo
      Rustic and industrial design motifs are combined in this kitchen inside Casa Olivar, a two-storey apartment in Madrid renovated by designers Matteo Ferrari and Carlota Gallo.
      A wooden table and uneven floor tiles contrast with sleek stainless steel cabinets, imbuing the space with a sense of balance.
      Find out more about Casa Olivar ›
      Photo courtesy of SABO ProjectSacha apartment, France, by SABO Project
      Plywood cladding, storage and furniture define the interior of this Parisian apartment by SABO Project.
      White walls and flooring tie the abundant use of warm-toned wood in with the concrete ceiling above.
      Find out more about Sacha apartment ›
      Photo by Cathy SchuslerPenthouse M, Australia, by CJH Studio
      CJH Studio covered the walls of this kitchen in small square tiles when renovating Penthouse M, an apartment in Gold Coast, Australia, that dates from the 1980s.
      A wooden bar flanked by tall bar stools is positioned in front of floor-to-ceiling windows, and a bright, cool-toned colour palette creates an atmosphere of calm.
      Find out more about CJH Studio ›
      Photo by Maja WirkusK916 and K907, Poland, by Thisispaper Studio
      A slatted wooden partition wall and a concrete ceiling generate a textural backdrop for the kitchen and dining area of this flat in the Polish capital of Warsaw.
      Thisispaper Studio furnished the space with purely essential furniture – a plain kitchen unit and a functional dining set – to give the room an aesthetically peaceful appearance.
      Find out more about Thisispaper Studio ›
      Photo by Max Hart NibbrigBolívar House, Spain, by Juan Gurrea Rumeu
      Local architect Juan Gurrea Rumeu added dark wooden cabinetry to the kitchen in his Barcelona house, creating a warm and grounding effect.
      Exposed wires attached to lighting add an industrial edge, and the presence of concrete on the walls and floors provides an interplay between warm and cool tones.
      Find out more about Bolívar House ›
      Photo by Rory GardinerMossy Point house, Australia, by Edition Office
      Metal countertops and backsplashes give a utilitarian edge to this plywood kitchen installed in a home in Australia.
      Local studio Edition Office installed smooth-fronted cabinets to keep clutter out of sight, allowing select ceramics and coffee paraphernalia to take centre stage.
      Find out more about Mossy Point house ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring interiors punctuated by red accents, homes with internal windows and spaces energised by colourful window frames.

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      Eight interiors with pyramidal ceilings that create dramatic depth

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve brought together eight houses from Mexico to Norway featuring pyramidal ceilings that reveal their structure and create a sense of depth.

      Similar to domed and vaulted ceilings, pyramidal ceilings have four panes that angle upwards towards a central point. Because of their depth, they often conform to architectural elements visible on the exterior of a structure.
      The ceilings can have skylights on their apexes to bring in light and provide a sense of height to structures that are often single-storey.
      While it can be rendered in a variety of materials, the feature often conforms to the wall material used throughout the house. Sometimes a building will feature more than one pyramidal ceiling, creating a peak-and-valley effect with interesting light patterns.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring houses that have vaulted ceilings and rooms with decorative plasterwork.

      Photo by by Einar AslaksenWeekend House, Norway, by Line Solgaard Arkitekter
      Norweigan architecture studio Line Solgaard Arkiteker created a house that sits under a single zinc-clad pyramidal roof topped with a massive skylight that filters light through the whole home.
      Because of the need for room dividers, the pyramid is only viewed in parts, as seen in the living space above with its slanted ceilings clad in stepped oak slats that make its angle even more dramatic.
      Find out more about Weekend House ›
      This photo and top photo by Joe FletcherFour Roof House, United States, by TW Ryan Architecture
      This home in rural Montana features not one but four pyramidal roofs, each with a skylight that casts sunlight on the white-walled interiors – a dramatic contrast with the hardy Corten steel of the exterior.
      Because of the potential for overexposure inside, the studio placed reflective panelling below each of the skylights to diffuse the direct sunlight.
      Find out more about Four Roof House ›
      Photo by Alice ClancyHouse at Kilmore, Ireland, by GKMP Architects
      Another house with a single pyramidal roof, this home in the Irish countryside was designed to be compact, so the higher roofs made the spaces seem larger and more airy.
      Instead of a central skylight, smaller ones were laid out across the four faces of the home and a series of glulam beams were left exposed, as seen in the home’s kitchen.
      Find out more about House at Kilmore ›
      Photo by Casey DunnRiver Bend Residence, United States, by Lake Flato 
      This house in Texas has multiple volumes topped with pyramidal skylights, each with its own distinct cladding to create different light environments for different usages.
      The home was designed to “sit lightly on the land”, so the studio decided to arch the ceilings up to create a sense of cosy height in the gathering and workspaces.
      Find out more about River Bend Residence ›
      Photo by Joe FletcherPlover House, United States, by Fuse Architects
      Another house that sits under a single pyramidal roof, this California project features a pyramid that rises gradually and terminates at a large skylight at its centre.
      The project is a renovation of an existing house, and one of the main objectives was to peel back elements that had blocked the light from the skylight – which sits over the kitchen – from reaching the other living spaces.
      Find out more about Plover House ›
      Photo by César BéjarThe Avocado, Mexico, by Práctica Arquitectura
      The house near Monterrey has a structure made almost entirely out of concrete and features a large pyramidal ceiling at its centre, making the dining area a sort of inner sanctum of the otherwise low-lying structure.
      Standing 4.5 metres above the floor, this skylight gives the space a sense of depth and the cut-out allows inhabitants to realise the thickness of the concrete that makes up the walls, echoing the forms of ancient pyramids found in the country.
      Find out more about The Acovado ›
      Photo by Timothy SoarThe Tin House, United Kingdom, by Henning Stummel
      This red-clad house in London contains multiple pyramidal forms with skylights in order to create light-filled spaces in a dense part of the city.
      In the kitchen, a strip of paint separates the red panelling of the walls from the plaster pyramidal ceiling, adding a sense of elongation and depth to the space.
      Find out more about The Tin House ›

      Hollowed Out House, Australia, by Tribe Studio
      Instead of conforming exactly to the shape of the roof the pyramidal ceilings in this Sydney house function like voids in the thick roofline.
      The interior pyramids stretch upwards in “distorted” angles, allowing light to enter in a way best suited to the site.
      Find out more about Hollowed Out House ›
      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 interior windows that maximise light, creative guest rooms that accommodate visitors in style, and home interiors brightened with colourful window frames.

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      Eight homes where internal windows and partitions maximise light

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      In this lookbook, we have collected eight projects that use internal glazing and partitions to create brighter home interiors and increased connectivity between spaces.

      While the primary use of windows is for daylight access and ventilation, they can also play a key role in visually connecting spaces within the home.
      Adding internal windows enables more interaction between adjacent rooms, while allowing light to penetrate further into the home – creating bright and spacious interiors.
      While similar, internal partitions offer a unique opportunity to simultaneously increase connectivity and enhance privacy through the demarcation of a home’s internal spaces.
      Below are eight examples that showcase the versatility of internal openings and partitions, ranging from a colourful home extension featuring playful, circular windows in London to an open-plan kitchen punctuated with brass-lined portals in Toronto.

      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring creative guest rooms that accommodate visitors in style, home interiors brightened with colourful window frames and hotel interiors characterised by eclectic designs.
      Photo by BCDF studioTimbaud, France, by Isabelle Heilmann
      Converted from a textile workshop, this open-plan apartment in Paris offers a bright, spacious interior equipped with a dedicated home office, mezzanines and a loft.
      Designer Isabelle Heilmann used internal windows and glazing in order to retain visual connections between the rooms, as well as demarcate the living spaces and enable a flow of light through the interior.
      Find out more about Timbaud ›
      Photo by Megan TaylorCurve Appeal, UK, by Nimtim Architects
      Multifunctional partitions built from plywood joinery were used to define the interior of this 1920s house in Southwark, London, renovated by local studio Nimtim Architects.
      Addressing a need for improved connectivity and daylight, the studio used curved, glazed openings within the partitions to encourage visual connection between the different spaces.
      Find out more about Curve Appeal ›
      Photo by Scott NorsworthyPortal House, USA, by Svima
      Renovated by architecture and art studio Svima, this residence in Toronto features asymmetrical portals lined with brass ribbons.
      Aptly named Portal House, the home’s open-plan kitchen and dining area are connected via two portals – with one used as a doorway and the other as a pass-through for food, drinks and tableware.
      Find out more about Portal House ›
      Photo by José HeviaMediona 13, Spain, by Nua Arquitectures
      Nua Arquitectures revamped this house in the historic centre of Tarragona, Spain, using pastel-coloured steel to reinforce its structure.
      Internal windows overlook the home’s large entrance, which features a staircase lined with pastel blue balustrades, to allow light to travel into the home.
      Find out more about Mediona 13 ›
      Photo by Nick DeardenAR Residence, UK, by DeDraft
      A kitchen extension clad in green aluminium panels was used by architecture studio DeDraft to update this home in east London.
      Also overseeing the remodelling of the home’s upper floors, the studio implemented large windows and skylights along with an internal window to allow light to permeate the interior.
      Find out more about AR Residence ›
      Photo by Jim StephensonA House in East London, UK, by Charles Holland Architects
      This colourful extension completed by Charles Holland Architects features a trio of aligned, circular windows that connect the ground-floor spaces.
      Creating “unexpected views between rooms”, these internal openings form a series of interconnected interior spaces, as opposed to a large open-plan layout.
      Find out more about A House in East London ›
      Photo by Megan TaylorFruit Box, UK, by Nimtim Architects
      Also completed by Nimtim Architects is an extension added to a 1970s townhouse in Forest Hill, London, which is divided by adaptable partitions.
      These plywood partitions are designed to be filled in for increased privacy between spaces, but are also non-structural to allow for easy removal to maximise interior space if needed.
      Find out more about Fruit Box ›
      Photo by Alex Shoots BuildingsHouse in Kutná Hora, Czech Republic, by Byró Architekti
      Byró Architekti restored and renovated this 19th-century house in Kutná Hora using colourful joinery and playful openings.
      Aiming to improve the connection between the home’s spaces, internal windows and glass-block walls were added to each level of the centralised spiral staircase.
      Find out more about House in Kutná Hora ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring creative guest rooms that accommodate visitors in style, home interiors brightened with colourful window frames and hotel interiors characterised by eclectic designs.

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      Ten kitchen design ideas from Dezeen

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      Working on a kitchen as part of a construction or renovation project but not sure where to start? Here are 10 kitchen design ideas taken from Dezeen’s archive of lookbooks, featuring tips for colour, materials and layout.

      Since 2020, Dezeen has published more than 300 lookbooks providing visual inspiration for all kinds of interiors based on the stories we publish.
      Below, we organise 10 recent lookbooks into a useful guide that captures several of the key contemporary trends in kitchen design.
      Read on for 10 ideas and tips for designing a standout kitchen:
      Photo by Megan TaylorClad it in wood

      If you want to avoid the kitchen feeling sterile, wood is a reliable way to introduce a sense of cosiness and homeliness.
      Our lookbook on kitchens with wooden panelling and cabinetry features examples that use birch plywood, pale oak, salvaged cypress and pine – each providing a different level of warmth.
      Pictured is Curve Appeal, a 1920s house in London renovated by Nimtim Architects that combines wood with decorative arches.
      See more wood-clad kitchens ›
      Photo by Giedrius MamavičiusMake it pink
      While it’s not to everyone’s taste, pink always adds personality to functional spaces.
      Dezeen’s pink kitchens lookbook highlights various approaches to using the colour, from splashing rosy shades across all surfaces to more restrained pops on tiles and cupboards.
      Pictured is House and the River in northern Lithuania, where Vilnius-based studio After Party punctuated the monochrome cooking area with a salmon-coloured kitchen island topped in complementary terrazzo.
      See more pink kitchens ›
      Photo by Prue RuscoeBuild a breakfast nook
      If you have space to play with, squeezing in a casual nook for eating breakfast in can give the kitchen some coffee-shop charm.
      As our breakfast nooks lookbook demonstrates, they are usually tucked into a corner with banquette seating – though the concept can be adapted to work in a range of setups depending on room layout and size.
      Pictured is Budge Over Dover in Sydney by interior design studio YSG.
      See more kitchens with breakfast nooks ›
      Photo by Ralph FeinerUse metal
      If cosy isn’t the desired look, metal is an alternative material choice that affords a chic industrial feel.
      Gleaming stainless steel is tried-and-tested, but our collection of metal kitchens also features units made from black iron and weathered reclaimed sheets.
      In the project pictured, Berlin architecture studio Baumhauer chose to juxtapose a Swiss farmhouse’s vaulted ceiling with the clean, modern lines of a steel L-shaped kitchen with built-in appliances.
      See more metal kitchens ›
      Photo by Fionn McCannFit floor-to-ceiling cabinets
      Often employed to complement a minimalist aesthetic, floor-to-ceiling cabinets can represent an effective way to maximise storage space and reduce clutter in the kitchen.
      Our lookbook collects eight elegant examples in kitchens of various sizes.
      Pictured is a residential extension in Dublin by Scullion Architects, where tall oak-panelled cupboards conceal appliances and a pantry.
      See more kitchens with floor-to-ceiling cabinets ›
      Photo by Pion StudioInclude a waterfall-edged island
      Kitchen islands have become a staple of contemporary interior architecture – but the most sophisticated examples tend to a feature a surface that flows seamlessly from the countertop to the floor.
      Dezeen selected eight kitchen islands where waterfall edges create an impactful yet sleek focal point for the room.
      The image above shows Botaniczna Apartment, where Agnieszka Owsiany Studio formed a kitchen island out of travertine draped over oak cupboards.
      See more kitchens with waterfall-edged islands ›
      Photo by Benjamin HoskingEmbrace constrast
      Don’t be afraid to combine clashing materials to create a kitchen that really makes a statement.
      We collected eight rich-palette kitchens that juxtapose the rough with the smooth, the glossy with the grainy and the warm with the cool.
      Pictured is the pistachio-green units and red marble surfaces of the kitchen in a Melbourne apartment designed by architect Murray Barker and artist Esther Stewart.
      See more kitchens with colour and texture contrasts ›
      Photo by Lorenzo Zandri and Christian BraileyCombine wood and stone
      For a less ambitious but no less effective material combination, the natural textures of wood and stone are a practical and pleasing partnership.
      Dezeen put together a lookbook showing various ways to pair wooden units with stone surfaces, from demure limestone to dramatic marble.
      Shown above is Architecture for London’s kitchen extension to an Edwardian house in Muswell Hill.
      See more kitchens that combine wood and stone ›
      Photo by Nicole FranzenTile the worktops
      Tiles are a staple of many kitchens – particularly for splashbacks and flooring – but some designers go further and use them to add personality to surfaces.
      Our lookbook of kitchens with tiled worktops explores how the technique can create an eye-catching focal point or be more utilitarian.
      Pictured is a kitchen island covered in glossy oxblood-coloured tiles in an East Village apartment designed by GRT Architects.
      See more kitchens with tiled worktops ›
      Photo by Denilson MachadoAdd a touch of terracotta
      Rusty-shaded terracotta can be a handy tool for making the kitchen a more welcoming environment with a touch of Mediterranean warmth.
      In our lookbook on kitchens with terracotta tiling, we collect projects that use the earthenware material to create pleasingly textured floors and walls.
      At Hygge Studio in São Paulo, designed by Melina Romano, terracotta flooring teams up with tan brick walls to soften monochrome kitchen units.
      See more kitchens with terracotta tiling ›
      Dezeen’s lookbooks series provides visual inspiration from our archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring light-filled kitchens, kitchens with minimalist storage solutions and Scandinavian-style kitchens.

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      Eight creative guest rooms that accommodate visitors in style

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      In this lookbook, we’ve collected eight guest rooms from China to Spain that provide visiting friends and family a space to call their own.

      Guest accommodations come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Ranging from a sofa during our younger years to full-blown guesthouses later on, putting up friends and family is made better when we have a place to put them – no matter how small.
      The houses and apartments below showcase the myriad ways an extra bedroom can be integrated into an interior, often doubling as an office, storage space or – in the case of a Beijing apartment – a place to enjoy some tea.
      Read on below for fresh ideas on how to provide space for visitors.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring brightly-framed windows, tactile and organic living rooms and mezzanines that maximise usable space.

      Photo by Jack LovelWeeties Factory home, Australia, by Spaceagency
      A deep red carpet defines this guest room in a single-family Australian home, which consists of three consolidated apartments that once were part of a heritage-listed cereal factory.
      The same red was carried into a curtain – which provides privacy from the living room below – and a corner chair, while built-in shelving sits at the entrance.
      Find out more about Weeties Factory home ›
      Photo by Eva Cotman and Maria CeballosBarcelona apartment, Spain, by Eva Cotman
      Guests sleep atop a platform in this Barcelona apartment, which also doubles as a storage area.
      Croatian architect Eva Cotman sought to renovate the apartment to provide more open space. To optimize its functionality, she placed a bookshelf staircase in front of the guest bed.
      Find out more about Barcelona apartment ›
      Photo by Ewout HuibersCanal house, The Netherlands, by i29
      To accommodate guests in this renovation of a canal house in Amsterdam, architecture studio i29 inserted a forest-green volume off the kitchen.
      The guest suite also contains its own bathroom and access door to a garden, while a built-in bed and shelving provide rest and storage.
      Find out more about Canal house ›
      Photo by Weiqi JinBeijing apartment, China, by Rooi
      Plywood units were inserted into this 1950s Beijing apartment to organize and provide more space in its tight interior, which was created during an influx of people moving to urban areas when apartments were often compact.
      A linear volume inserted along the kitchen and dining room can be used for storage, as a tea-drinking room, or as guest accommodations with a mattress placed on the floor. A bubble in the ceiling also provides a relaxing space for feline roommates.
      Find out more about Beijing apartment ›
      Photo by David MaštálkaRounded Loft, Czech Republic, by AI Architects
      An attic in Prague was converted into a two-storey apartment, with living spaces, a kitchen and primary bedrooms located on the first floor and a guest suite located in a mezzanine.
      In the mezzanine, a bed sits at the end of a long hall, while a bathroom sits adjacent to the stairs. A terrace in between the two spaces and skylights lining the roof provide a connection to the outdoors.
      Find out more about Rounded Loft ›
      Photo by Tim BiesFalse Bay Writer’s Cabin, USA, by Olson Kundig
      This cabin in Washington doubles as a study for its owners, as well as a bedroom for visiting guests when a bed is folded out of the wall.
      The space is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass, which is protected by doors that fold up and enclose the entire cabin and fold down to create multiple porches.
      Find out more about False Bay Writer’s Cabin ›
      Photo is courtesy Rubén Dario Kleimeer and Lagado Architects.Workhome-Playhome, The Netherlands, by Lagado Architects
      The founders of Lagado Architects revamped their own Rotterdam apartment by inserting a bright blue staircase and colourful storage units.
      An open loft-style room sits on the second floor. This has minimal furniture so that it can be quickly turned into an exercise room or used as guest accommodations for visitors.
      Find out more about Workhome-Playhome ›
      Photo by Iñaki Domingo of IDC StudioMadrid apartment, Spain, by Leticia Saá
      A wash area sits outside a guest bedroom in this Madrid apartment to physically and visually separate the space from the remaining house.
      The guest area, which sits directly in front of the primary bed, also faces an interior courtyard which separates both sleeping areas from the living room and kitchen.
      Find out more about Madrid apartment ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring brightly-framed windows, tactile and organic living rooms and mezzanines that maximise usable space. 

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      Nine home interiors brightened with colourful window frames

      by

      Shades of green, red and yellow run throughout this lookbook, which collects nine home interiors enlivened by colourful window frames.

      Whether painted wood, plastic or metal, opting for colourful window frames is an easy way to brighten a residential interior.
      The examples in this lookbook demonstrate how they can be used to create a focal point in a pared-back space, draw attention to a view or simply help establish a colour theme.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring organic modern interiors, eclectic hotels and flooring that enhances the connection between indoors and outdoors.
      Photo by Fred HowarthCamberwell Cork House, UK, by Delve Architects

      A bright forest green paint lines the window frames at Camberwell Cork House, helping to draw focus to the lush planting outside.
      The paint juxtaposes the deliberately simple, white-walled interiors of the house extension, while outside it pops from against walls of tactile cork cladding.
      Find out more about Camberwell Cork House ›
      Photo by Mikael OlssonHouse 669, Sweden, by HelgessonGonzaga Arkitekter
      HelgessonGonzaga Arkitekter incorporated sunny yellow frames throughout House 669, a prefabricated home it created in Stockholm.
      The irregularly placed windows help enliven the otherwise neutral finishes to the home while adding a sense of “individuality” to its uniform structure, the studio said.
      Find out more about House 669 ›
      Photo by Megan TaylorCork House, UK, by Nimtim Architects
      Another studio to have married bright window frames with cork cladding is Nimtim Architects. At this extension in London, the studio punctured the cork-lined walls with Barbie pink timber frames, offering a contemporary counterpoint to the Victorian house to which it is attached.
      The windows are complemented by more subtle pops of pink inside, including the kitchen splashback and metal legs of the dining chairs.
      Find out more about Cork House ›
      Photo by José CamposBouça Family House, Portugal, by Fahr 021.3
      Turquoise accents feature throughout this family home by Fahr 021.3 in Porto, including its window frames and doors.
      The colour was intended to help liven up the interiors, which are finished with white walls, wooden floorboards and wall panelling, while also giving the home “an element of distinction”, the studio said.
      Find out more about Bouça Family House ›
      Photo by French & TyeValetta House, UK, by Office S&M
      Among the distinguishing features of the Valetta House loft extension in London are its yellow-framed arch windows, three of which feature in one of the bedrooms.
      Office S&M modelled these on the arched sash windows found in neighbouring Victorian residences but gave them a vivid yellow finish to appeal to the client’s children. The colour was based on a light fitting the client had picked for the kitchen.
      Find out more about Valetta House ›
      Photo by Séverin MalaudDailly, Belgium, by Mamout
      Slender sage-green frames trim the window openings in Dailly, a courtyard house nestled between two buildings in Belgium.
      It is among the pastel tones that its architect Mamout has used to bring character to the home, in addition to an array of reclaimed materials sourced from a warehouse that previously occupied the site.
      Find out more about Dailly ›

      Ugly House, UK, by Lipton Plant Architects
      Ugly House is a 1970s house in Berkshire that Lipton Plant Architects expanded with a contrasting two-storey extension.
      A bright orange finish was chosen for the windows, including the large garden-facing opening in the kitchen that juxtaposes pastel-blue cabinetry and wooden floorboards.
      Find out more about Ugly House ›
      Photo by Francisco AscensãoHouse in Ancede, Portugal, by Atelier Local
      Large rectangular and circular windows bring light inside House in Ancede, which Atelier Local completed on a sloped site in a nature reserve near Porto.
      The openings are outlined with bright red aluminium, brightening the cool-toned interiors that are defined by exposed blockwork and concrete to evoke brutalist architecture.
      Find out more about House in Ancede ›
      Photo by Megan TaylorYellow House, UK, by Nimtim Architects
      Another project on the list by Nimtim Architects is Yellow House, named after the spectrum of yellow-green hues that run throughout its interior.
      This includes the buttercup-coloured wooden frames of the rear picture window and three skylights in the living room, which stand out against a backdrop of white walls and neutral furnishings.
      Find out more about Yellow House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring tactile organic modern interiors, eclectic hotels and flooring that enhances the connection between indoors and outdoors. 

      Read more: More