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    McLaren Excell unveils minimalist London headquarters for Samsung Design Europe

    Only a handful of spruce partitions carve up the pared-back interior of this London office, which McLaren Excell has created for Samsung’s European design studio.

    Set inside a 21-storey tower known as the Can of Ham building, Samsung Design Europe is one of the tech company’s seven product design hubs across the globe, with other outposts located in the US, China, Brazil, India, Japan and South Korea.
    Local architecture studio McLaren Excell said it devised the minimalist interior for the London headquarters to “consign the formality of the workspace to the past”.
    Spruce wood partitions break up the Samsung Design Europe headquarters”[The office] instead embraces a more relaxed, informal and experiential place of work,” explained the firm’s co-founder Luke McLaren.
    “We want the Samsung office to have all the qualities that are enjoyable about your home – a softness, a sense of calm, a high degree of tactility, spaces to congregate, spaces to which one can withdraw – but all the while nurturing that sense of welcome, of belonging, of enjoyment.”

    As a result, the office features just a handful of glue-laminated spruce partitions that loosely split the floor plan into private meeting rooms and communal zones where staff members can engage in more collaborative work.
    Spruce fins also run along the office’s windowsSpruce glulam also forms a series of vertical fins, which appear at intervals along the office’s windows.
    In the breakout area, the same pale-toned timber was used to craft the dining table, counter and benches.
    Furnishings in the breakout area are made from spruceGrey linen curtains that hang from tracks on the ceiling can be used to further divide up the open-plan office while bringing a sense of tactility to the interior.
    In an effort to make the HQ seem more relaxed and inviting, planters overspilling with foliage were embedded into the top of the desk banks.

    McLaren Excell channels church interiors for The Splash Lab’s LA showroom

    McLaren Excell also abandoned a traditional lighting grid in favour of fitted lamps, which illuminate pockets of the office in more targeted and intimate ways.
    The architecture studio was founded by Luke McLaren and Robert Excell in 2010 and is based in London’s Chelsea neighbourhood.
    Planters are embedded into the office’s desk banksRecent projects by McLaren Excell include a bathroom showroom in Los Angeles with arched doorways and altar-like tables reminiscent of a church.
    The photography is by Lorenzo Zandri.

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    Ten elegant living rooms with Japandi interiors

    The minimalist styles and natural materials used in both Japan and Scandinavia come together in this lookbook, containing 10 living rooms that have been decorated with Japandi interior design.

    “Japandi” has become the denomination for interiors where Japanese minimalism meets Scandinavian functionality. Simple, pared-back designs and natural materials are some of the key characteristics of the style.
    Bare branches and dried flowers add an organic touch to the interiors, which also tend to feature an abundance of wood – a material used in both Japanese and Scandinavian interiors.

    This is the latest lookbook in a series providing visual inspiration for interior designers and design lovers. Previous lookbooks in the series have showcased plant-filled offices, calm living rooms and interiors made from biomaterials.

    Montreal House, Canada, by Talo Studio
    A historic Montreal house was given a contemporary update by design studio Talo Studio, which played with textures to create the home’s minimalist aesthetic.
    “A thick rounded sofa is combined with a low linear slatted coffee table and nubby rug with a subtle swirl, reminiscent of a Japanese garden,” studio founder Tiina Vahtola told Dezeen.
    An angular Hans Wegner lounge chair with a sheepskin throw nods to the Scandinavian influence.
    Find out more about Montreal House ›

    The Audo, Denmark, by Norm Architects and Menu
    Danish design brand Menu and architecture studio Norm Architects collaborated on the design of The Audo, a hotel in Copenhagen’s Nordhavn area.
    A coffee table in veiny Carrara marble adds pattern interest to the room’s muted design, while a woven rug and rock-like ceramic sculpture stand out against the bare walls. The room’s beige sofa with a wooden frame evokes functional Japanese furniture.
    Find out more about The Audo ›

    Biscuit Loft apartment, USA, by OWIU Studio
    Japanese design elements were added to this industrial loft space in Brooklyn, New York, such as a raised platform that can double as a bed frame. In the living room, a classic white Eames lounge chair sits next to a sculptural side table in dark wood.
    Dried flowers and grass and a selection of ceramic jugs and vases make for a living room design that feels more Scandinavian or Japanese than American. A traditional Scandinavian-style tasseled rug makes the room feel more homely.
    Find out more about Biscuit Loft apartment ›

    Powerscroft Road, UK, by Daytrip
    This London home combines a pared-down interior design with interesting tactile touches such as a fluffy rug with a geometric pattern.
    A rough-hewn wooden side table is reminiscent of traditional Japanese joinery, while the vintage Cleopatra daybed by Dutch designer Dick Cordemeyer for Auping adds a northern European design piece that perfectly matches the home’s Asian influences.
    Find out more about Powerscroft Road ›

    Azabu Residence, Japan, by Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa Design
    Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa Design have collaborated on a number of projects, including this Japandi interior design for a home in Tokyo.
    The triangular pendant lamp is by Norm Architects for Karimoku Case Study and is made from traditional Japanese washi paper. Its geometric shape is picked up by the abstract sculptures on one of the walls and complements the armless modular sofa.
    Find out more about Azabu Residence ›

    Margin House, Japan, by Kohei Yukawa
    Margin House was designed by architect Kohei Yukawa for himself and his family. Flexible living spaces are arranged around an atrium that features a living tree in the middle of the room.
    The use of pale wood throughout adds a Scandinavian touch to the room, which has a welcoming feel and is flooded with natural light.
    Find out more about Margin House ›

    Ca l’Amo, Spain, by Marià Castelló
    Architecture studio Marià Castelló designed this retreat in Ibiza using cross-laminated timber (CLT) to keep the volumes lightweight.
    The delicate feel of the architecture with its wooden detailing is echoed in the furniture and decorations chosen for the interior, including a classic Pierre Paulin Butterfly Chair.
    Slender tree branches are used for decoration, mirroring the trees in the building’s courtyard.
    Find out more about Ca l’Amo ›

    Kinuta Terrace, Japan by Keiji Ashizawa Design and Norm Architects
    The Kinuta Terrace in Tokyo has a muted, discrete colour palette of beige walls and curtains that match the wooden floor in the living room. Here, a grey stone table with a wooden frame complements a wooden sofa with grey cushions.
    A decorative vases and round sculptures on the table mirror a large pot that holds a money tree (Pachira aquatica).
    Find out more about Kinuta Terrace ›

    Edinburgh apartment, Scotland, by Luke McClelland Design
    A British take on Japandi interior design can be seen in this living room in an apartment in Edinburgh. Simple and functional, the design nonetheless feels interesting because of the small touches, such as the dark-wood foldable side table and the classic rice lamp.
    Artworks decorate the walls and the room’s fireplace has been painted black, matching the graphic slender black floor lamps. The wooden floor has been left mostly bare, with just a small grey rug for decoration.
    Find out more about Edinburgh apartment ›

    A Quiet Reflection, Sweden, by Ariake
    Japanese furniture producer Ariake created an installation at Stockholm Design Week in 2018 to show its first collection. The range included these wooden sofas, whose strict lines and warm wooden frames perfectly encompass the meeting between Scandinavian and Japanese style.
    A triangular white lamp and small sculptural side table are a fun addition to the room, which also features a weathered wooden floor and walls where the peeling paint has become a decorative feature in itself.
    Find out more about A Quiet Reflection ›
    This is the latest lookbook in a series providing visual inspiration for interior designers and design lovers. Previous lookbooks in the series have showcased plant-filled offices, calm living rooms and interiors made from biomaterials.

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    Ten peaceful Scandi living rooms that feature minimalist design and natural materials

    For this week’s lookbook, we have picked ten Scandi-style living rooms from the Dezeen archive that play with textures and showcase natural materials, elegant accessories and muted colours.

    Scandi style is a term used to describe designs from the three Scandinavian countries – Sweden, Denmark and Norway – but has also become a catchphrase that denotes minimalist interior design that uses plenty of natural materials, especially wood.
    Wooden floors are traditional in Scandinavian homes, where they are often matched with wood details such as panelling and classic mid-century modern furniture.
    Scandi living rooms often feature white or pale walls, which are common in the Nordic countries where the long, dark winter months mean people tend to choose light colours for their interiors.
    Many of the ten interiors below also play with textures, adding fluffy throws to simple sofas, tactile rugs to wooden floors and rattan and leather seating.
    This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous roundups include L-shaped kitchens, interiors that use internal glazing and inviting courtyards.

    Gjøvik House, Norway, by Norm Architects
    Located an hour outside of Oslo, Gjøvik House comprises six interconnected blocks with interiors featuring mottled grey walls, earthen textiles and warm wooden panelling.
    Pale grey hues were used for the living room, which has a soft Bollo chair designed by Andreas Engesvik for Foglia and a modular sofa in a neutral grey tone.
    According to the architect, the spaces were designed to have a “cosy and inviting feel, where you can truly hibernate while taking shelter from the frigid days of Nordic winter.”
    Find out more about Gjøvik House ›

    TypeO Loft, Sweden, by TypeO
    The living room area of creative studio TypeO’s guest loft in southern Sweden features floor-to-ceiling glazing that opens up onto a large balcony.
    A coffee table by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra matches the wooden floor and beams and is complemented by Ligne Roset’s Togo armchairs in black leather. Sculptural decorative details add an art gallery-like feel to the bright living space.
    Find out more about TypeO Loft ›

    20 Bond Apartment, US, by Home Studios
    Design firm Home Studios filled the 20 Bond Apartment in New York with bespoke furniture and vintage finds, including a leather Safari chair by Danish designer Kai Winding.
    An entire wall is taken up by a bespoke shelving unit that the studio made from oak wood and brass, adding another Scandinavian-style feature to the room. A rattan table and a pink resin side table by Sabine Marcelis add a tactile touch.
    Find out more about 20 Bond Apartment ›

    Sculptor’s Residence, Sweden, by Norm Architects, Menu and Dux
    Norm Architects, Menu and Dux collaborated on this installation that was designed to resemble the “eclectic living quarters of a creative.” Muted brown and beige hues lend the interiors an earthy, organic feel, which is contrasted by the elegance of the black marble table and black sculptures.
    Menu’s Hashira floor lamp adds a subtle nod to Japanese interiors, and its sleek surface offsets the knobbly texture of the brand’s Eave Dining Sofa Bench.
    Find out more about Sculptor’s Residence ›

    Villa Weinberg, Denmark, by Mette and Martin Weinberg
    Wienberg Architects collaborated with fellow Danish architects Friis & Moltke to overhaul the 1940s Villa Weinberg. The result is a warm, inviting home lined with oil-treated oak walls.
    The wood-clad living room also has a simple wooden coffee table and poufs for lounging on, as well as a built-in leather-clad bench. A rice lamp and sheepskin throw add texture to the wooden interior.
    Find out more about Villa Weinberg ›

    Solviken, Sweden, by Johan Sundberg
    Scandi living rooms tend to have very neutral colours, but in this space in a Swedish holiday home, two comfy sofas in a calming seafoam green create a bright focal point in the room. The hue is picked up by a painting at the end of the large, open-plan kitchen and living room.
    Small unpainted wooden coffee tables match the floor and the wooden storage cabinets alongside one wall.
    Find out more about Solviken ›

    London townhouse, UK, by Daytrip
    Design studio Daytrip’s renovation and expansion of an east London townhouse includes a living room with white walls, a wooden floor and furniture in muted colours.
    A textured “Banana” sofa designed by Danish Cabinetmaker, contrasts with the glass Trebol side table by Oscar Tusquets Blanca.
    Numerous ceramics and sculptures surround the open fireplace and add life and interest to the sleek white interior.
    Find out more about London townhouse ›

    Lyceum Apartments, Sweden, by Andreas Martin-Löf Arkitekter
    The Lyceum Apartments in Stockholm are located in the Old Technical College’s Pharmaceutical Institute and feature light-filled rooms with clean designs and historical details.
    In the living room, a curved white sofa contrasts against the angular shapes of Pierre Jeanneret’s wood and cane Easy Chairs, Soft beige curtains match the neutral hues of the rest of the room.
    Find out more about Lyceum Apartments ›

    Sommarhus T, Sweden, by Johan Sundberg
    This summer house by Johan Sundberg features a green sofa and a matching armchair. Both are from Danish brand &tradition and match the verdant greenery outside the large glass windows.
    A practical wooden table holds globe-shaped glass vases matching the slightly uneven glass lamps in the ceiling. The entire room is clad in pale wood, including the spruce floors, creating a calm, peaceful interior. The fixed furniture in the home was made from oak.
    Find out more about Sommarhus T ›

    Birkedal, Denmark, by Jan Henrik Jansen
    A circular holiday home on the island of Møn in Denmark features a playful living room with white-panelled walls and a floor covered in small white pebbles collected from the beach.
    A built-in curved sofa has brown leather seats that have been made cosier with added throws and pillows, and a small circular side table provides space for books, magazines and snacks.
    Find out more about Birkedal ›
    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 colourful interiors, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

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