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      DAB Studio adds contemporary touches to Dutch home from Amsterdam School period

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      An Ettore Sottsass gridded feature wall and a sculptural green ladder characterise this 1920s Dutch house, which interiors firm DAB Studio designed to reference the Amsterdam School.

      Called Collectors Home, the dwelling is defined by the intricate brickwork and stained glass windows typical of the Amsterdam School – a movement from 1910 to 1920 that paid equal attention to the architecture and interior design of a building.
      DAB Studio has renovated a Dutch home from the Amsterdam School periodLocal firm DAB Studio renovated the Amsterdam house’s interiors to reflect its roots while adding contemporary touches.
      “The building dates from around 1929 and was designed by Eduard Cuypers,” studio co-founder Lotte Bruns told Dezeen.
      Called Collectors Home, the dwelling also includes contemporary touches”His studio was considered the origin of the Amsterdam School because the ringleaders of this style, Michel de Klerk, Joan van der Mey and Piet Kramer, were all formed in his office,” she added.

      The team enlarged and rearranged the living room’s neutral-hued fireplace, which has smooth, subtle corners – “a recognisable reference to the Amsterdam School,” according to Bruns. 
      Dedesigned to be deliberately off-centre, the fireplace mouth was decorated with modernist black marble discs that echo the room’s rounded sconce lights, positioned on a marbled mahogany feature wall.
      A gridded feature wall characterises the living spaceAlthough the wall design was originally created by Memphis Group founder Sottsass for Alpi in the 1980s, the gridded arrangement of the wood recalls the “ladder windows” common to Amsterdam School architecture, explained Bruns.
      A recognisable Wassily Chair by Bauhaus designer Marcel Breuer sits opposite a sculptural, low-slung coffee table and a deep red Gubi chaise lounge, first created in 1951.
      DAB Studio sourced a range of furniture for the project”The clients’ love of both modernism and postmodernism was the starting point for our research,” said Bruns.
      DAB Studio made use of the home’s bay window by inserting a lumpy, vintage fruit-picking ladder into the space – a formerly utilitarian object from 1890, painted green and transformed into art for the project.
      A fruit-picking ladder functions as an art piece”The semi-circular window was a big challenge because it was too small to be functional and too big to leave empty,” considered Bruns.
      “The ladder’s colour complements the stained glass and the green background of the grass and trees in the garden,” she added.

      Studio Prototype completes Edge House in experimental Amsterdam neighbourhood

      Art features throughout the home, including in the timber-clad kitchen, where a red copper table lamp with a shaggy, gold-hued fringe illuminates the sleek worktop.
      Connected to the open-plan living room, the dining space was finished with a long, dark wood table, mustard-coloured silk curtains and bespoke glass ceiling panels.
      The timber-clad kitchen houses a contemporary red copper lamp”The interior has a free, creative spirit in which each element can stand on its own and be seen as art,” concluded Bruns.
      Founded in 2016 by Lotte and her partner Dennis Antonio Bruns, DAB Studio previously transformed the kitchen floors and ceilings of a family home in Zwaag, the Netherlands, with two types of wood.
      Also based in Amsterdam, Studio Modijefsky created a contemporary family home inside a local dijkhuis – a traditional Dutch dwelling set next to a dyke.
      The photography is by Alice Mesguich.

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      Eight contemporary kitchens brightened by skylights

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      Residential kitchens illuminated by skylights are the focus of this lookbook, which includes homes everywhere from Australia to Mexico and Japan.

      A popular feature in many contemporary kitchens, skylights are typically used to maximise natural light in rooms that sit below ground or in the depths of a plan.
      However, they are also helpful for saving valuable wall space in areas for food preparation, leaving more room for cabinets and shelving, or they can simply be installed to create a focal point.
      The eight examples below show how skylights can be made in all shapes and sizes to enhance and brighten kitchens in any style.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring exposed structural ceiling beams, clerestory windows and nightclub interiors.

      Photo by Helen CathcartThe Maker’s Barn, UK, by Hutch Design
      A square-shaped skylight casts light over the glossy tiled kitchen in The Maker’s Barn, a home that Hutch Design created on the site of a concrete pig shed near London.
      The soft light from overhead enhances the warm and tactile finish of the space, which is finished with wooden cabinetry and a mix of rough terracotta and wooden floor tiles.
      Find out more about The Maker’s Barn ›
      Photo by Peter BennettsBismarck House, Australia, by Andrew Burges Architects
      Rather than opting for a traditional square skylight, Andrew Burges Architects punctured the ceiling of the Bismarck House’s kitchen with a curved sheet of glazing.
      It follows the shape of the undulating first floor above and helps brighten the industrial aesthetic of the room, which pairs utilitarian tiles with exposed brick walls and concrete flooring.
      Find out more about Bismarck House ›
      Photo by Danny BrightMontauk House, USA, by Desciencelab
      Desciencelab slotted rectangular skylights across the pitched roof of Montauk House, maximising natural light in the teak-lined cooking and dining area below it.
      The light drawn in through the glazing bounces off the white-painted ceiling, helping to distribute it around the open-plan room, which also contains a lounge area.
      Find out more about Montauk House ›
      Photo by Rory GardinerHouse VO and House WO, Mexico, by Ludwig Godefroy
      This kitchen skylight has been carved into the sculptural concrete form of a Mexican house designed by Ludwig Godefroy.
      It helps to illuminate the kitchen counters, which would otherwise be lowly lit due to their position below ground level.
      Find out more about House VO and House WO ›
      Photo by Tololo StudioYamaguchicho House, Japan, by Slow
      Exposed concrete walls form a backdrop to this black kitchen, which is partially lit by angled, fluted skylights on one side.
      This was designed by Slow to provide the owners with ample light while cooking, due to the Japanese house having a mostly windowless exterior for privacy.
      Find out more about Yamaguchicho House ›
      Photo by Jim StephensonWalled Garden, UK, by Nimtim Architects
      Nimtim Architects placed skylights to one side of this kitchen, which sits deep in the plan of a townhouse it has extended in London.
      The square panes are framed by Douglas fir beams and filter just enough light to brighten the space while retaining the cosy, earthy quality achieved through a palette of exposed brickwork, rough plaster and concrete flooring.
      Find out more about Walled Garden ›
      Photo by Benjamin HoskingBrunswick Apartment, Australia, by Murray Barker and Esther Stewart
      Murray Barker and Esther Stewart kept it simple for the skylight in this kitchen, opting for a square-shaped design that sits above the dining table.
      It helps light up the space that would otherwise have little natural light, due to its other windows sitting close to a brick wall and reducing the amount that can filter inwards.
      Find out more about Brunswick Apartment ›
      Photo by Virtually Here StudiosMalibu beach house, USA, by Sophie Goineau
      In Malibu, Sophie Goineau has renovated a family beach house to allow more light in. In the kitchen, this involved adding skylights to its wavy roof.
      The skylights are partially obscured with ash battens that cloak the entire ceiling, letting in light but blocking out the bright overhead sun.
      Find out more about this Malibu beach house ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring exposed structural ceiling beams, clerestory windows and nightclub interiors.

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      Ten interiors with exposed structural ceiling beams

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      Living spaces that make a feature of pre-existing beams are the focus of this lookbook, which includes examples of apartments and homes that showcase integral structural elements made from wood and metal.

      Beams are parts of a building’s structure that serve as support for ceilings, roofs and upper floors. Depending on the area’s vernacular and the structure’s age, they manifest in a variety of shapes and materials, from wooden beams that still resemble logs and tree trunks to machined steel beams.
      While beams can be concealed by installing dropped ceilings, contemporary designers often choose to celebrate and highlight them, incorporating them into interior design schemes as a reminder of a building’s origins.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring interiors animated by shimmering zellige tiles and living rooms furnished by statuesque pieces of furniture.
      The photo is by Roberto RuizPalau apartment, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture

      Hefty trunk-like wooden beams span the ceiling of this apartment in Barcelona by local studio Colombo and Serboli Architecture.
      Their rustic presence is accentuated by the otherwise sleek and polished interior, with uplights installed on top of the wardrobe literally highlighting them in the bedroom.
      Find out more about Palau apartment ›
      The photo is courtesy of Colleen Healey ArchitectureRenovation on Logan Circle, USA, by Colleen Healey Architecture
      A ceiling composed of X-shaped, white-rendered braces crowns this kitchen in a Washington DC house renovated by local studio Colleen Healey Architecture.
      The unusual, original feature provides support to the floor above, and adds to the industrial atmosphere created by the raw and painted brick walls.
      Find out more about Colleen Healey Architecture ›
      The photo is by Alex BaxterBarn at the Ahof, the Netherlands, by Julia van Beuningen
      Architectural designer Julia van Beuningen installed a plywood spiral staircase into the open-plan living space of this barn conversion.
      The naturally patterned plywood element joins a combination of both squared-off, machined wooden beams and age-warped timber beams, which support the first floor and thatched roof.
      Find out more about Barn at the Ahof ›
      The photo is by Salva LópezCasa Vasto, Spain, by Mesura
      Spanish studio Mesura turned this industrialised factory building in Barcelona into an apartment-cum-gallery space, dominated by an undulating vaulted ceiling.
      The fins that make up the structure are an example of vernacular construction techniques developed in the 19th century and create a sculptural effect that chimes with the new function of the space.
      Find out more about Casa Vasto ›
      The photo is by Yevhenii AvramenkoKyiv attic apartment, Ukraine, by Yana Molodykh
      Wooden planks and steel beams intercross on the ceiling of this attic apartment in Kyiv by Ukrainian designer Yana Molodykh.
      Despite the heaviness of the materials above, the interior has a light, airy appearance thanks to warm wooden furniture, neutral upholstery and diaphanous curtains.
      Find out more about Kyiv attic apartment ›
      The photo is by Fabian MartinezCasa Tres Árboles, Mexico, by Direccion
      A succession of dried fronds arranged in a chevron pattern is visible between cylindrical exposed beams in this house in Valle de Bravo by Mexican studio Direccion.
      The ceilings contribute to the sepia-like colour scheme apparent throughout the interiors, which is broken up by dark grey and terracotta elements.
      Find out more about Casa Tres Árboles ›
      The photo is by Lorenzo ZandriHouse by the Sea, UK, by Of Architecture
      Designed by London-based practice Of Architecture, this lofty open-plan living space in a house in Cornwall has a bright and airy atmosphere
      The whitewashed beams are studded with spotlights, light fittings, exposed services and square skylights, creating a functional yet clean ceiling scape.
      Find out more about House by the Sea ›
      The photo is by BoysPlayNiceMasná 130, Czech Republic, by ORA
      The 500-year-old chamfered wooden beams were retained in this Renaissance-era house renovated by Czech architecture studio ORA.
      The carved beams have a glossy, polished finish and are intersected by a thicker central beam decorated by more elaborate carved detailing, including a centrally-positioned roundel.
      Find out more about Masná 130 ›
      The photo is by Yevhenii AvramenkoDzen House, Ukraine, by Shovk
      Japanese and Ukrainian aesthetics meet in this house designed by architecture studio Shovk situated on the outskirts of Kyiv, which has a cosy living room capped by a series of slimline wooden beams.
      Wooden planks sit atop these structures, and together they match the thick window surround and create a grounded and cosy interior brightened by a broad, pale sofa and cool-toned walls and floors.
      Find out more about Dzen House ›
      The photo is by José Hevia105JON, Spain, by Vallribera Arquitectes
      Inside this modernised terraced house in Barcelona, Spanish studio Vallribera Arquitectes created a contrast between original features and newly inserted elements.
      The old roof, which is covered in red-coloured tiles, and the new mezzanine, lined with oriented strand board, both feature prominent structural beams – the former is supported by whittled tree trunks and the latter with metal struts picked out in blue paint.
      Find out more about 105JON ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring interiors animated by shimmering zellige tiles and living rooms furnished by statuesque pieces of furniture.

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      Sophie Goineau adds “wave-like” timber ceiling to Malibu beach house

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      Interior designer Sophie Goineau has renovated a family beach home in Malibu, California, adding a wave-like ceiling and maximising the panoramic ocean views from the living spaces.

      Goineau initially set about helping a young family that she met in Mexico incorporate stylish spaces for their kids into the house, but the project quickly turned into a full overhaul.
      Sophie Goineau took advantage of the Malibu home’s vaulted ceilings to create a wave-like wooden feature overheadBuilt in 1965 and remodelled at the turn of the millennium, the house’s exterior had to remain untouched in accordance with strict Malibu zoning laws.
      Inside, however, multiple walls were opened up to allow light from the expansive windows and skylights to flood all of the spaces.
      The main living space was opened up and can now fully utilise the sliding doors onto the terrace”Some rooms were divided by walls, there was no light coming through,” said Goineau. “We had to use all existing openings — sliding doors and skylights in vaulted ceilings — but there was no rhythm. What could we do here to create a harmonious vibe?”

      With the main entry points reconfigured and many of the internal partitions removed, the offset T-shaped building now benefits from more light and improved flow.
      The lounge area features black seating by ATRA and a media unit that echoes the slatted ceilingThrough the main volume of the dwelling, Goineau installed a dramatic curved ceiling composed of thermally modified ash wood in four layers.
      The effect is designed to mimic a “breaking wave” and not only directs the eye to the ocean view but also partially obscures the skylights from the bright overhead sun.
      A skylight over the entryway is partially shaded by the ceiling slats”The light here, while beautiful, is very strong, but we didn’t want to ruin the existing skylights with shades,” said the designer.
      This ceiling feature is most prominently expressed in the spacious open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, which has large windows on two sides and glass doors that opens onto a terrace.
      A large, teak front door continues the same visual language as the ceilingNeutrally decorated with white oak floors, clay plaster and micro-cement wall finishes, the social space is dotted with several black accents.
      These include the large Beluga sofa and armchairs from ATRA, the Gio Ponti dining table and chairs, and metal shelving suspended from the ceiling over the kitchen island.

      Kelly Wearstler’s Malibu Surf Shack is adorned with “rustic and raw” decor

      “It is all a visual reference of naturalist materials,” Goineau said. “The dark materials chosen highlight the contrast between dark and light in nature, and all the pieces marry so well with everything else in the house.”
      A media unit that disguises the TV echoes the wooden strips of the ceiling and the kitchen cabinetry at the other end of the room.
      The primary bedroom at the end of the main volume opens onto the terraceAt the opposite end of the building’s T is the primary bedroom, which also opens to the terrace furnished with various soft seating options.
      Rather than a full dividing wall, a tall partition acts as a headboard extension and separates the sleeping area from a large dressing room.
      A tall partition separates the primary bedroom from the dressing roomThe entrance hall sits at an angle to the home’s main volume and continues the striped effect again across the teak front door positioned below another slatted skylight.
      Contemporary sculptures by Sébastien Léon and paintings by Damien Chabauty are displayed in this space and along the corridor that connects the remaining rooms.
      The terrace features multiple soft seating areas for the family to enjoyMalibu’s beachfront is lined with impressive properties, including Kelly Wearstler’s home adorned with “rustic and raw” decor and a building by Tadao Ando that musician Ye recently stripped back to its structure.
      Goineau is based in nearby Los Angeles and has previously refurbished a mid-century house in Beverly Hills in collaboration with Enclosures Architects.
      The photography is by Virtually Here Studios.

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      Eight home interiors brightened by clerestory windows

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      A collection of distinctive new builds and carefully crafted residential extensions have been rounded up for our latest lookbook, which gathers home interiors enhanced and brightened by clerestory openings.

      Clerestory windows typically refer to a strip of glazing situated at the very top of a wall, or above eye-level, positioned just beneath the roof to draw in daylight. While traditionally coined in reference to the highest storey of clear glazing in a church or cathedral, clerestory windows are increasingly used in residential projects.
      Alongside their primary use for daylight access, clerestory windows may also offer privacy for ground floor residential spaces without limiting natural light, while operable clerestory glazing can also help to ventilate a home’s interior.
      Included these projects is a brick extension topped with a vaulted ceiling and arched clerestory window and a skinny concrete home wrapped with clerestory glazing for increased privacy in Japan.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring stylish nightclub interiors, relaxing beach houses with panoramic views and gallery-like living rooms with sculptural furniture.

      Photo by Tom RossSunday, Australia, by Architecture Architecture
      Australian studio Architecture Architecture used hollow breeze-blocks to blend the interior and exterior areas of this cottage extension in Melbourne.
      The new extension is topped with a mono-pitched roof and lined with large, translucent clerestory glazing to draw light into the home.
      Find out more about Sunday ›
      Photo by Ståle EriksenHeath House, UK, by Proctor & Shaw
      A blocky extension defined by a material palette of wood and white brick was added to this Grade II-listed villa in north London by Proctor & Shaw.
      In order to maximise light, floor-to-ceiling openings complemented by clerestory glazing were added to the ground floor kitchen and dining area.
      Find out more about Heath House ›
      Photo by Pedro KokSítio Rio Acima, Brazil, by Denis Joelsons
      A series of brick structures comprise Sítio Rio Acima – a residential complex near São Paulo, which was renovated by Brazilian architect Denis Joelsons.
      Among the interventions was the addition of a vaulted ceiling and arched clerestory window in the main home that becomes “a lantern at night”.
      Find out more about Sítio Rio Acima ›

      Photo by Ooki JinguForest of Pillars, Japan, by IGArchitects
      Two family homes framed by slender timber columns form Forest of Pillars completed by IGArchitects in Fukushima, Japan.
      To limit overlooking from the surrounding context, the homes were surrounded by a ring of clerestory windows positioned beneath the roof.
      Find out more about Forest of Pillars ›
      Photo courtesy of K59 AtelierDi Linh House, Vietnam, by K59 Atelier
      Architecture studio K59 Atelier used local materials such as rammed earth and timber to build this home located on a remote site in Di Linh, Vietnam.
      On the home’s west facade, a strip of clerestory glazing sit above small windows to encourage privacy and sun shading.
      Find out more about Di Linh House ›
      Photo by Tom FergusonHidden Garden House, Australia, by Sam Crawford Architects
      Australian studio Sam Crawford Architects renovated this home in Sydney to brighten its dark interior and transform it into an urban “sanctuary”.
      On the ground floor, the studio added a spacious kitchen featuring a concrete ceiling that curves upwards to draw in winter sun and provide shading, and is coupled with operable clerestory windows.
      Find out more about Hidden Garden House ›
      Photo by Vivek EadaraPott House, India, by Kiron Cheerla Architecture
      Pott House in Hyderabad, India, features a lantern-like roof designed by Kiron Cheerla Architecture to draw light and natural ventilation into the home.
      Built from a gridded timber structure, the home is organised around a full-height living space and dining area, which sit beneath the roof’s exposed timber trusses.
      Find out more about Pott House ›
      Photo by Ooki Jingu2700, Japan, by IGArchitects
      Built onto a narrow plot in Japan, this two-storey home by IGArchitects features a slim structure defined by exposed concrete walls and layered living spaces.
      To increase privacy on the ground floor, as well as draw light into the interior, a row of windows were placed at clerestory height.
      Find out more about 2700 ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring stylish nightclub interiors, relaxing beach houses with panoramic views and gallery-like living rooms with sculptural furniture.

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      Office La draws on “special magic” of New Orleans for colourful house

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      The colours of New Orleans’ iconic streetcars informed the decor palette chosen by local studio Office La for this bright pink house.

      Office La founder Lauren Hickman Ross is a long-time friend of the clients, who asked her to reimagine a building at the corner of Chartres and Desire streets in New Orleans.
      Original penny-hex tiles inside the home were retained and helped to inform the interior colour paletteOpposite Crescent Park on the banks of the Mississippi River, the single-storey structure was formerly a corner store and then a bar before becoming a home.
      “Tasked with outfitting a space that is seeping in and of New Orleans, Office La sought to capture a special magic only felt here through colour and light,” said Hickman Ross.
      The dining and kitchen area is raised slightly from the lounge and barFor the interiors, the designer looked to the city for influences — particularly the historic streetcars that criss-cross its

      The vehicles, also known as trolleys, are painted swampy green and deep red, and Hickman Ross introduced these hues throughout the house.
      Window trims are painted red, while millwork is green”These contrasting colours are immediate wins in the eye pleasure game,” Hickman Ross said.
      “Further, sunk in a bowl of its own creation, New Orleans also produces fantastic sunsets that colour the humid air with pinks and lavenders against the year round lush green subtropical landscape.”
      Designer Lauren Hickman Ross looked to the city’s tropical climate and historic streetcars for influencesIn the social space, the kitchen and dining area is raised a couple of steps up from the lounge and bar, which includes an oxblood-toned pool table.
      Original penny-hex floor tiles patterned in red, yellow and green-gray were retained in this lower area, further adding to the varied colour scheme.

      OJT creates compact “starter home” for skinny site in New Orleans

      Window trims – including a long pill-shaped aperture – are painted red, while partitions and millwork are green, complementing pale pink walls.
      The residence is filled with a mix of cosy, tactile soft furnishings and exposed wood elements, alongside vintage finds and local art.
      Artist RJ Raizk hand-drew murals in each of the bedrooms”On the walls is a mixed-media drawing by native Roy Ferdinand, as well as works by other artists including Sally Heller, Emilio Sanchez, and Max Seckel to name a few,” Hickman Ross said.
      In each bathroom and bedroom, artist RJ Raizk has hand-drawn a unique mural using patterns and colours lifted from the rest of the home.
      The bathroom tiles are green, red and pinkThe building’s exterior continues the streetcar red and green as accents, framing expanses of wooden boards painted bright pink.
      Equally maximalist interiors in New Orleans can be found at The Chloe Hotel, designed by Sara Ruffin Costello, and Hotel Peter and Paul in a converted 19th-century schoolhouse, convent and church.
      The photography is by Alison Gootee.

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      Will Gamble Architects modernises London Victorian house with “soft minimalism” interiors

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      UK studio Will Gamble Architects has extended and modernised a Victorian house in south London, using curved shapes and a palette of natural materials to create a calm and minimalist aesthetic.

      The clients – a married couple looking to create their forever home – asked Will Gamble Architects to oversee the transformation of the semi-detached house in Putney into a serene sanctuary.
      Architecture firm Proctor & Shaw initially developed the planning drawings before Gamble’s studio was appointed to develop a cohesive interior design service throughout the home, including technical drawings and revised spatial layouts for the upper floors.
      Will Gamble Architects has extended and modernised a south London Victorian houseTo fufil the clients’ request for increased space, a rear and attic extension was added.
      “We were keen to maximise space and light as much as possible through clever design solutions,” architect Will Gamble told Dezeen.

      “This was particularly relevant over the upper floors where the brief called for four bedrooms and three bathrooms which a conventional layout couldn’t accommodate.”
      Gamble’s “soft minimalism” approach is defined by gentle tonal huesGamble applied an approach he described as “soft minimalism” throughout the interiors, utilising a restrained palette of textural materials to ensure consistency across all floors.
      “Soft minimalism is defined by curved lines, gentle tonal hues, natural materials and carefully curated spaces,” said the architect. “This aesthetic allowed us to deliver a highly bespoke project tailored to our clients’ needs.”
      Muted colours enhancing the “soft minimalism” aesthetic include whites and pinksArched niches, curved walls and a bespoke staircase with semi-circular landings, circular spindles and a turned-oak rail contribute to an aesthetic defined by a gentle geometry.
      Muted colours including warm whites and soft pinks provide a soft and coherent backdrop, while more textured materials including pippy oak and richly veined marble add personality to some of the spaces.

      Emil Eve Architects brightens London house with terracotta tile-clad extensions

      The new staircase was illuminated by an oval roof light that continues the theme of gentle, round forms. The roof light casts natural light deep into the floor plan and is openable to allow stack ventilation to naturally cool the interior.
      Bespoke joinery brings functionality and visual interest to rooms including the main bedroom, where a headboard unit made from pippy oak provides additional storage as well as concealing the en-suite shower room.
      Textured materials like pippy oak and richly veined marble add flare to certain spacesThe bespoke bed and headboard with integrated wardrobes are centrally located within the room to maximise the available space. The en suite contains a pair of marble-clad vanities either side of a walk-in shower.
      Pippy oak was used elsewhere in the house for furniture including bedside tables and built-in storage. The wood’s distinctive knots and knot clusters stand out whilst complementing the other natural materials.
      “The ‘cats paw’ pattern of the pippy oak adds a decadence to the otherwise muted material palette,” Gamble added. “We used this unique material in key areas to help establish a hierarchy across the spaces throughout the project.”
      A pippy oak headboard unit in the main bedroom conceals the en-suite shower roomAs part of the renovation project, the building’s historic fabric was thermally upgraded to reduce energy consumption and create a more comfortable environment. A home automation system was also incorporated that minimises visible light switches and contributes to the uncluttered, minimalist interiors.
      According to Gamble, the owners were interested in “achieving a high-quality finish driven by an acute attention to detail”, which led to a highly bespoke project tailored to their exact requirements.
      Will Gamble established his London-based studio in 2018 after working for architectural practices Farrells and Francis Philips Architects. The office specialises in sensitively retrofitting existing buildings through contemporary architectural interventions.
      The studio’s previous projects include a home built within the ruins of a 17-century parchment factory in Northamptonshire and a glass-walled extension to a Georgian house in Leicestershire.

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      Working Holiday Studio adds hacienda-style twist to midcentury LA house

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      The founders of LA-based Working Holiday Studio have renovated a midcentury home for themselves and their growing family, transforming the interiors to echo a Mexican hacienda.

      Designers Carlos Naude and Whitney Brown chose to move from their previous ranch-style home to a larger dwelling after having a second child, knowing they would need more space.
      Working Holiday Studio added arched openings and handmade brick floors to the midcentury homeThe couple found another midcentury home built in 1962 in the Granada Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, which they set about remodelling in “an eclectic hacienda style with Mexican and Scandinavian influences”.
      “We renovated the house because it hasn’t been updated since the first owners bought it and was in much need of a refresh,” the duo told Dezeen. “The layout didn’t make sense for modern living and the house felt dark, cold and outdated.”
      Details like iron railings with wavy balusters add a “hacienda vibe” to the interiorsThe biggest change involved opening up the wall between the dining room and kitchen, creating a large space for the family to gather and entertain under the dark-stained, mono-pitched ceiling.

      The kitchen was reimagined with swing-out French doors, dark green plaster across the walls, and warm millwork for cabinets and the central island.
      The kitchen was completely transformed with dark green plaster walls and warm millworkBricks across the floor in this space and the hallways were handmade in Tijuana, Mexico, and imported across the border.
      Together with arched openings that Working Holiday Studio added throughout the home, they add a “hacienda vibe” to the property.
      A formal living room features a variety of sculptural seats arranged around a marble coffee tableBeige plaster walls, iron railings with wavy balusters and various wooden furniture pieces also lend to the contemporary Mexican aesthetic, with hints of Scandinavian minimalism.
      “We always start with a palette of colours and materials,” said Naude and Brown. “We wanted [the interiors] to feel neutral, earthy, and warm with a few pop accents.”

      Los Angeles ranch house becomes Zen Den by Working Holiday Studio

      Also on the ground floor is a space for the family to watch TV together, which features a large cushioned sectional.
      A formal living room off the dining area has a whitewashed brick fireplace in the corner, and a variety of sculptural chairs arranged around a marble coffee table.
      Bedrooms are decorated with natural materials in neutral tones”We spend a lot of time in the family and TV room because it’s very cosy and comfortable, but love looking into the formal living room because each piece feels like an artwork or sculpture,” the couple said.
      Upstairs, the bedrooms are decorated with natural materials in neutral tones, while the bathrooms are playfully lined with checkerboard or thin straight-stack tiles.
      Playful touches in the bathrooms include checkerboard tilingAcross the exterior, the house was rendered in mid-grey stucco and black-framed windows and doors were added.
      A large covered veranda stretches almost the full length of the building and is used for outdoor lounging and dining in front of the backyard swimming pool.
      The house has a large veranda for outdoor lounging and dining in front of the backyard swimming poolOther properties designed and owned by the couple – the ZenDen in LA’s Woodland Hills and Casa Mami near Joshua Tree National Park – are available as vacation rentals for guests.
      The photography is by Carlos Naude.

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