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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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      Eight neutral-hued homes patterned with intricate herringbone flooring

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      From a 1970s apartment renovation in Lisbon to a converted shop in Montreal, our latest lookbook collects eight residential interiors characterised by decorative herringbone parquet flooring.

      The herringbone pattern is made of rectangles or parallelograms, arranged to resemble the bones of a herring. It is often used for wallpaper, textiles and floors.
      Herringbone is a type of parquet flooring, the umbrella term for wooden battens slotted together in various geometric and mosaic arrangements to create decorative surfaces – a trend that emerged in the 1600s.
      Each of the eight homes in this lookbook showcases herringbone parquet, either preserved as a period feature or created to emulate the age-old flooring style.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring converted barns, zellige tiles and bathroom design ideas.

      Photo by Oni StudioWarsaw apartment, Poland, by Dawid Konieczny
      Polish architect Dawid Konieczny maintained the original herringbone flooring in this 20th-century Warsaw building, which houses a petite studio apartment he designed to echo “the ease of a good hotel room”.
      Dark oak-panelled walls were chosen to match the timber floors, while veiny Palomino quartzite was applied to the open-plan kitchen countertop.
      Find out more about this Warsaw apartment ›
      Photo courtesy of Aurora ArquitectosLisbon apartment, Portugal, by Aurora Arquitectos
      Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves characterise this Lisbon apartment renovated by local studio Aurora Arquitectos to illuminate its interior.
      Three wood-lined skylights were added to the 1970s home, which features a mix of marble and pine herringbone flooring to delineate public and private spaces.
      Find out more about this Lisbon apartment ›
      Photo by Janis NicolayVancouver townhouse, Canada, by Falken Reynolds
      Canadian firm Falken Reynolds transformed the ground floor of this 100-year-old townhouse in Vancouver.
      While the team added significant contemporary design details, they also preserved historic accents including oiled oak herringbone floors and an exposed red brick wall.
      Find out more about this Vancouver townhouse ›
      Photo by Alex JamesCourtyard House, UK, by De Rosee Sa
      Local architecture studio De Rosee Sa had to follow strict planning regulations when creating Courtyard House, a London home built to mirror the exact height of the old timber store it replaced.
      A trio of internal courtyards separate the floor plan into three light-filled spaces, which feature minimalist interior design such as herringbone-patterned parquet flooring and bright white walls.
      Find out more about Courtyard House ›
      Photo by Radek BruneckyZurich house, Switzerland, by Rafael Schmid
      Swiss architect Schmid overhauled his 1920s home in Zurich to combine period and contemporary details.
      Schmid maintained the open-plan living space’s original herringbone floors, but chose a contrasting pale grey surface made from mineral anhydrite for the adjacent kitchen.
      Find out more about this Zurich house ›
      Photo by Fernando AldaPanama City apartment, Panama, by Sandra Robles Boesler
      Located in the capital city of Panama, this concrete apartment was stripped out by architect Robles Boesler to make way for softer details including oak flooring arranged in a herringbone pattern.
      The architect also chose pastel-hued furniture to add warmth to the spaces, which are split between two levels accessed via a wood-lined staircase.
      Find out more about this Panama City ›
      Photo by Maxime DesbiensRésidence Villeneuve, Canada, by Atelier Barda
      Local architecture office Atelier Barda converted a Montreal shop into a two-storey house and a separate, rentable flat.
      Wooden herringbone flooring creates a backdrop for the understated ground floor characterised by light timber furniture and sandy-hued drapes.
      Find out more about Résidence Villeneuve ›
      Photo by Luuk KramerThe Hague townhouse, the Netherlands, by Antonia Reif
      Oak parquet was laid in a herringbone pattern across the floor of this early 20th-century townhouse in The Hague.
      In contrast with the honey-hued flooring, a grey kitchen island was placed in the centre of the home’s atrium. The bespoke feature was created from a type of composite stone called Silesto.
      Find out more about this townhouse in The Hague ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring converted barns, zellige tiles and bathroom design ideas.

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      Modul 28 transforms fortified church in Transylvania into guesthouse

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      Romanian studio Modul 28 has updated and extended the rectory of a church in Transylvania, transforming it into a guesthouse that “balances preservation with innovation”.

      Located in the village of Curciu, the building was renovated as part of an initiative led by the Fortified Churches Foundation, which exists to preserve the region’s large number of fortified churches dating from the 13th to 16th centuries.
      The converted chapel and rectory contains a guesthouseRather than turn these sites into museums, the programme looks to introduce “contemporary functions” that will reintegrate them with the surrounding communities, Modul 28 said.
      At this site in Curciu, the studio has converted the adjacent rectory and chapel into a guesthouse, while the large church at the centre of the site remains open to the public.
      The main living area is housed within the old chapel’s apse”The initiative is based on the belief that turning heritage buildings into museums does not serve their long-term wellbeing, especially in the case of secondary importance constructions such as annexes,” said architect Andra Nicoleanu.

      “The design process for this project could be characterised by a meticulous approach that balances preservation with innovation, drawing inspiration from the historical and architectural context of the site,” she told Dezeen.
      Doorways and window shutters have been updated with pale woodA series of minimal and reversible alterations were made to the existing rectory, creating space for a double bedroom alongside a kitchen and dining area.
      Projecting out of the site’s boundary wall, the polygonal apse of the former chapel now houses the main living area. Three gothic windows surrounding this space, which had been partially destroyed, have been restored with thin-profile metal frames.

      Medprostor tops 12th-century church in Slovenia with folding roof

      The old rectory has been replastered and its doorways and window shutters have been updated with pale wood, contrasting the rough masonry exterior of the chapel and the gatehouse.
      “Our proposal, especially for exterior interventions, emphasises reversibility and the temporary nature by utilising lightweight materials, namely wood and metal inserts,” explains Nicoleanu.
      “Essentially, this approach serves as an exercise in contemporary materiality, contributing to the contrast between what already exists and what is currently being constructed,” she added.
      A temporary timber structure sits beside the guesthouseA temporary, pavilion-like timber structure tucked between the guesthouse and the site’s external wall provides bathrooms, with a shower lined with yellow corrugated metal.
      “The most significant gesture in the design was perhaps the decision to add a temporary construction to the exterior, that arises from the desire not to alter the volume of the interior spaces,” said Nicoleanu. “Although it fits contextually, in terms of plan resolution and resulting image, it stands out through contrast.”
      A shower is lined with yellow corrugated metalAnother recent project involving renovations of historic church buildings include the repair of a 12th-century structure in Slovenia by local practice Medprostor, designed as a space “between a ruin and a reconstruction”.
      In London, Tigg + Coll Architects converted an abandoned mission church into its own workspace and, on the Isle of Sheppey, Hugh Broughton Architects transformed a 19th-century church into a community hub.
      The photography is by Vlad Pătru.

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      “I don’t think we should put celebrity designers on a pedestal” says Bobby Berk

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      Queer Eye star Bobby Berk recently quit the hit show to run his interior design studio full-time. In this exclusive interview, he discusses how his TV experiences have shaped his approach.

      Having announced in November 2023 that he would be leaving his role as the Netflix reality series’ interior design expert after eight seasons, Berk has since leaned full-time into work through his eponymous studio – as well as being a Dezeen Awards judge.
      “I think the show really did make me more confident in using colour”
      “Designing for TV is very different from designing for a ‘real world’ project,” Berk told Dezeen. “The timeline is so much quicker [in TV], and you’re also creating a space that has to work in person and translate on screen.”
      Berk described how his work on Queer Eye – which sees the five expert presenters make positive changes to an ordinary person’s lifestyle – required him to adapt his usual design style in order to satisfy the needs of the show’s makeover subjects.

      “Design-wise, my work on Queer Eye often featured much more colour and pattern than I typically use,” he explained. “I wanted to reflect the personalities and desires of the inhabitants, and that often meant going bold.”
      Berk appeared in eight seasons of Netflix’s hit reality show Queer EyeIn contrast, Berk describes his personal style as a “mix of organic, modern, classic, Spanish, and minimal with a mostly neutral colour palette” that leans towards working with natural materials and geometric shapes.
      He cites his LA-based studio, in a recently renovated 1970s Spanish-style home, as the project that most accurately reflects his own style.
      Rooms filled with a palette dominated by black, white, marble and wood detailing house the designer’s headquarters and various home products.
      Nevertheless, he reports that Queer Eye has opened him up to experimenting with bolder tones and patterns.
      “I believe we should let the work speak for itself”
      “I’ve brought in hits of colour in a handful of projects since then, and I think the show really did make me more confident in using colour – especially in wallpaper, unique paint treatments, and murals,” he said.
      Berk argues that his style isn’t definable in a single term or phrase – but acknowledges that certain aspects of his taste were cemented by moving from New York to California, after a childhood spent in the Bible Belt.
      “It really all developed over time, there wasn’t an exact moment my style all came together,” he said. “Rather, I feel all my past experiences and influences blended into a more discernible look and feel when I moved to California.”
      The interior designer says working on TV pushed him to be more confident in experimenting with colourLos Angeles continues to have the greatest influence on his work, ahead of the various locations Queer Eye filmed – including Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Orleans and a spin-off season in Japan – or Portugal, where the designer now lives part-time.
      “Of all the places I’ve lived and travelled, Los Angeles is the city that continues to drive my creativity and help me to see through fresh eyes,” he said.
      “It’s a very inspiring place on many different levels, and there is such a legacy of incredible architecture and design.”

      Five key projects by interior designer and Dezeen Awards judge Bobby Berk

      Design as a tool for improving well-being has remained at the centre of Berk’s work before, during and after Queer Eye, and he explored the theme further in his book Right at Home: How Good Design Is Good For The Mind, published last year.
      “From the very beginning of my career, I’ve known the power that design can have to change your life,” he said.
      “That will always be the throughline of my work, to use design as not just a way to make a beautiful room, but as an invaluable tool for improving wellness and mental health.”
      Berk’s LA office exemplifies his “organic” and “minimal” styleWhile he admits being in the spotlight can be both “challenging” and “flattering”, Berk is keen for his design work to be judged on its own merits.
      “Being cast on a television show has obviously changed my life in incredible ways and afforded me so many amazing opportunities,” he said. “Part of that also means being a public figure and having people be interested in more than just your design work.”
      “Sometimes it’s challenging, sometimes it’s flattering, but it’s what I signed up for,” he added. “I also don’t think we should put celebrity designers on a pedestal or value their work above other working designers who may not have had the same exposure.”
      “I believe we should let the work speak for itself, and give space to anyone that is talented and creating compelling design.”
      The photography is by Sara Ligorria Tramp.
      Dezeen In DepthIf you enjoy reading Dezeen’s interviews, opinions and features, subscribe to Dezeen In Depth. Sent on the last Friday of each month, this newsletter provides a single place to read about the design and architecture stories behind the headlines.

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