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      David/Nicolas balances classic and contemporary in renovated Gio Ponti apartment

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      French-Lebanese design studio David/Nicolas has refurbished a Milan apartment from the 1920s, bringing in contemporary details while retaining features added by Italian architect Gio Ponti.

      The art deco-style apartment, originally designed by Mario Borgaro in 1923, was refurbished by Ponti in 1952. Since then, much of the fit-out was torn away by the apartment’s previous owners, who auctioned off some of the furniture and wall panelling.
      David/Nicolas has redesigned the interiors of a 1920s Milan apartmentThe current owner, investment banker Michele Marocchino, initially brought on David/Nicolas to create wainscoting for two of the rooms, The Studio and The Dressing, which sit between the living room and the bedroom.
      But Marocchino later decided that the studio’s founders, David Raffoul and Nicolas Moussallem, should work on the entire space to reimagine Ponti’s recognisable style for the 21st century.
      The updated interior pays homage to Gio Ponti’s refurbishment from 1952″Our goal was to honour Gio Ponti’s design by incorporating his vision while integrating our own identity, avoiding a mere replica of the original,” the duo told Dezeen.

      “The signature elements of a Gio Ponti space include intricate details, wooden joinery, distinct edges of wooden panels and a floor plan that creates engaging visual directions by redefining the way the space is lived, as well as creating specific perspectives that guide the eye.”
      David/Nicolas’s design balances classic and contemporary elementsThe refurbished apartment, now dubbed Casa di Fantasia, comprises a spacious kitchen, a dressing room, a primary bedroom and another bedroom with a multifunctional room at the back of the apartment.
      Other distinct spaces include a large living room with a bar, plus a study and movie room.
      David/Nicolas’s approach to the redesign was dictated by Ponti’s work on perspectives, recreating rooms lost during previous renovations while respecting their original proportions.

      Monolithic green marble forms “majestic wall” in Milan apartment

      Ponti’s use of swirly radica wood in his refurbishment was referenced through decorative tiger-patterned marquetry, which was used to adorn several of the rooms.
      “The tiger wall pattern is a reinterpretation of the Radica wood panelling, which has a similar movement to the tiger pattern,” the duo explained.
      “We thought it was a good idea to use it, as it diverges from the original design while still maintaining a similar movement in the wood.”
      Tiger-patterned walls offer a modern reinterpretation of Ponti’s use of Radica wood Key features of Ponti’s refurbishment that David/Nicolas discovered were still in place include the panelling around the entryway as well as a pink bathtub and shower unit, which the duo refurbished.
      Tiles by Italian sculptor and ceramist Fausto Melotti that originally covered the entire bathroom were also retained.
      “Since many of these tiles were sold at a Philips auction, we utilised the remaining ones on the wall behind the vanities,” said David/Nicolas. “To enhance these tiles and the bathtub, we covered the rest of the walls with micro concrete.”
      Ponti’s pink bathtub and shower units were retainedDavid/Nicolas also designed a plethora of new furniture pieces for Casa di Fantasia, such as the two main couches of the living area, the sofa in the library, a free-standing bar, the lamp above the dining table and some sconces in cast aluminium.
      Both hailing from Beirut, Raffoul and Moussallem met while studying architecture at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts in 2006 before going on to found their studio in 2011.
      Tiles by Fausto Melotti now serve as a backsplashPreviously, David/Nicolas created furniture inspired by the night sky and Beirut’s history, which went on display for an exhibition titled Supernova at Carpenters Workshop Gallery in New York City in 2019.
      Other Milan apartment refurbishments that have recently been featured on Dezeen include Teorema Milanese’s marble makeover by Marcante-Testa and Untitled Architecture’s overhaul of a small attic.
      The photography is by Sara Magni.

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      Eight stylish living rooms where board-marked concrete adds character

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight living rooms from Dezeen’s archive where architects have used board-marked concrete walls and ceilings to add textural interest.

      As its name suggests, board-marked concrete, or board-formed concrete, is concrete that has been created using timber boards in its casting.
      This imprints the pattern of the wood onto the concrete, giving it a more organic look and making it feel less industrial than smoother concrete.
      As seen in the eight interiors below, board-marked concrete can add tactile interest and function as a stylish backdrop to living rooms across the globe.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring kitchens brightened by skylights, exposed structural ceiling beams and clerestory windows.

      Photo by Francisco NogueiraCasa Meco, Portugal, by Atelier Rua
      A large living room with windows on three sides is at the heart of this Portuguese holiday home designed by Atelier Rua.
      Its walls and ceiling were made from board-marked concrete, which is contrasted by a stone floor. Furniture and textiles in earthy hues add to the room’s natural feel.
      Find out more about Casa Meco ›
      Photo by Rory GardinerCasa Alférez, Mexico, by Ludwig Godefroy
      Mexico City-based architect Ludwig Godefroy created this brutalist holiday home entirely from board-formed concrete, with the material taking centre stage throughout the house.
      In the living room, it was used to create a double-height living space that surrounds a cosy green conversation pit.
      Find out more about Casa Alférez ›
      Photo by Edmund SumnerPedro Reyes House, Mexico, by Pedro Reyes
      A staircase and library were rendered in coarse concrete for the living room in this Mexico City home.
      Designed by architect Pedro Reyes for himself, his wife and their children, the house also features an irregularly paved stone floor and plenty of green plants.
      Find out more about Pedro Reyes House ›
      Photo by Tomaz GregoricVilla Eternal Way, Slovenia, by OFIS Arhitekti
      The entire entrance floor of this Slovenian house is one large living room, with walls and ceiling made from board-formed concrete.
      Local studio OFIS Arhitekti contrasted the grey concrete with floor-to-ceiling black cupboards and added tactile details in the form of a boucle sofa and leather dining chairs.
      Find out more about Villa Eternal Way ›
      Photo by Ooki JinguBuilding Frame of the House, Japan, by IGArchitects
      Designed for both living and working, Japanese studio IGArchitects conceived Building Frame of the House as “one big room” that would let its clients work anywhere.
      The home’s exposed board-marked concrete walls hold stepped mezzanine levels, creating overlapping spaces that the owners can configure into different rooms as needed.
      Find out more about Building Frame of the House ›
      Photo by Onnis LuqueAT House, Mexico, by Laurent Herbiet
      Architect Laurent Herbiet designed the AT House in Oaxtepec, Mexico, as 10 glazed sections divided by board-marked concrete walls.
      The concrete was left visible in the living room, which has a muted yet warm colour palette. Wooden furniture adds to the cosy atmosphere.
      Find out more about AT House ›
      Photo by Ishita Sitwala, The Fishy ProjectGujarat house, India, by Design ni Dukaan
      This “citadel-like” house in India was designed to wrap around a central courtyard space, creating an indoor-outdoor feel.
      In its formal living and dining room next to the courtyard, a tactile ceiling made from board-formed concrete sits above a glossy, polished floor, with a sculptural wood-and-marble coffee table completing the room.
      Find out more about Gujarat house ›
      Photo by Daniela Mac AddenCasa Golf, Argentina, by Luciano Kruk
      A pale grey colour palette dominates the living room of this stacked-volume holiday home in a seaside resort in Argentina.
      Board-marked concrete was used for its ceiling and walls and matched with a polished stone floor. A delicate Isamu Noguchi coffee table and wooden Eames chairs lend the room an air of mid-century modern elegance.
      Find out more about Casa Golf ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring kitchens brightened by skylights, exposed structural ceiling beams and clerestory windows.

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      Eight cosy living rooms illuminated by paper lamps

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      From simple spherical hanging lights to lighting sculptures by designers Isamu Noguchi and Ingo Maurer, this lookbook rounds up living rooms enhanced by the organic texture and warm glow of paper lamps.

      The versatile appearance of paper lights, which come in various geometric shapes and often have neutral warm-toned shades, makes them a popular choice for creating cosy living rooms.
      Drawing upon traditional Japanese rice paper lanterns, some of the rooms in this roundup use paper lamps to evoke the serenity of minimalist Japanese interiors.
      Other lounge spaces featured below use modernised paper lamp designs in angular shapes, popularised by Noguchi in the 1950s, to complement mid-century modern furnishings.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring contemporary kitchens with skylights, interiors with exposed ceiling beams and interiors with clerestory windows.

      Photo by Eric PetschekAmagansett Beach House, US, by Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design
      US studios Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design suspended a large spherical paper lamp over a double-height living room for the Amagansett Beach House in the Hamptons.
      Illuminated by the warm light, the home’s exposed glue-laminated Douglas fir timber structure and white oak surfaces contrast the dark timber exterior, which was treated with the Japanese blackening technique Shou Sugi Ban.
      Find out more about Amagansett Beach House ›
      Photo by Felix Speller and Child StudioMayfair home, UK, Child Studio
      Two Lampampe table lamps by industrial designer Maurer were placed on marble plinths in the living room of this London Mayfair home, which was designed by local practice Child Studio to have a mix of mid-century modern and custom-made decor.
      Designed by Maurer between the late 1970s and early 1980s, the lamps have the shape of traditional lampshades, but their entire form is crafted from slightly creased Japanese paper.
      Find out more about the Mayfair home ›
      Photo by Justin ChungBiscuit Loft, US, by OWIU Studio
      Architecture and design studio OWIU Studio added Japanese elements to the industrial interior of the Biscuit Loft apartment, located in a former factory in Downtown Los Angeles.
      Informed by ryokans, traditional Japanese inns, a living space-cum-guest-bedroom features a spherical and an elliptical paper lamp suspended over an area intended for tea ceremonies.
      Find out more about Biscuit Loft ›
      Photo by Roberto RuizPalau apartment, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture
      This apartment in Barcelona was renovated by local studio Colombo and Serboli Architecture to highlight some of its “imperfect” original features, informed by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi.
      A round paper lamp hangs from the ceiling beams in the corner of a built-in sitting area, which extends from the micro-cement base of the staircase.
      Find out more about the Palau apartment ›

      Photo by Mikkel MortensenVilla Wienberg, Denmark, by Wienberg Architects
      Architects Mette and Martin Wienberg overhauled this 1940s cottage in Denmark, lining the living areas with oil-treated oak boards and adding cosy furnishings.
      A paper light hangs above built-in seating that wraps the main living room and adds textural variety to the timber interior, along with fabric cushions and a furry throw.
      Find out more about Villa Wienberg ›
      Photo by Leslie Schwartz and Joshua WhiteEames House, US, by Charles and Ray Eames
      A more traditional-looking Japanese paper lantern is one of the hanging lamps that illuminate the living room in Eames House, a modernist Californian residence completed by US designers Charles and Ray Eames in 1949.
      Maintained by the nonprofit Eames Foundation, the home’s mid-century modern decor closely matches the way the Eames lived in it until their deaths.
      Find out more about Eames House ›
      Photo courtesy of Jonas Bjerre-PoulsenArchipelago House, Sweden, by Norm Architects
      A conical paper lamp hangs above the lounge space in Archipelago House, a holiday home on the coast of Sweden designed by Danish studio Norm Architects.
      Aiming to embody both Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics, the home was dressed with furniture designed by the studio in collaboration with Japanese manufacturer Karimoku Case Study.
      Find out more about Archipelago House ›
      Photo by Jake Curtis and Elliot SheppardPowerscroft Road townhouse, UK, by Daytrip
      Perched atop a wood burner in the living room of this London home is the 27N lamp from Noguchi’s Akari range, a series of handmade lighting sculptures made from washi paper and bamboo frames.
      Design studio Daytrip renovated and extended the home and loosely lime-washed the walls, aiming to create a calm and serene interior that showcased craftsmanship.
      Find out more about Powerscroft Road townhouse ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring contemporary kitchens with skylights, interiors with exposed ceiling beams and interiors with clerestory windows.

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      James Shaw’s light-filled London home is almost entirely underground

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      Lumpy recycled plastic furniture and circular skylights characterise this sunken London house, which designer James Shaw concealed on a 60-square-metre plot for himself and his family.

      Located in a conservation area in east London, the two-storey dwelling was constructed by Shaw and his friend, architect Nicholas Ashby.
      James Shaw built himself a sunken but light-filled homeThe neighbourhood’s planning restrictions required the pair to build all but 2.7 metres of the building out of sight from the street level, resulting in a sunken home with a large basement invisible from the outside.
      An open-plan kitchen, living and dining area feature in this underground space, which has exposed concrete walls interrupted by large, floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto a small terrace with a dinky plunge pool.
      The designer squeezed a bespoke sofa into one of the irregular cornersShaw and his writer-curator wife Lou Stoppard chose eclectic interiors for the home they share with their baby daughter – a collaboration that began with the duo’s 2022 London Design Festival installation of clashing furniture, created to poke fun at the tensions that arise when couples move in together for the first time.

      Made by Shaw, the pear-shaped walnut table from the installation features in the living area, surrounded by spindly stacking chairs first designed by furniture brand Blå Station founder Börge Lindau in 1986.
      Veneered MDF defines the kitchen cabinetsA custom aluminium bookshelf stretches across the wall opposite the table, built by Shaw to fit the unusual space. The designer also squeezed a bespoke burnt orange sofa into one of the irregular corners, illuminated by a large circular skylight.
      Known for his Plastic Baroque furniture made from recycled and extruded HDPE, Shaw placed a lumpy two-tone blue lounge chair next to the sofa – another piece that featured in his previous installation.
      The bathroom features Anni Albers-style mosaic flooringOpposite the living and dining area, the rectilinear kitchen cabinets were finished in veneered MDF, while the fridge was also fitted with a knobbly plastic handle.
      Stainless steel and pale blue HIMACS make up the worktops – one of which is on wheels to allow for flexibility when hosting.
      Squiggly pear-shaped sculptures top the bedpostsAcross the basement, a combination of oak finger parquet and raised-access metal tiles were used to create contrasting flooring. The silver-hued tiles can be lifted to reveal extra storage.
      Also underground, the bathroom was designed with a playfully patterned mosaic floor informed by the work of Bauhaus artist Anni Albers, including an abstract illustration of the couple’s cat, Rupert.
      The mirrored bathtub reflects and enhances the intricate flooring, while another rounded skylight adds natural light to the space.

      WillemsenU submerges house under the ground in the Netherlands

      An extruded blue plastic bannister snakes up the staircase to the bedroom – the only street-level room in the house.
      The Shaw-designed oak and brass bed features bedposts topped with squiggly pear-shaped sculptures, while the thin timber wardrobe was hand-painted with decorative panels by artist Marie Jacotey, who completed the project on-site.
      The bedroom is the only street-level roomStoppard’s vast art collection features throughout the sunken home, including delicate paintings by emerging artists Lydia Blakely and Mary Stephenson and antique artefacts from various travels.
      Elsewhere in London, Shaw’s trademark plastic furniture has also been used for retail projects. Footwear brand Camper’s Regent Street store includes bumpy yellow shelving by the designer, and a Traid charity clothes shop in Shepherd’s Bush has a wiggly bench upholstered in unsold clothes salvaged from the Traid warehouse.
      The photography is courtesy of James Shaw and Lou Stoppard. 

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      Glass bricks divide spaces in Suprematism apartment in Kyiv

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      Design studio Dihome has created a colourful industrial-style interior for this compact 15th-floor apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine.

      Named Suprematism, this 42-square-metre apartment was adapted for a young couple who wanted a bright, colourful apartment with the most functional use of space.
      “I wanted to dress the interior in a modern, bold way to give it a young and relaxed theme,” Dihome founder Yevheniia Sytnik told Dezeen.
      Geometric shapes and block colours characterise this apartment in Kyiv by design studio DihomeExisting walls were removed to create an open-plan layout, while glass bricks and panels were added to create spatial zoning without obstructing natural light.
      “Glass blocks, plywood and concrete are the DNA of this project,” said Sytnik.

      “The glass blocks in the living room required the builders to take them for grinding three times to ensure they fit perfectly,” she continued.
      The colour scheme is based on a palette of orange, blue, yellow and redSet against a backdrop of painted white walls, colour was introduced through furnishings and decorative pieces, including an orange coffee table and a deep blue velvet sofa in the living space.
      Above hangs a burnt orange wall panel by Ukrainian artist Tasha Oro, whose work references the early 20th-century art movement Suprematism – which the apartment is named after.
      “Suprematism is characterised by simple abstract forms such as squares, circles, and rectangles,” said Sytnik.
      The apartment is set across an open-plan areaWhile the living spaces are spread across one open-plan space, the kitchen is distinguished from the rest of the living area with a reeded glass partition and a change in materials.
      Grey stools with tubular red legs tuck under the kitchen work surface to create a space-saving dining area, with a floor-to-ceiling mirror panel incorporated to create the illusion of space.
      Dividing the bedroom from the social spaces is a structural concrete pillarA structural concrete pillar acts as a partition between the living spaces and the bedroom, doubling as a TV unit on one side and shelving space on the other.
      “This volume incorporates the constructive element of the building – the concrete pillar – and becomes the axis of the entire interior,” said Sytnik.

      ROOM+ Design & Build replaces walls of house in Ho Chi Minh City with glass bricks

      Two additional decorative wall panels by Tasha Oro hang on the bedroom side of the pillar in pastel tones.
      “I worked on the project as if in a constant dialogue with Oro’s panels,” said Sytnik.
      Space-saving storage solutions are incorporated throughout the designIn the bedroom is an inbuilt desk and a low platform bed, with a yellow curtain used to neatly conceal wardrobe space.
      Rough-textured concrete ceilings with exposed electrical wiring give the apartment an industrial look.
      A colourful geometric panel, designed by Re:Quiet using recycled plastic bottles, functions as a noise absorber.
      Glass bricks separate the bathroom from the wider apartmentDivided using a glass brick wall, the bathroom is the only separate volume in the apartment, with red and yellow tones continued here.
      “Suprematist motifs in the bathroom tiles and bright yellow kitchen are complimented by the graphic patterns of the ceramic granite,” said Sytnik.
      Other Kyiv-based projects recently featured on Dezeen include an apartment renovation by Modektura and a fitness studio made from leftover materials in the face of wartime shortages.
      Photography is by Andrey Avdeenko.

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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.
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      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.
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      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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