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    Electric Bowery renovates Big Sur house overlooking California’s coastline

    The co-founder of California studio Electric Bowery has renovated a redwood-clad house in Big Sur for her family, preserving its iconic features and adding custom furniture.

    The house, originally designed by well-known local architect Mickey Muennig, is perched high up on a bluff overlooking the dramatic coastline – famous for the scenic Route 1 that runs along it.
    The house was built in 1993 by renowned local architect Mickey MuennigCommissioned in 1993, the building features a curved copper roof and redwood exterior cladding that Electric Bowery co-founder Cayley Lambur and director of interiors Stephanie Luk used as the foundation for the remodel.
    After speaking to her neighbour, the original owner, Lambur delved into Muennig’s legacy and the property’s history for clues to approach the project.
    Electric Bowery co-founder Cayley Lambur’s updates to the property included reconfiguring the compact kitchen”Inspired by this connection, Lambur began to breathe new life into the residence while honouring its organic architectural roots,” said the studio.

    The house benefits from large windows and expanses of glazing that capitalise on the views across the landscape to the ocean.
    Custom furniture in the living room includes a curved sofa designed to “hug views into the canyon”Keeping these vistas top of mind, the renovation involved reconfiguring the internal spaces, and respectfully upgrading some of the outdated decor and fixtures.
    An entirely new custom kitchen was added within the tight existing space, designed to maximise counter space and celebrate the views of the garden and ocean.
    Vintage leather chairs surround an impressive stone hearthThe redwood millwork was created in collaboration with American furniture company Henrybuilt to blend with the rest of the interiors, while raw steel, warm-stained concrete floors and leathered natural quartzite complete the contemporary look.
    Where the roof slopes to its lowest point, the living room is furnished with custom pieces such as a curved channel-tufted sofa that “hugs views into the canyon” and an oversized claro walnut coffee table by Dusk.
    Redwood panelling continues in the bedrooms, with are decorated with a warm and earthy paletteBehind, an impressive stone hearth is accompanied by vintage black-leather armchairs and a variety of textured rugs and pillows.
    The redwood panelling continues in the bedrooms and bathrooms, where it’s complemented by custom beds dressed in deep red and green textiles.

    Electric Bowery arranges steel and wood cabins for Hudson Valley hotel

    “The consistent use of redwood paneling throughout the home offers the experience of bringing the outside inwards, contrasted and complemented by the incorporation of colour through art, tile and textiles,” said Electric Bowery.
    “A warm and earthy palette is carried through the home, layering textures and natural materials, old and new.”
    One of the bathrooms is tiled entirely in thin, straight-stacked, teal-glazed tilesOne of the bathrooms is tiled entirely in thin, straight-stacked teal glazed tiles, while another features a shower lined with square tiles in tones of blue.
    Also as part of the scope, a trailer on the property was restored and renovated for use as additional guest accommodation and an office for remote work.
    The house overlooks the dramatic Northern California coastline from its lofty perchLambur founded Electric Bowery with fellow architect Lucia Bartholomew in 2013, and the studio is based between Venice, Big Sur and Santa Barbara in California, and New York City.
    Other projects by the studio include the Wildflower Farms resort in Upstate New York, where a series of wood or Corten steel-clad cabins are nestled among meadows and woodland, and a house in Venice Beach that features an askew pitched roof.
    The photography is by Chris Mottalini.

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    Eight dining rooms dominated by dark-wood furniture

    Our latest lookbook rounds up eight elegant dining rooms where dark-wood furniture, including tables, chairs and shelving, takes centre stage.

    The dining room furniture pieces featured in this lookbook make an impact with their dark tones, which are often evocative of vintage interiors.
    Whether made from teak, walnut or rosewood, the rich colours and grains of the natural materials make for a luxurious addition to dining spaces and offer a contrasting option to light-toned woods popular in minimalist and Scandi-inspired interiors.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring stylish hallways, green-toned bathrooms and interiors decorated with zellige tiles.
    Photo by Read McKendreeSag Harbor 2, US, by Kevin O’Sullivan + Associates

    New York practice Kevin O’Sullivan + Associates used dark wood throughout the Sag Harbor 2 home in the Hamptons to contrast light-toned stone and concrete surfaces and create a calming material palette.
    The dining room features a sculptural dark-wood dining table with a chunky surrounded by mid-century teak dining chairs designed by British designer Victor Wilkins.
    Find out more about Sag Harbor 2 ›
    Photo by Felix Speller and Child StudioMayfair home, UK, by Child Studio
    This home in London by local practice Child Studio also features mid-century modern furniture, including dining chairs by French architect Charlotte Perriand.
    Child Studio designed a circular wooden table and built-in cabinets lined with mahogany and marble to complement the chairs and unify the dining area.
    Find out more about the Mayfair home ›
    Photo by Fabian MartinezColonia Condesa house, Mexico, by Chloé Mason Gray
    Deep, moody tones characterise the interior of this home in Mexico City, which was renovated by local interiors studio Chloé Mason Gray to embrace its lack of natural light.
    The dining room is anchored by its dark furniture, which includes a quartzite table surrounded by wooden chairs with T-shaped backs.
    Find out more about the Colonia Condesa house ›
    Photo by Max Hart NibbrigBolívar House, Spain, by Juan Gurrea Rumeu
    Spanish architect Juan Gurrea Rumeu opted for warm-toned textural materials for the interior of Bolívar House in Barcelona, adding wood accents to the concrete structure.
    In the open-plan kitchen and dining room, dark-wood vintage dining chairs were paired with an even darker wooden bench that was built along the wall.
    Find out more about Bolívar House ›
    Photo by Fabian MartinezMérida house, Mexico, by Marc Perrotta
    A large wooden table forms the centrepiece of this dining room-cum-office, which is complemented by dark-wood U-shaped shelves that wrap the walls.
    It was designed by architect Marc Perrotta in his renovation of a traditional 19th-century house in Mérida. Perrotta also expanded the home with a courtyard extension.
    Find out more about the Mérida house ›
    Photo by Eric PetschekCarroll Gardens Townhouse, US, by Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design
    New York studios Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design placed a walnut table with rounded corners as the centrepiece of a white oak-clad dining room.
    Located in a renovated Brooklyn townhouse, the table contrasts with the light-toned room and provides a space for friends and family to gravitate around.
    Find out more about Carroll Gardens Townhouse ›
    Photo by Denilson MachadoDN Apartment, Brazil, by BC Arquitetos
    Walnut-lined walls with built-in shelves form the backdrop of this dining room, located in a 1970s São Paulo apartment that was renovated by Brazilian studio BC Arquitetos.
    Mid-century furniture was collected for the apartment, including a rosewood table by Brazilian designer Sergio Rodrigues and original red leather chairs by Polish-Brazilian designer Jorge Zalszupin.
    Find out more about DN Apartment ›
    Photo by Rory GardinerCasa Mérida, Mexico, by Ludwig Godefroy
    Informed by Mayan traditions and culture, architect Ludwig Godefroy designed a fragmented concrete home in Mérida with interiors decorated with wooden furnishings.
    In an open-plan kitchen and dining room, a table and chairs in matching dark wood provide ample space to gather and eat, and wooden doors open onto outdoor spaces.
    Find out more about Casa Mérida ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring stylish hallways, green-toned bathrooms and interiors decorated with zellige tiles.

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    Dawid Konieczny designs Warsaw apartment to have “the ease of a good hotel room”

    Polish architect Dawid Konieczny has added mid-century modern elements to this Warsaw studio apartment, conceived to echo the compact size and sophistication of a hotel room.

    Set within an early 20th-century building clad in terracotta bricks, the apartment’s petite perimeter formed the basis for its interior design.
    Dawid Konieczny designed the apartment to mimic a hotel room”We’re talking about 30 square metres, so it’s kind of the size of a hotel room,” Konieczny told Dezeen.
    “I wanted to combine the ease of a good hotel room with the idea of a chic mid-century modern apartment.”
    The hallway features oak-panelled wallsThe hallway features sinuous walls covered in smooth oak panels, concealing subtle storage compartments that make the most of the apartment’s high ceilings.

    This entrance gives way to a single room that holds both private and public spaces and maintains the building’s original herringbone flooring.
    Veiny quartzite was applied to the kitchen countertopA boxy, stained oak and steel shelving cabinet separates the low-slung double bed from the dining area, where a bespoke rounded table is surrounded by a set of vintage Casala cantilever chairs upholstered in pinstriped fabric.
    “I hoped to express the soul of the 1970s,” explained Konieczny, who also placed a small abstract painting by Polish artist Tomek Opaliński above the dining table.
    Konieczny selected vintage cantilever chairs for the dining spaceOn the other side of the room is an open-plan kitchen with a caramel-hued countertop finished in veiny Palomino quartzite, illuminated by antique mid-century sconces Konieczny sourced specifically for the project.
    A sleek oven is tucked into one of the oak-panelled, space-saving walls.
    Pistachio-coloured tiles line the bathroomOpposite the bed, a pair of dusty mauve armchairs frame a squat coffee table, forming a small living space.
    “Thanks to quality materials and vintage furniture selections, the apartment has a timeless character,” said Konieczny.

    K916 and K907 are a pair of pared-back holiday apartments in Warsaw

    Pistachio-coloured tiles line the bathroom, which is separate from the main space. Monochrome, basketweave flooring was chosen to complement the room’s retro standalone sink and built-in bathtub.
    “The idea was to create a warm and comfortable feeling for the apartment but with a classy vibe,” added the architect, who designed the home for a duo of Paris-based fashion photographers seeking a “cosy shelter in Warsaw” in between frequent travel.
    The apartment was designed for a pair of fashion photographersElsewhere in the Polish capital, interiors studio Mistovia incorporated walnut burl and terrazzo accents to another apartment while Noke Architects created a two-tone interior for an Italian bar.
    The photography is by Oni Studio.

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    Eight homes where well-designed hallways create stylish connections

    In this lookbook, we’ve collected eight residential hallways that incorporate skylights, artwork, plants and more to bring interest to passing through an interior.

    Whether they line the perimeter of the house or were inserted through its centre, these hallways from residences in Vietnam to New York show that a corridor contains all the potential to design as the rooms they connect.
    While hallways are largely functional as they connect other rooms, their dramatic and transient nature make them an exciting, and sometimes difficult, space to decorate.
    Each project below showcases a different approach to the opportunity, from plants running along the ceiling to textured wall panels that add visual interest as inhabitants pass by.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring zellige tiles, splashes of blue and decorative platform beds.

    Photo is by Hirouyki OkiFamily home, Vietnam, by MIA Design Studio
    A long plant-lined corridor runs along three separate volumes that make up this holiday home in a coastal city in Vietnam designed for a plant-loving client.
    Creeper plants hang down from the ceiling of the corridor and are highlighted by a sunlit shaft running its length, which creates dapples of light on the floor.
    Find out more about Family home ›
    The photo is by Chris MottaliniNew York City penthouse, USA, by Crina Arghirescu Rogard
    Paintings, photographs and sculptures by the owner’s family line the corridor of this penthouse in a historic New York City building, which was updated by architect Crina Arghirescu Rogard.
    An extensive collection of art continues throughout the apartment, mixed with a thoughtful selection of eclectic furniture and original detailing.
    Find out more about New York City penthouse ›
    Photo is by Yevhenii AvramenkoKyiv apartment, Ukraine, by Modektura
    Wooden frames line the archways in the corridors of this renovated apartment in Kyiv, created by interior studio Modektura to reflect its 1900 origins.
    Described by the studio as a “central artery”, the corridor extends the entire length of the apartment, connecting the kitchen to the bedroom and living area.
    Find out more about Kyiv apartment ›

    Photo is by Do mal o menosLisbon apartment, Portugal, by Alarquitectos
    Two brightly painted passageways sit at the centre of this Portuguese apartment, created by a long, pink wall on one side and the kitchen on the other, which is made up of blue cabinetry.
    The pink hallway continues the length of the space, connecting the living area with the apartment’s bedrooms, while the blue runs into a dining area.
    Find out more about Lisbon apartment ›
    Photo is by James RetiefHouse Made by Many Hands, UK, by Cairn
    Cairn used hempcrete to form the walls of this London home in order to brighten up the formerly “dark and cramped” home.
    A slim hallway runs along the kitchen and out into a patio. It is bordered on either side by the textured hempcrete and a bar and topped with a row of skylights.
    Find out more about House Made by Many Hands ›
    Photo is by David MitchellTribeca loft, USA, by Timothy Godbold
    Geometric relief panels line the walls of this Tribeca apartment, creating interest and texture along narrow New York hallways.
    “The wall details in this Tribeca space are inspired by a classic 1970s sci-fi series that showcases an all-Italian modern aesthetic within a futuristic environment,” said interior design studio Timothy Godbold.
    Find out more about Tribeca loft ›
    Photo is by BoysPlayNiceMasná 130, Czech Republic, by ORA
    A large, black curve leads into the entryway of this bathroom in a Renaissance-era house in the Czech Republic.
    Various historic elements were kept in place by Czech architecture studio ORA, while contemporary furniture and elements, like this solid wall volume, were incorporated throughout.
    Find out more about Masná 130 ›
    Photo is by Cesar BéjarCasa Shi, Mexico, by HW Studio
    Long, monolithic and bare corridors and stairways run throughout this home outside of Mexico City by HW Studio.
    At the centre of the home, a curved wall separates living areas from the bedrooms, which are also boarded by a passageway lined with floor-to-ceiling glass.
    Find out more about Casa Shi ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring zellige tiles, splashes of blue and decorative platform beds.

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    Eight contemporary bathrooms coloured with soothing shades of green

    Glazed tiles, waxed concrete and tactile plaster are among the surface finishes used to create the earthy green bathrooms featured in our latest lookbook.

    The colour green is widely known to have a calming and comforting effect, thanks to its links to the natural world.
    This lends itself well to architects and designers designing for wellbeing, particularly in bathroom interiors where the goal is to relax and unwind.
    From a flat in the bustling streets of Paris to a secluded forest residence in rural Poland, the homes in this lookbook demonstrate how embracing green is an effective way to create a soothing atmosphere in any bathroom, no matter its style, size or setting.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring imperfect zellige tiles, blue interiors and living rooms with 1970s-style furnishings.

    Photo by Jim StephensonLondon apartment, UK, by Daab Design
    To create the impression of a leafy garden, Daab Design lined the walls of this bathroom in terracotta tiles with different shades of green glaze.
    The tiles reflect green-tinged light into the room, helping to create a natural, soothing atmosphere. It is finished with a large mirror, utilitarian fixtures and an opal light bulb.
    Find out more about this London apartment ›
    Photo by Tim Van De VeldeSL House, Belgium, by Ae-Architecten
    Ae-Architecten used fern green plaster to coat the walls and ceiling of the bathroom at SL House, which was recently renovated in Ghent.
    The natural shade of the walls is paired with a white terrazzo floor and sink, and warmed by brass fixtures and a wooden cupboard and window reveal.
    Find out more about SL House ›
    Photo by Martyna Rudnicka with styling by Anna SalakDom Las, Poland, by Studio Onu
    Long, narrow tiles in a range of green tones envelop this bathroom’s curving walls, lending a natural and organic aesthetic to the room.
    It was designed by Studio Onu as part of a forest house it created in Poland and is intended to echo the hues of the surrounding vegetation. The tiles are complemented by warm wooden details and a pale green cabinet.
    Find out more about  Dom Las ›
    Photo by French + TyeHouse Recast, UK, by Studio Ben Allen
    The bath, counters, washbasin and benches in the bathroom of this London house were all cast in cool green concrete, paired with industrial brass fixtures.
    Its natural hue helps soften the geometric forms of the room, which Studio Ben Allen has designed to have the feel of a hammam.
    Find out more about House Recast ›
    Photo by Piet-Albert GoethalsBelgian apartment, Belgium, by Carmine Van Der Linden and Thomas Geldof
    This guest bathroom is located in an apartment in Belgium and enclosed with deep seaweed-coloured walls that nod to its calming, coastal setting.
    It is accessed through a green wood-lined door and teamed with a statement Gris Violet marble basin that adds to the natural look of the space.
    Find out more about this Belgian apartment ›
    Photo is by Denilson Machado of MCA EstúdioHygge Studio, Brazil, by Melina Romano
    Architect Melina Romano created an earthy aesthetic for the bathroom of Hygge Studio by combining a terracotta-coloured vanity unit and matching floor tiles with forest green walls.
    Completing the room is a rounded mirror, planting and black and copper fixtures.
    Find out more about Hygge Studio ›
    Photo by Zac and ZacEdinburgh apartment, UK, by Luke and Joanne McClelland
    The garish 1970s-style turquoise interior of this bathroom was swapped for a soothing, natural material palette during a renovation by architects Luke and Joanne McClelland.
    Deep green tiles clad the bathtub and lower half of the walls, paired with wooden details including a mid-century vanity unit.
    Find out more about this Edinburgh apartment ›
    Photo by Ercole SalinaroParis apartment, France, by Pierre-Louis Gerlier Architecte
    Waxed concrete with a green hue covers the walls of this curved shower room in Paris.
    It was designed by Pierre-Louis Gerlier Architecte to create a feeling of intimacy and forms part of a wider flat renovation intended to offer a simple hotel-like aesthetic.
    Find out more about this Paris apartment ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring imperfect zellige tiles, blue interiors and living rooms with 1970s-style furnishings.

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    Crina Arghirescu Rogard adds “eccentric design” to historic penthouse in Tribeca

    Architect Crina Arghirescu Rogard has updated a penthouse apartment in a historic New York City building, injecting an array of designs into an already eclectic collection.

    Arghirescu Rogard was tasked by a friend, Mexican artist Claudia Doring Baez, to reimagine her family home in just six weeks.
    Located in the American Thread Building, the penthouse’s grand living room was formerly a ballroom for The Wool Club societySharing “a mutual passion for eccentric design pieces,” the pair set about finding and installing a mix of art, textiles and custom contemporary pieces that would add to the home’s assemblage.
    “The primary challenge was to establish a dialogue between the old and the new, the strong historical architectural shell of the apartment and a decidedly contemporary new interior,” said the architect, who has offices in both Paris and Brooklyn.
    Decorative black walnut panelling is contrasted by contemporary furnitureThe penthouse is located in Tribeca’s American Thread Building, built in 1890 in the Renaissance Revival style.

    Its grand living room was formerly the ballroom for The Wool Club, a society of fabric industry leaders who would gather on the building’s top floor.
    Custom-designed pieces for the apartment include the pale-blue dining table by Liz HopkinsOriginal details such as highly decorative black walnut panelling, ceiling mouldings and a large open fireplace form a backdrop for the contemporary furniture.
    Baez’s extensive collection of art, which includes works by Pablo Picasso, Robert Motherwell and Roy Oxlade, helped to inform the interior refresh.
    The eclectic mix of furniture and artwork continues in the kitchenPaintings, photographs and sculptures by her mother Lucero Gonzales, her brother Adolfo Doring and her daughter Alexandra Zelman also cover the walls of the kitchen and hallways.
    “A poetic assemblage of strong pieces that could stand on their own was what was needed to echo the spirit of the art,” Arghirescu Rogard said.
    For the primary bedroom, Crina Arghirescu Rogard custom-designed a curvaceous headboard wrapped in dark green velvetA large-scale triptych by Rose Wylie that hangs behind the custom dining table informed the colour palette and bold gestures chosen for the living space.
    Among the pieces added are the curved asymmetric sofa that separates the sitting and dining areas, and the pale blue Conversation chairs by artist Liz Collins that are tied together with draping fabric.

    Timothy Godbold adorns Tribeca loft with modernist relief panels

    Contrasting one another, a bi-colour Franco Albini Fiorenza lounge chair and a white Lympho Contemporary chair by Taras Zheltyshev are positioned by the fireplace.
    The bright yellow coffee table comprising stackable resin cubes was custom designed by Liz Hopkins, who also created the blue-tinted dining table – both taking their colours from Wylie’s paintings.
    Paintings, photographs and sculptures by the homeowner’s family line the corridorsFor the primary bedroom, Arghirescu Rogard custom-designed a curvaceous headboard wrapped in dark green velvet and added her yellow raku and bronze coffee table.
    With these pieces, the architect was able to “transform the Baez apartment into a poetic contemporary retreat that is audacious and yet warm and familial, in keeping with the owner’s own sense of life, creativity and whimsy”, she said.
    The updated interiors reflect the owner’s “sense of life, creativity and whimsy”Tribeca is a popular neighbourhood for artists and creatives, who reside in the spacious lofts and penthouses of former industrial buildings.
    Others that retain their historic features include an apartment with “secret spaces” that was renovated by Andrea Leung and a pied-à-terre that doubles as a showroom for Danish design company Vipp.
    The photography is by Chris Mottalini.

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    Eight interiors embellished with imperfect zellige tiles

    Our latest lookbook rounds up eight projects where handmade Moroccan tiles cover everything from chimney breasts to mini-bars, adding a sense of traditional craftsmanship to otherwise modern interiors.

    Zellige tiles are traditional glazed terracotta tiles, originating from the 10th century in Morocco, that are made using unrefined local clay that is kneaded, shaped and cut by hand.
    As a result, every tile is unique, with slight variations in shape and colour that reveal the hands of their maker.
    In recent years, interior designers have liberated zellige tiles from the confines of the kitchen or the bathroom and used them to bring depth and texture to modern interiors.
    Among the projects featured below are a members’ club in Nashville, the renovation of Ibiza’s first hotel and a Sydney penthouse belonging to a couple of empty nesters.

    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring platform beds, living rooms with 70s furnishings and bathrooms that combine colours and patterns.
    Photo by Karel BalasMontesol Experimental, Spain, by Chzon
    French interiors studio Chzon aimed to bring “a bohemian overtone” to her renovation of the 1933 Montesol Experimental in Ibiza, widely credited as being the island’s first hotel.
    A hand-made theme threads throughout the rooms, as seen in the irregular Moroccan tiles that wrap the mini-bars and the shell-patterned walls, created by pressing individual seashells into fresh lime plaster.
    Find out more about the Montesol Experimental ›
    Photo by Megan TaylorDesign House, UK, by 2LG Studio
    Pastel hues were mixed with whimsical details such as scallop-edged doors and a pale-pink tiled chimney in the London home and workspace of 2LG Studio, founded by Russell Whitehead and Jordan Cluroe.
    “The glaze is uneven and so the tiles create a stunning dappled light bouncing off them,” the duo said.
    Find out more about Design House ›
    Photo by German SáizConde Duque apartment, Spain, by Sierra + De La Higuera
    With many of the dividing walls in this apartment removed to usher in more natural light, Spanish architecture studio Sierra + De La Higuera relied instead on emerald, ruby and mustard-yellow tiles to define different spaces.
    The home in Madrid’s bohemian Conde Duque neighbourhood belongs to a well-travelled couple that wanted to fuse its Galician and Mexican heritage in the interior.
    Find out more about this Conde Duque apartment ›
    Photo by Prue RuscoeDream Weaver penthouse, Australia, by YSG
    Glossy off-white zellige tiles cover an entire wall inside this Sydney penthouse, helping to bounce light around the home belonging to a couple of empty nesters.
    Local studio YSG was brought on board to reflect the owners’ post-lockdown joie de vivre in the interior, incorporating an eclectic mix of references from surrealist artworks to tiled Spanish tapas bars.
    Find out more about the Dream Weaver penthouse ›
    Photo by Sean RobertsonThe Malin Nashville, USA, by The Malin design team
    The design team of The Malin designed the Nashville outpost of the work-oriented members’ club to feel more like a hotel than a traditional co-working space.
    The rooms feature an eclectic mix of vintage and contemporary furniture alongside a rich material palette including tasselled velvet upholstery, four different types of marble and Moroccan tiles offset with white grouting.
    Find out more about The Malin Nashville ›
    Photo by Francis AmiandBeefbar Milano, Italy, by Humbert & Poyet
    Interior design duo Humbert & Poyet created a new home for the Beefbar steakhouse inside the former chapel of a 500-year-old seminary on Milan’s Corso Venezia.
    Glossy oxblood-red tiles provide a subtle splash of colour atop the restaurant’s wooden wall panelling and a more dramatic focal point at the back of the space, where they clad a curved wall.
    Find out more about Beefbar Milano ›
    Photo by Megan TaylorRixo Marylebone, UK, by Cúpla
    Interiors studio Cúpla sought to reflect the hand-painted prints that decorate Rixo’s fashion collections when designing the London brand’s Marylebone boutique.
    This idea was realised via colourful murals and illustrations by artist Sam Wood and a mosaic of tiles, accentuating the interior’s classical archways and mouldings.
    “Every line of the mural or the ‘random’ coloured zellige tile layout was methodically composed to ensure a right balance between the colours was struck,” Cúpla founder Gemma McCloskey told Dezeen.
    Find out more about Rixo Marylebone ›
    Photo by The IngallsAustin Proper Hotel, USA, by Kelly Wearstler
    Different types of tiles, from simple to ornate, feature throughout the public spaces of the Austin Proper Hotel designed by Kelly Wearstler.
    This includes The Mockingbird cafe, where Moroccan tiles are arranged into a chequered pattern across the walls, providing a counterpoint to the dramatic stone counter.
    Find out more about the Austin Proper Hotel ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring platform beds,  living rooms with 70s furnishings and bathrooms that combine colours and patterns.

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    Ten residential interiors that are refreshed by splashes of blue

    The interiors of a guesthouse, micro apartment and beachfront home are among those linked together in this lookbook by their pronounced use of the colour blue.

    Blue is a cool-toned colour that helps to create both invigorating and serene interior design schemes, depending on the chosen shade.
    From richly pigmented ultramarine – as seen in the work of artist Yves Klein – to understated cobalt and denim shades and playful sky blue, there is a vast spectrum of colourations for designers to select from.
    The following projects see blue used to freshen up a range of domestic spaces, from kitchens to living areas and bedrooms.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring barn conversions with distinctive interiors and bedrooms containing blocky platform beds.

    Photo is by Francesca PeraniUrban Cabin, Italy, by Francesca Perani
    Blue-painted storage compartments are concealed by hinged lids in this micro apartment designed by architect Francesca Perani.
    The richly saturated colour also picks out details in other areas of the space – such as window edges and a slither of one wall – and adds contrast in the otherwise warm-toned, neutral space, which is lined with oriented strand board.
    Find out more about Urban Cabin ›
    Photo is by José HeviaCasa A12, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil
    Spanish studio Lucas y Hernández Gil concealed a small bathroom within a blue corrugated pod in the basement of this apartment in Madrid, which has a striped appearance when reflecting light from two large windows.
    The floor-to-ceiling structure is the only permanent fixture in the white-painted space, which is otherwise scantly furnished, allowing it to take centre stage while serving a functional purpose.
    Find out more about Casa A12 ›
    Photo is by Paolo FuscoRetroscena, Italy, by La Macchina Studio
    An arched doorway with an extruded, tunnel-like surround, both painted deep blue, creates a portal between the kitchen and bedroom in this Rome apartment by architecture office La Macchina Studio.
    The graphic feature was combined with blue accents in other areas of the flat, including a sofa and a sideboard in the living area as well as a moody bathroom with dark blue walls.
    Find out more about Retroscena ›
    Photo is by Tim Van de VeldeB&B Entrenous, Belgium, by Atelier Janda Vanderghote
    Dusky cobalt kitchen cabinets are among the bespoke blue structures installed during the renovation of this historic house in Ghent by local studio Atelier Janda Vanderghote.
    The colour features to some degree in most areas of the building, which now serves as a guesthouse. It was chosen in order to tie the wider material palette together, which combines concrete, terrazzo and wood.
    Find out more about B&B Entrenous ›
    Photo is by The Fishy ProjectThane apartment, India, by The Act of Quad
    The inside of an arched, wall-mounted drinks cabinet is finished in a deep royal blue in this Indian apartment by local studio The Act of Quad.
    Other details picked out in the colour are light fixtures, chairs, decor pieces and hemispherical wooden balls that are dotted around on furnishings, all of which add a sense of dynamism in the otherwise neutrally decorated spaces.
    Find out more about Thane apartment ›
    Photo is by Rasmus HjortshøjThe Author’s House, Denmark, by Sleth
    The open-plan living area of this Danish cabin features a centrally-placed chimney stack rendered with dark blue paint.
    Architecture and landscape design office Sleth chose the shade to create playful friction with the rest of the gabled space, which is lined with Douglas fir planks.
    Find out more about Sleth ›
    Photo is by Marcela GrassiLoft in Poblenou, Spain, by NeuronaLab
    Barcelona-based architecture office NeuronaLab added a sky blue multipurpose volume to this loft apartment in the city’s Poblenou neighbourhood.
    Its light aquamarine exterior is made up of recycled cellulose panels and houses storage as well as a staircase leading to a mezzanine.
    Find out more about Loft in Poblenou ›
    Photo is courtesy of Ater ArchitectsEGR Apartment, Ukraine, by Ater Architects
    Electric blue floor-to-ceiling curtains were used in place of partition walls in this Kyiv apartment designed by Ukrainian studio Ater Architects.
    The drapery creates a consistent dramatic presence throughout the interior, and is offset by the otherwise neutral colour and material palette, which includes stone, wooden floorboards and concrete.
    Find out more about EGR Apartment ›
    Photo by Dave WheelerBalmoral Blue House, Australia, by Esoteriko
    Interiors studio Esoteriko layered many shades of blue in this monochromatic bedroom, which gives the Balmoral Blue House its name.
    A navy blue Componibili storage unit by Kartell acts as a bedside table and sits against a backdrop of cerulean-hued walls, creating a peaceful yet visually striking space.
    Find out more about Balmoral Blue House ›
    Photo is by Megan TaylorForest Hill house, UK, by 2LG Studio
    Concealed within a built-in cupboard, a workstation finished in an invigorating shade of dark blue creates contrast in this pastel-toned kitchen by London design practice 2LG Studio.
    Nearby, a square picture window is flanked above and below by azure-tinted semicircular mirrors, adding another blue feature to the space.
    Find out more about Forest Hill house ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring barn conversions with distinctive interiors and bedrooms containing blocky platform beds.

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