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

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      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

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      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

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      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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      Eight decadent living rooms with 1970s-style furnishings

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight living rooms that incorporate retro 1970s-style fittings and decorative accessories to create decadent textured interiors with rich, vivid colours.

      The nostalgic interiors, which range from a townhouse in Cork to an apartment in São Paulo, highlight a number of lavish designs that embrace each individual occupier’s love for mid-century extravagance.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring tactile interiors with natural materials and coloured, patterned bathrooms.
      Photo by Michael SinclairHelios 710, UK, by Bella Freud and Maria Speake
      This lavish London penthouse apartment, designed by architect Piercy & Company with interiors by creative duo Bella Freud and Retrouvius co-founder Maria Speake, is situated in the former site of BBC Television Centre.

      Looking to the glamour of the 1970s, the pair decked out Helios 710 in striking hues. The living space features glossy black sofas with contrasting burnt orange seat cushions and an emerald-green carpet.
      Find out more about Helios 710 ›
      Photo by Félix Dol MaillotUnivers Uchronia, France, by Julien Sebban
      Oversized flower-shaped cushions and gaudy low-slung coffee tables anchor this predominantly pink Paris apartment, designed and owned by Uchronia founder Julien Sebban.
      This interior captures the eclectic essence of the Uchronia architecture and interiors studio, and is defined by bold shapes, loud colours and shiny reflective surfaces.
      Find out more about Univers Uchronia ›
      Photo by Pedro VannucchiOscar Freire apartment, Brazil, by Claudia Bresciani and Júlia Risi
      Reconfigured for a São Paulo-based illustrator, this open-plan space suited to both living and working utilises signature hallmarks of 1970s interiors.
      Architects Claudia Bresciani and Júlia Risi incorporated black-and-white geometric flooring and orange-hued furniture to bring light to the newly integrated kitchen, lounge and studio.
      Find out more about this Oscar Freire apartment ›
      Photo by Ruth Maria MurphyLovers Walk, Ireland, by Kingston Lafferty Design
      Blue velvet sofas and a green swirly book-matched marble wall characterise the living room of this renovated Cork family townhouse, originally built in the 1970s.
      Danish designer Verner Panton’s playful shape and strong clashing colour works informed Dublin studio Kingston Lafferty Design.
      Find out more about Lovers Walk ›
      Photo by Francis MaraisMossel Bay home, South Africa, by Yvette van Zyl
      Creating a home for herself and her husband in the seaside town of Mossel Bay, South Africa, architect Yvette van Zyl used a curved, sculptural approach for the tactile 1970s-style interior design.
      Alongside custom-framed glass louvres and paper lanterns, orange seating once again completes this modernist-informed space.
      Find out more about this Mossel Bay home ›
      Photo by Mariell Lind HansenZero House, UK, by Ben Garrett and Rae Morris
      Recording artists Ben Garrett and Rae Morris honoured their home’s mid-century roots with a dark red and brown colour palette paying nod to director Stanley Kubrick’s films, whose credits include 1971’s A Clockwork Orange and 1980’s The Shining.
      Other period details include a geometric maze-patterned rug and reeded 1970s-style glass, which was used for some of the home’s windows.
      Find out more about Zero House ›

      Club Unseen, Italy, by Studiopepe
      During Milan design week in 2018, Studiopepe opened a temporary private venue in a 19th-century warehouse – creating an immersive installation across seven distinct rooms.
      Combining graphic shapes, grid patterns, pastels and metallic finishes, three chic living spaces aimed to capture the spirit of 1970s nightclubs.
      Find out more about Club Unseen ›
      Photo by Mariell Lind HansenPrimrose Hill townhouse, UK, by Studio Hagen Hall
      Before Zero House’s Kubrick-inspired transformation, architecture office Studio Hagen Hall adopted a 1970s California modernism approach for the north London townhouse’s prior refurbishment.
      This open living area showcased classic 1970s materials, from a raised conversation platform of bespoke velvet sofas with hidden storage to a custom-made elm recess.
      Find out more about this Primrose Hill townhouse ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring tactile interiors with natural materials and coloured, patterned bathrooms.

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      Cutwork designs co-living developments for single-parent families

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      Parisian architecture studio Cutwork has unveiled plans for housing designed to allow single parents and their children to live more closely together.

      Rental housing provider Commune commissioned Cutwork to design co-living specifically for single-parent families.
      The design includes private living spaces that cater to both adults and children, plus communal spaces where families can spend time together and support each other.
      Commune offers co-living for single parentsThe concept puts a new spin on co-living, a type of housing that typically offers residents smaller homes but instead gives them access to a range of shared amenities.
      Co-living is typically marketed to single people, but Commune founders Tara Heuzé-Sarmini and Ruben Petri believe it is equally desirable for people navigating the challenges of single parenthood.

      A study by the British Red Cross found that 83 per cent of mothers aged under 30 experienced loneliness, while 43 per cent said they felt lonely all the time.
      The private units each include a bathroom and kitchenette”Commune and Cutwork are convinced that we need to put human relations and interactions back at the core of the places we evolve in and that buildings need to serve our basic need for connection,” said Heuzé-Sarmini.
      “Spatially and architecturally, we have translated this into living spaces that encourage encounters and break the vicious circle of loneliness, while preserving the privacy of single parents and their children.”
      A unified colour and material palette features across shared and private spacesCommune opened its first location in Poissy on the outskirts of Paris in late 2023, describing it as “the first co-living in the world dedicated to single-parent families”.
      The building, which accommodates 14 families, is now being renovated in line with Cutwork’s concept.

      Bittoni Architects designs co-living project geared toward LA newcomers

      The scheme extends to both the building’s layout and the interior fit-out, with bespoke furniture designed for both the private and communal living spaces.
      The architects aimed to create three types of space. These are referred to as “a world for the children without their parents”, “a world for the adults without their children” and “a world for all of the families to meet collectively”.
      Communal areas include a playroom”At Cutwork, we envision a world where shared architecture and design inspire us to think differently about being together,” said Kelsea Crawford, co-founder and CEO of Cutwork. “Our partnership with Commune perfectly encapsulates this mission.”
      “We’ve considered the design for each part of the Commune experience, integrating compact living spaces designed to host parents and children with shared communal areas that promote a strong sense of community and support for single-parent families.”
      The design includes both adult- and child-specific featuresAvailable for one- and two-child parents, the private units each include a bathroom and kitchenette, with distinct design elements for adults and children.
      The communal areas include a shared kitchen, a living and dining room, a playroom, a co-working space and a garden.
      Child-focused aspects of the design include “doors placed low down and often hidden away or disguised as other things such as a wardrobe or TV cabinet”.
      For adults, spaces include reading nooks and a “speakeasy-style” bar, accessed via a fake fridge door.
      Commune’s first location in Poissy is currently under renovationCutwork aimed to create “an environment that feels both modern and comfortable with child-friendly designs that sit alongside a sleeker aesthetic suited to parents”.
      A unified colour and material palette is intended to make all areas feel homey, rather than emphasising the divide between shared and private spaces.
      “This design strategy extends the notion of ownership of all spaces and subsequently the feeling that the entire house/building belongs to each user and is a stable environment within a dynamic experience,” said the design team.
      A range of different unit sizes are availableCutwork specialises in co-living and co-working, with previous designs including social housing that can turn into emergency housing and co-living flats at Paris startup campus Station F.
      With this project, the designers hope to highlight how housing might adapt to the reality that the nuclear family is no longer the norm for many.
      In France, one in four families is a single-parent unit. This is not just due to high divorce rates, as research suggests that more individuals are consciously choosing single parenthood.
      “This changing dynamic calls for a new and sustained approach to housing,” Cutwork said.
      The design is set to be applied to future Commune properties. The company plans to open its second location for 28 families in Roubaix, Lille, later this year.

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      Shovk completes Japanese-infused renovation of Dzen House near Kyiv

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      Elements of Ukrainian and Japanese architecture combine at this pared-back residence on the outskirts of Kyiv, which local architecture studio Shovk created for a client with a passion for Japanese culture.

      The project involved the transformation of a basic bungalow built in 2010 into a two-storey dwelling that makes the most of its picturesque setting in a garden lined by conifer trees.
      Charred wood was used to clad the exterior of Dzen HouseShovk lead architect and partner Anton Verhun oversaw the design, which was informed by the owner’s travels to Japan and his respect for the aesthetic simplicity and practicality of traditional Japanese interiors.
      “Dzen House was conceived as a place where the client and his family could feel in harmony with themselves and the world,” Verhun told Dezeen.
      The two-storey home was originally a bungalow”They wanted somewhere they could simply watch the rain outside the window, warm themselves by the fireplace and practice yoga on the tatami mat near the round window,” he added.

      Shovk implemented several references to Japanese architecture in the project, including a large roof with overhanging eaves and an exposed wooden structure.
      A wood-fired oven features in the living roomThe exterior of the first floor is clad with Japanese-style yakisugi charred wood that provides natural weatherproofing. The blackened timber contrasts with the traditional Ukrainian mazanka plaster finish applied to the ground floor’s internal and external surfaces.
      The house’s entrance leads directly into a kitchen and dining space at one end of the largely open ground floor. A functional core at the centre of the plan separates this space from a lounge at the opposite end.
      Shovk’s interior scheme was informed by traditional Japanese designThe volume containing the staircase, utility room and shower room delineates the communal areas while allowing free-flowing circulation that helps to create a feeling of spaciousness.
      Throughout the building, large openings including frameless floor-to-ceiling windows on either side of the living room provide a strong connection to the gardens.

      Modektura adds sand terrazzo flooring to Kyiv apartment

      A fireplace located near the centre of the living area creates a focal point within this room. Its stainless steel chimney passes through the bedroom above, helping to warm the spaces on both floors.
      The new first floor was constructed from timber to minimise loading on the existing walls and foundations. Its interior is lined with birch plywood that has a similar thermal expansion coefficient to the pine frame, thus helping to prevent any cracks caused by movement.
      One room was dedicated to meditation and tea ceremoniesA simple plywood staircase ascends to a sequence of low, attic-like spaces including two bedrooms, a study, bathroom, utility room and a Japanese-style room with tatami mat flooring.
      Verhun added a circular window as an expressive element that “brings softness and naturalness” to the space, used for tea ceremonies, yoga and meditation.
      The compact main bedroom features a podium bed set next to a large frameless window that looks out onto the nearby trees. Built-in wardrobes provide discreet storage, while the exposed chimney adds a distinctive feature.
      A plywood staircase leads up to the second floorAccording to Verhun, the house’s owner has temporarily moved to another Ukrainian city for his own safety due to Russia’s invasion of the country.
      The project was completed despite long power cuts, air raids and missile attacks that forced the builders to spend hours in shelters.
      Birch plywood lines the upper-floor interiorVerhun also said that Shovk has begun taking on more projects abroad due to a decline in its Ukrainian work resulting from the ongoing war.
      Other recently completed projects in Kyiv include an apartment renovation by Modektura and a dance studio that was furnished using materials sourced from around the city in the face of wartime shortages.
      The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.

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      Tabitha Isobel gives London townhouse a “surprising and bold” makeover

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      Designer Tabitha Organ combined natural materials with metal details to transform this London townhouse into a home with a “slightly futuristic” feel for a client who loves entertaining.

      The five-storey property on St Pauls Road had recently been renovated by a developer using poor-quality finishes, so the client – a young tech entrepreneur and first-time homeowner – asked Organ’s studio Tabitha Isobel to create a more bespoke interior.
      The brief called for a scheme that retains the Victorian house’s original features, whilst layering vintage pieces and contemporary design to create spaces with a distinct character.
      Tabitha Isobel transformed the Victorian north London townhouse”The client wanted a home that would be surprising and bold but also timeless,” Organ told Dezeen. “Amongst his peers, he is a frequent host of parties so he wanted an interior that would be a backdrop to these and bring a certain entertaining ‘vibe’.”
      Some of the original details that survived the previous renovation included detailed mouldings and the wooden window shutters in the living areas.

      Organ sought to emphasise these elements by introducing a carefully chosen palette of complementary colours and materials. Other spaces received a more expressive treatment, including the golden-toned cinema and DJ room in the basement.
      The five-storey property’s renovation adopts a “slightly futuristic” feelThe main architectural interventions occurred on the first floor, where previously disjointed spaces were reorganised to create a large bedroom with an adjoining bathroom and dressing area.
      The bedroom, which has windows on two sides due to the property’s end-of-terrace location, is connected to the bathroom by a walk-through wardrobe containing bespoke cabinetry built from naturally patterned burr walnut.
      New bespoke features include an adjoining walk-through wardrobeThe house’s main living areas are unified by the consistent application of green hues and metal details, which featured in an image of a kitchen given to Organ by the client as inspiration at the beginning of the project.
      “As the living and dining area is open plan with the kitchen, we introduced a Verde Guaco Green fireplace surround that sits on the same elevation as the kitchen so the tones speak to each other,” Organ explained.
      “We also chose a green velvet sofa from Maison Dara that is positioned in line with the kitchen, helping the spaces to feel connected.”
      Green hues and metal details inform the house’s living areasThe designer added that the combination of natural materials and metal surfaces contributes to the scheme’s sense of timelessness while creating a juxtaposition of textures and finishes that adds visual interest to the design.
      “As part of the concept, we wanted the spaces to have a slightly futuristic feel to them,” she pointed out. “Metals are timeless materials and I find they lift palettes, bringing them to life and creating a richness through reflection and depth.”

      Unknown Works brightens Victorian townhouse with dusty pink extension

      Metal and wood combine in a bespoke solution designed to conceal the television above the fireplace. Eight hand-carved wooden panels are set within a brushed aluminium frame that incorporates bi-fold doors that open to reveal the TV.
      Throughout the home, textiles provide a further textural contrast to the hard metal surfaces. This approach is encapsulated by a vintage metal-framed armchair in the living room that was reupholstered in a boldly patterned fabric by UK brand Schumacher.
      A reupholstered metal-framed armchair provides textural contrastWhile the living area and bedroom are predominantly monochrome, there are moments of bright colour elsewhere in the home – particularly in the en-suite shower room.
      Organ chose terracotta tiles with different scales to bring a sense of richness and warmth to the space. The walk-in shower is lined with cobalt blue tiles intended to introduce a surprising element.
      Terracotta tiles in the en suite shower room provide a sense of richness and warmthA cinema room located on the basement level was designed to resemble a moodily lit members’ club, with a cotton moire wall covering matched to a high-gloss painted ceiling and mid-gloss cabinetry.
      The room is used for hosting parties and includes a concealed home bar with stainless steel shelves set in front of a bronze-tinted mirror.
      Marble and metal wall lights illuminate the textured walls as well as a velvet sofa with oversized cushions, a vintage coffee table and a bespoke walnut DJ console crafted by furniture maker Spinback.
      The cinema room conceals a stainless steel home bar in front of a bronze-tinted mirrorOrgan founded Tabitha Isobel in 2023 after working for a decade as an interior designer for London-based studios Conran + Partners and Sella Concept.
      The designer’s approach focuses on combining historical and contemporary elements to create timeless spaces driven by authenticity rather than trends.
      Other creative townhouse transformations include a Brussels home with a skylit atrium and a London home that was given a 1970s-style makeover.
      The photography is by Genevieve Lutkin.

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      Eight dining rooms and kitchens where natural materials create tactile interiors

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight dining rooms and kitchens characterised by their use of natural materials to create tactile interiors with earthy hues.

      With an ever-growing focus on sustainable materials, the use of locally sourced natural materials offers an appealing and low-carbon solution for home interiors.
      Ranging from rammed-earth walls and woven ceilings to terracotta floors and wooden tabletops, these dining spaces draw on traditional crafts and local building techniques to create rough, smooth and patterned surfaces that complement the home.
      These dining rooms showcase the potential of natural materials to create enticing and textured home interiors within a contemporary setting, effectively bridging the gap between tradition and modernity.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring compact micro interiors, kitchen design ideas and interiors with pyramidal ceilings.

      Photo by Lorena DarqueaEspacio Kaab, Mexico, by Di Frenna Arquitectos
      A combination of natural materials including stone floors, wooden cabinets and woven carrizo ceilings were used within the kitchen of this home in Mexico by local studio Di Frenna Arquitectos.
      Designing the home to appear “as a volume that emerged organically from the ground”, the studio used a raw material palette that directly references the site and ultimately requires less maintenance.
      Find out more about Espacio Kaab ›

      Photo by Helen LeechTaper House, UK, by Merret Houmøller Architects and All & Nxthing
      This London home by architecture studios Merret Houmøller Architects and All & Nxthing features clay-plaster walls, exposed brickwork and tile floors inspired by traditional Moroccan homes.
      The natural earth-based materials used for the project include handmade brick flooring, timber joinery and patinated copper.
      Find out more about Taper House ›
      Photo by Salem MostefaouiCasa Franca, France, by Déchelette Architecture
      A large rammed-earth wall fronts this home in Paris by French studio Déchelette Architecture, which is defined by its use of natural materials.
      Panels of travertine stone and birch wood feature throughout the interiors and are contrasted with sleek metal countertops, shelving and accents in the kitchen and dining space.
      Find out more about Casa Franca ›
      Photo by Rafael GamoCasa Cova, Mexico, by Anonimous
      Architecture studio Anonimous drew on pre-colonial architecture to design this holiday home made from concrete, local ‘parota’ wood and dried palm leaves in Oaxaca.
      The spacious dining room is topped with a 30-metre-long thatched roof made from dried palm leaves that draws on the local vernacular.
      Find out more about Casa Cova ›
      Photo by David GrandorgeForest House, UK, by AOC
      A combination of tactile materials and clashing colours were used to add character to the kitchen and dining area in this extension in north London completed by architecture firm AOC.
      Informed by its location close to Epping Forest, the studio designed the extension to “invite the wild in” – using various types of wood, woven hazel and other textured materials throughout the home.
      Find out more about Forest House ›
      Photo by Pol ViladomsHouse Renovation, Spain, by Hiha Studio
      Hiha Studio renovated this family home in Spain, which was originally organised as two separate houses connected by rammed-earth party walls.
      The studio retained the rammed-earth walls in order to “recover the essence” of the home, as well as regulate the moisture, temperature and acoustics of the interior.
      Find out more about House Renovation ›
      Photo by Purnesh DevHybrid House, India, by Sketch Design Studio
      Vernacular building techniques from the north and south of India were used to construct this home in Rajasthan by Indian firm Sketch Design Studio.
      Materials and artisans were employed locally to build the home, which features pink-toned rammed-earth walls and terracotta floors created using rice flour.
      Find out more about Hybrid House ›

      Photo by Imagen SubliminalAnother Seedbed, USA, by Ignacio G Galán, Jesse McCormick, Khoi Nguyen and Julie Tran
      This renovated loft apartment in Brooklyn was designed to double as a performance space to host public events – with a large central space and smaller internal volumes.
      One volume features a red-stained pine exterior while another is clad with an earthen clay plaster, bringing earthy tones to the open-plan kitchen and dining area.
      Find out more about Another Seedbed ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring compact micro interiors, kitchen design ideas and interiors with pyramidal ceilings.

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