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      Vote for your favourite home interior of 2023!

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      For our review of 2023, we take a look back at the year’s 10 most interesting home interiors and invite our readers to pick their favourite.

      With more than 500 interior stories published on Dezeen in 2023 so far, there is a wide variety of beautiful and unusual homes to choose from.
      Among the 10 most interesting we’ve published are a lodge in South Africa, an apartment in Spain’s Torres Blancas tower and a tiny Scottish flat.
      The winner will be announced in a post on Dezeen on New Year’s Eve.
      Read on for this year’s home interior highlights, then vote here or by using the form at the bottom of the article.

      Photo by René de Wit and Pim TopDomūs Houthaven apartment, The Netherlands, by Shift Architecture Urbanism
      This home in Amsterdam residential complex Domūs Houthaven features a bedroom cupboard with built-in shelves and under-bed drawers. It can be closed off from the living space with folding doors made from perforated steel.
      Shift Architecture Urbanism used striking colour-blocked modular units in pastel hues to give the apartment a playful feel. The home also has untreated concrete ceilings and pale laminate floors that contrast with the colourful furnishings.
      Vote for Domūs Houthaven apartment ›
      Photo by Fabian MartinezCasa Tres Árboles, Mexico, by Direccion
      “Monastic sanctuaries” inspired this weekend home in Mexico’s Valle de Bravo, which was designed to celebrate light and shadows. Natural materials and an earthy colour palette were used throughout.
      Mexican studio Direccion, which designed the interior, removed a number of walls and adjusted the split-level floor to connect the home’s social spaces and open it up more. Artworks and artisan craft pieces were dotted throughout the house.
      Vote for Casa Tres Árboles ›
      Photo by Lorenzo ZandriHouse by the Sea, UK, by Of Architecture
      Designed for an artist and a surfer, House by the Sea is located by the sea in Newquay, Cornwall, and has an understated colour palette of off-white and grey hues.
      Its sitting area has expansive sliding windows that directly overlook Newquay’s picturesque Pentire Steps beach. A long L-shaped sofa was dressed in beige marl fabric, while a classic Eames lounge chair offers another space for relaxation.
      Walls were mostly kept clear, while green plants were scattered throughout the space to liven up the minimalist spaces.
      Vote for House by the Sea ›
      Photo by José HeviaTorres Blancas apartment, Spain, by Studio Noju
      This two-storey apartment in the curvy Torres Blancas apartment in Madrid was renovated by local firm Studio Noju to remain “in constant dialogue” with the original apartment design.
      The studio added terraces with curved floor-to-ceiling glazing and slatted crimson shutters, as well as gleaming sea-green floor tiles. Curves were used throughout the interior in a nod to the facade of the tower, which has cylindrical, bulbous balconies.
      Vote for the Torres Blancas apartment ›
      Photo by Jack LovelCity Beach house, Australia, by Design Theory
      This 1960s house in the City Beach suburb of Perth was given an update by interiors studio Design Theory.
      “The brief was, on the surface, simple: to update the home while keeping its considerable mid-century charm,” said the studio.
      The resulting home features warm, earthy materials, including Forbo Marmoleum flooring, exposed brick in terracotta tones and native Blackbutt timber. The furniture and decorations also reference the house’s mid-century modern origins.
      Vote for City Beach house ›
      Photo by Adrien DirandTembo Tembo Lodge, South Africa, by Studio Asaï
      Tembo Tembo Lodge, which won home interior of the year at Dezeen Awards 2023, is a family lodge made from rammed earth and located close to the Kruger National Park.
      Designed by Paris-based Studio Asaï, the living room features a “bush”-green sofa to evoke the colour of the foliage outside the house, as well as a stone table decorated with stone vases and a selection of small side tables in dark wood and steel.
      Vote for Tembo Tembo Lodge ›
      Photo by José Hevia10K House, Spain, by Takk
      Russian Matryoshka dolls, which are stacked inside each other, informed the interior of this apartment in Barcelona that was designed with a material budget of just 10,000 euros.
      Spanish studio Takk designed the home to be as sustainable as possible, nestling rooms inside one another to maximise insulation. The bedroom was raised on white recycled table legs and clad in gridded frames of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) that are enveloped by slabs of local sheep’s wool.
      Vote for 10K House ›
      Photo by Pierce ScourfieldGlasgow apartment, Scotland, by Lee Ivett, Simon Harlow and Duncan Blackmore
      Designed by its owner, developer Duncan Blackmore, together with architect Lee Ivett and designer Simon Harlow, this flat in Glasgow’s Govanhill area measures just 25 square metres.
      It was designed without any freestanding furniture. The designers removed internal walls and raised its existing structural openings closer to the ceiling, before inserting a number of 3D-volumes with built-in functions.
      “The main space is entirely unprogrammed and uncluttered and has almost nothing in it,” Blackmore told Dezeen.
      Vote for Glasgow apartment ›
      Photo by Seth Caplan (above and main image)Dumbo loft, USA, by Crystal Sinclair Designs
      An eye-catching book-lined mezzanine was among the solutions created by Crystal Sinclair Designs for this loft apartment in Brooklyn, which was renovated in a way that would expose its concrete shell.
      The studio also created a bedroom behind a glass partition for the home and filled it with furnishings intended to introduce European flair against the industrial backdrop. In the living space, wooden furniture adds an organic touch and contrasts with the concrete walls and white floor.
      Vote for Dumbo loft ›
      Photo by Tomooki KengakuHiroo Residence, Japan, by Keiji Ashizawa
      Architect and designer Keiji Ashizawa filled the Hiroo Residence in central Tokyo with wood, using the material for furniture pieces as well as panelling and artworks.
      To underline how light-filled the open-plan flat is, he used muted, subtle tones of grey and beige instead of bright white. The 200-square-metre apartment, which overlooks the Arisugawanomiya Memorial Park, also features decorative stone sculptures and Shaker-informed furniture.
      Vote for Hiroo Residence ›

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      Eight homes with practical and stylish built-in window seats

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight window seats in homes across the world including clever custom-made solutions in wood and concrete.

      By installing a window seat, interior designers don’t just add extra seating to a room, they also create a peaceful space that can be used for contemplation and relaxation.
      Whether it functions as a small nook for reading, a sofa for socialising or even as a daybed, these projects showcase how the built-in furniture piece has been used in homes from Denmark to China.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors created on a budget, immersive saunas and light-filled kitchens.
      Photo by Antoine HuotNicolai Paris, France, by NOA

      This Network of Architecture-designed Marais apartment inside a converted hotel has been outfitted with a selection of custom-made oak furniture. In the living room, a stylish built-in window seat was designed to function as both seating and storage space.
      Its curved shape was enhanced by the addition of black-leather cushions and pillows, which contrast the unadorned white walls and the bleached oak parquet with its decorative chevron pattern.
      Find out more about Nicolai Paris ›
      Photo by Mikkel MortensenVilla Wienberg, Denmark, by Wienberg Architects and Friis & Moltke
      Together with studio Friis & Moltke, Danish architects Mette and Martin Wienberg gave this 1940s cottage an overhaul to turn it into a home for their own family.
      The house has wooden panelling throughout and in the living space, the material was also used to form a low-slung window seat that functions as a bench around the room. Cosy pillows and a sheepskin add comfort.
      Find out more about Ell House ›
      Photo by Manon VandenhoeckMaison Jericho, France, by Olivia Fauvelle Architecture
      This outbuilding in Marseille was refurbished and extended by French studio Olivia Fauvelle Architecture. In the living room, a concrete window seat was added to help create a connection between the indoors and outdoors.
      It overlooks a tiled terrace with a pool and is topped with a leather daybed to create a restful space. A wood-burning stove hangs above the window seat, adding warmth to the room.
      Find out more about Maison Jericho ›
      Photo by Do Mal o MenosPuppeteers House, Portugal, by REDO Architects
      REDO Architects was inspired by stage sets when designing Puppeteers House in Sintra, Portugal, which features wooden joinery constructions intended to evoke theatrical scenography.
      This includes a curved wooden bench that functions as a window seat on the first-floor landing, where it is matched by wooden panelling.
      “We used a precise quarter of a circle as a tool – like a compass – in different radii, orientations, combinations and materialities,” REDO Architects founder Diogo Figueiredo told Dezeen.
      Find out more about Puppeteers House ›
      Photo (above and main image) by Maxime BrouilletEll House, Canada, by Ravi Handa Architect and AAmp Studio
      The built-in window seat in the Ell House holiday home in Wellington provides its owners with a picturesque view of Lake Ontario.
      The exterior of the house was clad in cedar that was charred using the Japanese yakisugi method while the interior features contrasting light oak millwork.
      The same wood was also used to form a window seat in the bedroom, which features clean lines and has a cushion for additional comfort.
      Find out more about Ell House ›
      Photo by Lorenzo Zandri and Christian BraileyMuswell Hill home, UK, by Architecture for London
      British studio Architecture for London designed this home in north London for its founder Ben Ridley. Located in an Edwardian house that hadn’t been renovated for almost 40 years, it was designed to be energy-saving and constructed using natural materials.
      A cosy window seat made from grey limestone can be found in the kitchen, where it connects to a storage cabinet made from pale oak.
      Find out more about Muswell Hill home ›
      Photo by Tian Fang FangU-Shape Room, China, by Atelier Tao + C
      U-shaped window seats are more unusual than rectangular ones. But in this Chinese home, the architects had little choice as the building is dominated by a huge, rounded bay window.
      Studio Atelier Tao+C added a curved plywood seat that also has storage spaces. It matches a two-storey plywood volume that houses all the functional rooms of the apartment.
      Find out more about U-Shape Room ›
      Photo by Magnus Berger NordstrandThe Yellow House in the Apple Garden, Norway, by Familien Kvistad
      This renovated 1950s house in Oslo was given a colourful interior by locally based duo Familien Kvistad and also features “an abundance of wood”.
      While window seats are usually placed under large windows, here the designers chose to add one underneath the smaller, rectangular kitchen window. The long bench is made from ash and has practical storage space hidden underneath a dark green cushion seat.
      Find out more about The Yellow House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors created on a budget, immersive saunas and light-filled kitchens.

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      Eight bright and airy interiors illuminated by perforated brick walls

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      Dezeen’s latest lookbook explores eight interiors – from bright, airy residential spaces to cool, open-plan offices – illuminated by perforated brick walls.

      Perforated brick walls are often used as a cooling strategy in warmer climates. This lookbook highlights their effect on the lighting and shading of interior spaces and how they can be used to create a playful, light atmosphere.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with light-filled kitchens, sculptural wooden staircases and airy, pared-back loft conversions.
      Photo by Hemant PatilStudio by the Hill, India, by Mind Manifestation
      This converted apartment in Pune, India – designed by architecture studio Mind Manifestation to house the studio’s office – uses perforated bricks to create a well-lit and ventilated workspace.

      Bricks was used extensively across the flooring and complemented by green lime plaster walls.
      “The material palette has been tastefully chosen so as to match with the different shades of the hill throughout the year,” Mind Manifestation explained.
      Find out more about Studio by the Hill ›
      Photo by Oki HiroyukiCuckoo House, Vietnam, by Tropical Space
      Cuckoo House, designed by Tropical Space, is a two-storey home situated atop a cafe in Da Nang, Vietnam, encased by a shell made from local clay bricks.
      Living spaces on the upper floor feature perforated brick for privacy and ventilation, with the design resulting in a playful chequered lighting pattern across the wooden and concrete interior.
      Find out more about Cuckoo House ›
      Photo by Oki HiroyukiWall House, Vietnam, by CTA
      Square perforated bricks salvaged from nearby buildings sites are used on the exterior of CTA’s Wall House in Bien Hoa, Vietnam.
      Stacked in an irregular formation, the punctured bricks filter sunlight and air into the space, creating dotted shadows across the plant-filled double-height living room.
      Find out more about Wall House ›
      Photo by Hemant PatilGadi House, India, by PMA Madhushala
      Gadi House in Maval, India, by PMA Madhushala is a compact arrangement of volumes and courtyards.
      Dimly-lit courtyards and living spaces are illuminated by pockets of sunlight accessed through perforations in the brick and stone walls.
      Find out more about Gadi House ›
      Photo by Federico CairoliIntermediate House, Paraguay, by Equipo de Arquitectura
      The Intermediate House by Paraguay-based studio Equipo de Arquitectura is a narrow residence in Asunción organised around an open-air courtyard.
      Manually pressed, unfired bricks form the perforated street-facing facade – drawing sunlight and air through the vaulted brick-roofed dining room and into adjacent spaces.
      Find out more about Intermediate House ›
      Photo by Oki HiroyukiThe Termitary House, Vietnam, by Tropical Space
      Patterned shadows decorate the dimly-lit brick and wood interior of The Termitary House in Da Nang, Vietnam, designed by Tropical Space.
      Inspired by earthen termite nests, the studio used perforated brick on the facade and internal walls to bring natural light into the interiors during the day and draw in artificial light at night.
      Find out more about The Termitary House ›
      Photo by Timothy KayeCloud House, Australia, by Dean Dyson Architects
      Australian studio Dean Dyson Architects designed the Cloud House – a two-storey home in Malvern – using an exterior layer of grey, perforated brickwork.
      Intended to create a “private oasis” for the clients, the perforated brick pours light into the interior living spaces, with passive ventilation enabled by operable windows.
      Find out more about Cloud House ›
      Photo by Joana FrançaTropical Shed, Brazil, by Laurent Troost Architectures
      Located on a long, narrow plot in Manaus, Tropical Shed is a plant-filled office with a centralised courtyard designed by Brazilian studio Laurent Troost Architectures.
      Interlocking bricks – repeated throughout the design – form a perforated wall in the double-height office to create a cool work environment decorated with playful shadows.
      Find out more about Tropical Shed ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with light-filled kitchens, sculptural wooden staircases and airy, pared-back loft conversions.

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      Video reveals Austin guesthouse perched above existing family bungalow

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      This exclusive video produced by Dezeen features The Perch, architect Nicole Blair’s elevated house extension in Austin, which was designed to maximise living space.

      As its name suggests, the structure is perched just two feet above the roof of the existing home to minimise disturbance to the residence below.
      Blair clad the guesthouse in weathering-steel panels and added wood-framed windows provided by Windsor Windows & Doors. The Burnt Pumpkin colour of the windows was selected to complement the Corten-steel exterior.

      The structure spans 660 square feet and consists of an irregularly shaped steel volume supported by four columns.
      The assembly of the steel structure took place offsite, in order to minimise disruption to the mature vegetation on the premises and reduce on-site material storage.
      The wood-clad windows were provided by Windsor Windows & DoorsThe architect designed the interior of the guesthouse to have a bright, airy atmosphere and adorned it with colourful accents.
      It features wood flooring supplied and installed by local company Artisan Hardwood Floors, which was complemented with pink cabinetry and exposed plumbing fittings throughout the home.
      The materials used for the wood flooring were a mix of pre-finished plain and rift-sawn white oak, along with excess wood recycled from a larger project by the company.
      The wood flooring was supplied and installed by Artisan Hardwood FloorsThe first floor of the guesthouse encompasses an open-concept kitchen, living room and dining area with compact footprints and vaulted ceilings for an increased sense of space.
      The upper level includes a room facing the street and another overlooking the backyard, designated for use as a guest bedroom and a hair salon for one of the hairstylist owners.
      The photography is by Casey Dunn.
      Partnership content
      This video was produced by Dezeen for Windsor Windows & Doors and Artisan Hardwood Floors as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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      Olson Kundig and Erica Colpitts renovate mid-century house in North Vancouver

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      US architecture firm Olson Kundig and Canadian designer Erica Colpitts have renovated a mid-century house near Vancouver, warming the modernist structure with natural materials and neutral colours.

      The residence is surrounded by tall cedar trees on a quiet plot in Edgemont, a village-like neighbourhood of North Vancouver, across the water from the Canadian metropolis.
      Wood lines the ceiling and floors of the renovated home, contrasting the blackened steel structural elementsIts new owners are a family of four who relocated to the West Coast from New York City, looking for a community to put down roots.
      Olson Kundig, which has an office in nearby Seattle, was asked to update and slightly expand the building to meet the owners’ needs while respecting the original design.
      The living spaces are all connected along the back of the house, in its single-storey portionLocally based Erica Colpitts was brought on to complete the interiors with a softer, warmer feeling than typical mid-century designs.

      “The pure challenge of this home completely appealed to me,” said Colpitts. “My task was to meld Olson Kundig’s overall design for the home with an ever so slightly soft and romantic interior.”
      Dark tones in the kitchen, including the steel hood and shelving, match the building’s beams and columnsLike many homes from the period, the building has a low-slung form, a shallow roof pitch and large expanses of glass across its facades.
      Blackened steel structural elements were highlighted throughout the interior, and their dark colour is repeated across several other elements.
      The kitchen connects to the patio via a bar counter and sliding windowThese range from the guardrails and supports for the staircase unit, which connects the home’s multiple split levels, to a custom hood and shelving in the kitchen.
      The staircase is separated from the lounge by a huge bookcase that is original to the house, along with a red-brick fireplace on the other side.
      An original bookcase separates the lounge from the entry hallway and staircaseAll of the primary living spaces run along the back of the home, in the single-storey portion, facing the landscaped garden and a plunge pool through huge windows.
      Wide-plank flooring and a wood-covered ceiling connect the open-plan areas, which culminate at the dark-stained kitchen.
      Bedrooms in the two-storey side of the house follow the same design aestheticThe hues and materials chosen for the these spaces are warm and inviting, such as cream surfaces and heathered oatmeal textiles paired with cognac-coloured leather, dark flax, and deep grey.
      “This home has a decidedly neutral colour palette to go with the natural materials selected; however, it is warmly neutral and texturally layered,” said Colpitts.

      Eight renovated mid-century homes that marry period and contemporary details

      “Where colour was used, we wanted those colours and their textures to be reminiscent of a gentleman’s library,” she added.
      The bedrooms, bathrooms, and additional living areas are organised within the two-storey side of the house, where the same design aesthetic continues.
      The home’s large expanses of glass connect it to the surrounding landscape, designed by Amelia SullivanOn the exterior, weathered ebony siding and a Corten steel front door were added in keeping with the building’s modern-industrial appearance.
      “This home is a juxtaposition of all good things,” Colpitts said. “Dramatic and serene. Rustic and refined. Industrial and romantic. Exquisite and comfortable.”
      Olson Kundig aimed to respected the building’s original design while slightly expanding its footprintThe mid-century architecture style remains incredibly popular with homebuyers across the US and Canada, which has led to many renovations that align these residences with contemporary living.
      Recent examples include a Hamptons home that owner Timothy Godbold transformed to resemble a lair from a James Bond movie, and the former seaside home of modernist architect Henry Hill respectfully overhauled by Studio Schicketanz.
      The photography is by Ema Peter.
      Project credits:
      Architect: Olson KundigInterior design: Erica Colpitts Interior DesignContractor: Brent Braybrook / Braybrook ProjectsMillwork: Robin Woronko / Intempo InteriorsLandscape architect: Amelia SullivanMetalwork: Drabek Technologies

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      Eight imaginative home interiors created on a budget

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      In this lookbook, we collect eight residential interiors that were put together with limited funds but still have a certain richness.

      Featuring exposed structures, simple materials and sparing use of finishes, these budget interiors prove that adventurous design doesn’t have to be reserved for the very wealthy.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors made with reclaimed materials, inviting entrance halls and industrial-but-cosy living rooms.
      Photo by José Hevia10K House, Spain, by Takk
      Renovated on a material budget of only 10,000 euros, this Barcelona apartment takes raw, pared-back aesthetics to extremes.

      Leaving traces of dismantled fixtures visible, Spanish studio Takk chose not to apply coatings to the floors and walls, while utilitarian medium-density fibreboard features throughout.
      Find out more about 10K House ›
      Photo by Trieu ChienBinh Thuan House, Vietnam, by MIA Design Studio
      Simple white curtains divide spaces inside the Binh Thuan House, designed by MIA Design Studio for a family of four using limited resources.
      An exposed steel frame lends a distinctly industrial feel and is also an easily adaptable means of fitting windows, curtains, furniture and pictures.
      Find out more about Binh Thuan House ›
      Photo by Taran WilkhuSegal House, UK, by Fraher & Findlay
      UK architecture studio Fraher & Findlay avoided using specialist trades and bespoke products to keep costs down in the renovation of this house in south London that was originally designed according to Walter Segal’s self-build methods.
      Extensive use of plywood meant there was no need to hire a plasterer, for example, while other materials and products were chosen for being widely available off the shelf.
      Find out more about Segal House ›
      Photo by Ariadna Polo/Sandra Perez NietoCasa Nakasone, Mexico, by Escobedo Soliz
      This small, simple house on the outskirts of Mexico City was designed by Escobedo Soliz for a retired teacher.
      Cheap structural materials were left exposed in the interiors, such as brickwork walls, tiled floors and pale wooden beams on the ceilings.
      Find out more about Casa Nakasone ›
      Photo by Jumpei SuzukiMinimum House, Tokyo, by Nori Architects
      Minimum House, in Tokyo, was designed by Nori Architects as a prototype for a low-cost, low-waste, adaptable model of urban housing.
      Ductwork and wiring was left exposed with only simple light fittings, while the timber structure is left uncovered on the walls and used for kitchen and storage units.
      Find out more about Minimum House ›
      Photo by José Hevia105JON, Spain, by Vallribera Arquitectes
      Simple materials feature throughout this house in Vallès, Spain, modernised by Barcelona studio Vallribera Arquitectes.
      Chunky chipboard is a recurring motif, contrasting with blue linoleum flooring in the bathroom and with exposed brick party walls in the living spaces.
      Find out more about 105JON ›
      Photo by Richard ChiversMaison Pour Dodo, UK, by Studio Merlin
      Studio Merlin incorporated an abundance of storage in its revamp of this Stoke Newington flat to ensure that the available space could be kept luxuriously serene and clutter-free.
      Touches include a large floor-to-ceiling shelving unit in the living and dining area, and a wall of deep-set IKEA cabinets with smokey blue door fronts from Danish brand Reform in the kitchen.
      Find out more about Maison Pour Dodo ›
      Photo by Javier de Paz GarcíaUpHouse, Madrid, by CumuloLimbo Studio
      Completed on a shoestring budget of $39,000, this extensive renovation of an apartment in Madrid by CumuloLimbo Studio prioritised using inexpensive materials such as salvaged plywood.
      The kitchen area features a simple open shelving system with a black-tile backsplash, while the counter forms part of an unusual staircase leading up into a newly inserted mezzanine.
      Find out more about UpHouse ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors made with reclaimed materials, inviting entrance halls and industrial-but-cosy living rooms.

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      Familien Kvistad brings colour to 1950s house in Oslo

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      Vibrantly coloured tiles and textiles feature in this house renovation in Oslo, Norway, designed by locally based duo Familien Kvistad.

      The Yellow House in the Apple Garden is a 1950s house in Oslo’s Voldsløkka area, home to a family of four and their cat, “the rambunctious Caspian”.
      Familien Kvistad has renovated a Oslo homeFamilien Kvistad founders, married couple Astrid and Ziemowit Kvistad, have completely remodelled the interior using a palette that also includes solid ash joinery and lightly speckled terrazzo surfaces.
      “When they bought the house, the family envisioned painting some walls, moving the kitchen and building two new bathrooms,” the pair told Dezeen. “Over time, things naturally escalated, resulting in a complete change of layout, roof windows, new insulation, siding… absolutely everything was replaced.”
      The kitchen features solid ash cabinetsThe three-storey house has an enviable setting in a large garden filled with fruit trees. It was this that primarily attracted the owners, rather than the building itself.

      “The house was relatively old, not architecturally distinctive and outdated inside on all levels,” said the designers.
      The house was originally built in the 1950sHowever, shortly after they bought the property, the council enforced new conservation zone restrictions that made it impossible to alter the building’s exterior in any way.
      The task for Astrid and Ziemowit was to modernise the house without changing or extending its structure.

      Mid-century Zero House in London imbued with “Kubrick feel”

      “This is obviously a costly project; it would have been cheaper to build a new house,” they explained.
      “However, the outer structure had to remain.”
      A terrazzo floor and ochre sofa are installed in the conservatoryThe renovation removed many of the old internal partitions, creating a more open layout. This gives the ground floor a broken-plan feel, made up of various separate but connected living and dining spaces.
      The old loft was also removed and replaced with small mezzanines, revealing the sloping roof beams and increasing the ceiling height in the first-floor bedrooms and bathroom to up to four metres.
      Wooden ceiling joists are exposed throughoutThe colour scheme was based on “earthy shades” of the owners’ favourite colours.
      On the ground floor, this resulted in a feature fireplace clad in mustard-yellow Kaufmann tiles, a lounge sofa upholstered in a plum-coloured Kvadrat textile and a storage bench topped by forest-green cushions.
      A storage bench topped with green cushions lines the main living spaceAn abundance of wood brings balance to this bold palette, with Douglas fir flooring from Dinesen and solid ash kitchen cabinets matching the exposed ceiling joists.
      This level also includes a sunken conservatory featuring large plants, a terrazzo floor, an ochre-toned sofa and electric-blue cushions. On the wall, an expressive painting displays similar colours.
      Custom-designed wall carpets adorn the primary bedroom”During the renovation, the family sold most of what they already owned,” said Astrid and Ziemowit. “This meant that all the furniture was purchased new.”
      “However, they did have some art from before,” they added. “Much to our delight, they fit perfectly into both the colour palette and the style.”
      In one of the children’s rooms, a staircase doubles as a shelving unitUpstairs, the primary bedroom features a pair of tufted wall carpets designed and made by Familien Kvistad, depicting abstract landscapes.
      One of the two children’s bedrooms features a playful storage unit that doubles as a staircase, while the other has a ladder to provide access to the mezzanine loft above.
      The family bathroom combines green tones with terrazzoThe bathroom has a more mellow character, combining terrazzo sanitaryware with calming green tones. The basement floor mainly serves as a utility area, although it does include an extra bathroom and a living room that doubles as a guest bedroom.
      Other recently completed homes in Norway include a “house of offcuts” by Kolman Boye Architects and a villa on piloti by Saunders Architecture.
      The photography is by Magnus Berger Nordstrand.

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      Eight homes with light-filled kitchens from Australia to Slovenia

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve chosen eight kitchens in contemporary homes where strategically placed windows and glazing create well-lit spaces for cooking and spending quality time with family and friends.

      These light-filled kitchens feature different finishes, including marble, concrete, wood and glass, but are joined together by the sunlight that streams through their large windows, glazed doors or skylights.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.
      Photo is by Matthew WilliamsMonroe Street House, USA, by TBo
      New York studio TBo updated a 124-year-old townhouse in Brooklyn to meet the demands of a modern, multi-generational family’s lifestyle.

      Featuring a window that stretches from the worktop to the ceiling and glass doors that lead to an outdoor deck, the kitchen has maximised access to daylight and to the outdoors.
      Find out more about Monroe Street House ›
      Photo is by Rohan VennSydney bungalow extension, Australia, by Emily Sandstrom
      Australian architect Emily Sandstorm restored this out-of-use 1930s bungalow in Sydney with reclaimed materials from the demolition of its small rear kitchen.
      She sees the new kitchen, which features a kitchen island with a worktop of recycled Australian hardwood, as the centre of the home. A window wall creates views of an outdoor dining area and fills the room with light.
      Find out more about the bungalow ›
      Photo is by Nick DeardenGlazed house extension, UK, by DHaus
      As part of the rear extension to a house in Hertfordshire, UK, London studio DHaus opened up the original dark and cramped kitchen with a material palette of concrete, glass and Douglas fir timber.
      The studio lowered the kitchen floor by one metre and connected the interior to the garden, with glazing lining the entire end of the extension to create a bright, welcoming space.
      Find out more about the glass extension ›
      Photo is by Jason RickQuarry House, USA, by AB Design Studio and House of Honey
      West Coast-based architecture practice AB Design Studio renovated the Quarry House in California, a 1954 house that had fallen into disrepair, in collaboration with House of Honey, which was responsible for the interior design.
      The kitchen was renewed with textured marble surfaces and a kitchen island, as well as Crittall-style windows and doors.
      Find out more about Quarry House ›
      Photo is by Ana SkobeHouse MM, Slovenia, by A202 Arhitekti
      A202 Arhitekti transformed the traditional gabled house in Slovenia by removing all non-structural interior elements and adding a timber extension inside while preserving the shell of the property.
      The studio built the kitchen with light-coloured materials in a minimalist style, adding a large window with a comfortable window seat for reading or contemplation.
      Find out more about House MM ›
      Photo is by Lorenzo ZandriHouse extension, UK, by ConForm
      Designed by ConForm, the light-filled kitchen in this Hampstead home is covered with white marble panels.
      The patterns of light grey veins on adjoining surfaces were unmatched to “encourage a natural and textural language”, the studio said. Sliding doors open the room up to the garden.
      Find out more about the Hampstead extension ›
      Photo is by Peter Bennetts10 Fold House, Australia, by Timmins + Whyte
      Australian studio Timmins + Whyte added an extension with a folded roof that brings in extra natural light to this Melbourne home.
      The kitchen included in the extended space was combined with the living room through a shared material palette of ribbed wood, marble and grey terrazzo.
      Find out more about 10 Fold House ›
      Photo is by Jeroen VerrechtHouse C-DF, Belgium, by Graux & Baeyens Architecten
      Belgian studio Graux & Baeyens Architecten was tasked to maximise the space in a narrow townhouse in Ghent that already had a rear kitchen extension.
      The studio changed the gap between the old extension and the original house into a skylight and replaced the wall between the garden and the kitchen with a glass sliding door, which introduced additional light to the ground-floor kitchen.
      Find out more about House C-DF ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.

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