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    2LG Studio brings colour and personality into London family home

    Ornately corniced ceilings were preserved and painted pastel inside this detached Edwardian house in southeast London, which local firm 2LG Studio has renovated for a returning client.

    Set in the leafy residential area of Forest Hill, the house on Sunderland Road belongs to a couple who needed space for their three young children to grow and play.
    2LG has completed Sunderland Road house in Forest Hill”Having designed this couple’s previous home, we had a strong sense of their tastes and wanted to evolve that for them in this house,” 2LG Studio founders Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead told Dezeen.
    “We wanted to bring out their characters by emboldening their love of colour and finding ways to build pattern and joy into the materiality of the home,” the duo added.
    “The intent here was to respect the period elements of the building, whilst reflecting the modern style of the family who live there.”

    Hand-printed wallpaper by Custhom Studio features in the lounge and hallwayThroughout the house, playful elements are in balance with a more serious aesthetic.
    Instead of treating the home’s elaborate ceiling mouldings separately – as tradition dictates – 2LG Studio applied a colour-block philosophy and painted them in the same pastel tones used across the upper walls and ceilings.
    The studio drew on a range of references for the interior, from 1980s colours to Italian design elements such as marble and Murano glass lighting, all the way to the Scandinavian influences seen in the natural materials and minimalist approach to furnishing.
    The kitchen is defined by sky-blue cabinetry and marble countertopsCreating impact in the entrance hall is a hand-printed wallpaper, designed by 2LG Studio with long-term collaborator Custhom Studio and used here in a bespoke calamine-pink colourway that’s repeated in the connecting spaces throughout the house, as well as in the rear living area.
    “It creates a welcoming, human feel as soon as you enter,” the design team said.
    This ballet-slipper colour is paired with a brighter candy pink, bringing calm and warmth to the overall scheme.
    2LG painted ceilings, mouldings and upper walls in pastel coloursPink-heavy palettes have become a signature for 2LG, also reflected in the natural pink undertones of the extra-wide Douglas fir floorboards that feature throughout the house alongside a grey poured-resin floor in the kitchen.
    “The floorboards set the tone with a nod to Scandi minimalism, adding a natural soul throughout that unites the bolder elements,” said 2LG Studio.

    2LG Studio shares favourite projects from their book Making Living Lovely

    In the kitchen, sky-blue cabinetry is used alongside marble countertops and splashbacks, with arched forms uniting the two finishes while pink elements such as bar stools pop against this calm backdrop.
    “The colours are a key part of the atmosphere and identity of this house,” said 2LG. “The blues gets deeper and bolder as you move upstairs into the study and the family bathroom.”
    “Primary red details give structure to the colour palette in the living room. Pastel green in the baby’s room is serene and fresh, warmed up with a mix of wood tones and creams.”
    Pink details feature throughout the home’s interiorsThe project features bespoke joinery including a playhouse on stilts in one of the kids’ rooms alongside existing 2LG pieces such as the Luca bedhead in the loft bedroom and the Tilda sofa, both designed for London furniture company Love Your Home and upholstered here in Kvadrat x Raf Simons fabric.
    “The fitted elements of the furniture give a sense of coherent design and function to the spaces whilst the classic design pieces bring a curated gallery feel, not unlike a contemporary luxury fashion store,” said 2LG Studio.
    2LG designed custom joinery including a stilted playhouseVarious recycled materials provide textural interest throughout the house, among them the recycled plastic wall lights in the living room by Spark and Bell.
    2LG Studio also added a pink Foresso top made using waste wood chips and resin to the dining table, while the bespoke bathroom cabinet was made using leftover Douglas fir floorboards with recycled plastic details by UK company Smile Plastics.
    Pastel green was used to finish the baby’s roomSince Cluroe and Whitehead founded their design practice in 2014 under the name 2 Lovely Gays, the studio has completed a number of residential projects in the British capital.
    Among them is the couple’s own home and office – to which they recently added a garden pavilion with a “touch of Beetlejuice” – and an equally colour-led renovation of a period property in the Heaver Estate conservation area.
    The photography is by Megan Taylor.

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    Note Design Studio enriches Stockholm apartment with “cloudy” ceiling stucco

    Note Design Studio has updated this formerly characterless apartment in Stockholm to feature bespoke Douglas fir joinery and curvy stucco ceilings designed to suggest cloud formations.

    Although the Cloudy Outlines apartment sits within a building dating back to 1842, Note Design Studio says the interior had been stripped of any historic charm and “traces of craftsmanship” during previous renovations.
    Douglas fir joinery appears throughout the Cloudy Outlines apartmentIt also had a poor layout, with a living area that could only be accessed via a dark, lengthy corridor snaking around the back of the apartment while the remaining rooms were awkwardly shaped and difficult to furnish.
    The studio decided to redesign the home from scratch, knocking down all of its internal walls to form a more cohesive floor plan.
    The apartment’s corridor was repositioned to allow for more natural lightThe corridor was repositioned to run parallel to the building’s window-lined facade and, as a result, is now flooded with natural light.

    Rooms were classically finished with white-painted walls and Douglas fir flooring.
    Curved stucco gives the ceilings a soft, cloud-like qualityBillowy stucco moulding was added throughout to give a soft “cloudy” quality to the ceilings and provide a contrast with the “rationality and material robustness” of the apartment, the studio explained.
    “With the previous interior and finishes removed, a new holistic design was developed with a limited amount of design principles, all with a timeless ambition,” Note Design Studio said.

    Note Design Studio draws on Swedish Grace style for Habitat 100 apartment

    In the kitchen, Douglas fir was used again to create simple cupboards and a striking circular cover for the extractor fan.
    The countertop, on the other hand, is overlaid with a sleek metallic finish.
    Furnishings in pastel hues disrupt the otherwise neutral colour schemeAll of the apartment’s doors, as well as its window sills, are also made from Douglas fir.
    The material palette only deviates slightly in the bathroom, which features grey-tile surfaces and flecked terrazzo-like flooring.
    The stucco effect can also be seen in the bedroomThe Cloudy Outlines apartment is one of several residential renovations that Note Design Studio has completed in the Swedish capital, where the firm is based.
    Among them is Habitat 100 – an apartment littered with references to the Swedish Grace movement – and the Mantelpiece Loft, which is distinguished by its colour-block bedrooms.
    The photography is courtesy of the studio.

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    Studio V clads Long Island City apartments in British racing green terracotta

    Architecture practice Studio V has unveiled The Green House apartment block in Long Island City, USA, which was informed by the neighbourhood’s history of terracotta production.

    Situated at a prominent location on Jackson Avenue near the New York City neighbourhood’s waterfront, the 12-storey block encompasses a gallery, retail, 46 two-bedroom apartments and 40 parking spaces that are spread across two lower floors.
    “[Studio V founder] Jay’s goal with this building… was to create a design that points to the future of Long Island City as well as respects its past,” the studio told Dezeen.
    The Green House was designed by Studio VChosen as a contemporary interpretation of local terracotta-clad architecture, the British racing green colour gives the building its name.
    “Green was perfect for multiple reasons: to broadcast the sustainable design of the building and as the complementary colour to the traditional red [terracotta],” Studio V told Dezeen.

    “We also chose a glazed terracotta [finish] which features a shiny surface [and] brings the custom curved forms and shapes to life, giving the facade depth, reflecting light and capturing shadow.”
    The Green House was clad in British racing green terracotta tilesStudio V aimed to create a unique building by drawing inspiration from the site’s “rich history of terracotta production,” warehouses and red terracotta-clad architecture that are typical of the site.
    Three bold, large-scale murals by Brooklyn art duo Faile contrast the uniformity of the terracotta cladding and reference the significance of Long Island City as “a hub for contemporary art”.

    ODA completes “pixelated” luxury condo building in Queens

    Manufactured in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, the terracotta tiles were arranged  linearly with spacing and windows arranged to be reminiscent of a warehouse.
    “We’re not interested in generic design: architecture must reinvent a site’s history and context,” said Studio V founder Jay Valgora.
    Colourful murals by Brooklyn art due Faile contrast the uniformity of facadesThe three-storey lobby on the ground floor was designed as a gallery space and dedicated to “retail and active uses,” as an extension of the shops and restaurants that occupy the surrounding streets.
    Flux Chandelier, by Brooklyn-based artist Jen Lewin, illuminates the space. Its colour-changing pendants are activated by the movement below, adding an interactive element to the building.
    Facade facing Jackson AvenueDue to the unusual trapezoidal shape of the site, The Green House consists of two street-facing facades, which created an opportunity for variation in the terracotta facades.
    Woven bronze mesh panels that conceal the elevator tower and parking areas, storefronts and gridded windows formed “two distinct [yet] complementary compositions” that face Jackson Avenue and 50th Avenue.
    Facade facing 50th Avenue with alternate compositionA raised internal courtyard oriented to overlook the “stunning views of Manhattan across the East River” provides space between the apartments to prevent them from looking directly into each other.
    The Green House contains two further outdoor spaces – a shared wrap-around terrace accessed on the penthouse floor and private individual terraces for residents on the eighth floor, created by the staggered design.
    The Green House features individual terraces on the eighth floorThe electricity-powered apartment block also contains conference and co-working spaces to accommodate the rising trends of remote work.
    Other terracotta-clad architecture recently featured on Dezeen include a triangular mixed-use complex that is rotated around a central axis and a school that was informed by a child’s doodles.
    The photography is by Alexander Severin.
    Project credits:
    Architect: Studio VDeveloper: Charney CompaniesGeneral Contractor: Broadway ConstructionMEP Building Systems: Ettinger EngineeringStructural Engineering: Titan Engineers

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    Michael Hsu utilises soft shapes for Austin skyscraper interiors

    US studio Michael Hsu Office of Architecture has designed the common areas and amenity spaces for a residential skyscraper in Austin, Texas, which include a circular outdoor swimming pool.

    The 51-storey 44 East Avenue development on the city’s riverfront was designed by Page Architects, and includes 330 condominiums and a variety of shared amenities for residents.
    The ground-floor lobby of 44 East Avenue includes a glazed atrium that divides the spaceLocal studio Michael Hsu Office of Architecture took an organic approach when designing the communal spaces, introducing soft shapes and natural materials to the glass and concrete structure.
    “44 East combines nature and design with the idea of home,” said studio founder Michael Hsu. “It’s an unexpected expression of what beautiful, livable, modern spaces can be.”
    Michael Hsu Office of Architecture has layered a variety of vintage and custom furniture in the lobbyThe bright lobby features light colours, curved surfaces, and a blend of hard and soft materials.

    Poured concrete terrazzo floors are intended to echo the gravel of the nearby riverside trail, while plaster ceilings are subtly smooth-edged to mimic the undersides of boats.
    A rounded mint-green reception desk sits in front of a white tambour wallA glazed atrium with curved corners divides the ground floor and brings the landscaping by DWG further into the building.
    Lounges on either side are furnished with a mix of vintage and contemporary pieces, which add colour and texture.
    On the 11th floor, spaces feature pastel tones to match the interiors of the residencesThe reception desk has rounded edges and sides, and a glossy mint-green finish. It sits on a chrome base that matches a custom pendant light over a nearby seating area.
    “[The communal areas are] a completely designed experience, one that allows for a multitude of ways of living,” Hsu said. “It represents creativity and design without pretension.”
    A circular outdoor swimming pool has loungers and pebble-shaped islands at its shallow endsOn the 11th floor, a series of spaces are oriented towards views of the Colorado River and the leafy neighbourhoods to the south.
    A circular outdoor swimming pool features loungers dipped into the shallow water and a series of pebble-shaped islands.
    A tree grows through a hole in the canopy that covers a patio area for grillingAdjacent is a partially covered patio for barbecuing and dining al fresco, oriented around a planter with a tree that grows up through a hole in the slatted canopy.
    Indoor spaces on this level are decorated in pastel hues to match those found in the residences, which were designed by Page.

    HKS reduces plans for its supertall Austin skyscraper by half

    Further amenity areas on the 37th floor feature jewel tones and darker materials, such as the stone flooring, as well as fixtures including a large moon-like pendant light above a circular sofa.
    “We hope that this space feels both fresh and welcoming, a place that has new moments to discover, but that is comfortable and familiar,” said Hsu. “Design here is part of the resident’s everyday experience, rather than reserved for a special occasion.”
    Another lounge on the 37th floor has darker decor and a view of the Austin skylineAustin continues to grow as a desirable place to live and work, and has seen a boom in development across residential, commercial and hospitality sectors as a result.
    Plans for a supertall skyscraper in the city were unveiled in November 2022, although cut back significantly six months later, leaving another supertall by KPF in the running to become Texas’ tallest building.
    44 East Avenue is located beside the Colorado River, east of Downtown AustinMeanwhile, a concrete office complex, a sculptural tower, and a technologically advanced sports arena have all been completed in Austin over the past year.
    Michael Hsu Office of Architecture has also wrapped up a string of projects in its home state, from converting a 1930s Austin church into a design office to designing a cosy Japanese restaurant in Houston.
    The photography is by Chase Daniel.
    Project credits:
    Common areas/amenity spaces: Michael Hsu Office of ArchitectureHome interiors: PageLandscape architect: DWGDeveloper: IntracorpPre-construction: FlintcoCivil engineering: WGI

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    Akio Isshiki Architects marries old and new with Japanese home and restaurant

    Japanese studio Akio Isshiki Architects has transformed an old wooden building into a warm-toned home and public restaurant named House in Hayashisaki Matsue Beach.

    Located on a coastal street in Akashi in southern Japan, the mixed-use space was built within a 50-year-old building for a local designer and features a curry restaurant as well as residential and working spaces.
    Designed to reflect traditional Japanese dwellings, the home and restaurant are contained within a wooden building that was previously dark and separated.
    House in Hayashisaki Matsue Beach was designed by Akio Isshiki ArchitectsDuring the renovation, Akio Isshiki Architects aimed to pair existing elements with modern features to reflect the mixed-use nature of the project.
    “The house was divided into small rooms, narrow and dark,” studio founder Akio Isshiki told Dezeen.

    “It was very old and damaged, but fortunately the carpenter had done a good job, there were no leaks, and the structure was solid.”
    It is located in AkashiAccessed from the roadside, a series of circular stones form a path that leads through the planted front garden and curves to extend along the front of the building, providing access to the ground-floor restaurant.
    Here, a stepped sheltered porch features external seating and is separated from the interior space by a wide sliding glass door set in a timber frame, which offers views into the garden and can be fully opened to connect the dining space to the outside.
    The structure contains a restaurant and a homeInside, the floor has been coated with dark tiles informed by the history of the area, which was formerly a large tile producer.
    “These tiles were handcrafted one by one by tile craftsmen in Awaji, with the image of lava stone pavements seen in cities in Central and South America superimposed on the texture and edge shape,” said the studio.
    It draws on traditional Japanese homesWooden furnishings, including bespoke D-shaped chairs designed by the studio and created by a local woodworker, are arranged throughout the dining space at the front of the building.
    “To ensure stability even on uneven floors, three legs are used as a base for the chairs, and the legs are made of a thick material so that they do not fit in the joints of the Kawara tiles,” said Isshiki.
    “I aimed for a primitive design with an unknown nationality, with as simple and crude a composition as possible.”

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    Separated from the main space by an earth-toned counter, the kitchen is tucked into one side of the dining room and features walls clad in wooden panels and white tiles, along with a lighting fixture formed from two circles that hangs in the street-facing window.
    A Japanese shoji screen at the end of the dining room is the first of a series of flexible partitions throughout the home that can be pulled out to provide separation between the spaces.
    The upper floor contains private residential space”Conscious of the tropics and nostalgia, we put nets that look like mosquito nets and sudare blinds on the shoji screens,” said the studio. “The graceful plans created by imperfect partitions such as shoji and fusuma are typical of ancient Japanese architecture.”
    “In this house, where cultures, nationalities, times, and various other things are combined, I thought it would be appropriate to have the spaces partially mixed so that they could feel the presence of each other, rather than being permanently partitioned in terms of usage,” it continued.
    Wood was used throughout the interiorBuilt on a raised timber platform, the rest of the ground floor holds private rooms for the client, which are divided by shoji screens, including a traditional Japanese room that opens onto a garden.
    A home office borders the dining space, where a central black ladder leads to the floor above, while a bedroom, bathroom and utility room branch from the other side of the corridor.
    The residential space has views of the seaUpstairs, the studio added an open arrangement of dining and living spaces with warm-toned surfaces including a red wall and dark wooden beams that interact with the home’s original rustic roof structure.
    “The wall on the second floor is a scraped wall mixed with red iron oxide and finished by a plasterer from Awaji,” said Isshiki. “This is an attempt to incorporate the colourful walls of each country into architecture in a Japanese context.”
    The home has an open-plan living arrangementOther Japanese homes recently featured on Dezeen include a Tokyo home spread across two stacked volumes and a concrete home supported by a single column on Japan’s Okinawa Island.
    The photography is by Yosuke Ohtake.

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    Eight serene bedrooms with striking natural views

    Far-flung homes from New Zealand to Patagonia feature in this lookbook that showcases bedrooms with calm interiors where glazing has been maximised and clutter minimised to keep the focus on the views.

    Installing huge floor-to-ceiling windows is a no-brainer when a house is set in a prime location, whether overlooking Lake Tahoe or Chile’s craggy coastline.
    But the real key is to create pared-back interiors that don’t detract from the natural vistas, using minimal furnishings and a natural material palette that brings the outside in.
    Read on for eight minimalist bedroom interiors that make the view their protagonist.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bedrooms with bathtubs, statement headboards and wood-panelled dining rooms.

    Photo by Patrick ReynoldsKawakawa House, New Zealand, by Herbst Architects
    A clerestory window wraps all the way around this home in the surf town of Piha, New Zealand, allowing light to filter through a canopy of pōhutukawa trees and into the bedroom.
    This dappled effect is mirrored in the interior through the use of dark birch on the walls and light plywood on the ceilings, which help to draw sun into the living spaces.
    Find out more about Kawakawa House ›
    Photo by Javier Agustin RojasEstancia Morro Chico, Argentinia, by RDR Architectes
    Wood, leather and wool help to add warmth to this otherwise spartan bedroom, which belongs to a family of sheep farmers in remote Patagonia.
    A floor-to-ceiling window makes the most of the region’s vacillating sunlight while providing views across the surrounding 27,000-hectare ranch and the wild steppe beyond.
    “The general aesthetics of the project were inspired by the traditional architecture of the region, which demonstrated extreme austerity and an almost primitive simplicity,” said RDR Architectes.
    Find out more about Estancia Morro Chico ›
    Photo by Marc Goodwin, ArchmospheresNiliaitta, Finland, by Studio Puisto
    In the absence of bedside tables, most of the space inside this cabin near Finland’s Salamajärvi National Park is occupied by a custom-made bed, placed directly in front of a glazed wall.
    Local practice Studio Puisto kept furnishings to a minimum and covered nearly all of the surfaces in the same pale wood, so as not to compete with the natural spectacle.
    “The interior is done purposefully so that it would only serve as a neutral blank canvas, second to the nature outside,” Studio Puisto said.
    Find out more about Niliaitta ›
    Photo by Felix ForestMatopos, Australia, by Atelier Andy Carson
    When Atelier Andy Carson renovated the home of gallerist Judith Neilson, the Sydney studio set out to provide a minimalist backdrop for her personal collection of art and furniture.
    Meanwhile, finishes and window placements throughout the house were chosen to honour nearby Freshwater Beach, with the best views provided by the window seat in the primary bedroom.
    “Thoughtfully placed windows frame vistas of the sea, while polished plaster interior walls reflect views of the blue and yellow hues of ocean and sand back into the home,” the studio said.
    Find out more about Matopos ›
    Photo by Cristobal PalmaHouse in Los Vilos, Chile, by Ryue Nishizawa
    This bedroom was carved out of a cliffside on Chile’s Pacific coast, with a glass front and private terrace opening it up to views of crashing waves and craggy rocks.
    The building’s board-marked concrete slab roof is left exposed throughout the interior, paired with pared-back wooden furnishings and floors.
    Find out more about House in Los Vilos ›

    Shelter, Sweden, by Vipp
    A huge skylight stretches across the ceiling of this compact loft bedroom, set in a prefabricated cabin on the banks of Lake Immeln in Sweden, to create the impression of sleeping under the open sky.
    To keep attention on the stars, the monochrome interior features moody lighting and slate grey felt panels that cover both the walls and the floors.
    Find out more about Shelter ›
    Photo by Joe FletcherLookout House, USA, by Faulkner Architects
    A huge bed is placed diagonally at the centre of this room, effectively displacing all other furniture but taking full advantage of the home’s sweeping Lake Tahoe panorama.
    For the interior, Californian studio Faulkner Architects brought together local materials including volcanic basalt, concrete made using local sand and walnut wood sourced from orchards in the nearby Sierra foothills.
    “Consistent through the house, the quiet built environment is muted in colour and tonality, which allows the landscape outside to be the focus,” said the studio.
    Find out more about Lookout House ›
    Photo by Peter ClarkeCasa X, Australia, by Branch Studio Architects
    Dramatic sloped ceilings finished in pale wood panelling envelop the bedrooms of this house on Phillip Island near Melbourne, with bedside pendant lights suspended from their highest point.
    Glazing covers the better part of one wall, looking out over the trees that encircle the property to provide privacy despite the home’s beachfront location.
    Find out more about Casa X ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bedrooms with bathtubs, statement headboards and wood-panelled dining rooms.

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    Curves and colour blocking feature in JJ16 apartment by Lucas y Hernández-Gil

    Madrid studio Lucas y Hernández-Gil has completed a family home that makes the most of every inch, with details including a yellow storage wall, a corridor kitchen and a hidden closet.

    JJ16 is a three-bedroom apartment in Madrid’s Salamanca district, but until recently it had been used as an office.
    JJ16 is a three-bedroom apartment for a family of fourLucas y Hernández-Gil, a specialist in interior architecture, converted the property back into a residence for a family that includes a mother, three teenage children and their dog.
    The challenge was not only to make it feel like a home again but also to create space for everyone’s personality within the 165 square-metre footprint.
    The kitchen occupies a corridor space between the entrance lobby and the living roomThe designers achieved this by combining space-saving strategies with statement details, providing both functionality and character.

    “Everyone had a clear idea of what they needed, which translated directly into the spaces,” said studio founders Cristina Domínguez Lucas and Fernando Hernández-Gil Ruano.
    “Far from generating a conflict, different colours and materials give the house a richness, a harmonic heterogeneity,” they told Dezeen.
    The room is defined by shades of soft pink and greyOptimising JJ16’s layout was crucial but difficult given the irregularity of the floor plan.
    Lucas y Hernández-Gil’s strategy was to make every space, including the corridors, as useful as possible.
    The utility area also occupies a corridor spaceThe kitchen now occupies a connecting space between the entrance lobby and the living room, freeing up space at the front of the apartment for a spacious main bedroom.
    Meanwhile, the corridor leading to the main bathroom and the third bedroom incorporates a mini library and a utility area.

    Lucas y Hernández-Gil splits moods inside Madrid duplex apartment

    “The main challenge was the deep layout and long corridor,” said the architects.
    “We provided circulation with content by creating spaces within it. This turned out to be one of the best design decisions of the project.”
    A curved wall frames the main bedroomCurved partitions create variety within JJ16’s layout. The largest of these separates the living room from the main bedroom, but other curves can be found in the second bedroom and a shower room.
    Many spaces have their own colours, which contrast with the bright white tones that otherwise dominate the interior.
    The third bedroom is a twin room with a hidden walk-in closetThe bright yellow bookshelf wall is the most striking, while the adjacent kitchen offers a two-tone effect with shades of soft pink and grey, and matt chrome finishes.
    Bedrooms have a minimal feel, but they boast colourful dressing rooms and en-suites. Bright orange was chosen for the hidden walk-in closet, located in the twin third bedroom, while deep purple adds a luxury feel in the main bedroom.
    Patterned tiles feature in the bathroom and en-suite areasFloor surfaces provide more visual interest. Living spaces feature oak parquet, while bathrooms are all finished with patterned cement tiles.
    This bold approach to colour and texture is a common feature in the work of Lucas y Hernández-Gil, whose other recent projects include the sunset-inspired Naked and Famous bar and the stylish Casa A12.
    The main bathroom also features a curved shower room”The approach to colour is a constant in our design process,” said Lucas and Hernández-Gil Ruano.
    “It is about activating spaces and achieving a warm and joyful domestic atmosphere.”
    The photography is by Jose Hevia.
    Project credits
    Architecture: Lucas y Hernández-GilCollaborators: Lucía Balboa, María Domínguez, Sara Urriza

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    Bindloss Dawes maximises light and space in London mews house

    Architecture firm Bindloss Dawes has reorganised a mews house in Chelsea, adding a full-height lightwell with a dramatic oak-and-steel staircase to forge “a sense of volume and theatre”.

    The client initially commissioned Bindloss Dawes to simply create a more spacious kitchen and living area on the lower ground floor of this typical London property and improve its relationship to the garden.
    Bindloss Dawes has completed the Chelsea Mews House in LondonBut as the project progressed, the studio was asked to extend its remit to the entire residence to create a more holistic scheme.
    “Chelsea Mews House highlights that large spaces aren’t always needed,” Bindloss Dawes told Dezeen. “It’s about creating something pragmatic and beautiful that clients will treasure.”
    “This is a small terraced house, and we’ve elevated it by bringing in daylight and giving it a sense of volume and theatre.”

    The house now features a sunken concrete floor in the basementAs part of the renovation, Bindloss Dawes updated the three-storey house from a dark and cramped two-bedroom to a simplified one-bedroom layout, making the most of the awkward trapezoidal plan with its angular walls and junctions.
    Working within the planning constraints of a conservation area in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Bindloss Dawes dropped the level of the lower ground floor to create a more impressive space.
    The studio also added a new three-storey staircase”Digging down 50 centimetres unlocked the opportunity to create new volumes, which in a tight footprint goes a long way to enhancing the spatial quality,” the studio said.
    This newly created spaciousness at the lower level is accentuated by the addition of a lightwell that cuts through all three storeys of the home, connecting them via a custom staircase while drawing sunshine deep into the basement.
    The staircase traverses a full-height lightwell drawing sun into the interior”The previous configuration did the house a disservice,” Bindloss Dawes said. “It has wonderful bones that we have celebrated by opening up and creating a void, which draws light right into the depths of the space.”
    Meanwhile, a subtle glass extension projects approximately 50 centimetres beyond the rear facade into the garden to increase the sense of light and space without significantly altering the exterior.

    Bindloss Dawes creates car barn for classic Porsche collector

    A thoughtful and restrained material palette was crucial to the success of the project, according to Bindloss Dawes.
    “By embracing simplicity, maximising light and space, and employing a careful selection of materials, we’ve crafted a home that balances functionality with elegance,” the studio said.
    Venetian polished plaster in a Marmorino finish by Calfe Crimmings was used on the walls throughout the home, creating a sense of tactility.
    The steps are finished in European oak while the balusters are steelExpressed concrete brings a grounding element to the basement level, with concrete skirting that seamlessly extends onto the steps leading up into the courtyard garden.
    Concrete was also used to form the first flight of the new three-storey staircase, while the upper levels are finished in European oak to match the handrail.
    The steel balusters were painted in the same grey-based white by Farrow & Ball that was also used on woodwork and ceilings throughout the house.
    The bedrooms are hidden behind subtle pocket doorsTo eliminate visual breaks to the lightwell, pocket doors were strategically incorporated at the bedroom level.
    “The project exemplifies how highly detailed yet simple design can work to great effect within tight city footprints,” said Bindloss Dawes.
    The homeowner, a talented craftsman and metalworker, personally designed and created the lighting fixtures, adding a personal touch to the home.
    The home is a traditional mews house in ChelseaPrevious projects from Bindloss Dawes, which was founded by Oliver Bindloss and George Dawes in 2018, include a timber car barn for a collector of classic Porsches.
    The studio is based in Bruton – a village in Somerset that has drawn an increasingly metropolitan crowd in recent years after contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth opened an outpost in the area in 2014.
    The photography is by Building Narratives.

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