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      Eight earthy kitchens where terracotta tiles add warmth and tactility

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      For this lookbook, we’ve collated eight kitchens from Dezeen’s archive that use terracotta tiling to bring a sense of warmth into the functional space.

      Terracotta – meaning baked earth in Italian – technically refers to any object made from fired clay. But most commonly, the term is used to describe pottery made from a porous type of earthenware clay that is high in iron oxides, giving it a rusty reddish brown colour.
      Unlike ceramic stoneware or porcelain, terracotta is fired at lower temperatures so it does not vitrify – meaning the clay retains a coarse, organic texture and isn’t waterproof unless it is glazed.
      Used as a backsplash or flooring, this can bring some much-needed colour and texture into the kitchen while helping to create a connection to the outdoors.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring accent walls, bookshelves and sunken baths.

      Photo by Prue RuscoeBudge Over Dover, Australia, by YSG
      Australian studio YSG used narrow terracotta tiles to “draw the outside in” to this house in Sydney, spilling from the floor of the garden patio onto the adjacent kitchen and dining area, which can be opened up to the exterior using sliding glass doors.
      The rough clay is paired with shiny aubergine-coloured plaster and travertine in the sunken living room beyond, creating a contrast between raw and polished surfaces.
      Find out more about Budge Over Dover ›
      Photo by Mariell Lind HansenFarley Farmhouse, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
      When Emil Eve Architects added a gabled kitchen to a farmhouse in Wiltshire, the British studio set out to mirror the material palette of the existing home by adding arrowhead terracotta tiles to the extension’s exterior.
      Inside, matching rectangular tiles were laid in a herringbone pattern on the floor while a row of clay pendant lights hang from the wooden roof beams.
      Find out more about Farley Farmhouse ›
      Photo by Denilson MachadoHygge Studio, Brazil, by Melina Romano
      Terracotta flooring and tan brick walls lend a “rustic charm” to this São Paulo apartment, designed by Brazilian designer Melina Romano.
      The tiles spill out across the entire home including the bedroom and lounge, which is framed by a screen made of decorative perforated cobogó blocks.
      Find out more about Hygge Studio ›
      Photo by José HeviaLas 3 Marías, Spain, by Bajet Giramé and Nicolas Burckhardt
      All-over terracotta flooring was one of the ways that Spanish studio Bajet Giramé found to connect the kitchen of this 1960s holiday home to its generous backyard, alongside the addition of generous arched openings and perforated steel doors.
      “We ended up working on the whole plot, treating both house and garden as a playful matrix of varied interconnected rooms,” the studio told Dezeen.
      Find out more about Las 3 Marías ›
      Photo by Adrià GoulaLa Odette, Spain, CRÜ
      To create a bright, open floor plan inside this apartment in a Barcelona housing block that dates back to 1877, Spanish studio CRÜ tore down most of the internal petition walls
      Instead, the kitchen is now delineated by a statement wall clad in terracotta tiles – left over from the flooring and turned back-to-front to reveal their ribbed underside.
      Find out more about La Odette ›

      West Bend House, Australia, by Brave New Eco
      Three kinds of tiling provide textural interest inside the kitchen of this “forever home” in Melbourne, with sections of rustic terracotta contrasted against a backsplash of teal-glazed ceramics.
      Corrugated tiles were also folded around the pendant light above the island that illuminates the work area, courtesy of Australian lighting brand Southdrawn.
      Find out more about West Bend House ›
      Photo by Conrad BrownComo Taperia, Canada, by Ste Marie
      Both the seating area and the open kitchen of this Spanish tapas bar in Vancouver were lined with terracotta, in a nod to the brick chimneys of Barcelona’s industrial Poble Sec power station.
      Other Catalan references can be found in the restaurant’s cobalt blue accents – informed by the paintings of Joan Miró – and various abstract details that nod to the work of architect Antoni Gaudí.
      Find out more about Como Taperia ›
      Photo by German SáizConde Duque apartment, Spain, by Sierra + De La Higuera
      Different spaces in this open-plan apartment in Madrid were defined by traditional Moroccan zellige tiles, with glossy yellow and green glazes and organic handcrafted surfaces.
      To balance out these flashier surfaces, terracotta was used to ground the kitchen and dining area, paired with plain white walls and custom timber joinery.
      Find out more about Conde Duque apartment ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring accent walls, bookshelves and sunken baths.

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      Airbnb calls for “creative people with creative spaces” to list their spare room

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      Promotion: designers and creatives have the opportunity to showcase their style and earn supplemental income by listing a spare room on rental website Airbnb.

      Airbnb is inviting designers and hobbyists to consider hosting their creative spaces on Airbnb and start earning via a dedicated programme that includes details on how to have their spare room professionally photographed if chosen.
      Ahead of the peak travel season is the ideal time to list a spare roomAccording to the rental website, ahead of the peak travel season is the perfect time to host and turn spare spaces into new opportunities.
      Airbnb says that listing a spare room is not only a great way to earn, but also an opportunity for designers to share their style with guests from around the world, in turn “inspiring their own creative journey”.
      The website is calling for “creative people with creative spaces” to list their spare roomsAn example of creative space on Airbnb is a private suite in central Paris that lies within Paris’ famous 7th Arrondissement and is within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower and other major attractions.

      The suite is painted colourful and bold colourways and features authentic Turkish rugs and abstract art painted by its hosts.
      The private suite is located in central ParisThe hosts say that upon entering, “You will soon feel welcome and won’t be able to live without colours anymore”.
      The hosts also offer photography classes to interested guests, which is a unique opportunity for beginners to learn the basics while roaming the streets of Paris.
      The hosts of the Parisian apartment offers photography teaching sessionsAnother creative space on Airbnb is a top-floor loft conversion in Washington that is housed in what was originally a 19th-century corner store. The loft was designed by its hosts who run an architectural studio from their home.
      The loft has clean and white decor, which is designed as a relaxing space for visitors, while a desk is also provided to offer a dedicated workspace for those who may be working remotely.
      The Sandton Cul-De-Sac in South Africa has an eclectic interiorA shared, double-height living area offers more of a glimpse of the site’s architectural elements, including the irregularly plastered walls that are covered in family photos.
      “As architects, we are well-trained to maximise space, light, health and privacy, those fundamental elements to providing the best living conditions,” said the hosts.
      “Our experience as Airbnb hosts for the last seven years has introduced us to a wide variety of people from all over the world who have consistently understood the social contract between host and guest as not a corporate relationship but a new more intimate social form, not quite family but not random strangers either.”
      A top-floor loft conversion in Washington is housed in what was originally a 19th-century corner storeA further example of a creative space on Airbnb is the Sandton Cul-De-Sac in South Africa where a muted exterior hides an eclectic interior.
      A shared living and dining area includes numerous pieces of art and sculpture, and vibrantly coloured furniture offers a stark contrast to the natural colours of the walls and floors.
      Vibrantly coloured accessories offer a stark contrast to the natural colours of the walls and floors”I wanted to create an authentic African space that is celebrating the African spirit,” said the host. “Creating an inspiring, creative, healing and peaceful space was my ultimate goal and for guests to feel safe in Johannesburg.”
      “Airbnb is a very easy, safe and professional platform and a total pleasure to use.”
      Airbnb is calling for designers and creative people to list their design-forward spaces on its websiteOther examples of creative spaces available on Airbnb include a fully detached suite hidden in the heart of Lisbon and a private room and bathroom in an interior designer’s home.
      To learn about Airbnb’s initiative visit its website.
      Partnership content
      This article was written by Dezeen for Airbnb as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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      SSdH tucks Melbourne warehouse apartment into former chocolate factory

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      Local studio SSdH has designed a split-level, mezzanine-style apartment characterised by eclectic furniture, which is housed within an old chocolate factory in Melbourne.

      Kerr is a warehouse apartment in Melbourne’s Fitzroy suburb, located in a building that was once home to the historic MacRoberton’s Chocolate Factory before being converted into residential units in the late 1990s.
      Kerr is one of a number of apartments arranged around a central atriumAdapted into “apartment shells” arranged around a striking central atrium, the units were first designed with only basic amenities to allow occupants to determine their own interior designs.
      SSdH recently renovated Kerr, one of these units, as a three-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling that intends to expose but also refresh the building’s original architecture.
      “The design pays homage to history while being decidedly contemporary,” studio director Jean-Marie Spencer told Dezeen.

      The home is divided by a white-painted staircaseThe mezzanine-style apartment is split across two levels by a staircase with a white-painted gridded steel mesh balustrade. Doubling as a lightwell, the staircase is illuminated by the apartment’s original single factory window.
      Upstairs, the open-plan living space includes a kitchen fitted with geometric cabinetry made from local spotted gum timber, as well as brushed stainless steel and nickel fixtures.
      Spotted gum timber and stainless steel define the kitchenThe similarly minimalist lounge area is delineated by smooth sliding doors made of the same spotted gum, which are offset by existing structural beams and columns painted in bright white.
      A sage-green two-seater armchair is positioned next to a chunky column floor lamp by emerging designer Annie Paxton and a distinctive coral-blue vase.
      A two-seater armchair features in the lounge area”Old wall and ceiling linings, trims and details are stripped back to expose original materials and structural framing,” explained Spencer.
      “An application of white unifies what was, subsequently giving the ‘new’ its own platform through contrast,” she added.
      SSdH also included timber accents downstairsTwo bedrooms and a bathroom are contained downstairs, while a bedroom and an en-suite feature on the upper level.
      All three bedrooms are defined by the same pared-back white and wooden elements as the communal areas. Inside one of them, a mushroom-like floor lamp made from lumps of blue sculpting plaster adds a playful touch.
      Among the eclectic furniture is a mushroom-like lampGleaming geometric tiles in shades of blue and yellow feature in each of the bathrooms, which also have bulbous sconce lights.
      Timber operable doors and translucent curtains leading to the sleeping areas were designed to balance the airy openness of the living spaces, according to Spencer.
      One bathroom is clad in bright blue tiles”Living areas, where privacy is less of a concern, invoke a spilling out to the street to make the most of the light and air,” said the studio director.
      Other sculptural accents inserted throughout the apartment include boxy aluminium corner stools under the stairs and a fluted side table crafted from a solid piece of timber.

      Ten industrial yet inviting homes in converted warehouses

      SSdH added double glazing to Kerr’s existing large factory window to provide both thermal and acoustic benefits to the apartment, which is located in close proximity to a busy street.
      “This glazing, along with the thermal mass embodied within the heavy masonry building allowed the apartment to remain un-airconditioned, relying on passive cross ventilation from the shared building lobby to maintain temperatures and reduce energy consumption,” said Spencer.
      Boxy aluminium corner stools are tucked under the staircaseFormerly industrial spaces are popular locations for residential conversions.
      Local firm Studio McW transformed an east London warehouse into a live-work space for climate activists and filmmakers Jack Harries and Alice Aedy while Auba Studio designed an apartment in a 1980s bakery in Palma de Mallorca.
      The photography is by Pier Carthew.

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      Office Alex Nicholls creates multi-generational Melbourne apartment with its own spa

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      Architecture studio Office Alex Nicholls has fused two penthouse apartments in Melbourne into one large flexible home, converting their basement parking spots into a private spa and pool.

      Adaptability was key to the home in Melbourne’s Elsternwick suburb, which needed to provide enough space for a multi-generational family as well as accommodating visiting relatives in guest rooms that double up as studies.
      Office Alex Nicholls fused two apartments to create Elsternwick Penthouse”Spaces were designed to adapt to a multitude of uses, with flexible working and living spaces as well as areas that could expand for large groups or contract to provide intimate settings,” the studio’s founder Alex Nicholls told Dezeen.
      Office Alex Nicholls was brought on board while the apartment block was still under construction and was able to make significant changes to suit his clients’ needs – improving the layout, adding skylights and up-speccing on key details like the windows.
      Timber staircases lead to the roof garden”The design intent was to create variety and different spatial experiences across a very expansive and potentially monotonous floorplan,” Nicholls said.

      “I wanted to create a light yet grounded and natural-feeling space that was contrasted with some stronger formal elements such as sculptural skylights and coloured functional volumes.”
      A “library spine” runs through the apartment to provide storageTo navigate this vast apartment, Nicholls devised a central “library spine” – a corridor running the entire length of the apartment that houses the family’s collection of books, art and artefacts while creating an opportunity out of what could have been a dark and monotonous space.
      “The idea for the library spine was born from a storage requirement of the clients,” the architect said. “However, it became a key architectural intervention.”
      “From a practical standpoint, it allowed everything to be easily accessible and displayed but it also helps to draw people through the apartment and celebrate the two staircases to the roof garden at either end.”
      Oculus skylights funnel sunlight into the interiorTo provide vital light to the heart of the apartment and enhance the two main living spaces, Nicholls designed a series of circular and semi-circular oculus skylights, which reference the clients’ love of Elsternwick’s art deco architecture.
      “They create a sense of movement and symmetry in the composition of otherwise rectilinear volumes,” he explained.

      Frederick Tang Architecture transforms New York loft into light-filled wellness studio

      The apartment has three kitchens, partly to meet the family’s religious requirements and partly to allow the different generations who are sharing the apartment to enjoy their own independence.
      Described by Nicholls as a series of “magic boxes”, each monolithic kitchen is defined by one vivid colour. This helps to delineate spaces and provides a counterpoint to the otherwise warm and natural material palette, which includes Blackbutt timber and Gosford sandstone.
      The apartment has three colourful kitchen units”The kitchens were designed to be largely concealed within these coloured volumes to give each one more spatial presence while ensuring the apartment did not feel too kitchen- and appliance-heavy as a result of the clients’ complex requirements,” Nicholls said.
      In the basement, Nicholls turned the penthouses’ lift-accessed parking spots into a private 100-square-metre wellness space that features a fitness pool, sauna, kitchenette, changing rooms and a flexible rehabilitation area.
      Nicholls also converted the apartments’ parking spots into a private spaTo make up for the lack of natural light in this subterranean space, Nicholls deployed atmospheric indirect lighting and a warm colour palette.
      “Lighting the space via a datum of timber niches helped give the spa a restorative atmosphere, enhanced by the use of natural materials such as sandstone, timber, terracotta and lime render,” he explained.
      The spa is home to a timber saunaElsternwick is a thriving suburb in the southeast of Melbourne, brimming with buzzy shops, restaurants and bars.
      Among them is the Hunter & Co Deli, whose interiors were informed by the cold cuts on offer, and the minimal Penta cafe with its monolithic concrete counter.
      The photography is by Rory Gardiner.

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      Eight homes with beautiful and practical bookshelves

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected eight homes where stylish wall-mounted and built-in bookshelves add storage and visual interest.

      For book lovers, storage can quickly become a problem. But well-designed shelves can solve this issue and simultaneously function as a decorative detail.
      This lookbook showcases practical bookshelves from across the globe, including custom-made steel shelving in Chicago and a floor-to-ceiling wooden bookcase in Shanghai.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with sunken baths, bedrooms with regal four-poster beds and interiors with natural materials and timeless accents.
      Photo by Tom Rossiter PhotographyResidence for Two Collectors, US, by Wheeler Kearns Architects

      Local studio Wheeler Kearns Architects designed this Chicago home for two art collectors to have enough space for their extensive collection.
      In the penthouse’s living room, a custom-made shelf in patinated steel with its own circular staircase takes up almost an entire wall. This is filled not just with books but also with various artworks in wood and clay.
      Find out more about Residence for Two Collectors ›
      Photo by Imagen SubliminalHouse 6, Spain, by Zooco Estudio
      Bookshelves span two levels of this flat in Mallorca, designed by Spanish studio Zooco Estudio. Colourful book covers contrast against the white shelving unit, which rises up from the ground floor.
      “As a unifying element, a shelf rises colonising both living and lobby spaces,” the studio said. “This way we integrate aesthetic and functionality in one single element.”
      Find out more about House 6 ›

      Pedro Reyes House, Mexico, by Pedro Reyes
      The Mexico City home of sculptor Pedro Reyes and fashion designer Carla Fernandez is filled with sculptural details including a double-height staircase and a library made from coarse concrete.
      The concrete is left exposed both here and throughout the rest of the house, which takes cues from the city’s modernist and brutalist buildings, including examples by Luis Barragán.
      Find out more about Pedro Reyes House ›
      Photo by Santiago Barrio and Shen Zhong HaiLibrary Home, China, by Atelier Tao+C
      This Shanghai apartment, located in the ISS Normandy Apartments designed by Hungarian-Slovak architect László Hudec in 1924, is almost completely lined with bookshelves.
      The wooden storage matches the flat’s parquet flooring and contrasts with the white marble staircase in the living area, where a wine fridge adds to the relaxed feel of the room.
      Find out more about Library Home ›
      Photo by Adam ScottA Cloistered House, UK, by Turner Architects
      When Turner Architects renovated this Georgian terraced house in south London, the British studio was careful to restore the building’s original features while still keeping it modern.
      Built-in shelves filled with books add a splash of sage green to the living room, where a cosy mustard-yellow sofa creates an inviting reading spot.
      Find out more about A Cloistered House ›
      Photo by Lorenzo ZandriFarleigh Road House, UK, by Paolo Cossu Architects
      A smooth wooden bookshelf lines the wall and connects to a chunky wooden staircase inside Farleigh Road House in east London, designed by local studio Paolo Cossu Architects.
      Its deep shelves provide space for books as well as magazines, plants, vases and lamps.
      Find out more about Farleigh Road House ›
      Photo by Rafael GamoCuernavaca House, Mexico, by Tapia McMahon
      Inside this family home in Mexico City, a huge timber bookcase adds a warm feel to the concrete walls.
      “Large timber bookshelves and a kitchen assembly mimic furniture installations and help to break up the use of fair-faced concrete walls and slabs throughout,” architecture studio Tapia McMahon said.
      Find out more about Cuernavaca House ›

      Charlotte Road warehouse, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
      The living room inside this apartment in a former warehouse in Shoreditch, east London, features a built-in wooden bookcase that complements the exposed wooden beams in the ceiling.
      Reaching all the way up to the ceiling, the oak shelving was designed to add to the warm material palette of the brick-and-timber building.
      Find out more about Charlotte Road warehouse ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with sunken baths, bedrooms with regal four-poster beds and interiors with natural materials and timeless accents.

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      Curtains for minimalism as John Pawson goes maximalist

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      Minimalist British designer John Pawson has ditched his pared-back aesthetic in favour of full-blown maximalism, Dezeen understands.

      Pawson, who is not an architect, had become famous for his minimalist designs and was awarded a CBE in 2019.
      But a source close to Pawson informed Dezeen that he has now embraced bold colours, clashing patterns and animal-print furnishings after a dramatic change-of-heart.
      British designer Pawson has historically been known for his minimalist designs”I went to the Pawsons’ place in the Cotswolds recently and it’s like night and day,” the source said. “They’ve wallpapered over the white-brick walls and stuck some garish curtains over the windows.”
      “And the soft furnishings, my god. You can barely move for patterned rugs and blankets.”

      Possible social-media link
      However, not-an-architect Pawson appears to have chosen to maintain a minimalist approach in his relationship with the media.
      Asked if he could explain his reversal in tastes, he replied: “No.”
      The source speculated that Pawson’s shift in style may be linked to social media.
      Pawson has now transformed his Cotswold home into a maximalist colour-festIn 2018, he surprised some by releasing a book of vivid photographs, telling Dezeen at the time that he had discovered a love of colour through Instagram.
      “Maybe he’s moved on to TikTok,” the source said.
      Maximalism has been a re-emerging trend over the past couple of years, partly driven by its popularity on the video-gallery platform.
      His studio declined to answer questions about whether Pawson – who, again, is not an architect and Dezeen would never suggest anything to the contrary – will apply his new-found personal partiality to maximalism to commercial projects.

      John Pawson designs his own minimalist rural retreat

      However, a spokesperson said: “When are you doing another Hot List? John would really like you to do another Hot List.”
      Pawson, whose most high-profile projects include the Novy Dvur monastery in the Czech Republic and the Design Museum in London, ranked at number six on Dezeen’s Hot List of newsworthy designers and brands in 2017.
      Last week, a Deyan Sudjic-authored biography of Pawson’s life and work was published, but did not mention his switch to maximalism.
      The photography is by Gilbert McCarragher, with additional input from Studio Merlin.

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      Amsterdam apartment block features cupboard bedrooms

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      Dutch design studio Blom Interieurs has created playful interiors with cupboard bedrooms for Shift Architecture Urbanism’s Domūs Houthaven residential complex in Amsterdam.

      The complex, which contains 235 compact rental apartments, was created to provide high-density living, utilising space and materials effectively.
      The 235 apartments in Domūs Houthaven contain cupboard bedroomsEach apartment contains a bedroom cupboard with built-in shelves and under-bed drawers. The sleeping cupboard can be closed off from the living space with perforated steel folding doors.
      “Close the doors and your whole apartment becomes your living room; open them at night and you have a huge bedroom,” Shift Architecture Urbanism partner Oana Rades told Dezeen.
      Each apartment features a “smart-living core”Designed by Shift Architecture Urbanism, individual apartments range in size from 43 to 60 square metres, with colour-blocked modular units arranged according to the building’s floor plan. 

      At the heart of every apartment is a “smart-living core” – a central cell comprising a kitchen, box bedroom, bathroom and storage space. By incorporating floor-to-ceiling storage, the studio maximised the space.

      Shift Architecture Urbanism adapts historic Dutch monastery for ageing residents

      Blom Interieurs oversaw production and assembly of the “smart-living core” modules and the fixed furniture in the common areas.
      The bedroom cupboard doors were the most challenging aspect, the studio told Dezeen. “For such daily intensive use, the doors had to be sturdy and robust and at the same time easy to operate. Our solution was steel.”
      Domūs Houthaven residents have access to shared living spacesThe steel doors, pale laminate floors, untreated concrete ceilings and white walls were designed to contrast with the brightly coloured furnishings and modular units.
      As well as their individual apartments, residents have access to shared co-working, living, cooking, utility and garden spaces. Shift Architecture Urbanism designed the communal spaces to encourage interaction between residents and “prevent loneliness”.
      “The communal spaces are designed to feel homely, as an extension of one’s own private apartment,” said Rades.
      Built-in furniture can be seen throughout the communal areasBuilt-in furniture features throughout the multifunctional living area, including a wood-lined seating area that doubles as a bookcase. 
      Separating the living and the co-working spaces is a small kitchen unit lined in pastel-green ceramic tiles. A large television sits in a wooden cabinet that acts as a room partition while also providing further storage and open shelving. 
      “Four large pieces of furniture act as room dividers, differentiating the large open space into smaller ones that feel intimate,” Rades explained. 
      The internal layout is organised to maximise available spaceThroughout the project, the studio aimed to use a variety of colours, patterns and materials. Doors and window frames in pastel tones match the curtains in each of the apartments, while recessed window ledges provide informal seating areas. 
      “[We used] a rich complementing material palette with contrasting tactile and graphic appearance,” said Rades.
      “The material palette is very diverse: from bamboo and wood veneer to corrugated steel plates to ceramic tiles and terrazzo.” 
      The studio set out to use a bright, playful colour paletteA pavilion on the roof contains a communal kitchen that functions as a cooking studio, with a central island clad in turquoise tiles and a contrasting long red dining table. 
      A speckled grey seating ledge runs below the wraparound glazing, which provides views of the surrounding area and skyline beyond.
      Shift Architecture Urbanism used a range of materials throughout the projectOther recent projects by Shift Architecture Urbanism include an adaptation of a historic Dutch monastery for ageing residents and the renovation of a derelict four-storey home in Rotterdam, replacing brickwork with glazing to create two light-filled apartments.
      The photography is by Pim Top and Rob Lipsius. 

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      Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor adds colour to 1980s Stockholm apartment

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      An all-lilac kitchen and bright geometric storage solutions feature in this colourful Stockholm apartment renovation by local studio Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor.

      The two-bedroom apartment, which is housed within a 1980s prefabricated concrete building in southern Stockholm, was transformed by the architecture studio for a family with four-year-old twins.
      Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor renovated the apartment for a family with twinsAs part of the renovation, Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor created a number of space-saving storage solutions. For example, the original floor plan featured an enclosed storage space in the middle of the apartment.
      The studio converted this into a trio of smaller storage units for the living room, the kitchen and the pantry. This was achieved by decreasing the size of the hallway but maintaining a corridor to the open-plan living room and home office.
      A see-through bookshelf and the studio’s bespoke Elephant sideboard feature in the living space”The original floor plan was robust and quite deep, with a load-bearing wall separating the living room and bedrooms into two halves,” studio co-founder Jesper Westblom told Dezeen.

      “We didn’t want to close off the spaces by making tiny enclosed rooms, but rather make light additions. The aim was to use small adjustments to make the rooms more defined spatially.”
      Red, yellow and blue tones feature throughout the apartmentA palette of hues created from a mix of the three primary colours – red, blue and yellow – features throughout the home, with the colours offset by white-painted flooring.
      Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor also chose a combination of pine wood and red medium-density fibreboard to create bespoke joinery and furniture.
      An all-lilac kitchen creates a statement accentThe kitchen was finished in a floor-to-ceiling shade of bluey lilac that also characterises a built-in geometric bench next to the dining table and a tall cupboard concealed behind a “secret door”.
      A large bookshelf divider decorated with organically shaped vases creates a partition between the open-plan living room and office area, with a burnt-orange shelving system providing extra storage.
      The office area can also be cordoned off with a curtain to create extra peace and quiet.
      Matching doors provide separate entrances to the twins’ shared bedroomThe architecture studio’s Elephant sideboard – a chunky blue table that owes its name to its sturdiness and colour – was also included in the living space.
      The family’s twins share one bedroom, which can be entered through two tall and narrow doors, adding a playful touch to the apartment.
      Small windows were also added above these doors to increase the natural light in the apartment.

      Seven vibrant homes that use colour to make a statement

      Inside the twins’ bedroom is a sleeping zone and a play area, which are separated by a low wall to create a clear delineation between the two spaces.
      “One of the biggest – and most fun – challenges was to make every single space useful and effective and make room for both play and recovery,” reflected Westblom.
      Subtle storage solutions define the apartmentWestblom and Robin Krasse founded their eponymous Stockholm-based studio in January 2021.
      The firm previously completed the interiors for a local hair salon, which takes cues from architect Carlo Scarpa’s geometric designs and the muted colours of 1920s swimming baths.
      The photography is by Jesper Westblom.

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