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      Ten homes that make decorative use of board-formed concrete

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      A board-formed concrete staircase that leads to a double-height library and a bathroom with irregular concrete walls are among ten home interiors with board-formed concrete showcased in this lookbook.

      Board-formed or board-marked concrete is a method of concrete construction that involves pouring concrete into temporary volumes or moulds, typically made from wooden boards.
      As a result of the mould’s wooden board-formed construction, once set the cast concrete is left with a board-marked surface that imprints the pattern of the material it was cast within, creating a decorative effect.
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing cork-covered walls, residential corridors and homes with shutters.
      Photo is by Read McKendreeSag Habor 2, US, by KOS+A

      New York practice Kevin O’Sullivan + Associates built a waterfront timber-clad home in the Hamptons village of Sag Harbor that was designed specifically to overlook the sunset.
      The home’s living areas were organised around a board-formed concrete fireplace that conceals a staircase to the bedrooms and upper levels. The concrete fireplace becomes the focal feature of the living area and contrasts against the greenery seen through its windows.
      Find out more about Sag Habor 2 ›
      Photo is by Ivo TavaresCork Oak House, Portugal, by Hugo Pereira
      This home in Portugal was completed by architect Hugo Pereira. The structure was designed to respond to the topographic conditions of the hilltop site, while also immersing and surrounding its occupants in the undisturbed surroundings.
      Constructed using concrete, the home features decorative board-formed concrete walls that stretch from the exterior to the interiors to create a textural tonality throughout.
      Find out more about Cork Oak House ›
      Photo is by Edmund SumnerPedro Reyes House, Mexico, by Pedro Reyes and Carla Fernandez
      A board-formed concrete staircase zones a double-height library at the home and studio of Pedro Reyes and Carla Fernandez. The Mexico City home was constructed primarily from concrete and takes cues from the brutalist and modernist buildings in the city.
      The interior incorporates exposed concrete, which was stacked and placed together to create irregular shapes and forms, throughout.
      Find out more about Pedro Reyes House ›
      Photo is by Daniela Mac AddenCasa L4, Argentina, by Luciano Kruk and Ekaterina Künzel
      Architect Luciano Kruk and his partner Ekaterina Künzel designed a concrete holiday home for themselves that is located on the Argentinian coast and set between a collection of maritime pine trees.
      Board-formed concrete walls were used for the entire interior of the home, including in a bathroom. A skylight in the bathroom funnels light above a shower area and illuminates the irregular concrete walls.
      Find out more about Casa L4 ›
      Photo is by Taggart SorensenThe Sundial House, US, by Specht Architects
      This Santa Fe home by Specht Architect, titled The Sundial House, is located on a typical northern New Mexico terrain with undulating surroundings. Specht Architects built the home within a sunken plane in order to comply with the area’s height regulations.
      Inside, board-formed concrete walls support wooden beams above. Along one of the home’s corridors, a skylight stretches above the beams and creates sun-dial-like shadows across the interior.
      Find out more about The Sundial House ›
      Photo is by Manolo Langis and Paul VuGetty View Residence, US, by Abramson Architects
      Located in Los Angeles, Getty View Residence is an 8,000-square-foot (743-square-metre) house. The home is comprised of a collection of rectilinear volumes stacked three levels tall.
      The upper levels of the home were decorated with a bright white interior scheme, while its basement and lower levels have board-formed concrete walls.
      Find out more about Getty View Residence ›
      Photo is by Andre MortattiConcrete home, Brazil, by Luciano Basso
      Luciano Basso built this home in the forests of southern Brazil around a mature Paraná pine tree. The building has a concrete construction and incorporates full-height windows that overlook the forested surroundings.
      Board-formed concrete stretches across almost every surface in the home, including the ceilings in its bedrooms. Tones of grey also run through the home’s interior scheme, covering walls, floors and furnishings.
      Find out more about the concrete home ›

      Tea House, China, by Archi-Union
      At this home in China, Archi-Union created contorting board-formed walls that lead to a library and studio. The twisted walls provide the space with a cave-like look, which is further enhanced by a floor-to-ceiling window and a terrace area at the rear.
      A collection of books line the walls on angular shelving behind a trio of leather-upholstered lounge chairs and a sofa.
      Find out more about Tea House ›
      Photo is by Will PryceNorth London home, UK, by Paul Archer Design
      London-based studio Paul Archer Design added an extension to this north London home, incorporating coarse concrete walls that contrast against expanses of glazing.
      A concrete wall with a board-marked surface extends through the middle of the extension from the kitchen and out to the garden. Over the kitchen, the concrete wall reduces to structural beams that span across the dining and work areas.
      Find out more about the north London home ›
      Photo is by Daniela Mac AddenCasa H3, Argentina, by Luciano Kruk
      The walls of this summer home in Buenos Aires by Argentinian architect Luciano Kruk were cast using planks of pine, resulting in a textural wood grain across the home’s surfaces.
      Kruk chose to use a board-formed construction to tie the concrete home to its wooden surroundings. Large glass sliding doors open out to decking and provide Casa H3 with indoor-outdoor living.
      Find out more about Casa H3 ›
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing multi-generational homes, cork-covered walls and homes with shutters.

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      Ten multi-generational homes that organise space in interesting ways

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      A Mumbai apartment with its own temple and a Tokyo home for three generations and eight cats feature in this lookbook highlighting ten intergenerational households that showcase how interiors can balance privacy and community.

      Multi-generational living, in which several generations of a family cohabit under one roof, is already common practice in many parts of Asia, the Middle East, southern Europe and Africa.
      But with the growing price of housing, as well as elder and childcare, these kinds of communal living arrangements are now becoming increasingly popular around the world.
      This has prompted architects and designers to devise clever ways to divide up interiors, balancing the need for both private and communal spaces by using everything from staircases to moving partitions and planted terraces.
      Many also integrate accessible design features for their elderly inhabitants, such as wheelchair ramps and elevators.

      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing decorative ceramics, bathrooms with statement tiles and dining areas anchored by sculptural pendant lights.
      Photo is by Peter Bennetts StudioCharles House, Australia, by Austin Maynard Architects
      Pocket sliding partitions connect the rooms in this home so that its interiors can grow with the owner’s children and ultimately also accommodate their grandparents.
      Complete with a wheelchair-accessible garden, the building is one of a growing number of multi-generational houses being designed in answer to Melbourne’s housing crisis.
      “A diverse family home is often a healthy family home,” said Australian studio Austin Maynard Architects. “However, multigenerational homes also reflect the nature of our economy.”
      Find out more about Charles House ›
      Photo is by Ossip van DuivenbodeThree-Generation House, Netherlands, by BETA
      The Three-Generation House in Amsterdam was designed to resemble a “mini apartment building”, housing a young family on the lower floors and the grandparents on the top floor, which can be accessed via a private lift.
      A bright yellow staircase runs through the centre of the plan, helping to divide the open-plan interior while effectively connecting all the different levels of the home into a cohesive whole.
      Find out more about Three-Generation House ›
      Photo is by Katherine LuVikki’s Place, Australia, by Curious Practice
      Instead of doors, slim wooden blinds and raised plywood platforms help to demarcate the bedrooms in this Australian home, designed to accommodate the owner as well as her grown-up son and his family, who often come to stay for extended periods of time.
      “The play with the levels enables the architecture to act as furniture, which accommodates more or fewer guests for different occasions,” architect Warren Haasnoot of local studio Curious Practice told Dezeen.
      “Manoeuvring between spaces and levels invokes a sense that one is navigating between levels of terrain rather than moving room to room or outside to inside.”
      Find out more about Vikki’s Place ›
      Photo is by Albert Lim K SCornwall Gardens, Singapore, by Chang Architects
      Planted terraces are organised around a central pool in this family home in Singapore, providing each of the six bedrooms with natural vistas and a sense of privacy despite the busy floorplan.
      Local studio Chang Architects conceived the project as a “tropical paradise,” complete with a Koi carp pond and a waterfall to encourage the owner’s children to raise their families here once they’ve grown up.
      Find out more about Cornwall Gardens ›
      Photo is by Michael MoranChoy House, USA, by O’Neill Rose Architects
      Two brothers, their families and their mother share this residence in Flushing, Queens, which New York studio O’Neill Rose Architects describes as “three homes under one roof”.
      Designed to fuse American and Chinese ways of living in a nod to the client’s mixed heritage, the house effectively provides two separate homes for the two siblings, connected by a communal lower level that is also home to their mother and can be accessed via stairs hidden behind semi-transparent screens.
      Find out more about Choy House ›
      Photo is courtesy of NendoStairway House, Japan, by Nendo
      Three generations of the same family share this three-storey home in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, with the more accessible ground floor given over to the grandparents and their eight pet cats.
      Japanese studio Nendo bisected the floorplan with a huge fake staircase, which provides a visual connection between the different levels while accommodating a bathroom, a playroom for the cats and a plethora of potted plants.
      Find out more about Stairway House ›
      Photo is by Javier Callejas SevillaResidence 1065, India, by Charged Voids
      Indian studio Charged Voids designed this house in Chandigarh to combine the communal focus of “Eastern spatial planning” with the “Western aesthetics” of Le Corbusier.
      Housing a family of six – including a couple, their parents and their children – the residence features private areas on the second floor and communal areas on the ground floor, which can be conjoined or separated using collapsible partitions.
      Find out more about Residence 1065 ›
      Photo is by Yao LiSong House, China, by AZL Architects
      A wheelchair ramp wraps its way around this house in the rural village of Nansong, which is inhabited by a couple in their 50s alongside three older family members, as well as occasionally their children and grandchildren.
      Like a traditional Chinese farmhouse, the building is organised around a central courtyard, with glazed openings providing views across the plan to create a sense of community and connection.
      Find out more about Song House ›
      Photo is by Matt GibsonWellington Street Mixed Use, Australia, by Matt Gibson
      Set on a narrow infill site in Melbourne, this home is constructed from irregularly stacked boxes that can be segmented to cater to different generations of the same family.
      A central atrium connects the different levels to the kitchen on the ground floor, while also functioning as a lightwell and a cooling stack for ventilation.
      Find out more about Wellington Street Mixed Use ›
      Photo is by Ishita SitwalaMumbai apartment, India, by The Act of Quad
      Indian practice The Act of Quad designed the “minimal but playful” interior of this three-generational apartment in Mumbai to consolidate the pared-back aesthetic of the owner, who is an engineer, with the more irreverent style of his cartoonist father.
      Intricate woodwork pieces were brought over from the family’s former home and refurbished to create a sense of tradition and continuity, while a small temple was tucked away behind folding doors with amber glass portholes.
      Find out more about Mumbai apartment ›
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing decorative ceramics, bathrooms with statement tiles and dining areas anchored by sculptural pendant lights.

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      Stewart-Schafer renovates modernist house in Connecticut woods

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      The founders of Brooklyn studio Stewart-Schafer have renovated a modernist home in Connecticut for themselves, using a natural colour palette to complement the surrounding woodland.

      James Veal and Christine Stucker, co-principals of Stewart-Schafer, chose to overhaul the modernist-style “architectural gem” for their family
      Stewart-Schafer principals James Veal and Christine Stucker added a personal touch to a house in EastonBuilt in 1984, the four-bedroom home sits within 18 acres of woodland in the town of Easton, a 62-mile (100-kilometre) commute from New York City.
      “The bones of the house and property were incredible,” Veal and Stucker told Dezeen. “You can tell the original owners who had this house built put a lot of love into it, no detail was spared.”
      The studio replaced some of the floor-to-ceiling windows and doors during renovation workThey had been searching for a house in Connecticut for a year, to no avail.

      But when they found this 4,700-square-foot (437-square-metre) residence on Morehouse Road it was “love at first sight” and they put in an offer almost immediately after viewing.
      The kitchen was given an update using wooden cabinetry”Sadly the second owners did not maintain it over the years and there were several things that needed to be fixed and replaced,” they added.
      An extensive renovation involved updating the family room, kitchen, and powder room, and redesigning the interiors throughout.
      A large bedroom was converted into a family room upstairsSeveral of the large glass windows and doors were replaced, and the exterior was transformed with new decking and planting after clearing the site of dead trees.
      The couple also renovated a cabin in the woods on the property, to serve as a guest house.
      Textures and colours were chosen to complement the original architectureIn both buildings, a blend of Japanese and Scandinavian decor was used to complement the existing wooden floors, ceilings and other joinery, in order to stay true to the original designs.
      Bedrooms and bathrooms were painted with earthy hues, while other rooms feature rugs, upholstery and bedding that continue the same palette.
      Rugs and upholstery continue the natural colour scheme in the bedrooms”With all the wood and views of the property we knew that inside we needed to play on those organic colours,” said the duo. “We used various textures throughout the home to balance things out.”
      The main house is split over three floors, with the majority of living space located on the central level.
      Clerestory windows bring light into the upstairs bedrooms from multiple sidesA double-height formal living room and adjacent dining area have decks on either side and connect to the separate kitchen that features white tiling and wood cabinetry.
      The primary bedroom suite on the same level leads to an indoor pool, which can be exposed to the elements by fully sliding back a floor-to-ceiling glass wall.

      Eric J Smith cantilevers Writer’s Studio over forested hillside in Connecticut

      Upstairs, a large bedroom was converted into a family room with a custom-made modular sofa.
      “Originally it was just a huge open bedroom with no real sense of direction or purpose,” said Veal and Stucker. “By adding a fireplace and custom millwork along an oversized double sided sofa this room serves so many purposes.”
      Bathrooms were painted in darker huesThis room and two further bedrooms on the top level have clerestory windows that allow natural light to enter from multiple sides.
      The lowest level accommodates a home office and a mechanical room. All of the floors are connected by both internal stair flights with open risers and a black spiral staircase outside.
      The project involved replacing the outdoor decking and planting new foilageOverall, Stewart-Schafer aimed to imbue the almost 40-year-old house with contemporary flourishes that respect and celebrate the original architecture.
      “We really feel like this house has been a great example of how good design stands the test of time,” the couple said. “We feel even in 30 more years it will still be very relevant.”
      Built in 1984, the house sits on 18 acres of woodlandThere are many examples of modernist architecture Southwest Connecticut – an affluent area where many New Yorkers have long chosen to live within easy reach of the city, but with the benefits of rural surroundings.
      Others that have been updated in the past few years include a Marcel Breuer home expanded by Toshiko Mori and a mid-century residence renovated by Joel Sanders.
      The photography is by Alice Gao.

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      Ten homes that make a feature of their corridors

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      Our latest lookbook showcases 10 homes that prove that with the right use of elements such as colour, unusual flooring or feature walls, internal corridors can be much more than a necessary evil.

      Corridors are sometimes frowned upon, with contemporary architects often preferring to create open-plan layouts that avoid any potentially cramped passageways.
      But in some cases, corridors are unavoidable, and they can even become a space to enjoy in their own right.
      Below are 10 examples of the various ways in which architects and designers have sought to celebrate corridors in residential interiors.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring compact bedrooms, interiors that use room dividers and homes with built-in furniture.

      Photo is by Ståle EriksenUpper Wimpole Street apartment, UK, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
      This elliptical corridor leads from the living room of this flat in a Regency-era London townhouse into an antechamber next to the master bedroom.
      Architecture studio Jonathan Tuckey Design used pastel pink for the walls and striking black and white triangular floor tiles that contrast with the palette of the adjacent room, defining it as its own space while conveying a sense of intrigue about what lies beyond.
      Find out more about this Upper Wimpole Street apartment ›
      Photo is by Jeremie WarshafskyCandy Loft, Canada, by StudioAC
      Toronto firm StudioAC gave this loft conversion apartment in a former factory a more intimate feel by creating white, arched corridors with pale Douglas fir floors from Dinesen skirted by warm inlaid LED lights.
      “The upward glow of the lighting highlights the curve overhead as you move through the extruded thresholds,” the studio said.
      Find out more about Candy Loft ›
      Photo is by Stijn BollaertWeekend House, Belgium, by Bovenbouw Architectuur
      Antwerp studio Bovenbouw Architectuur designed this bungalow to make visitors feel like they are walking up a path by opening the front door onto a curving hallway of wooden steps leading up through the house.
      “We liked the idea to see the house as a walk up the slope, a path,” practice founder Dirk Somers said. “When you walk up the ‘path’, the corridor, you look into the trees in the back of the garden.”
      Find out more about Weekend House ›
      Photo is by Nick GlimenakisRiverside Apartment, USA, by Format Architecture Office
      A translucent glass portion is set into the pale hardwood wall of this corridor in a compact New York apartment renovated by Format Architecture Office.
      The glass allows light to pass through to avoid making the space feel cramped, while the millwork contains cupboards for storage, with the corridor itself serving to create a clear distinction between different areas in the home.
      Find out more about Riverside Apartment ›
      Photo is by Pol ViladomsMontcada house, Spain, by Hiha Studio
      Slicing through this long, narrow dwelling near Barcelona renovated by Hiha Studio is a corridor defined by an inward-curving wall bearing full-height doors, designed to break up the linear layout of the space.
      To accentuate the curve, the rooms behind the doors have a slightly lower ceiling that continues beyond the corridor and cuts diagonally across the adjacent living area, carrying with it the same light-grey colour.
      Find out more about this Montcada house ›
      Photo is by Maxime BrouilletMB House, Canada, by Jean Verville Architectes
      Jean Verville Architectes filled this house in Montreal with recesses and passageways to delineate the space in a sculptural manner.
      Like nearly all the surfaces in the home, the corridor running from the front door is made of plywood, producing a minimalist, functional aesthetic while also concealing storage spaces.
      Find out more about MB House ›
      Photo is by Brian FerryBed-Stuy Townhouse, USA, by Civilian
      Brooklyn studio Civilian actually created a new corridor in this renovated historic townhouse by adding a full-height maple millwork block to divide two spaces while also providing storage.
      The small corridor section itself, which connects the kitchen to the living room, is lined with aluminium laminate and framed by parquet-styled American oak flooring.
      Find out more about Bed-Stuy Townhouse ›
      Photo is by Yannis DrakoulidisTrikoupi Apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme Architects
      The flooring plays a crucial role in creating a different kind of corridor in this Athens apartment reworked by local studio Point Supreme Architects.
      A long strip of oak parquet running perpendicular to the entrance hall creates a notional walkway from the dining area out to the balcony, acting as the clear central spine of the interior despite its open-plan layout.
      Find out more about Trikoupi Apartment ›
      Photo is by Luis Diaz DiazInner Home, Spain, by Azab
      Architecture studio Azab had only a very tight budget to refresh the interiors of this 1970s flat in Bilbao and was unable to make any major structural changes.
      Instead, it chose to liven up a long corridor through the centre with bold bubblegum-pink paint and a matching carpet, with a gabled glazed doorframe fitting into the pitched ceiling at one end.
      Find out more about Inner Home ›
      Photo is by Gonzalo ViramonteCasa Genaro, Argentina, by S_estudio
      This residence in Córdoba was designed by Argentine firm S_estudio for a family with a son who uses a wheelchair, so contains numerous elements of accessible design.
      Among them is a wide, central entrance hallway that extends to provide direct access to every room in the house, illuminated by generous skylights.
      Find out more about Casa Genaro ›
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring compact bedrooms, interiors that use room dividers and homes with built-in furniture.

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      Nwankpa Design creates compact, colourful sanctuary for working mom in LA

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      California studio Nwankpa Design has transformed a room in a family house into a colourful, private space for a mother to work, breastfeed and exercise.

      The project, called Cumberland Hideaway, was designed by local firm Nwankpa Design for a creative director and mother of two. Totalling 200 square feet (18.5 square metres), the slender, rectangular room is located within a suburban, ranch-style home in Los Angeles.
      Cumberland Hideaway was designed by local firm Nwankpa DesignThe space formerly held a storage area, and before that, it served as a garage.
      The client desired a “sanctuary” where she could work, nurse and ride a fitness bike, in addition to having storage space. The design needed to be as efficient as possible because of the room’s limited size.
      “The programme packs a lot into the small footprint,” the studio said.

      The room was designed for a mother to breastfeed, work and exerciseThe team opted for blocks of colour, streamlined cabinetry and contemporary decor. The combined elements create variety without making the space feel too crowded.
      A skylight and slit windows bring in daylight while also offering privacy. Extra illumination is provided by globe-shaped Carina Maxi pendants from Nuevo Living, a Restoration Hardware chandelier and sconces by Brooklyn studio In Common With.
      Nwankpa Design added colourful accents to the spaceWalls are sheathed in a light-grey wallpaper from Fayce. Bush-hammered porcelain tile was used for the flooring.
      Furnishings include a wooden treadmill desk, a Blu Dot table and a peach sofa from Interior Define. A bold, striped rug by Ralph Lauren helps delineate the lounge area.
      Furnishings include a wooden work deskCustom medium-density fibreboard cabinets – in shades of pale pink, baby blue and white – were staggered to fit a Peloton exercise bike. Brass was selected for knobs and handles. A mini fridge was incorporated into cabinetry along one wall.
      A range of potted plants helps to round out the space.

      The Wing Williamsburg is a black and beige co-working space

      Studio founder Susan Nwankpa Gillespie said the project brief resonated with her, being a working mom herself.
      “It’s about all of the things we need, without compromising what we want,” she said.
      “We need a space to decompress – somewhere we can focus and get work done, whatever kind of work that is,” she added. “We also want it to feel special, to uplift us.”
      Nwankpa Design scattered potted plants around the roomOther spaces for working moms include Big and Tiny, a co-working facility with on-site childcare that features wooden decor and a blue-and-pink colour palette, and a variety of outposts for The Wing, a women-focused, co-working company.
      The photography is by Madeline Tolle.
      Project credits:
      Design studio: Nwankpa DesignTeam: Susan Nwankpa Gillespie (lead designer), Lillian Nguyen (designer)

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      Tala Fustok Studio layers different metals to create calm ambience in Manhattan loft apartment

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      Tala Fustok Studio used different mineral textures and materials to soften the hard edges of this industrial apartment in New York’s West Village.

      Designed for a single female occupant, the apartment is located on a five-block stretch on Bleecker Street within a restored late 1800s building that was originally designed to house the Schumacher and Ettlinger lithographic printing business.
      A corten steel staircase connects two floorsThe 348-square-metre three-bedroom apartment is split over two floors connected by a corten steel staircase.
      The client asked London designers Tala Fustok Studio to create a calm, contemporary space using artisanal and mineral materials inspired by the city.
      Oversized windows let in natural sunlightThe designers reorganised the space to emphasise the apartment’s tall ceilings, oversized windows and natural sunlight.

      To create better clarity in the space, the staircase that connects the two floors was also designed to separate the kitchen from the living room.
      This monolithic piece is wrapped in a patchwork of welded corten steel produced by Brooklyn-based metal fabricator Gabrielle Shelton.

      Tala Fustok designs Ninja Theory office to entice employees back into workplace

      The studio also added a maple and glass wall that houses a Patagonia stone workspace and a display cabinet that showcases the client’s vase and vintage crockery collection.
      Patagonia stone was also used in the kitchen, while the apartment’s walls were rendered in limestone and textured glass was chosen to dapple the natural light, creating a serene and calm ambience.
      A display cabinet holds vintage crockeryIt was important to the studio and the client to work with local artisans like Shelton. Other locally-made pieces include the liquid metal bespoke bathtub and living area walls by New York-based atelier Courbet.
      The reclaimed walnut flooring was sourced locally and an array of different metals in the kitchen, such as the blackened steel cabinets and brass cooker hood, were all handcrafted by local artisans.
      The kitchen has decoratove Patagonia stoneThe London studio previously created an office with a blood-red bar and all-blue cinema room for a BAFTA-winning game developer in Cambridge.
      The photography is by Isabel Parra.

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      OWIU creates tranquil environment in renovated LA home

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      California studio OWIU has revamped the interior of a 1950s home, adding elements that were inspired by traditional Japanese inns to create a peaceful environment.

      The 1,516-square-foot (141-square-metre) house, called Palmero, sits within the San Rafael Hills in LA’s Mount Washington neighbourhood.
      On the exterior, OWIU applied smooth, tan stuccoThe single-storey residence was bought as an investment property by actor Kane Lim and was sold last month following a renovation by local studio OWIU, which stands for The Only Way Is Up.
      Originally built in 1955, the dwelling looks toward the city skyline in the distance.
      OWIU designed the home, which overlooks the city skyline”We were drawn to the home’s seclusion from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles,” said Joel Wong, who leads OWIU with Amanda Gunawan.

      When the designers embarked on the mid-century renovation project, the house was in rough shape, with soiled carpets, degraded flooring and broken windows, among other issues.
      It is a mid-century renovation projectThe designers aimed to transform the neglected home into “a refuge of calm” by drawing upon the landscape and using neutral elements that would help quiet the mind.
      “If you go in strong with design, it energizes you quickly and then promptly dies out,” said Gunawan.
      Palmero takes cues from traditional Japanese inns”Much of our design leans toward the ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn, enabling us to achieve a visceral effect,” she added.
      On the exterior, the designers applied smooth, tan stucco. To create a more open atmosphere within, they removed several non-load-bearing walls and false ceilings and reconfigured part of the layout to create a main bedroom suite.
      Earthy colours give the home an organic feelEarthy colours like terracotta and beige – and materials such as light-toned oak flooring – give the home an organic feel.
      In certain rooms, walls are clad in Venetian plaster. The designers said that this material “brings the delicate texture of the surrounding mountains into the home”.
      Original wooden beams and panels were sanded down, revealing the natural colour.
      The kitchen has quartzite countertopsIn the kitchen, one finds quartzite countertops and oak cabinets, along with an island made of glass blocks. The same material was used for a partition separating the living area from a bathroom, creating privacy without obstructing flow.
      The designers noted that the glass bricks – which are structurally strong while still enabling the passage of light – are often associated with “a period of garish flash from the ’80s”.
      Retro glass bricks feature in the interior design”OWIU sought to restore the material to its original glamour and refigure what might otherwise be considered obsolete,” the team said.
      To furnish the house, the designers worked with the vintage collector Jullie Nguyen of LA’s Ban Ban Studio.
      Vintage collector Jullie Nguyen assisted on the projectNotable pieces include a modular sofa by Vladimir Kagan and a 1980s Hexa coffee table by Bernard Vuarnesson, both of which date to the 1980s.
      Lighting fixtures include three lamps by Isamu Noguchi and several George Nelson pendants.

      Heusch restores Beverly Hills home to honour original design

      “These pieces brought a distinctly modern-yet-practical touch to the home while remaining in harmony with the existing architecture and new design elements,” the team said.
      Beyond the interior, the studio reimagined the backyard by creating a sculptural, poured-concrete terrace and a custom bench around a fire pit.
      A small wooden desk takes cues from a platform in a Zen gardenMoreover, the studio added a small wooden deck off the main bedroom that is meant to evoke a platform in a Zen garden. It also takes cues from tea ceremony rooms found in ryokans.
      “The step down leads, almost imperceptibly, into the garden, easing the home dweller into the natural space,” the designers said, noting that the yard features bonsai and maple trees.
      “The action is so unassuming that one might forget this step after the routine of living, but this is precisely the goal: a ritualized transition into calming spaces.”
      Japanese ryokans informed the design of Palmero houseOther projects by OWIU include a renovated apartment in an old factory in downtown LA, which features Japanese design elements that encourage “a mindful lifestyle”.
      The photography is by Justin Chung.
      Project credits:
      Designer and builder: OWIUDesign team: Joel Wong, Amanda Gunawan, Claudia Wainer, Nathan Lin, Bonnie Wong and Leo Yang

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      Ten dining areas brightened by statement suspended lighting

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      A brutalist apartment in Antwerp and a house in rural Virginia feature in our next lookbook, which showcases 10 dining spaces that use sculptural hanging lights as their centrepiece.

      Hanging, dropped or suspended ceiling lighting is an easy and popular way to create a focal point and ambience in any room.
      These lights are commonly found in two styles: pendants, which hang from a single cord with just one or two bulbs, and chandeliers, which are comprised of multiple lamps and branches.
      The contemporary examples listed below demonstrate how pendants and chandeliers can add flourish to a dining area and create an intimate atmosphere around a dinner table.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing homes with French doors, bedrooms with balconies and bathrooms with statement tiles.

      Photo is by Olmo PeetersRiverside Tower apartment, Belgium, by Studio Okami Architecten
      A black ceramic light plunges down through the double-height dining room of this apartment, which Studio Okami Architecten overhauled for its founder in the brutalist Riverside Tower in Antwerp.
      The light’s sculptural form, designed by Polish creative Pani Jurek, helps soften the home’s exposed concrete shell in tandem with various artworks dotted throughout.
      Find out more about Riverside Tower apartment ›
      Photo is by Joe FletcherThree Chimney House, USA, by T W Ryan Architecture
      The focal point in the dining area of the Three Chimney House in rural Virginia is an ornamental Drop System Chandelier designed by Lindsey Adelman.
      It has a mottled brass finish and spherical bulbs that pop out against the wooden furniture below and a white-brick chimney that forms a backdrop to the room.
      Find out more about Three Chimney House ›
      Photo is by Fernando Guerra and ExtrastudioRed House, Portugal, by Extrastudio
      A delicate paper-like shade characterises this pendant light, which hangs from the ceiling in a pared-back house Extrastudio created in an old Portuguese winery.
      Its minimalist design complements the airy feel of the home’s interior that is achieved with white-painted walls, large windows and a series of skylights.
      Find out more about Red House ›
      Photo is by Charlie SchuckThe Cedars, USA, by Michael Yarinsky
      The adjustable Shape Up light, designed by Ladies & Gentlemen Studio, anchors the dining area in The Cedars, a house on Long Island by Brooklyn designer Michael Yarinsky.
      Resembling a piece of art, the ornate fixture comprises three different-shaped pendants made from mouth-blown glass and metal that hang from cords threaded through pulleys.
      Find out more about The Cedars ›
      Photo is by Ståle EriksenAC Residence, UK, by DeDraft
      Three tubular brass branches capped by spherical white bulbs define the Slingshot Chandelier, which architecture studio DeDraft used as a centrepiece in the opulent AC Residence in London.
      The light, which is designed by Doozie Light Studio, is teamed with white walls, wooden chairs and a marbled Tulip Table designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll.
      Find out more about AC Residence ›
      Photo is by Riley SnellingWalker House, Canada, by Reflect Architecture
      Pearlescent glass lamps resembling unravelling ribbons form this chandelier, which Reflect Architecture used in the open-plan kitchen and dining area of a house in Toronto.
      The light forms part of Canadian design company Bocci’s 87 series and is crafted from hot glass that is pulled, stretched and folded like taffy.
      Find out more about Walker House ›
      Photo is by Matthew MillmanRiverbend, USA, by CLB Architects
      This molecular chandelier draws the eye to the dining table of the Riverbend residence, which CLB Architects created near Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.
      Its metal branches are capped with circular glass shades in earthy tones that echo the wooden finishes of the furniture below and the ceiling overhead.
      Find out more about Riverbend ›
      Photo is by Adolf BereuterHaus im Obstgarten, Austria, by Firm Architekten
      Haus im Obstgarten features an open-plan kitchen and dining room with simple finishes that draw attention to an ornamental suspended pendant at its centre.
      The sculpture-like light, designed by Michael Anastassiades for Italian brand Flos, features three geometric forms that are made from black powder-coated aluminium parts which can be rearranged in various configurations.
      Find out more about Haus im Obstgarten ›
      Photo is by Doublespace PhotographyBaby Point Residence, Canada, by Batay-Csorba Architects
      This draped chandelier is found in the white-walled dining room of a Batay-Csorba Architects-designed house in Toronto.
      Named Vitis, the light is designed by US lighting brand RBW and features nylon-wrapped fabric that swoops from the ceiling and supports hand-blown frosted glass lamps.
      Find out more about Baby Point Residence ›
      Photo is by Rory GardinerCasa Mérida, Mexico, by Ludwig Godefroy
      These inky black pendant lights hang low over the dining table at Casa Mérida, matching the upholstery of the mid-century-style chairs beneath.
      Their bold yet minimalist design is a fitting accompaniment to the brutalist form of the Mexican house, which sees exposed concrete used across all of its main volumes.
      Find out more about Casa Mérida ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing homes with French doors, bedrooms with balconies and bathrooms with statement tiles.

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