I love these images taken by Paul Raeside, capturing glimpses of beautifully styled corners in this pared-back Parisian interior. Off-white and shades of grey provide the back-drop to the wonderfully light interior; window treatments are simple lengths of sheer (very on-trend for 2014, says the Wall Street Journal). It is the objects and their placement that provide the detail and texture.
More of this pared-back Parisian interior, here
What was a crumbling stone stable in the countryside of western Spain is now a totally self-sufficient family home. Too remote to be connected to an electrical grid or water supply, the converted stable utilizes renewable energy sources such as hydro electricity and drinking and bathing water from two nearby streams. Deep eaves help control summer sun, large wooden shutters that slide closed like a second skin cover the windows at night to trap the daily solar heat gain.
The rustic stone of the exterior was restored using cement and local stone. Windows sit within deep recesses and can be screened behind large wooden shutters, referencing old stable doors. Within, floors are limestone, walls of exposed concrete are interspersed with slender metal posts and pale wood-lined ceilings rising to form double-height spaces. The internal structure of iron beams, metal posts and corten metal landings and steps are kept deliberately light and elegant. Internal interventions – kitchen units for example – are simple, white and linear. The kitchen bench top extends the length of the main room to form a table for dining, flanked by classic wishbone chairs and minimal black stools.
Did you notice the books hanging from the top bunks to allow easy reach?
Off Grid Home in Extremadura by Abaton Architects, here.
More wonderful spaces, here.
The main feature of this New York loft is a large, glass window wall. Framed with polished black lacquer panels, it claims the view as if it belonged within, like a picture on the wall. Due to the elevation, one appears high amongst the trees.
Perimeter walls and concrete beams are painted white to emphasise the inherent qualtites of the loft; a concrete floor poured throughout provides a seamless, flowing space. A pair of full height doors defines back from front when separation is necessary. Glass blocks diffuse light along the hallway and provide privacy from neighbours. The open plan kitchen is an L-shaped wall of book-matched, mahogany cabinets; the timber panels obscure a series of doors, including the powder room and pantry. Wood is chosen again in the dining table and chairs, which together with the wonderful, tree-top aspect, provides the warmth and texture to an otherwise monochrome palette.
Richardson ⁄ Dondoe loft by Workshop for Architecture, here
More wonderful spaces, here.
Most often a photographer of fashion and beautiful women, Carsten Witte’s current work focuses on the cycle of beauty and transience. His flawless and perfect women seem to be captured ‘like in a butterfly collection, forever preserved on the crest of their perfection’; caught at the moment before beauty is lost.
His interior photographs for me also appear to capture a moment – the point just before someone enters the room, or the point just after someone has left. Quietly, serenely captivating.
More Carsten Witte, here
More in the gallery, here
In a series of low-slung, white, modernist buildings set among vineyards is this hotel. The warm, earth-toned interiors are dominated by wood and slate, with timber slat walls dividing the linear spaces according to function. Copper light fittings and bronze sculptural pieces add glamour to the wonderfully textural, bespoke furniture pieces.
This is the first project in Portugal to be certified under BREEAM. BREEAM (BRE – Environmental Assessing Method) is a standardised environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings. A BREEAM assessment uses recognised measures of performance to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use. The measures used represent a broad range of categories and criteria from energy to ecology. More about BREEAM, here
So – good looks AND green credentials. I think I’d like to be checking in about now…
L’and Vineyards, Montemor, Portugal by StudioMK27 with Promontorio architects; photography Fernando Guerra.
More wonderful spaces, here
Pantone have just announced their colour of the year for 2013 – emerald green. The colour, specifically Pantone 17-5641 Emerald, is described as ‘lively, radiant, lush.. vivid and verdant’.
Every year Pantone choose a colour, derived from various sources and influences; last year it was a vivid orange called Tangerine Tango. Green is in fact the most abundant hue in nature – the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum.
Pantone is a standard language for colour communication between designer and manufacturer. Pantone’s founder created a system of identifying, matching and communicating colours to solve the problems associated with producing accurate colour matches in the graphic arts community. His insight – that the spectrum is seen and interpreted differently by each individual – led to the innovation of the Pantone matching system, a book of standardised colour in fan format. Different manufacturers in different locations could all refer to the same system to ensure colours matched without direct contact with one another. It is now used in all the industries, and its influence will be seen in fashion, packaging, graphics, interiors.
Emerald is certainly a bold choice for an interior. It works with basic black and white, and also with mid to dark-coloured woods. Pinterest is abuzz with emerald imagery, so here some chairs, a floor, a wall, and some fabulous emerald products…
Images clockwise: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
What do you think of this year’s colour?
I don’t think anyone does a sublime white interior better than the Danes, and this one is exemplar. It is a turn-of-the-century apartment near Copenhagen; the white backdrop with pale wood floors and white wash of classic features is all calmness and serenity. It is minimal yet inviting. Warmth eminates all around, in texture and tone. Materials are kept natural, textiles neutral. All images The Guardian
I spy…
… design classics: Carl Hansen‘s 008 coffee table + Hans Wegner CH25 armchair; Eames DSR chair; Fritz Hansen Grand Prix chairs; Catifa chair by Arper; Tolomeo floor and desk lamp, Artemide. Bits + pieces, by nord
I could happily dwell here, could you ?
Photographs Heide Lerkenfeldt
owl's house london. 