Let that light in! A beautifully lit ground floor wrap around extension and internal refurbishment to a dark a fragmented period property. The brief was to develop an open plan space that had a flow around the ground floor of the property. The works would need to open up a dark and disconnected ground floor in to one that allows the family to use all the spaces throughout the day and evening. It took a lot of effort from the clients and Iguana Architects to develop an interior design language that met their requirements and the clients were absolutely fantastic with their choices of finishes and lighting. Whilst it was a challenging project, it was equally satisfying seeing the project come to life. Its now a pleasure to go over and see the space, how happy the clients are and what a difference it has made to their life. Photography…

A 2100sf loft in the heart of the Flat Iron District by thread collective reconceives the loft as a place not just for young families or artists but for those in the golden years ready to experience the city from a new perspective. The single floor unit, is framed on three sides by large windows, flooding the interiors with natural daylight and creating a unique atmosphere for a New York apartment where light and windows are cherished. The design gut renovated the existing, which was a divided into small rooms, breaking through the space from front to back to create a new flow, with the program and uses defined by furnishings and interior built-ins, and sliding steel and glass partitions. The owner, Sandy Marker, has a close family with 2 grown sons who visit often from across the Hudson River. Having recently lost her husband, Sandy embraced the design process…

An architect, urban planner, and general contractor in Kansas City, Missouri, Richard Wetzel always wanted to design and build the house he had been mulling over for years- one that could house a growing and extended family, but also one that showcased his love for modern design, his adopted hometown of Kansas City, his family’s heirloom book collection, and a wide variety of work from local and family artists.When Wetzel found the last two home sites within a newly constructed planned development a block away from the world renowned Country Club Plaza shopping district, he knew it was time. The 6,300 square foot house, a collaboration of Chris Fein of Forward Design + Architecture, Kali Buchanan of Kali Buchanan Interior Design, and Centric Homes (where Richard is a partner), is consistent with the traditional design of the surrounding development on the exterior, but a gallery of natural light, space, art,…

Donna Mondi’s love of blending classical architecture with modernity aligned perfectly with their clients’ taste and their eclectic condo in Chicago’s groundbreaking One Bennett Park. This stunning high-rise has gained much respect due to the architectural design by New York’s renowned Robert A.M. Stern. Taking their cues from the classical intention of the building and working with local artisans designers created beautiful furnishings throughout, curated commissioned art and added decadent fabrics and rich area rugs to anchor every room. Every wall within the home is treated with specialty paint finishes, custom millwork, upholstered panels, or wall coverings and while it was a challenging task the result is breathtakingly cohesive. The fireplace is a standout with custom steel cabinets and shelving, a dramatic marble surround, and a backdrop of textured plaster to create the focal point the client desired. The Master Bedroom called for a statement bed wall of shimmery velvet juxtaposed…

Reconstruction of a historic apartment near Charles Bridge by OBJECTUM studio. The interior is a combination of an extensive collection of Asian art, which the owner wanted to place in a purely Prague historical environment. Photography : Ondrej Polak See also : https://house-diaries.com/house-for-dorothy-a-family-apartment-in-prague/

LLI Design completed a total redesign and refurbishment of a 4 story 1970’s townhouse in Highgate, a leafy and desirable part of London.The house had tremendous potential and the new owners, a young professional couple, wanted to embrace the 1970’s feel, rather than try to ignore it, albeit not in a cliched way. Top of their wish list was a contemporary glass and steel open tread staircase and a master bathroom with a distinctive WOW factor. Although the room sizes were good, being the full width of the property on each floor and benefiting from good natural light.The furniture specified was bright and colourful, as a counterpoint to the walls and floor. The palette was burnt orange, yellow and dark woods with industrial metals. The visual impact of the new staircase was kept to a minimum by installing a glass balustrade with no handrail. The second floor was reconfigured from a series…

The project by Angelucci Architects, has been coined from the Italian word “nido” meaning bird’s nest or kindergarten, so fitting for a project that developed from its mid-twentieth century migrant history in the area.The home was purchased as a desire to return to the original place of origin when the client’s grandparents first migrated from Italy to Australia. This journey has been an exploration between architect and builder to explore the opportunities possible in small living in the city. Critical to the value of small living is the ability to maximise natural light, increase open space, extend views into the distance, maximise natural ventilation and ensure all aspects of modern life have been catered for in the design.The home was originally designed for a young couple and during the journey has developed into a home for six. The design approach was to maintain the existing open space by re-distributing the…

The intent of this design by DIG Architects was to work within the context of the Indian cultural narrative with a new language of interpretation that allows for a dynamic, varied and yet enduring experience for the end user. The spine of the design is the exuberant use of colors, which is a key element of the Indian culture. The subtle yet definitive use of colors to connect with the space without being overwhelming and out of sync presented a new challenge. The mainstay of the theory is the large volume that starts right from the entrance spanning till the lobby for individual rooms. This volume has been termed ‘The Blue Scoop’. The design intent for it was achieved by having all the surfaces connected to this volume in a single tone of color (Blue). This move creates an illusion of a chunk of mass being subtracted (scooped) and separated…

The apartment is located near the Church of St. Nicholas in Kyiv, in a building erected in 1910. The windows and balcony overlook a quiet courtyard, away from any street noise. Previously, the space was cluttered with old furniture, but the owner saw potential in this apartment and commissioned balbek bureau Studio to bring out its flair. The area of the apartment is only 38 sq m. The architects had a tricky task: to design a living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, wardrobe, and bathroom, to provide enough space for storage, as well as to make space for bulky equipment such as air conditioning and ventilation networks.The design turned out to be simple and concise: the open-plan space begins right by the entrance, which then flows into the private rooms. The color scheme is restrained: white walls work well with the pastel shades of the interior elements – the green…

In the interiors of this wonderful house in Montgeard, France,Interior Stylist, Set Designer Mari Strenghielm perfectly combined ancient rough rustic details with soft, delicate decor in pleasant neutral tones. Mari is based in Sweden but she works worldwide. Shw haw a thing about natural light and she loves colours and materials from mother nature. Photography : Anna Malmberg See also :https://house-diaries.com/images-from-a-swedish-dwelling-dream-of-1785/

A superlative home in an exceptional building at The Schumacher is grand in scale and dramatic in sensibility, an achievement in space and design in Noho’s most coveted condominium. Built as a four-bedroom loft, this stunning apartment was converted to a three-bedroom of outstanding proportions. Sought after prewar details include soaring exposed brick barrel vaulted ceilings (the highest ceilings in the building), oversized arched wood frame windows, fumed, wide plank white oak floors and cold rolled blackened steel accents. Impeccably conceived and meticulously finished, this apartment has been custom limewashed to perfection by Axel Vervoodt’s preferred artisan and includes today’s most advanced smart home technology. Noho Loft, tucked away on a quiet corner of Bleecker Street in the NoHo East Historic District is a surprisingly large brick structure that was built in 1885 for the Schumacher & Ettlinger printing company. After decades of neglect, the Romanesque remnant of the neighborhood’s industrial…