A private residence that is located on the site of the vacated Trinity House Experimental Station (the organisation responsible for the maintenance of English Lighthouses), this project by interior architects Johnson Naylor has all the hallmarks of their sensitive and contextual approach to design. The site is a combination of new builds and refurbishments of existing structures and is designed to sit lightly on this unique environment. The building consists of studios and living spaces. Photography : Peter Marlow

When the 1st Ave client approached Haeccity Studio, it was clear they were looking for a sophisticated aesthetic, but with a sense of humour. They had a small, but beloved collection of art and eclectic artefacts to be incorporated, and they wanted to be very involved.The result is an interior face-lift of a compact two-storey apartment in Vancouver’s False Creek neighbourhood that would personalize the space for the unique couple, while simultaneously transforming the existing layout into a more functional and spacious home. The ubiquity of light on the upper level was an important consideration for the design of a feature staircase with a custom white perforated metal guardrail screen. This porous partition, drawn from South American courtyards visited by the couple, invites natural light to pour onto the wooden staircase and entry below, and animates the space with a subtle play of ever-changing shadows.( Published with Bowerbird ) Photography…

A residential model suite for Toronto-based boutique developer, Curated Properties, focuses on bringing the appeal of a cabin getaway into the heart of the city. The suite interior by Mason Studio takes inspiration from vernacular Northern Ontario cottage residences and creates a contemporary translation through refinement of materiality and detailing to reflect the urban condition. The use of locally sourced materials in combination with furniture, artwork and accessories by Canadian craftspeople creates an interior environment that is direct reflection of the current Canadian design context. (Published with BowerBird). Project Team : RAW Design, Curated Properties, artform, Paul Joshnston Photography : Scott Norsworthy

This apartment by tsn.space , is located in the historical center of St. Petersburg on the Vasilievsky Island, in a house built by architect A.F. Baranovsky in 1911-1912. This is a remarkable housing complex of the Art Nouveau era, which is listed for its facades. The apartment has a authentic original decor: gypsum stucco molding, two typical fireplaces and a furnace of the Rakkolanioki pottery factory. Right before the reconstruction, the flat was a classic neglected communal apartment in the old St. Petersburg. The studio’s main challenge was the removing of late Soviet layers, partitions and decoration and manifesting the traditional “grand apartment”, including the preservation and restoration of historical details. In the process of clearing, they discovered obscured doors between adjacent rooms, which were also uncovered (this solution was typical for pre-revolutionary apartments: neighboring rooms were often connected by openings, which made it possible to go around the apartment…

Set within a stunning CBD heritage listed building, a mid-80’s modern style, modest apartment was entrusted to In Design International Studio with the clients’ clear brief to return a “practical weekender” for personal use to accommodate family including 2 young grandchildren.Their layout and design encompassed a holistic approach to the entire apartment. They relocated partition walls while working around structural elements and rises to improve spatial planning of this tiny weekender. Working meticulously to avoid unnecessary slab core drilling, they maintained the position of the WC but negotiated variations to other plumbing fixtures with ease. The end result is a 2 way ensuite/bathroom with a mezzanine storage room above, accessible only by a hidden electronic drop down stair case via a broom closet! (AKA ‘the secret room’ as the grandchildren now call it!). Enjoy it!!!! ( Published with BowerBird ). Photography : Isamu Sawa See also :https://house-diaries.com/janine-allis-residence-an-apartment-with-strong-contemporary-lines/

Jing’an district in Shanghai, China is rooted in tradition and culture because of its namesake temple. Built over two-thousand years ago, it remains the physical and symbolic center of the community. In the heart of the historical district, the design of these townhome interiors by Mason Studio, is a pure and minimal expression of extravagance. These family-oriented environments prioritize natural light, personal outdoor space, and the use of the highest quality finishes. The refined construction detailing and minimal use of finishes express how essentialism redefines traditional notions of luxury. Each townhome is created to be a lasting home for generations; one that values quality and craftsmanship over ostentation.Throughout the development, the interior material selections for the townhomes is reduced to the use of only three main materials; wood, marble and hand-trowelled plaster. By reducing the materials to a select few, an emphasis is maintained on the quality and execution of refined…

Well located in the city of Amsterdam, on the corner of the famous ‘nine streets’ the Nieuw apartment creates a nice and peaceful space to disconnect from the busy city. The design of the apartment by Ibiza Interiors expresses itself through a mix out of nordic archetypal simplicity and Parisian elegance. A thought through concept of a quiet place to disconnect, with natural tones and materials, creates a very peaceful residence in the buzzing city. The warm grey painted walls contribute together with the dark treated wooden floor to the unique ambiance of the space. Bringing together natural materials, design classics combined with matching furniture, fine finishes and well chosen colors the apartment turns into a contemporary and at the same time timeless residence.

Villa Sjölyckan, which was on the market by Fantastic Frank, manages to combine the open social living areas with all the function today’s residents demand of surface efficiency without sacrificing the sense of representation which becomes an obvious part and the extension with balconies and patios to the water, the gazebo and the very own bathing area. The garden with its more than 10,000 square meters provides the perfect privacy. The open, social social areas with a bright and beautiful location towards the lake are made for mingling and well-being during all seasons.The upper floor consists of three spacious and restful bedrooms, one of which facing the sea side has access to the terrace with a panoramic view of both the garden and the lake. Upstairs is a smaller living area, perhaps the perfect TV room and one of the newly renovated bathrooms.

Santa Maria House by Studio Gum, is located, together with the church from which it takes its name, on top of the 340 steps that connect the historical centre of Ragusa Ibla with Upper Ragusa, built after the 1693 earthquake. The building plan is longitudinal; the main elevation is southeast facing and all the rooms of the house are very bright because they overlook it.The building is the result of splits and overlays, occurred over time, that prevent to read it as a unitary building from the outside.A couple from Turin bought the nineteenth-century house with its caves in the lowest floor, with the intention of transforming it into a private residence for two people plus four guests.The client’s program also includes the construction of a terrace overlooking the ancient city and the Hyblean Mountains.The intervention is conservative, but also aims at solving the functional, distributional and environmental comfort problems.The…

Exploring Swamp Rock and Cajun music the other day, I came across these wonderful photos of Cajun houses by photographer Don Freeman. Early Cajun style homes were designed to suit the watery, humid, and prone to flooding landscape of Southwest Louisiana. The raised cottages were built of cypress timbers pegged together into rigid frames, placed on above ground piers. The open web of timbers was filled with bousillage, a thick mixture of clay and moss coated with lime plaster (boussillage entre poteaux: infill between the studs). Under pavilion roofs—tent like forms developed in the Caribbean—deep porches surrounded the houses on all four sides, offering a respite from the sun and capturing the cool breezes. Louisiana architect A. Hays Town (1903-2005) reinterpreted the Acadian home taking the climate of southern Louisiana into account using large roof overhangs, an abundance of breezeways, and cross ventilation to provide air circulation. Enjoy the trip!!!! ( Source:…

David Cafiero is an interior designer with a strong sense for eclectic vintage and contemporary materials.  Born and raised in the Hudson Valley, David has been many things: forester in his family’s lumber business; commercial fisherman on New England’s coast; private yacht chef throughout the Caribbean; event planner, café owner, and decorator in New York City. His style is eclectic, pragmatic, quietly sensual, like a Yankee just returned from early 20th century Paris. A longtime resident of Provincetown, he has also been deeply influenced by its salt-air worn woods, shifting, elemental light, and its long relationship with abstract expressionism.Enjoy this virtual tour of his home!!!! Photographed by Don Freeman for The World of Interiors Magazine.