Hollywood isn’t known for its restraint. Instead, it demands excessive luxury: cars, homes, and clothes all competing to match the surrounding multi-million-dollar movie productions. Maybe this is why Ome Dezin’s newly listed Woodrow Wilson home stands out. It doesn’t shout — this design gently sings within the noisy urban Hollywood Hills.

Enclaved by a natural canopy of trees and greenery, this property’s private surroundings provide a sharp contrast to the home’s brutalist-inspired architecture. Originally built in 1997 by architect Jeffrey Mills, the design team of Ome Dezin, Joelle Kutner and Jesse Rudolph, describe the property as “an incredible artwork at the interplay of brutalism and California ease. The structure of glass, concrete, and wood allows the building to feel at home within the forest.” On paper, the contrast between concrete brutalist design and soaring trees seems too far apart — or perhaps not in favor of the architecture. Yet, this design proves otherwise.

The studio's Woodrow Wilson property dances between design periods effortlessly to create one harmonious and incredibly visually exciting modern home.

The Starting Point

“We were immediately drawn to the home's sculptural architecture, bold geometries, and beautiful relationship to the surrounding landscape," say Joelle and Jesse. "While the renovation was extensive, the home had such incredible architectural bones that we didn't feel the need to make any major structural changes.”

At first glance, the building seems older than its years, echoing earlier mid-century homes and Brutalist design styles, but this late-90s design provided a firm foundation for Ome Dezin’s design amalgamation. The exterior’s combination of wood, concrete, and the home's exceptional light allowed the designers to draw on multiple interior design periods. Mid-century-inspired warm wood-paneled walls frame more modern, curvaceous furniture pieces, not to mention the iconic cool-toned marble slabs.

“The process took approximately two years,” say design team Joelle and Jesse. “Much of our focus was on thoughtfully refining the existing spaces, while honouring the home's original character. Our goal was simply to enhance the most beautiful parts of its original structure while emphasising its surroundings. As usual, we leaned on natural materials, incorporating over 75 slabs of marble throughout the home.”

Letting Nature Lead

Ome Dezin's designs are often led by natural materials. In Woodrow Wilson’s case, it led them straight to a stunning icy blue marble slab, which they used in abundance, understandably.

“We love materials with personality, and the whimsy blue marble felt like an unexpected counterpoint to the warmth of the wood paneling. Its natural movement and unexpected color choice introduces a sense of playfulness, while repeating it throughout the home creates a subtle connection between spaces and a good way to use all the remnants,” say Joelle and Jesse.

With a material this striking, restraint wasn’t necessary. Instead, the duo draped this iconic slab all over the main bathroom, encasing it in its dreamy dark teal veining. Here it provides a canvas for a dual shower, with tapware by Waterworks, a matching marble bath, and two vanity units.

The vast floor-to-ceiling mirrors wrapping around both opposing bathroom walls create a clever design trick too. Of course it bounces light around the room, but thanks to the room’s impeccable symmetry, it also reflects the vast wall slabs, giving the impression the material is wrapped around the entire space.

“I love this bathroom,” says the design duo. “The vintage lights, warm wood, exposed beams, and clerestory window. The stone is the perfect storm of blues and greys in a rock formation."

Stained Glass Statements

Lighting is a key pillar of this home’s design, one which design duo Jesse and Joelle intended to honor within their revival. Throughout the house, you’ll find playful ways the designers manipulate light, not just in architectural features, but also in artificial fixtures. As Ome Dezin says, “For us, lighting is much like art — it helps shape the character of a space and influences how people experience it. Lighting is the jewellery of the home”.

In the bathroom, natural light floods the space in three forms: a high-level clerestory window framed in the design’s signature warm wood; a circular porthole window; and a large overhead skylight, all offering glimpses of the exterior’s vast foliage.

Then comes the lighting design’s pièce de résistance, the stained glass. Most pantries remain hidden, concealed, and secret. Not here. Ome Dezin turned this concept around and highlighted a traditionally overlooked area. “The pantry sits within a small nook, but there’s a window at the back that brings in this beautiful natural light,” explain Jesse and Joelle.

“Rather than closing that off with solid doors, we wanted to celebrate it, so we incorporated textured and coloured glass into the doors created by a father-and-son stained-glass duo local to Los Angeles, called Sunshine Glass. When the doors are closed, the light still filters through and animates the glass. We also loved the idea of taking something very functional and giving it a more decorative, jewel-like quality.”

This design choice wasn’t made purely on light, though; it also firmly played into the design duo’s famous era-blending. As Ome Dezin explains, “There’s something almost endless about stained glass — the combinations of texture, opacity, shape, and color can completely change its character. We also love that it can reference so many different eras of design and architecture. It can feel Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, mid-century, or entirely contemporary depending on how it’s composed. In a more neutral space, it becomes this small moment of surprise and personality.”

The Art of Era-Blending

For me, Ome Dezin’s era blending is one of the most joyful parts of their designs. It means the home is never constrained by one idea, or the notion that one era’s architectural qualities must accompany its furniture. Here, the art, walls, furniture and fixings all dance in and out of multiple design eras with ease.

In one living area, mid-century wood paneling covers the walls, ceiling and bookcases, framing a built-in petrol-blue sofa. Yet when it comes to the other furniture, modernism steps in with a hint of retro style. Curvaceous abstract chairs sit next to a 70s-esque amber-toned glass side table to match the space’s warm, inviting glow, all contrasting in surprising harmony.

The modernist vibe continues in the larger seating area, where a statement navy-blue curved sofa sweeps around a post-modern glass side table, matching the home’s brutalist shapes in refined light jade glass. The vast concrete-effect fireplace surround echoes the home's brutalist materials, but turn right, and you'll be struck by an abstract monochrome seat alongside an immensely rich abstract-impressionist canvas occupying the entire back wall.

Talking about their signature design blend, Jesse and Joelle say, “We love creating a dialogue between different design periods. Woodrow's late-20th-century architecture provided a wonderful foundation for introducing elements of mid-century modernism alongside the playful, sculptural qualities of 1970s and 1980s design. We find that materiality and proportion are what ultimately bring these different influences together.”

Curating a Collection

When it comes to artwork, Ome Dezin take careful consideration. Given that the Woodrow Wilson project was formerly an art gallery, the space naturally had ample opportunities for the duo to make their artistic statement.

“Transforming the flow of the home from an art gallery into a residential space was one of our biggest challenges," say Joelle and Jesse. "We wanted to maintain its openness and architectural drama, but introduce the warmth, intimacy, and functionality needed for everyday living.”

Described by the pair as their “favorite little painting” with “the most delicious color palette,” the hallway canvas was discovered by Joelle and Jesse in an antique store by Lake Arrowhead. It's hard to deny its expressionist influences, breathing fresh air into the mid-century style panelling behind it. The work’s colors echo the surrounding home design too. The deep teal of the right figure’s jumper can be spotted in the sofa upholstery, and the copper and amber skin tones in the surrounding panelled walls.

While the furniture is mostly understated — albeit with a splash of fun in pieces like the bubble monochrome chair — the art is expressive and punchy. It immediately grabs and steers you into a less-predictable style. Take the dining room. Here, you’ll find understated warm wood wishbone-style seating nestled under a delicious glossy ink-black dining table — a bespoke design for this property. But adorning the back wall are two almost floor-to-ceiling portraits by photographer Nadia Lee Cohen, acquired through Creative Art Partners. Their almost cinematic vintage color palette contributes to the warm sepia-toned hues that saturate the Woodrow Wilson project. The perfect conversation starter over dinner with friends? I think so.

Bringing the Exterior To Life

But it’s not just the interior that strays from usual design tropes. The pair have paid exceptional attention to the property's exterior, and one outbuilding in particular.

In such an organic setting, it seemed almost certain the designers would opt for equally organic materials in their sauna design. But not so. Instead, the team chose a dark mirrored exterior finish. Much like the mirroring in the main bathroom, this material cleverly sinks into its surroundings and reflects the garden's foliage and landscape.

“We wanted the sauna to feel like a sculptural monolith that almost disappears into its surroundings,” say designers Joelle and Jesse. “The darkened mirror reflects the landscape and changing light, creating a beautiful contrast with the intimate wood interior of the sauna as well as a brightly coloured connected full bathroom.”

Elsewhere in the garden, you'll find plenty of private social pockets, all accompanied by a stand-out water feature. Running alongside the garden steps and resting next to an outdoor seating area, this feature looks like it’s been naturally carving the grey stone it runs across for centuries.

If Ome Dezin's design shows anything, it's impeccable consideration. This reimagined property is sensitive to the original design and surroundings, but breathes fresh air into traditional design tropes.

The house is a mixture of serious brutalism and warm, inviting light. Slick furniture is paired alongside cool and punchy artworks, while the overall finish still feels immensely high-end. The Woodrow Wilson project is full of surprises, none of which disappoint.

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Before transforming into the colorful Camden townhouse it is now, this tall-and-small building had an enriching past life as a record store. After a thorough renovation, its present self manifests as a beautifully layered family home where color leads the way.

An aquamarine kitchen bleeds into a granite informal room, then comes the citrine living room, a minty dining room, followed by a crisp white bedroom. But to truly understand the charm of the space, we went behind the scenes with design studio Russian For Fish.

By the end, you'll notice the power of balancing confident color and restrained decorating that this modern home presents — and wonder how it ever began as a vinyl seller.

Pereen d’Avoine, architect and co-director at Russian For Fish, tells me that finding a happy middle between restoration and modern life was the most interesting challenge that arose during the renovation of this London townhouse.

"We wanted the historic character of the building to remain legible, but without the interiors feeling constrained by it. For example, concealed within the partition between the two first-floor sitting rooms is a projection screen that drops down for film nights, transforming the space without compromising its architectural character."

And in an era of wonderfully storied spaces being stripped of their charm in the name of somewhat bleak modern builds, this is a simple example of how to find a way around preserving the history of a space while bringing your vision to life.

"We wanted to retain something of the experience of entering a record shop," Pereen tells me. "There's a particular pleasure in wandering into one of Camden's record shops, never quite knowing what you might discover. We wanted to capture a little of that sense of curiosity and surprise in the way the house unfolds."

"You enter through the shopfront into a dark, richly colored, almost cocoon-like space. It's intimate and atmospheric, with very little indication of what lies beyond. By frosting the glazing to the shopfront bay, we were able to give the room privacy while also concealing the view through the house from the street."

She explains that it's only as you move around the corner into the kitchen and its fresh colors that the house suddenly opens up. "Then revealing a long view through to the secret garden beyond. That moment of discovery feels quite magical, and is something we deliberately wanted to preserve."

Since narrow homes have a reputation for being finicky with facelifts, I asked Pereen what her biggest lesson is from this Camden abode, to which she said: "Never be afraid of darkness."

This was one of the first projects where Russian For Fish took the leap and committed to a deeply colored ground-floor living space, and Pereen deems it a wonderful success.

"Rather than feeling enclosed, the room instantly invites you in," she notes. "The darker palette creates a sense of calm and intimacy, somewhere you can curl up on the daybed with a coffee and a book, despite the front door opening directly into the space."

"Throughout the house, we mixed bespoke elements with reclaimed and new furniture, allowing natural materials, texture and moments of richness to sit alongside one another," says Pereen.

"The intention was for the house to feel layered and personal rather than overly composed — with each space having its own character, but all belonging to the same home."

And if you've found inspiration from this home, this design edit will help you enhance your home's historic bones.

Get the Look

Looking for more small space inspo? Tour this Manhattan loft by New Operations Workshop that went from a pipe dream to a mid-century modern reality. And to sneak behind the doors of other contemporary spaces, sign up for the Livingetc newsletter.

Step through the front door of this home in Philadelphia and the first thing that strikes you is the confident contrast between light shades and dark, pale oak and rich woods, dramatically veined stone and mellow clay walls.

Perhaps it’s little wonder, given that its owners, Brittany and Benjamin Hakimfar, made the move from the West Coast to the East Coast for this modern home, trading the sunny interiors of LA for the more grounded aesthetic of Brittany’s home turf. "Moving back to the state where I grew up, having worked both in New York and LA, was a big deal for us," says Brittany.

Brittany, who trained under designer Waldo Fernandez before she and Ben set up their own interior design practice, Far Studio, took some of LA’s understated glam — all white oak and plaster finishes — and mixed it with moodiness, conjured by materials such as black zellige tiles and plaid wallpaper. The result is an assured balance between refined design and practical living.

Though their home required little structural work, its expansive proportions needed scaling down. "It was about creating intimacy," says Brittany. "Rather than emphasizing size, we wanted the layout to encourage gathering, with spaces for entertaining, family time, reading, music and quiet retreat."

As a result, the schemes vary between embracing — such as the moodier gray-blues of the library-cum-music room or the cocooning charcoal walls of the attic den — and amplifying, including the coffee-and-cream neutrals of the sitting room and the airiness of the entry. Anchoring the living spaces, the kitchen and family room serve as relaxed hubs for the family, including Liv, nine, Leo, seven, and Lex, three.

Brittany describes the original interiors as "being so dark, they felt medieval. I thought, 'Perfect, I’m going to change everything'. I wanted to make sure that no surface went untouched." Out went the heavy window treatments and monotone interiors and in came a dynamic blend of materials and finishes. "Of course, there are still dramatically dark moments," she says, "but texture makes all the difference, whether that’s a chocolate velvet sofa, a papered ceiling, fluted cabinetry or hand-finished plasterwork."

These are the kinds of striking design motifs that Brittany says are easier to flirt with when you are your own client. "For example, it was great not to have to convince anyone to have an all-black zellige-tiled bathroom or moss-green plastered walls," she says. "The downside, of course, is that it took years longer to finish, because I kept sending the carpenters off-site to finish more important jobs."

Those delays were worth the wait, however, and now life revolves around nurturing a family while taking care of projects. "The changing seasons are a dream," says Brittany. "In winter, the neighborhood looks like a snow globe, which is magical. Home feels like a place of welcome and also a refuge."

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In New York's East Village, above the traffic and crowds of people popping into cafés or commuting to work, sits a cozy but luxurious loft apartment. It's old-school New York glamour meets the Bohemian spirit that permeates every inch of the city. The apartment feels as intertwined with its location as it does a total exhale from the hustle and bustle. As any city dweller knows, having a haven to retreat to, a space to escape the noise, is essential.

"The history of the loft itself was really our starting point," shares interior designer and co-founder of Evan Edwards, Joshua Evan Goldfarb. "We first designed the apartment over 15 years ago, so coming back to it allowed us to look at the space with fresh eyes while preserving what had always made it special." The eclecticism of the East Village neighborhood is interpreted in the interior through moments like exposed brick walls and patinated materials. 70s-inspired, maximalist design calls upon retro New York nightlife, while strategic elements keep things cozy and liveable.

The modern home is unmistakably Manhattan-influenced, yet simultaneously a retreat. Basically, you don't have to compromise personality to create something cozy and serene. This East Village abode proves it pays to lean into design that reflects where and how you live.

The Inspiration and Design Scheme

When taking on the redesign of this city space, "We wanted to respect the original loft architecture and history, particularly the exposed brick, timber, and rooftop volumes, but introduce a greater sense of warmth and sophistication," says Joshua Evan Goldfarb. There are references to 1970s interiors throughout, especially in the low-slung furniture, rich woods, smoked and brushed metals, and deeper Bordeaux tones, "but we never wanted it to feel like a period piece. It is really a layering of eras that feels collected," adds Joshua.

And if you have ever taken a trip to Manhattan, the different neighborhoods on the island have tangible personalities. "The East Village has always had a certain grit and creative energy that felt important to preserve, and our clients appreciated this aspect of both the location and space," says Joshua.

"It was never our goal to take a loft like this and make it feel overly polished or pristine," he continues. The eclectic neighborhood informed the apartment: original materials are allowed to show their patina, vintage pieces sit alongside contemporary ones, and there is a sense that the space has evolved. At the same time, "Once you step inside, we wanted it to feel like a retreat from Manhattan. It is darker, warmer, quieter, and more enveloping than what is happening just outside," shares Joshua.

The design centers around this fantasy of stepping off the bustling streets and into a luxurious den that still gives you that rush of character. Dark color palettes, layered textures, and strong accent pieces like the purple or patterned sofa in the living room all bring this idea to life.

When designing these kinds of spaces — apartments, lofts, studios, and the like — the main challenge is clever configuration. For Joshua, the loft's scale was both an opportunity and a challenge. "With such an expansive space, you have to create intimacy without losing the charm and authenticity," he shares.

Rather than introducing unnecessary walls, Joshua used furniture placement, lighting, rugs, and material changes to subtly define different areas and make the open concept feel cozier. "There were also the realities that come with working in an older Manhattan building. Nothing is perfectly straight or uniform, and there are architectural conditions you have to work around rather than erase," Joshua shares. "We embraced those idiosyncrasies because they add to the energy and essence of the home."

"We love the juxtaposition of the original brick and blue-painted beams with these very sculptural, low-slung pieces meant for lounging," shares Joshua. For instance, "The Adrian Pearsall plinth sofa immediately establishes that relaxed 1970s sensibility paired with the oversized U-shaped sectional, while the Andrianna Shamaris tables bring in teak and rosewood that feel more like sculpture," says Joshua.

The wooden ceiling beams and exposed brick immediately highlight the historical charm of the space, but are balanced with contemporary elements and materials. Even the relatively small wood kitchen packs a major punch with an open-concept layout and drenched aesthetic.

"The living room probably captures the spirit of the apartment most completely," says Joshua. For such a large room, it feels remarkably intimate. "You can have groups of people in each area without feeling detached from the larger environment, but with just two people, it can also feel incredibly cozy," he adds.

Though the living room may capture the spirit most completely, the influences are clear throughout the entire house — most especially the texture design and materiality. "Materiality was incredibly important because the architecture already had so much texture. We did not want to compete with the exposed brick or original beams, so we built upon them with materials that added depth and patina," explains Joshua.

Warm rosewood and aged metals, luxurious velvets and tactile fabrics help soften the harder edges of an original New York City loft. "We were especially interested in materials that become better with age. Nothing feels overly precious or glossy. The idea was that everything should feel good to touch and live with, and that the apartment could continue to develop its own story over time," says Joshua.

Shop the Style

Designing homes that tell a story, represent your life, or the city you live in is the most fashionable way to dress an interior. Like this East Village apartment, getting more intentional means you'll be left with a space that is both design-forward and comforting.

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For seven long years, Ruby and Patrick Shields have spent their evenings and weekends building their dream house. They bought the property during their early twenties, when Ruby was working as an art director in advertising and Patrick was a second-year carpentry apprentice.

In search of a place of their own and somewhere to experiment, they found it in the hills of Australia’s Yarra Ranges, an hour’s drive from Melbourne. From the moment they stepped inside this modern home, they knew it was the one. "It felt like a treehouse, sitting above a canopy of gum trees," says Ruby. "It was so stunning we named it The View."

The early-1980s structure was far from finished. The lower level had no connecting staircase and consisted mostly of an exposed frame carved into the hillside — a deal-breaker for many buyers, but the Shields saw it as the perfect project for Ruby to express her interior design instinct and for Patrick to gain hands-on experience.

The project reached a turning point during Covid. "I took Kelly Wearstler’s masterclass and realized it was time to follow my dream," says Ruby. "I loved interior design and wanted to do it all the time." By the end of the renovation, she had launched her design practice, Studio Shields, with their own home as its strongest manifesto.

Living in the house meant tackling one room at a time. Together, Ruby and Patrick designed and made everything, from the smallest details such as the brass twisty handles to the sculptural joinery. "We had to think hard about how to make things interesting, how to elevate our budget," explains Ruby.

The challenge of making the most of limited funds was probably a blessing in disguise, as the results speak for themselves — not least in the precision of Patrick’s craftsmanship. "I call him 'Perfectionist Pat'," says Ruby. "He’s a stickler for all those fine details. I give direction, and he just makes it so much more perfect. It’s what makes us the best team."

In the main bedroom, one of Patrick’s bespoke pieces stands out: a carved headboard made from reclaimed wharf timbers. "We called it 'Where Dreams Subside,' because it’s such a beautiful backdrop to fall asleep to each night, with its little redwood flowers notched into the timber, like a meadow," says Ruby.

"I consider myself a bit of a bowerbird with objects," she adds, referencing the native Australian bird known for collecting vivid, colored items to build its courtship structure. "It’s about finding those unique, weird pieces to combine into a narrative."

Perhaps the home’s most defining element is its bold color palette, drawn from the landscape on a sunny autumn day: muddy browns, tinges of rust, shades of green and a splash of electric baby blue on the ceiling — something cool to energize the saturated tones.

Looking at the Shields in their home, there’s no doubt it’s where they belong. The warmth, the eclecticism, the layered textures all mirror their personalities. "That’s one of our key drivers," says Ruby. "A home should feel completely, unabashedly like its inhabitants."

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Walking along the tree-lined streets of the West Village on a trip to the Big Apple, I was completely blown away by the beauty of New York brownstones. With their characteristic reddish-brown sandstone façades, arched windows, and ornate details, these 19th-century properties are architectural icons — though they weren't always the highly coveted homes they are today.

Brownstone — brown sandstone — gained popularity when builders in the late 18th and early 19th centuries started using the material as a cheaper alternative to marble and limestone, making it more accessible to the middle class. Following their mass popularity, brownstones fell out of favor in the 20th century, largely due to a shift in architectural tastes, but now they're some of the most luxurious and sought-after properties in the city — the ultimate status symbol.

I was gutted not to see inside these gorgeous residences on my travels, but I've got the next best thing — the Livingetc archives. I dug deep and found gold. From Athena Calderone's Cobble Hill brownstone to a Brooklyn Heights 1845 Greek Revival home, these interior designer-styled projects blend original features with contemporary design for modern homes that embrace and build on history.

The Most Beautiful New York Brownstones

If you're keen to see what a new-build 'brownstone' looks like, the designer of this Harlem townhouse traveled all the way to Paris in search of inspiration for it, and the result is a soulful, color-drenched home filled with character and cozy elegance.

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When Emma Collet and Thomas Diettert first saw this Haussmannian apartment, it hadn’t been renovated since the 1970s. Its rooms were tightly separated, movement through the home felt fragmented, and the layout kept the light from traveling. The client wanted a brighter, more comfortable apartment while preserving the character of a traditional Parisian home.

The designers opened up the plan and brought storage into the architecture, but they weren’t trying to make the apartment feel as though it belonged to one particular period. “We prefer to blur the sense of time,” they say. Here, contemporary gestures sit alongside vintage pieces with a history of their own, giving this modern home a feeling of having evolved over time.

The first surprise is the entrance. Small and windowless, it’s painted entirely black, a bold choice that makes the living room beyond feel all the brighter by comparison. From the living room, the black entrance recedes into the background. “Dark tones don’t necessarily make spaces feel darker or smaller,” the designers explain. “On the contrary, black adds depth to a room and enhances certain architectural elements.”

The living room is the clearest expression of that idea — original features sit alongside a bespoke travertine fireplace, designed specifically for the space. The client had initially imagined a traditional Haussmannian marble mantel, but the designers suggested something more contemporary. “We felt it would be more interesting to create a dialogue between different periods rather than simply reproduce a historical element,” they explain.

The fireplace’s scale gave the client pause at first. It is imposing for the size of the room, but that was precisely what interested the designers — they wanted it to read as an architectural feature, almost sculptural in character. Mirrored panels behind the built-in shelving bring a different kind of lightness. “We treat them as an architectural surface,” say Emma and Thomas. The reflections add depth, soften the bookcase and shift as the light and the room change throughout the day.

That same confidence carries into the kitchen. Set into a recess and open to the living room, it is almost entirely black, from the cabinetry to the countertop. Rather than trying to make the kitchen disappear into the surrounding space, the designers wanted it to feel intimate and have a character of its own. They kept the wall facing the living room open, moving the upper cabinets and technical elements to the opposite side. “The best decision was precisely not to fill every available centimeter,” they say. In a compact kitchen, leaving some space clear helps the room breathe and keeps it from feeling crowded.

The apartment’s collected feel comes through in the objects, too — that dialogue between old and new feels especially personal in the red ceramic vase, a family heirloom with real sentimental value for the client. He had planned to tuck it away on a shelf, but Emma and Thomas felt it deserved to be seen, giving it a pedestal of its own. It’s a small gesture, but one that captures what they mean by letting a home blur the boundaries between periods — the vase isn’t there to match the room, but to bring a piece of the client’s own history into it.

Knowing how far to take that idea was one of the project’s biggest challenges. The designers wanted to give the apartment a distinct character without making every intervention compete for attention, and the living room — their favorite space — is where that balance feels most complete. The sculptural fireplace, mirrored shelving and vintage pieces each hold their own, but there’s still room for the eye to rest. “Each element has its own distinct identity,” they say, “yet they all coexist harmoniously without competing with one another.”

Shop the Look

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David Hockney’s photographic collage ‘Sunday Morning’ sees a hotel room pieced together in overlapping prints — an unmade bed, a spread of papers, and the Met Opera’s 1982 season program. No two frames ever show the same perspective; the complete scene assembles countless points of view within a single picture.

Forty years on, that hotel — the Mayflower — is no longer there. But Hockney’s way of seeing has found a new home as the starting point for an apartment renovation on that same New York site. Assembled, in part, around a French family whose life unfolds between Europe and the States, this modern home revels in the grandeur of its setting, perched politely on the edge of Central Park.

Like the artist’s collage, design choices here stitch two previously independent living areas into one single-level residence and a cohesive creative whole. "I was drawn to the way Hockney constructs an image through fragments," explains architect Crina Arghirescu Rogard. "The apartment reveals itself, one lived environment after another."

At 3,000 square feet, the apartment feels more than comfortable in its well-heeled locale. Clad in an old-world Indiana limestone, 15 Central Park West plays the modern heir to New York’s great pre-war residences, pulling on the Neo-Classical and Beaux-Arts traditions that define the city’s most storied buildings.

For the home, now tucked inside that history, Crina understood that practicality mattered as much as poise. "I wanted it to feel sophisticated but very habitable," she says. "You should be able to sit comfortably, read, have a long dinner, move a chair closer to someone."

With a family spread across continents, the apartment rarely hosts the same group twice. So it’s been designed to stretch: "sometimes intimate, sometimes with several generations together."

Just past the threshold, an extraordinary tapestry takes center stage. Its makers, Belgian duo KRJST Studio, spend months embroidering each piece by hand and describe their work as moving between past and future. The piece was made for walls like this one.

It is here that Hockney’s collage begins to take shape. Art is scattered throughout the apartment, each piece seen from a different doorway or angle: a canvas by Mexico City-born Claudia Doring Baez, who reworks images from cinema and art history; neon-lit sculpture by Brooklyn artist Esther Ruiz; and luminous objects by John Junior Kim, crafted from wood, paper, and stone.

“I want those encounters to feel personal and slightly unexpected,” Crina says.

Not every encounter feels unexpected, though. Merging the two separate living spaces into one required a line of consistency to hide the seam — and dissolve any boundary. Crina’s solution was an enfilade — rooms set in a line, each opening into the next — so that one view leads into another.

Underfoot, a moss-green rug does much of the work. It runs from the living room to the library, giving the furniture "a common ground," as Crina puts it. "I like using something soft and tactile to resolve an architectural relationship."

The effect is subtle by design. "You experience the connection," she says, "without necessarily noticing how it has been made."

The living room is where the park takes over. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the skyline outside, which outranks every canvas on the walls. "The park gives the room an extraordinary horizon," Crina says, and she has been careful not to obstruct it. Almost everything here, quite deliberately, sits low.

At the center is a custom serpentine sofa in rust velvet-mohair, which curves toward the glass — "a generous, continuous gesture," she explains. Its bends make room for different ways of sitting: facing the view, or turned toward one another. "I like furniture that has a sculptural presence and also makes you want to sit down."

The palette takes from both sides of the window. "The rust brings warmth, while the moss green creates a relationship with the landscape outside," Crina says.

Above the sofa hangs Contempt, from Claudia Doring Baez’s series based on Jean-Luc Godard’s 1963 film Le Mépris, starring Brigitte Bardot and Michel Piccoli. It was a late addition, though you wouldn’t guess it. "It seems to have been painted for the space."

Beyond its sofa, the apartment turns inward. Here, a wall of timber shelving holds as many bronzes as books: small heads, crouching figures, a horse mid-stride.

For Crina, this is where placement matters most. "It’s where the conversation between art and interior architecture becomes tangible," she says. She considers scale and color, but also "what happens when you encounter a piece from another room."

By the window, a black wrapped chair rises like a sculpture rather than a seat. "A sculptural chair can change a room’s entire rhythm," Crina says — and this one certainly does. Nearby hangs a painting by Gaspard Girard d’Albissin — a pair of pale boots against green — with a paper lamp by John Junior Kim glowing low on a walnut chest.

The kitchen holds the apartment’s centerpiece: a dining table designed with artist Liz Hopkins. Its resin top, a glossy blue-gray, rests on columns of lacquered red, with vintage burl-wood chairs drawn up around it. "I wanted it to have a strong presence," Crina says, "with the lacquer introducing a different quality of light alongside the softer textiles and warmer materials."

It’s built for daily use as much as display. "A sculptural table becomes especially beautiful when people gather around it," she says. It’s also tougher than it looks: "It's very sturdy, resin-finished. I have the same in our studio, and it gets better with time." With young children in the family, she adds, there’s no worry about sharp edges.

The main bedroom is pared back, though far from bare. Low sun falls across pale walls and heavy linen curtains. The palette keeps to white, charcoal, and a soft blue throw, with one exception: a violet disc hung above the bed.

By the window stands a tall black figure, crumpled and wrapped, its outline sharp against the skyline. A cast-metal bench at the foot of the bed is there to answer it, rough and pitted, catching light as the day moves around the room.

Asked to choose the one piece that sums up the project, Crina doesn’t hesitate: the serpentine sofa. "It brings together so much of the project: movement, color, a relationship with the landscape, and the pleasure of gathering," she says.

Her advice for other homes is much the same: carry a color or material from one room to the next, and "pay attention to what you see through a doorway." Even a small apartment, she says, "can offer several connected compositions."

Hockney spent his later years arguing that most people don’t look at things for long enough. This apartment doesn’t make that easy: there's always something more to notice, through the next doorway or out the next window.

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The thing about this four-storey townhouse in Tufnell Park, north London, is that it looks expensive: bespoke joinery, a clearly custom-built L-shaped kitchen island, a wet bar slathered in burl wood. But Adam Knight of Nefarious Interiors approached the modern home project with clear, strict budget limits, making clever decisions to keep it under budget.

"For a house this size, there wasn't as much money to play with as you might expect," he says. "So yes, we spent out on the parts of the design that really mattered — the kitchen being a key one — but for most areas we had to be as cost-effective as possible."

That meant keeping as much as he could from the home's previous incarnation — avoiding structural work, not moving any electrics, reupholstering existing sofas, and instead splurging on bespoke cushions, "which are much more affordable than a new couch, but still help to elevate the impact of the furniture."

And he shopped savvily. "The curtain fabric was on sale at Ian Mankin for £19 a meter," Adam says proudly.

The resulting scheme is a testament to what can be done without a large price tag and with a steely interior designer in your corner. With its olive greens, rich woods, and dappled light, the home has a Tom Ford-ian charm that speaks to the owners' American heritage. "All of their references felt very US, true to the mid-century vibe that reads to us as very Californian but is actually quite easy to give a British twist to," says Adam.

"A lot of the browns came from reference shots they pulled from Americana images — you know, families going off for retro picnics in open-top cars, that sort of thing." All very Mad Men-era, and a way to lean into the mid-century vibe Adam has created here. "I looked at the ideas coming through in new furniture shapes and styles during that period," he says. "It's an aesthetic that works well in the long, tall houses we have in the UK."

What it also does is create a home that's perfect for this family to entertain in. "The owners love to host, and so lots of different seating areas — all very mid-century — were key," says Adam. There's the downstairs, with its lounge, dining, and bar; the L-shaped kitchen island "which has more surface area to get people around"; the window seat for quiet gossip.

Then there's the smart living room upstairs with its adjoining playroom, so kids and adults can be apart but near each other. "The overall effect of the colors and layouts is one of togetherness," says Adam. "It feels warm, geared towards conversation. A place where memories with family and friends can be made."

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With 1.2 million followers, 3 multi-million businesses, a podcast, and a Forbes 30 Under 30 feature under her belt, it's safe to say that Grace Beverley is no stranger to hard work. So tackling a full-home renovation while carrying her first child was just another project for her to take on head-first. But, of course, multitasking has never been much of a problem for Grace. Right from the start, when she was still known as GraceFitUK, Grace built her following by posting about her fitness journey while juggling a degree at Oxford.

Since then, Grace has pretty much become the poster girl for productivity. So much so that when she first announced her brand of daily planners, The Productivity Method, there was a 75,000-person waiting list before the product even launched. It's no surprise then that Grace approached this modern home renovation with the same focus and determination. Ever the over-achiever, Grace tells me, "I made a 60-page deck for Louise and Matt at Studio Braw, going room by room with all my visual inspiration and practical requests." Luckily, for the team at Studio Braw, this clarity only made their job easier.

Together, they set out to transform a modern, if slightly soulless kitchen into a rich, warm family space. Shiny white cabinets and straight, sharp lines were swapped out for natural materials and a vintage-inspired feel. The finished result is exactly as Grace envisioned: inviting, timeless, and cozy — another resounding success for the influencer-turned-entrepreneur to add to the list.

The Brief

When designing a space from scratch, the best approach isn't always to dive straight in with material swatches and color ideas. Sometimes, starting with a vision of the way you want to live in the space and the duties you'd like it to fulfil can be a more helpful starting point. And for Grace, that vision was clear from the jump.

"We absolutely love hosting, so I knew from the start that the kitchen and dining area had to be a really homey social space," she tells me. Even prior to the renovation, the large, open-plan kitchen layout made a natural fit for a hosting home, but with the harsh, sterile finishes and sharp corners, it wasn't exactly an ideal design for the expecting mother.

With this in mind, Grace and Louise from Studio Braw set out to find a way to maintain this large, social layout while adding all the warmth and character that the original design lacked.

Although there is certainly still an audience for the minimalist kitchen look, for Grace, it couldn't be further from her taste. "I've always been drawn to homes and hotels with character and unique pieces rather than pure minimalism, so I wanted the kitchen to feel warm and collected rather than brand new," she explains.

While kitchen trends were once dominated by the spotless minimalism of an all-white design, nowadays, people are increasingly seeking spaces with more depth, with natural materials and traditional kitchen features at the forefront.

But while these finishes are undeniably present in the design zeitgeist of today, this was not what drew Louise towards these choices. "We tried to steer away from anything too trendy or fashionable," she explains. Instead, they were looking for something a little bit more timeless.

Looking beyond their direct surroundings, when developing this design Louise and Grace found themselves drawing inspiration from their travels, taking a more global approach to the space.

Classic European-style kitchens were a definite point of reference here, as seen through the grand, impressive proportions and unique, vintage finds scattered throughout. France, in particular, provided ample inspiration, with Grace saying, "I love French design and wanted to use as many vintage pieces as possible."

Having spent months curating 60 pages' worth of ideas for Louise to draw from, Grace was able to build more clarity around her own personal style, figuring out what worked for her, even if it wasn't what everyone was doing online.

With such a large, loyal following, it can be hard not to be swayed by outside opinions, but ultimately, Grace knew that when it came to her home, the most important opinion was her own. "When I asked my Instagram followers, almost everyone told me to go for light wood, but I went with dark, and I'm so happy I did."

The Process

At first glance, this dark wooden kitchen could easily pass as a rich, storied period property, with all the detailed millwork and natural materials; the look is more Edwardian home than it is modern new-build. And when you see what the space was like before, with its glossy finishes and white cabinetry, it's hard to believe they could be the same home. This is, of course, a testament to the level of detail and care put into this design. Looking at it now, it's hard to imagine anything having come before it.

Not only does it feel like such a natural use of the space, but there's an illusion of history with this design, as if it had been there forever. And Louise agrees, "The home pre-renovation was the complete opposite of the final design."

What's most impressive is how few structural changes had to be made to accomplish such a total and complete transformation. "The location of the kitchen did not change with the exception of the cooker, as we had a very tight deadline and were unable to move multiple different services," explains the designer.

Although the modernity of the original design wasn't exactly in line with Grace's style, what drew her to the home in the first place was the open, social layout, perfect for building her family home, and this provided a strong foundation for the team to build from, without having to make too many major changes. As Louise says, "The original space, which was aesthetically very different, was a warm family home — I think that is the only element that informed the space we created for Grace."

But while the major structural works were kept to a minimum and the layout remained broadly unchanged, the same can't be said for much else in the room.

"The space was completely transformed — the only element that remained was the timber floor, and even that was stained a different color," says Louise. The kitchen island, cabinetry, and all the appliances were removed in favor of something more in line with Grace's style.

Across the design, the ultimate goal was creating a space that went beyond trends, finding a style that felt truly timeless. Grace was searching for a home that could stand the test of time, and, as Louise says, "The decorative door fronts, choice of rich dark timber, the plinth around the base of the kitchen, large farmhouse kitchen table, ticking stripe from Penny Morrison on the banquette seating and the antique Georgian glazed unit all contribute to that feeling."

The Design

"Hosting was a huge part of the brief, so the open-plan layout was designed for gathering, with a big rustic reclaimed wood table from Pepper Mill Interiors and banquette seating from The House Upstairs, so there's always room for more people," explains Grace.

But a complete home renovation wasn't the only major change Grace was going through during this period: "We were also expecting our daughter during the renovation, so we spent a lot of time thinking about our routines once she arrived and how we'd move through the space as a family." The design was, of course, informed by this new life stage, with all the appropriate additions a new baby requires. "Every room had to be baby-proofed," says Grace.

A new child and a new home would, one would imagine, be quite a lot to juggle, but now she's out the other side, Grace says, "Now we’re in, and she’s here; I’m so excited for our first Christmas here together."

An open-plan kitchen and dining room, with both bar seating and a larger, banquette-style dining table, this kitchen was thoughtfully designed to offer a number of different seating opportunities, with a communal, social feel running across the space.

Instead of a traditional, straight run of bar stools for the kitchen island seating, they opted for a more social L-formation, explaining that "for small dinners or date night this set up feels more romantic." From there, they chose to shift the dining table to sit parallel to the kitchen, allowing for open, easy communication between guests and the host, even when you're running slightly late putting dinner on the table.

The dark timber cabinetry formed the primary palette for this space. "The other materials were chosen to complement the dark timber," explains Louise. "The hardware is the Greenwich range from Hendel and Hendel, and the finish is burnished brass waxed — this is a living finish that will continue to patina over time." And this worn, rustic metallic finish is carried through to the tap and pot filler, both from family-run British business, Bidbury.

To make the traditional, vintage-inspired joinery feel cohesive, Louise sought out other vintage features. "The Georgian glazed unit was a standout piece for us," she says. "This was paired with the ceramic and silk wall lights as well as the mirror to keep the space feeling fresh and cool."

For the kitchen worktops, they chose a beautiful Taj Mahal quartzite, a robust natural stone, the same beauty as marble but with far more durability.

Though this was firmly not a minimalist kitchen, this by no means meant this was a clutter-friendly space. "We kept the surfaces clear as far as possible, as well as displaying glassware behind glass doors. We included a small shelf for Grace’s cookbooks. We also included a pantry that houses all of the day-to-day appliances — coffee machine, toaster, etc. This has bifold doors, so it can be open during the day but closed to hide everything if you're hosting."

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If you love the rich intensity of this dark wood kitchen, there's a high chance that you're going to be a fan of the espresso kitchen trend too. It's a beautiful way to get the intensity of a black kitchen, with a whole lot more warmth.

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It's the dream of anyone who buys a period property, especially one that's been unsympathetically modernized, that they find some sort of 'buried treasure' underneath those contemporary interventions.

For architect Sam Causer, those were just such the discoveries made in this grand Victorian villa in London's Blackheath, where the original character and charm of this home had been concealed by previous owners. "Decorative cornices were hidden behind plasterboard, ceilings had been covered with hardboard and timber battens, and the relationship between the principal rooms and garden had become compromised by an assortment of additions, including an unsatisfactory conservatory and garage," Sam tells us.

The project became the perfect base for Sam to explore the relationship between renovation and restoration. Authentic, original features blend with modern home additions, like the steel Fabco doors (for which Livingetc editor Hugh Metcalf voted it his project of the year at the brand's recent awards ceremony) and a new kitchen extension, in a way that never removes or overwrites the history, but builds upon it. The inherent imperfections of a historic home are exactly what make them so special for Sam.

"For us, conservation is not necessarily about preserving buildings in a fixed condition. It is about understanding their qualities and finding ways for them to continue being useful, loved and inhabited," explains Sam. "The house has an almost ruin-like quality in places, but this sits alongside warmth, generosity and considerable domestic comfort. The pleasure comes from the relationship between those seemingly contradictory qualities."

The Brief

"The original brief was surprisingly modest," shares Sam. His clients, Carol and Dave, had purchased a Victorian villa of impressive proportions. Boasting all the most enviable features typical of homes of the era, the house had generous-sized formal sitting rooms, crown molding, and gorgeous full-length windows. But for all the benefits of a period property, there are also some considerable drawbacks, too, including an awkward, disjointed layout — the primary problem in this home.

Built with the social norms of the era in mind, a Victorian home layout no longer reflects the way people live today; something Carol and Dave quickly discovered. "The kitchen was particularly small and disconnected from the sitting room and garden. Much of the domestic infrastructure remained in the basement, reflecting a period when houses of this scale were designed around a separation between family life and domestic service," explains Carol.

Despite these issues, at the beginning of the process, Carol and Dave were keen to keep the alterations to a minimum, with the exception of a new modern kitchen. However, Sam explains, "Through conversation and exploration, the project developed into a more comprehensive reorganization of the ground floor, bringing cooking, storage and everyday domestic activities together and establishing a much more generous relationship with the garden."

At the core of this project was a desire to "uncover the character of the existing house, rather than impose an entirely new identity upon it."

As much as the renovation was focused on uncovering the original character of the period property, the design was equally influenced by the history of the couple moving into the home, and the homes they'd lived in prior. "Carol and Dave have lived in several homes over more than fifty years, gradually collecting furniture, objects and artworks along the way," explains Sam. "Their approach to interiors is intuitive and personal, allowing things to find their place rather than working towards a predetermined aesthetic."

Building up a collection of pieces, both new and antique, the couple had a clear interior design style that they brought with them to this new space. It's an eclectic, collected style, with elegant details and plenty of character, which just so happened to work beautifully in this period property.

But to elevate the home even further, they chose to strip the home back to its roots, removing added coverings to reveal the history that lay beneath, "including a wonderfully distressed green finish that became the starting point for the treatment of the ground-floor interiors."

The Process

The challenge was to restore this home to its former glory, stripping back the layers of modernity and putting the original design back into the spotlight. This became the overarching theme, and informed how they approached the home. As Carol describes it, "Rather than treating these conditions simply as defects to be corrected, the project became an exercise in discovery."

Through this restoration work, they allowed the original home to lead the way for the final design. "The removal of inappropriate additions revealed the original architecture and allowed the design to develop in response," explains Dave. "Historic cornices were carefully retained and repaired, while the new architectural interventions sought to restore the generous spatial relationships that the house's original proportions suggested."

This wasn't about designing a faithful recreation of what this home would've looked like in the 1900s; it was about honoring the many lives of the property. As Sam puts it: "The intention was not to return the building to a particular moment in its history, but to allow its accumulated character to inform a new chapter in its life."

"The most significant architectural intervention was the construction of a new full-length side extension, providing the additional space needed to make the kitchen and associated domestic functions work comfortably at ground-floor level," says Sam.

Working with deVOL Kitchen, this side extension kitchen may have been a modern addition, but it was designed with the same visual language used across the entirety of the home, creating a cohesion between the original Victorian architecture and the new, contemporary additions.

"The kitchen extension was conceived as part of the architectural composition of the existing house, drawing on its material character and proportions rather than presenting itself as an entirely separate contemporary object," says Dave.

One of the most significant additions, and undoubtedly one of the standout features of the home, is the bespoke Fabco doors. The custom design was created to fit the original opening perfectly, keeping the grandness of this feature intact from the sitting room, while from the kitchen, the doors have a simpler aesthetic. A dark steel frame and aged-mirror panels bring a beautiful vintage feel to these doors, allowing them to blend in beautifully with the period architecture surrounding them.

These large doors help introduce more flow into the space, one of the major goals of this renovation. This was also what inspired the decision to remove the former conservatory, allowing for a more direct relationship between the interiors and the garden.

"These interventions are relatively modest in relation to the scale of the house," says Carol, "but they have fundamentally changed how the ground floor is experienced and inhabited."

The Design

Part of the beauty of this home is the way in which it transcends time, seamlessly blending design details of varying eras for a truly transitional style. This is an essential facet of Sam's approach when designing historic homes — instead of feeling limited or overwhelmed by the home's past, Sam chooses to embrace it.

"A historic house has always been changing," he explains. "Its architecture is the result of successive generations adapting spaces to accommodate different ways of living, and we see our work as another contribution to that continuing history."

As important as it is to honor the history of period properties, maintaining as many of the original features as possible, this should never come above designing a home that works for you. Altering and adding to your home in order to make it better reflect your lifestyle shouldn't be seen as a moral failing — it's a natural step in the lifespan of a property.

"At Blackheath, the intention was not to establish a sharp distinction between old and new, but to understand what the building already offered and where carefully considered interventions could make it more generous and comfortable," says Carol.

Sam also chose to explore the idea of authenticity within this design, looking at what the term really means, and whether authenticity can be manufactured. This is perhaps best expressed through the distressed, aged effect on the walls. Although this seems like a natural process, a product of years of abandonment and neglect, in reality, it was an entirely new addition, created with the artist John Harragan to create the illusion of an aging interior. "They are contemporary interpretations of an atmosphere discovered within the building," says Sam. "Some surfaces are genuinely old, others newly created, but together they establish a coherent sense of place."

This celebration of artistry is reflected throughout the home. An homage to the Victorian Arts and Crafts movement, this home places an emphasis on craftsmanship, materiality, and the importance of the human touch.

There is also something of a theatricality to this home, with age, color, and patina acting as the stars of the show. "The interiors are rich with distressed surfaces, deep greens, aged copper, antique mirrors, historic architectural details, and furniture accumulated over a lifetime," says Carol. This is particularly clear in the living room, where crown molding, distressed walls, and antiqued mirrors decorate the space.

But despite this element of theatricality, this was never in conflict with the essential, welcoming nature of the home. It was important for the couple that the home didn't feel pretentious or performative. "The furniture is there to be used, the dogs are welcome on the sofas, and the rooms are allowed to evolve," says Carol. "There is no sense that the architecture or interiors are too precious to be touched."

As decorative and eccentric as this space may appear, it is, at its core, a home, and was designed to be used as such.

"Perhaps the most successful element is the relationship between the kitchen, sitting room and garden," says Sam.

Considering how disjointed and awkward the layout felt when the couple first bought the property, this new sense of flow and continuity was quite the achievement. And while there were several changes that helped build this sense of connection, it was undoubtedly the bespoke Fabco doors that made the biggest impact.

Explaining the benefits these doors offered, Sam says, "It creates a new connection between rooms while sitting gently within an original curved niche. The aged mirrors reflect views of the garden through the historic sash windows, bringing light, movement and glimpses of the landscape further into the house."

Although it's a new addition, it appears completely natural against the original architecture. "It is both an architectural intervention and a theatrical device, changing the perception of space without competing with the character of the original building."

But, most crucially, what Carol and Dave wanted to create was a feeling of absolute comfort in their home. "We are interested in the idea that comfort is not simply a question of temperature, furniture or luxury, but also of feeling at ease within one's surroundings," they say. And in this home, despite the drama and the grandeur, at the core, it's a space that invites comfort.

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If you're interested in learning more about the architecture of your home and the homes surrounding you, our guide to understanding the differences between Edwardian, Victorian, and Georgian homes is a good place to start.

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Living in a big city is a big ask, financially, but when you're looking to live in Manhattan, specifically, it can feel like a pipe dream. But all it might take is the right project and some determination to make that dream a reality.

What was once the Florence Crittenton Mission for Women, then a furrier, and later lived through the 1970s as an artist's loft, is now the cozy home of Gabriel Yuri, designer and founder of New Operations Workshop.

"I never imagined I could afford a place in this part of Manhattan, but the previous owner's unfinished renovation presented a unique opportunity," he prefaces. "While the space needed work, it allowed me to transform it into something special that others may have overlooked."

And unlike the norm of 2026, where modern homes are racing to feel instantly finished and perfect, Gabriel professes that taking the time you need to build your design story scene by scene will always shape up to be the more rewarding path less taken.

"I knew it would be a project, and it was. I spent the better part of four years slowly making improvements on my own and with handymen when I could afford them."

Unsurprisingly, the ethos behind Gabriel's renovation was as thoughtful as the time taken to breathe life into his vision. Rather than fight the history of the building, he chose to work with architectural details from an era past and preserve the loft's true personality.

This sense of history creeps past the interior of the building and spills out onto 21 Bleeker Street, which even to this day remains a somewhat "scrappy co-op for creatives".

Small preservations like the loft's 19th-century flooring, original ceiling tiles, and transom windows give you a taste of the Manhattan apartment's past lives. And through a collection of his late grandmother's mid-century furniture, Gabriel weaves some history of his own into the space, too.

"She was not a designer but had an incredible design sensibility," he recounts. "She designed these fantastic De Stijl-inspired stained glass doors that I used as pocket doors for the bedroom.

"I also took a stained glass class so that I could create something similar for the transom window over the bathroom door. She would make simple storage for books and objects using stacked bricks and wood, and I did this on a larger scale in the bedroom."

As someone who enjoys messing with mixed materials, it's no shock that this penchant for textural experimentation is evident across the loft. You'll notice it stringing across the exposed brick walls, along the dark wood beams, down the pine floors, and up the tin ceiling tiles.

Considering Gabriel took the route of slow and steady decorating, I was curious to know just what he considers a valid splurge and a clever save. "The custom millwork was a struggle to fit into my budget, but I think it really makes the space and was absolutely worth the splurge. On the other hand, I saved a lot in the kitchen by keeping the cabinets and just changing out the fronts."

Personally, living in a London residential apartment, I've found that mastering the aged new-build look is a dicey balancing act. And Gabriel tells me that, as natural as it looks now, it was not easy straddling the line of preservation and creation.

"Sometimes I felt like the design would lean too contemporary, and others I would feel like I was being too reverent of the history," he says, hinting at an old disused chimney he almost didn't let go of.

"I think it was just about moving back and forth, stepping away and getting some perspective. In the end, I always landed back somewhere in the middle."

Amidst the cost of living crisis, so many of us face fears similar to Gabriel, wondering if we will ever be able to realize our collage of Pinterest boards in a live space. So, when it comes to refurbishing on a budget, from experience, he exclaims that his biggest lesson is to never rush.

"It's better (and cheaper) to do things slowly. During this project, I would save up a little bit of money and cross something off my list," he admits. "Did this slow things down? Yes, but by living in the space for longer, I learned what I really wanted and how I actually used the space."

Four long years, countless opposing design decisions, and a budget of around $175,000 later, he's come out on the other side with a calming oasis that softens the buzz of the city and ropes you into its quiet embrace.

And if there's one final lesson that secretly reveals itself, it's that Gabriel's loft is not easily replicable. In the age of battling copycat interiors, custom detailing, vintage decor, and furniture heirlooms save his design story from being thoughtlessly plagiarized.

You can, however, be inspired by the vibe.

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Next, step into this London loft by Palma House that feels like you've checked into a fancy hotel room. And sign up for the Livingetc newsletter to tour more of our favorite residences.

What do you get when you combine Space Age style with a family home? Well, the answer lies in this Parisian apartment, designed by Studio HA. The former can often lean into the striking and absurd, while the latter demands liveability. Yet, despite a seemingly difficult recipe, this home combines these aesthetics in a way that feels comfortable, luxurious, and imaginative.

To the outside eye, the Space Age-inspired interiors are immediately impressive; however, designers Hugo Vince and Adèle Nourry of Studio HA say the main challenge was configuring the space itself, turning a 300-square-meter garage into a comfortable, welcoming home while preserving its generous proportions. "The volume of the former garage was extraordinary, but we needed to ensure that nobody felt lost within it," says Hugo. "And above all, we wanted to create a warm family home."

The modern home is organized around a large shared living space. "We worked on how the space is perceived rather than dividing it up," Adèle explains. "For instance, the mezzanine lowers the ceiling above the kitchen, while wallpaper around the perimeter and a band of lighting at mid-height make the main living space feel more enveloping." Here's how they got there.

The Space

Space Age style from the 1960s and 1970s strongly influenced this project, particularly the lines of the furniture and other bespoke elements. Other references appear in specific areas: "Art Deco swimming pools inspired the mosaic, while Japanese love hotels of the 1960s informed the main bedroom suite," says Hugo Vince. Plus, "The clients already owned a few pieces of Space Age furniture, which provided a starting point and resonated with our own sensibility," he adds.

"We enjoy bringing these influences together rather than faithfully recreating a particular period," continues Hugo. The 70s-inspired color palette, the chrome decor, even the mid-century modern influences — mixing different styles and narratives "allowed us to create different atmospheres while maintaining a common thread throughout the home," says Hugo.

But again, the challenge was transforming such a large, open-concept layout into a place that felt warm. For Hugo and Adèle, that meant choosing to create one large living area so the homeowners' lives could revolve around a single, central room. In this configuration, the living area creates an emotional and visual anchor.

For instance, the bedrooms are organized around the living space, with different design elements helping to partition the space. Think internal glass room dividers, Venetian blinds, and subtle layered lighting schemes. "The idea was that, upon entering the home, you naturally arrive in the kitchen area, which then flows into the dining space and finally into the living room," says Adèle Nourry.

The project revolved around restructuring the flow of the space — making use of the large volume of the rooms and creating circulation throughout. "One of the key interventions was the creation of a new, curved mezzanine above the kitchen — an element that did not exist before. We designed it entirely from scratch to accommodate the client's home office, as the original layout was missing an additional room," shares Hugo.

"This led us to rethink the overall circulation, particularly the access to the bedrooms, and allowed us to create a landing that now opens onto this generous mezzanine overlooking the living space," Hugo continues. Finished with a stunning colored carpet, it brings softness and warmth to the interior, "which is essential given the scale of the space and the 6.5-meter-high ceilings," he adds.

The original industrial nature of this former garage was transformed into a much softer, more enveloping environment. "We carried this influence through to the bespoke cabinetry and furniture, using curved forms, softened edges, and materials that play with light," says Adèle.

The Kitchen

Despite the open layout, every room feels quite distinct. The kitchen, dining area, and living space are in conversation with one another, but still feel their own. But of the three conjoining spaces, the brushed chrome kitchen, full of curved lines and oversized proportions, is probably the most intriguing. Rightfully so, considering the designers shared how some materials didn't come easy.

"The kitchen, finished in hand-patinated silver leaf, was conceived as a kind of spaceship at the heart of the home," says Adèle. "We wanted the kitchen's finish to nod to the building's industrial past. We developed it with decorative painter Antonin Lamoot, whose hand-applied patina produced a nuanced surface that feels softer and more alive than a uniform metal finish."

They also had to source enough Red Hollywood stone for the entire kitchen — "a rare stone whose shades of red, brown, and black particularly appealed to us," says Hugo. In this space, the reds, terracotta shades, and orange tones bring warmth, "while the green mosaic flooring introduces a reference to Art Deco swimming pools," Hugo adds.

The Living and Dining Space

In the living and dining space, you're greeted with boundless curves and warm colors, a true nod to that 'Space Oddity' whimsy. However, the large purple rug and the velvet sofa bring comfort to the otherwise futuristic style. In the evening, "indirect lighting takes over, creating a more intimate atmosphere," says Hugo.

Despite the grand, captivating design, effort has been put in to create a truly liveable space. Choosing tactile materials and soft textures creates dimension, but more conceptual tricks are also at play. For instance, "The Élitis wallpaper around the perimeter of the room contributes to this comfortable feeling by visually reducing the apparent ceiling height," explains Hugo.

But of course, the adventurous moments are what make the room. "The monumental fireplace, developed with Staff Espace Volume using fibrous plaster, is one of the pieces we feel most attached to," says Hugo. "It anchors the living room and brings a sculptural presence to the space."

The Primary Bedroom

Finally, the primary bedroom is one of the grandest parts of the design, and really leans into that sexy, 1970s aesthetic. Let's be honest, a red bedroom is hard to pull off, but when done as well as this, it becomes an eccentric and exciting moment.

"The red lacquered platform in the main bedroom suite holds a special place for us," says Adèle. "The interplay of curves, mirrors, and light captures our desire to create a space that feels both intimate and theatrical." And again, the mixture of lacquer finishes on the furniture and other tactile elements, like the textured wall, creates exciting moments that catch the eye.

More than anything, this bedroom and en suite prove you can have fun with your sleeping space and bathroom if you dare to. It's all about the right balance of textures and color. The minimalist bedding on top of the lacquer steps and an animal-print pillow on top? The red mosaic tiles and hotel-style bathroom lighting? It's as elegant as it is exciting.

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Current interior design trends are begging us to be more experimental, but with a real emphasis on craft. This Parisian home shows how much you can do with a seemingly impossible space to design. A voluminous, open-space former garage is transformed into a home that feels both hyper-personal and extremely design-forward.

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Set in Utah's high desert, this sprawling 7,000-square-foot family home sits at the end of a long, winding dirt track, immediately inviting guests into its warm, cozy embrace. Designed by Susannah Holmberg, owner and creative director of Salt Lake City-based Susannah Holmberg Studios, the home is a welcome retreat filled with character and storied elegance.

For the clients, the Jolley family — a family of five who split their time between the desert, Salt Lake City, and Australia — the brief was for a home that was "a hybrid of contemporary Australian design (curved forms), 1970s-era mountain homes, and classic ranch," says Susannah, who found the unique hybrid project really fun to execute.

Built in 1994, the home was transformed into an organic, modern home that celebrates nature and the sweeping views of the surrounding desert landscape at every corner.

Taking 2.5 years to complete, Susannah's biggest challenge in the project was how remote the area is; however, navigating the land itself became her favorite element of the design process: "How to be both reactive/in conversation with it AND create a space that is a respite from it," she explains.

The home, rich with natural materials — particularly wood, marble, and stone — is an homage to its surroundings, designed to feel as though it's always been there, full of story and cozy charm. "We wanted the home to feel like it’s been passed down over generations, gathered over time, and deeply welcoming," says Susannah.

"The color palette was influenced by the rock surrounding — the warm tones of the red rock," says Susannah, and this also informed the choice of materials. "We used a lot of wood — the previous home had very bright 90s tile vibes, and we wanted to completely counter that by creating an enveloping design with warm woods, earthen marbles and stone, and tile that feels made by hand. Handmade and 'of the earth' were important themes in this [project]," Susannah explains.

My personal favorite space in the home is the kitchen — Susannah's, too — which is a masterpiece. The marriage of colors, textures, and materials creates a considered design full of warmth and character, while also being highly practical. The custom banquette seating built into the kitchen's center island, together with the custom dining table, seats at least 10 guests and is an absolute showstopper. "I love the deep plaster tone paired with the blackened walnut," says Susannah. "I also love the curved bench covered in rose plum velvet with the texture of the alternating backsplash tiles."

Throughout the home, the wonderful mix of new and vintage furniture blends history and contemporary pieces with natural elegance. The modern living room is warmth personified — full of layers, texture, and character; everything is intentional. The earthy color palette also adds a natural, grounded feel. It's a space that calls for touch, connection, and contemplation — a retreat from the outside world and, in turn, an appreciation of its beauty.

The sleeping spaces, like the rest of the home, are filled with a sense of ease, serenity, and timelessness — transcending eras and any one specific style. The essence of Susannah's modus operandi is not purely to respect the locations of the homes she designs, but also the home's architecture, too, celebrating its 'bones', which is clearly evident throughout this project.

The mixture of tile, marble, stone, and wood in the primary bathroom is a celebration of organic materiality, bringing together the rich, earthy colors and textures into a stunning static display of nature that reflects the ardent landscape.

Despite the home's vast size, each space feels intimate and welcoming — the layered design full of intention in every nook and crevice of the property, infusing the home with endless character, personality, and depth.

The home's ADU — accessory dwelling unit — is a separate space for guests located immediately next to the main home, designed with the same tones and textures and with the same appreciation of the surrounding vistas. The built-in window seat creates an inviting space to enjoy the desert views and adds another 'boutique hotel' vibe to the home that's as welcoming to guests as it is accommodating.

In addition to the guest spaces, the home has its own wellness offering, including a sauna and a dedicated yoga studio, which the owners eventually hope to use to host retreats with visiting teachers — there couldn't be a more perfect spot to practice morning yoga.

"This was a fun and challenging project," shares Susannah. "But every time I was on site, the views alone were so calming and reinvigorating. My favorite was to watch storms literally roll across the mountains — you can see weather approaching long before it arrives. It’s a view that makes you feel small but part of something bigger all at once."

Susannah describes the home as an "heirloom", and it's an heirloom in feeling as much as in the vintage pieces and collected items inside of it. It's the warmth, the memories, past and future, and how nature's stories are entwined in ours, too.

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If you like this high desert oasis in Utah, you'll likely also love this Utah mountain retreat designed by Bloum Design, where deeply personal artwork gives it soul.

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When designer Rosie Gangar of Gangar Studio first saw this project, the Victorian property had already been stripped back completely; the garden didn't exist, and there was a large hole the builders had excavated to create the basement.

She had a blank canvas to work with and an ambition to create a modern house that speaks to Chelsea’s layered history and enduring artistic character.

The project was conceived by LAB Architects for a developer; Rosie Gangar was brought on board by the architects to develop the interior scheme. "I’ve known LAB personally for years," she shares. "I originally worked with them when I was training as an interior designer, so this project was a very full-circle moment."

The brief from the developer was to create a home that is "quietly sophisticated, not showy or garish," Rosie explains. "It needed to be somewhere that the future occupants could stay in for 10 years or more if they wanted."

Located in The Bolton Conservation Area of Chelsea, the neighborhood had once drawn in artists and creatives — John Singer Sargent and Oscar Wilde both lived 10 minutes away on Tite Street. More recently, Kylie Minogue, Eric Clapton, and Mick Jagger have all called Chelsea home.

“When you dig into the history of Chelsea, it was a real sanctuary for artists, writers, and musicians in the mid to late 19th century, from the Pre-Raphaelites all the way to Oscar Wilde," Rosie explains. "That artistic soul and legacy feels embedded in the bricks and mortar of the place."

The kitchen is a fully bespoke masterpiece fitted with V-Zug appliances and Gaggenau countertop appliances in the marble island. This central meeting point includes a teppanyaki grill, while the Loop & Twist stools in oak and chenille offer seating space.

In the adjoining dining area, the team established a room where formal dining can take place, around the RH table and chairs. Wide-plank wood flooring from Havwoods and a central crystal chandelier offer a more traditional finish. For this space, Rosie commissioned Elizabeth Abel to design the art that sits above the marble fireplace.

Art in the property was chosen in collaboration with Jo Steingold of Steingold Contemporary. Key pieces such as the Mary West painting hanging in the rear reception were commissioned especially for the new spaces, with bespoke joinery built with a sliding panel to conceal the television.

The new double-height basement features a three-meter hand-stitched tapestry by Nest, 'Liquid History', inspired by the River Thames.

In the front reception room, a Zen Van Songen piece was originally destined for the dining room. “It was resting up in the space waiting to be installed, and we looked at it and said, 'That has to go there.' I don’t like making last-minute decisions on site, but that one worked,” Rosie confesses.

One of the designer’s favorite spaces is the study, which is just as curated as the art in the house. The shelves are filled with books sourced from antiques markets, including one volume from a man selling his late grandfather’s collection. "It felt special to have him give us the collection and knowing the story of their provenance," Rosie recalls.

The kidney bean-shaped desk was designed by Rosie, especially for the room. It's been positioned to make the most of the garden beyond through the dual floor-to-ceiling sash windows. “I think that you need to be able to sit and admire the views you have in front of you," she shares. Rosie felt the space required a solution that was curved rather than a traditional desk. "Nothing we could find was right, so we made it ourselves,” she explains.

The flooring materials have been chosen to differentiate between the spaces; the lower three levels (basement, lower ground, and ground) feature marble, with a bespoke floor pattern on the ground floor, where Breccia Romana joins Monarch in the entrance hall, and European oak in a Versailles pattern in the reception rooms.

On the upper floors, the material shifts to wide-plank European oak. Rosie and her studio worked with Havwoods on choosing the wood flooring throughout.

The basement houses the home’s most dramatic gesture: a helical staircase beneath a circular rooflight. "You don’t walk down that staircase as part of the main house. You go down the main stairs, through the cinema room, and then you come up that staircase," Rosie explains. "You appreciate it more when you look at it as you are about to walk up."

Rosie dared to push the boundaries of the brief and depart from the house’s quiet sophistication in this new cinema room. "There’s no cornicing, no wall beading," she shares. "In these newer, more contemporary spaces, I felt I had more license to keep the style minimal."

That said, there is a curved home bar that mimics the sculptural white spiral staircase. It has been finished in high-gloss burgundy lacquer with a curved patinated brass backsplash. "It’s very moody, almost like the climax of the space," Rosie describes.

Upstairs, the guest bedroom is a refined space that features a large painting by Beatrice Hassell-McCosh and photography by Gabby Laurent. The bespoke winged headboard in a Lizzo Maze jacquard with Zoffany chenille contrast adds interest and texture to the space.

The children's rooms, located in the attic, feel playful. Rosie chose to cover the walls in GP & J Baker’s Somerton Stripe wallpaper, extending it across the pitched ceilings. "These Victorian townhouses feel like something out of a storybook; we wanted to lean into that," she recalls.

That styling extends to vintage storybooks and teddy bears for this full turnkey project. "I always design kids’ rooms for adults, in a way," she shares. "Adults spend as much time on them as the kids do. Everything needs to be put away and returned to a state of peace and calm."

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Want to see a London townhouse on the other end of the spectrum? Interior designer Mia Karlsson transformed a Hampstead home with luminescent pink walls, a mismatched Mah Jong sofa, and a five-feather chandelier.

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A refurbishment doesn't always need to mean modernizing. There's a common misconception that the 'complete transformation' of a period home means it will inevitably lose its sense of character and history. As this Earls Court apartment has so artfully proven, that doesn't have to be the case.

When Marina Abesadze first viewed the home, it was a far cry from the open-plan, bright, and airy modern home it is today. Abandoned for several years, this Georgian apartment had fallen into complete disarray. Although the home's potential was still clear — with all the beautiful original architectural features you can expect from Georgian properties — a cloak of dust and stains overshadowed any signs of the apartment's former glory. But Marina knew that beneath the peeling walls and worn carpets was an elegant family home begging to be brought back to life.

With help from Delve Architects and Styling Neutrals' Katarina Laurent, she did exactly that. With a brief for something "timeless and elegant, with a soft boldness running throughout," the apartment has been thoroughly transformed. A neutral color scheme forms the backdrop for Marina's rich collection of art and antiques. The updates were chosen with the home's history in mind, and thoughtful material choices and luxurious finishes honor its Georgian roots, all while bringing it into the modern day.

The Brief

After years without upkeep, this grand Georgian home was found in complete disarray when Marina first viewed it. Not only were the finishes outdated and the carpets stained, but there were also major functional issues that needed addressing — the heating and insulation were in as sorry a state as the chartreuse-colored walls.

But even with all this working against it, Marina still saw potential for it to be something truly special. "The space was definitely extremely run-down and in need of lots of love and patience, but it had spectacular potential, and I was filled with ideas on how to reimagine it," she explains.

Immediately upon viewing the property, Marina could envision this space as her new family home. A true testament to the prevailing beauty of Georgian architecture, no matter how outdated, there's just no beating the grand sash windows and high ceilings in homes from this period.

It was these unique architectural features that made the home stand out to Marina. It had character, of course, but there was also a sense of fluidity in the layout that felt like a good fit for her family home. "We fell in love with the expansive, lateral space offered by the apartment and prioritized creating a home with flow and a sense of purpose, from the bedroom wings to the entertaining spaces," she says.

Enhancing and building upon this sense of flow was one of the leading goals in the renovation. Finding a way to build cohesion across the apartment, while also creating clearly defined areas to fulfil the various needs of the family, was, in many ways, the primary goal. So much of this was inspired by what the home already offered, and the natural expansiveness found in the original property. Similarly, from an aesthetic standpoint, Marina again sought to amplify and enhance the natural beauty of this period property, restoring it to its former glory rather than transforming it into something different entirely.

Marina says her goal was "to lean into the grandeur and period features of the apartment, whilst turning it into a perfect family home suitable for modern living."

The Process

But as much potential as the apartment held in its original form, Marina knew bringing this space into the modern day was not going to be an easy task. This was not simply a case of a lick of fresh paint and a new light fitting; this flat required a complete internal refurbishment.

But as anyone who has attempted to modernize a period property knows, the path to renovation is never a simple one. It was a lengthy process to even secure a licence to alter it, delaying the project right from the jump. And, as luck would have it, the challenges didn't end there.

"We ran into plenty of challenges throughout the process right from the beginning when we were initially prevented from putting up scaffolding to reach the fourth-floor apartment," shares Marina. And as the Delve team began stripping the apartment back to its structural shell, there were plenty more unexpected surprises for them to find. But none they couldn't handle. Marina says, "The Delve team, StylingNeutrals, and Sobart were all integral throughout the process of dealing with and overcoming anything that came our way."

Marina was able to mold this space into a layout designed to support her family. Finding a balance between fluidity and separation was key, and was achieved by constructing a separate bedroom wing, removed from the living and entertaining spaces, allowing for a higher degree of privacy for the family members.

The modern kitchen was also moved from the back of the property to the front, creating a further distinction between the privacy of the bedrooms and the social nature of the entertaining spaces.

The Design

While the team at Delve Architects and Katarina Laurent from Styling Neutrals both played significant roles in bringing this space to life, it was Marina's own personal style that really informed the design of this home. Her love of art and antiques is clear throughout, with vintage finds and new designs living side by side for a true transitional design style.

There's a clear stylistic language that remains consistent, with a soft, neutral color palette applied to each room, making the apartment feel like one cohesive space. While this is certainly a popular finish right now, with many modern design projects displaying the same pared-back approach to color, for Marina, this was not a question of following a trend, but rather a core facet of her design preferences.

"I have always gravitated towards neutrals for a backdrop to a space, as I think this creates the best connectivity between rooms," she explains.

In opting for a gentle, neutral foundation, Marina was able to leave space for further experimentation in her decor, without risking overwhelming the space. The neutral tones also serve to accentuate the natural beauty in the home. "In this apartment specifically, the various neutral shades I chose accentuate the spectacular light which flows throughout, whilst allowing me to experiment with accent pieces that add interest," says Marina.

Thanks to the simplicity of the base, Marina was able to build up depth and character through materials, architectural details, and textured finishes. Panelled walls and checkerboard floors bring a sense of drama to the living room, while marble-clad walls create a true spa bathroom experience. Wooden parquet flooring brings warmth and an added vintage appeal to the living areas of the home, while up above, elegant crown molding accentuates the Georgian origins.

If there's one thing this home has perfected, it's the art of decorating with neutrals. Proving there's nothing boring about this color scheme, this design still manages to make an impact without having to rely on bold colors and statement-making prints.

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Renovating a property in 2026 isn't for the faint-hearted. Labor and material costs have never been so high, pinning down a decent build team can be tricky, and deciding on the finished look that actually reflects you — rather than your algorithm — requires a certain amount of conviction. Faced with spiraling build costs and serious decision fatigue, a London couple DM'd Emily Pun of Den on Instagram to ask if she could help them get their Balham build back on track and cast her creative eye over the finished look.

It didn't take long for Emily to whip the building team into shape, pin down color schemes and give the couple the reassurance they needed to create a modern home filled with personality.

With a baby on the way, the original three-bedroom terrace was expanded into a spacious four-bedroom family home, with a loft conversion and rear extension providing much-needed extra space to grow into. Once the structure was in place, it was down to Emily to bring in the warmth, ambience and personality — while encouraging the couple to make braver design decisions along the way.

The couple was already mid-build when they realized they were quickly getting out of their depth — and comfort zone. They reached out to Emily Pun to regain a sense of control over the project and, crucially, make some of those increasingly overwhelming design decisions.

"The main goal was to get the project in line and breathe some clarity and transparency into the process," explains Emily. "We're mindful of making sure that our clients never feel like the process is murky or too opaque. We make sure that everything is out in the open, and sometimes that requires clients to live in the discomfort of the gray areas. So we try to anticipate as much as possible."

When it came to the look of the house, however, the couple weren't starting from scratch. "They came to us with a very clear design aspiration," says Emily. "They, as everybody does, pinned a bunch of images on Pinterest, so they had done quite a significant amount of homework prior to coming to me."

The challenge was turning that inspiration into something that felt personal rather than prescribed. "She wanted the house to feel like them, not a Pinterest board," Emily adds.

While an intentionally neutral base brings a much-needed sense of calm, it's the layers of color and pattern that give the house its personality and make the space feel distinctly their own. Though getting the couple to venture beyond creamy, natural hues took some persuasion.

"The client really, really struggled with color," admits Emily. "She really wanted color, but couldn't visualize from a paint swatch or a sample how it would look in reality. The build was speeding ahead and time was not on our side, so there had to be a lot of trust in me understanding her vision."

Emily helped boost the couple's confidence, from smaller injections of color — like the red Nordic Knots rug in the living room — to braver, more permanent decisions elsewhere, like the bold kitchen island. "The biggest priority was making sure that the house felt unique to them," she adds.

The worktop became the centerpiece of the kitchen — and the starting point for its color palette. "We went to the stone yard together and looked at different quartzite samples," explains Emily. "The clients didn't want marble because of the upkeep and maintenance, so when we spotted this beautiful slab of Nacorado quartzite, it really hit the brief."

There was another contender. "We were torn between it and a jade green slab, but the client thought there was already too much green popping up in the house," says Emily. Instead, the warm rusty-red tones running through the Nacorado informed the kitchen cabinetry, helping to shape the rich, earthy color scheme around it.

The utility room provided an opportunity to have a little more fun. "I pushed the clients to be a bit bolder in here, so we went with glossy cabinet fronts, and I insisted on wallpaper," says Emily. "It elevates a very practical, utilitarian space into somewhere that gives you a little serotonin boost when you walk into it — somewhere that doesn't feel quite so dreadful to do chores."

It's also a perfect example of the high-low approach that runs throughout the house. "We wanted the wallpaper to add a bit of fun and make the room feel more layered," Emily explains. "This is somewhere we made some savings, using a Dulux lime green paint and an inexpensive peel-and-stick wallpaper."

Where they didn't scrimp was on the joinery. Beautifully made but resolutely practical, it conceals a stacked washer and dryer, shelving, a pull-out clothes rail and dedicated storage for the ironing board and vacuum, while the sink provides somewhere to soak shirts. Proof that even the hardest-working room in the house can pack in the personality.

The tiling and stair runner in the entryway were another opportunity to bring in some personality. "The client didn't want traditional reclaimed Victorian tiles; she wanted something that felt a little more fun," explains Emily of the Quorn Stone design.

But the choice was about more than pattern alone. "The view from the entrance through to the kitchen — and then back toward the front door—was really important to her," says Emily. "The whole arrival experience was very intentional, right down to the material choices." The patterned floor helps connect those spaces, creating a strong first impression while setting the more playful tone that continues throughout the house.

Rather than simply presenting clients with a finished scheme, Emily prefers to work through color samples and fabric swatches together in person, encouraging them to notice the shades and textures they instinctively gravitate towards before refining the palette from there.

"She was unknowingly choosing a lot of green at the time — her favorite color is definitely green," laughs Emily. "It wasn't until the house was finished that she realized quite how much of it there was."

In the bedroom, the client's one non-negotiable was a huge bespoke headboard — and she wanted it to be as plush as possible. "It feels very elevated and very different without it feeling too kitsch," says Emily.

Rather than relying on one statement piece to do all the work, the room is made up of smaller, carefully considered design gestures. "When you zoom into certain corners, everything feels very intentional," explains Emily. "Nothing is too overt or fighting with anything else. When it all comes together, it feels harmonious."

Ultimately, Emily's advice for creating a home that feels like your own is simple: trust yourself. "That's not to say you won't make mistakes — we're human, and mistakes are part of the process," she says. "But trust the decisions you make and the things you instinctively love. I think it's better to live in a space of knowing rather than wondering, 'what if I'd chosen that wallpaper?'"

And perhaps that's the real lesson from this home: sometimes the best design decisions are the ones that require a little courage.

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Perched up high in stunning San Francisco with sweeping views across the Bay, this 1912 Victorian home has been brought back to life with a modern personality while consciously holding onto its original charm.

Once upon a time, it was stripped of much of its original character, but now this three-storey, 2600-square-foot modern home has been thoughtfully reworked by architect Jack Backus and designer Clara Jung, principal designer at Banner Day Interiors. She says, “The goal was never a restoration, but to lean into what original details remained while also injecting the various spaces with color and playfulness.” The aim was to create a home that felt layered, fun, and personal to the couple who reside here.

The homeowners who met and married later in life felt sure they wanted their home to be a true reflection of them together — a love for art, an appetite for regularly entertaining, plus their true affinity for color and lack of fear in going bold with it.

This transformation was not only about the look and feel of the home, but also about rejigging the spaces to create the best flow for their lifestyle. As avid entertainers hosting dinner parties every couple of weeks, it was best for the main floor to offer an easy flow for guests while making the most of the amazing views their city had to offer.

From the bold kitchen cabinetry to the ambient sitting room and energetic bathrooms, color and personality weave throughout this home, exuding joy and individuality in every single corner.

Upon entering the home, into what was originally the home's front porch, which was enclosed at some point along the way, the couple wanted to turn it into an artful foyer that functions with ease for everyday comings and goings as well as for entertaining. The graphic marble floor subtly hints at what's to come in the rest of the home, and the floating bench is sculptural yet works hard, underlining the homeowners' treasured artwork above and framed by the wall lights on either side.

The hallway leads nicely into the navy-drenched living room, a cocooning space that accentuates the lighter features like the artwork and ceiling light, allowing them to flourish effortlessly. "We embraced the lower light rather than fighting it and created a room that feels layered and soft," explains Clara Jung of the room's lighting. It also lends itself to those after-dinner cocktails and lounging in the lower-lit room just across from the dining table.

"The clients wanted to lean into a classic den atmosphere, so we chose a deep, dark blue to envelop the space." Even the wall mirror has a story: "It sits where a third window was closed off when the front porch was absorbed into the house, so it stands in for that lost window." At a glance, you may not even notice.

An open but broken plan between the living and dining room allows for that much-desired flow between the spaces for guests to enjoy. The materials chosen naturally communicate between the two rooms, and this creates a solid sense of connection and consistency.

Moving upstairs to the star of the show, there really isn't anything like a pop of periwinkle to zhuzh up an otherwise light and neutral space — the energy is bold and intentional, and now it's there; we can't imagine it without that strong accent. But what's the story behind it? "This was truly the client's vision," says Clara. "She had her heart set on a periwinkle kitchen, and we were happy to help bring it to life. Our contributions were the unique cabinetry details and the curved island. Those millwork details complement the unusual color and make it read as a cohesive, complete design decision."

We took the liberty of asking Clara how to introduce a bold color like this into a home in general; she explained, "Make sure the context supports it. A bold color needs a reason to be there. I think this color would feel far less intentional on ordinary cabinet profiles, for example. The custom details are what make it feel considered."

When it comes to the rest of the kitchen finishes and how the palette works cohesively, Clara elaborates, "The moments of white oak temper the boldness of the painted cabinetry. The stone is a bolder choice, and it's the ideal dance partner for the periwinkle, while its monochromatic veining keeps the overall look fresh."

This space needed to be strong; it leads us out to the view across the Bay, and this design definitely ensures the kitchen doesn't go unnoticed.

The powder room — a small but powerful part of the home, housing a detailed monochrome palette featuring heavily in the wallpaper and artwork, but grounded by its dark wooden floor and brushed brass hardware.

Clara reveals why she opted for this decorative wall finish: "In most of our projects, we try to pay homage to the architectural roots of the home, but here many of the original details were gone. I loved this wallpaper because it's a traditional pastoral landscape reproduced with a contemporary twist. It captured the reinvention of this home perfectly."

The guest bedroom and bathroom were the perfect places to inject a real sense of play and reveal the couple's fearlessness towards bold color, as it's temporary for anyone who stays, and the homeowners can indulge in it whenever they like.

"This guest bathroom wallpaper the client had been eyeing up for a while, and we were happy to give it a home here. It's a celebration of women and cheerful femininity. There's a fine line between celebrating a paper like this and keeping the overall design elevated, so we grounded the space with more muted tile colors," says Clara.

The main bedroom and bathroom are calm yet design-led spaces, still offering up ample personality, texture, and color. This primary bedroom was moved down into the basement, and Clara explains it's actually very well suited to a space like this since it's mostly used in the evening and early morning: "That cocooning quality becomes an asset."

"The primary bathroom takes its cues from the bedroom: classic details with a bit of boldness in the artwork and stone." The tonal wall tiles work a treat against the brass and the rest of the neutral bathroom. "This bathroom sits directly on the foundation slab, so there was no good way to slope the floor toward the drain for a curbless shower. The raised edge solves that practically by keeping water where it belongs. Rather than fight it, we treated the curb as a clean, tailored edge that frames the shower."

Without a doubt, this home is rich in color and overall energy, but that view is rare and offers never-ending joy, so designing a home where this couple could sit and enjoy it was incredibly important. "On the day of the shoot, I arrived extra early to beat bridge traffic and watched the sunrise from the family room. It was one of the prettiest sunrises I've seen in San Francisco. I persuaded John, our photographer, to come back the next morning to try to capture it, and we got lucky."

"There were walls that used to block any clear views of the city, so as part of the project we enlarged the bifold doors, balcony, and adjacent windows as much as possible," says Clara. Now, this is what you'd call a picture window.

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A first family home holds a particular significance — a place to pour your heart into, surround yourself with colors that spark joy, and make room for the rituals of life together. For this family of five — a couple and their three children — that vision took shape in a 1,343-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence in Berkeley, California.

"The clients expressed a desire to completely reject that ‘flipper gray’ aesthetic; instead, they wanted a residence that felt happy, warm, and infused with soul," shares Jihan Spearman, founder and principal designer of Spearman Spaces, a San Francisco–based interior design studio known for creating spaces as emotionally resonant as they are visually striking.

Working within a tight timeline, the team at Spearman Spaces rethought the layout to carve out more storage and ease movement between rooms, making every square foot work harder. The home’s midcentury influences guided the remodel, informing layers of color, texture, and detail that give the modern home warmth. The result is a residence attuned to the rhythms of family life.

The home does not shy away from bold tones, as the modern living room makes abundantly clear with its multicolored furniture, fabrics, and decorative accents. Throughout the room, thoughtful tonal pairings create a sunny, cheerful, and welcoming atmosphere.

"Plush, low-slung upholstery invites relaxed family lounging, while unexpected accents and artful pattern-mixing give the space a curated, 'editorial edge'," shares Jihan. "We also loved the geometric architectural elements just outside the front door, so the focal point of the living room became the large windows and elements just beyond them."

The kitchen’s compact proportions do not weigh down its exuberant character. Surprisingly, the small kitchen’s palette emerged organically: "Starting with a happy, vibrant color, Sherwin-Williams Friendly Yellow for the cabinetry, paired with a bold patterned marble and cutesy accent hardware — like the custom walnut pull on the range and a white bobble dishwasher handle," says Jihan.

The skylight above ensures the room always feels open and airy — and most importantly, sunny. Polished hardware and crisp architectural lines balance the richness of the dark wood and marble, keeping the composition bright and buoyant.

Finding room for kitchen storage required a more strategic approach. With the clients committed to preserving the existing layout, opening walls or moving windows and skylights was off the table. Instead, Jihan turned to a familiar solution: carrying the kitchen cabinetry into the adjoining dining room.

"This built-in, hutch-like extension provided a dedicated home for serving platters, countertop appliances, and a coffee station, giving us ample functional space while respecting the existing architectural shell," she adds.

The adjoining dining room is equally compact, but abundant natural light gives it an inviting look — a place for family meals and gatherings with friends.

The home’s mid-century modern architecture set the direction, "and because the clients love that era of design, we leaned into those elements for the dining room, selecting black leather dining chairs, warm walnut and cherry woods, and clean, geometric forms that complement the home's original architectural era," shares Jihan.

The interplay of tones continues into the home’s private spaces, with a rich green bedroom palette in the primary space. The color creates a calming setting for the parents to wind down, while small pops of color in the accessories lend a playful touch.

"Instead of making the room feel smaller, the saturated green wall color recedes visually, bringing a sense of calm and depth," says Jihan. "It creates a restful backdrop that pairs beautifully with warm wood tones and soft, woven yellow textiles. Furthermore, because the bedroom window looks directly out into a lush backyard filled with trees and foliage, the green paint acts as a seamless extension of the landscape outside — making you feel as though you are sleeping nestled in nature."

Meanwhile, much like the bedroom, the small bathroom feels like a luxury space, with all important amenities thoughtfully integrated into it. A rich brown palette grounds the room, while brass and marble add depth and texture.

"We anchored the room with a rich, dark tile foundation — pairing a tie-dye-inspired wall tile with a Nero floor and baseboard tile — to create a continuous, architectural backdrop," explains the designer.

"Sitting within this setting as a standalone furniture piece, a 55-inch vanity in brown oak features woven cane detailing and a Brown Emperador marble top, providing generous storage while seamlessly complementing the warm, earthy tones," she adds. "To keep the sightlines clean and prevent the tub and shower zone from feeling cramped or looking directly at the toilet, we added a wall that clearly defines the wet area while allowing natural light to flow freely."

Vibrant pops of blue and traditional patterns bring a final note of playfulness and drama.

While the parents go blue, the kids' spaces have gone green. In fact, the kids' room color scheme was carried over from their previous home. "We wanted the children to feel an immediate sense of comfort and familiarity in this new, temporary space, so we opted to match the color palettes they loved from their former bedrooms," says Jihan.

The room draws on a warm, mid-century-inspired palette, layering rich blues, terracotta, and playful accent colors through paint, millwork, and textiles.

The cheerful blue palette continues in the kids' bathroom, where penny floor tiles with striking blue grout ground the space. Classic marble wall tiles line the shower enclosure and curb.

"An unapologetic, bold, shiny red wall-mounted faucet serves as the ultimate design punch above a compact 24-inch marble vanity, complemented by polished chrome hardware that injects a bright, tactile sparkle," adds the designer. "The room’s high-efficiency footprint relies on clever recessed storage engineered directly into the wall framing, including a generous 32" x 16" shower niche trimmed in quarter-round tile, a flush 12.25" x 5" wall niche, and an inset medicine cabinet."

The design also leaves room for the children to grow. Once the hand-painted mural is removed, the red hardware and graphic tile accents will take on a pop-art sensibility, giving the playful bathroom a more grown-up feel.

A myriad of colors and clever design interventions made this a distinctive project for Jihan. Behind its cheerful rooms, however, was a demanding deadline. "Our biggest challenge was an extraordinary time constraint. The clients needed this house renovated on a rapid, multi-month timeline so they could live here while we undertook the comprehensive renovation of their primary residence. We were under intense pressure driven entirely by lead times and immediate stock availability. Fortunately, the clients trusted us completely and gave us free rein to make immediate design calls on the fly, allowing us to maintain momentum and deliver a fully custom, finished home on an expedited schedule."

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Located in the heart of Milan's Navigli district, and once the warehouse of an astrophysics professor approaching retirement, Studio Paradisiartificiali transformed the 37-square-meter space into a studio that reflects the new owner's vested interest in philosophy and metaphysics.

In collaboration with artist Owen Gent, this small apartment surrenders itself to otherworldly murals and a curated landscape of bright furniture and decor punctuating the white box. It's proof that studio apartments can take on a far-from-ordinary and distinctly transportive aesthetic.

The client's prompt — a space for people who will spend a few days in Milan — felt simple. But to say the result is anything close to elementary would be a shameful understatement.

"We found this idea of Mysterious Baths being a shelter for travellers passing through fascinating," say Lorenzo and Alessandro, the force behind Studio Paradisiartificiali. "It made us think of the home less as a place of belonging and more as a place of passage and encounter; something brief and unexpected, but still capable of leaving a trace."

And Milan felt like the perfect city for it. "Behind its ordered, rational appearance, there is a more secret and imaginative side that does not reveal itself straight away," Lorenzo continues.

Even the best hotels in Milan weave in a sense of escapism that will make you yearn for a return to the storied city. And the designers recount how this apartment serves as a portal to that canon event of rediscovering the pleasure of getting lost and making unexpected discoveries.

"With Mysterious Baths, we wanted to give form not simply to a space, but to this particular way of looking at the world," says Lorenzo. "To remain open to surprise and to recognize that what we discover may belong as much to our imagination as to the place itself. Perhaps this was the deepest inspiration behind the project. The idea that every discovery begins with an encounter."

Even a momentary glance through the project will make you do a double-take at the arched murals that pull you into a surrealist pocket of what feels like a snapshot of an arid dream-state. Lorenzo and Alessandro explain that this spotlight-stealing moment was born from a long-standing fascination with artist Owen Gent. Particularly, his ability to create images that seem to contain a story without ever revealing it completely.

"When we realized that Mysterious Baths was developing a metaphysical character, Owen immediately came to mind," Alessandro explains. "We wanted to develop the space and the wall mural together, allowing each to influence and transform the other."

"While looking for ways to give future guests a sense of our cultural identity, Giorgio de Chirico, founder of the metaphysical art movement, became an important reference," he adds. "We were drawn to his ability to turn familiar elements of Italian life into archetypes of an imagined landscape."

In fact, the project takes its name from one of his recurring themes, I Bagni Misteriosi (The Mysterious Baths). "De Chirico explored this subject over many years through paintings, drawings, and lithographs, and later in the famous sculptural work created in Milan in 1973," shares Lorenzo.

Just imagine what a sultry Euro summer afternoon might feel like, lazing in between visions of the never-ending staircase and the painted oasis swathed by golden sands. It would be something of a deeply introspective, revealing experience. But it's not just these almost Dalí-esque murals that tell a story...

It's no secret that color plays a vital role in this white-walled studio. However, there is a story within its curation that might not feel outrightly clear at first.

"The challenge was to gradually transform the fresco painted on the wall into a domestic landscape, while preserving the project’s metaphorical dimension and the ability of ordinary things to be transfigured," say Lorenzo and Alessandro.

"The midday light filtering through the two large skylights bathes the interior in a radiant Mediterranean palette of saturated, vibrant colors. A staircase becomes a pyramid, a round window a sun, the sofas become bushes, and ultimately, the entire apartment reveals itself as a small inhabitable landscape."

Studio Paradisiartificiali's foremost lesson for us to take away from this home is to tap into architectural freedom. Rather than play to the surface-level restraints of your space, they recommend leaning into playfulism and framing your own perspective of what a home's aesthetic should look like.

"We love the idea that a very small space can create a sense of vastness, making its actual size almost irrelevant," they say. In this case, size doesn't really matter. The open layout finds its own invisible thresholds, and the loft bed is tucked away from the fun for a true moment of respite.

When asked about the trickiest hurdle in designing Mysterious Baths, they clarified that a small project does not necessarily require a small amount of work. "When the idea is ambitious, the opposite can be true," they said.

"Mysterious Baths required an amount of energy that was probably out of proportion to its size. But sometimes the need to express something becomes more important than purely practical considerations."

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It's not just metaphysicality that can set your home's vibe apart. Take a tour of this candy-colored London home, where comparatively subdued yet playful design takes over.

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There is a particular contradiction at the heart of living high above Manhattan. The higher you rise, the more of the city you can see — and, at the same time, the further removed you become from the noise, movement, and accidental encounters that define life at street level. At 262 Fifth Avenue, that tension becomes the starting point for a different kind of high-rise modern home: one intensely connected to New York visually, yet conceived as a retreat from its relentless pace.

Its location makes that duality particularly relevant. NoMad sits in one of those characteristically New York territories where different versions of the city overlap: Midtown and Downtown, historic architecture and new development, hospitality, offices and increasingly ambitious residential projects. Just north of Madison Square Park, 262 Fifth Avenue introduces an emphatically vertical form of domestic life into this dense urban landscape.

Developed by Five Points Development Group and designed by international architecture studio Meganom, the 52-storey, 262-meter tower contains only 26 full-floor and duplex residences. Norm Architects was responsible for the interiors, approaching the project less as an opportunity to amplify the spectacle of living above Manhattan than as an exercise in containing it. The studio describes the residences as ‘vertical villas suspended above Manhattan’, balancing expansive city views with privacy and calm.

“The openness was both the opportunity and the challenge,” says Robert Graf, senior architect at Norm Architects. “With so much glazing and so few structural interruptions, we had to create a sense of intimacy through the interiors themselves. The intention was for the apartment to feel expansive when you look outward, but warm and comfortable in everyday use.”

Large oak volumes became one of the main tools for achieving that balance. Rather than dividing the open plan into conventional rooms, they guide movement, absorb storage and technical functions, and create smaller moments within the much larger floor plate. The result is an interior that unfolds gradually through changing degrees of openness and enclosure.

One of these bespoke volumes defines the entrance, combining storage, display and technical requirements within a single oak cabinet. For Graf, details like this were essential to giving the apartment its sense of calm. “Resolving those practical details helped give the home its coherent character,” he explains

The same attention was applied where the interior meets the façade. With so much glass, windows could easily have remained simply spectacular openings onto the skyline. Instead, Norm draws them into the domestic landscape: deep sills become places to sit, while built-in elements encourage inhabitants to move close to the glass. In the dining area, integrated window seats turn the panoramic glazing into places to gather and pause. Norm

Rather than presenting Manhattan as a single uninterrupted panorama, the interior repeatedly edits and frames it. The clearest example is the circular oculus on the southeast façade, which became an important point of orientation for the apartment. “It draws the eye toward a particular part of the city, almost like a camera focusing on its subject,” says Graf. “We wanted the interior to give that circular opening space to breathe.”

Elsewhere, the main north-south axis responds to the Empire State Building, allowing some views to open completely while others appear only through doorways or between architectural elements. “That variation makes the city feel like part of a sequence of experiences, rather than a constant backdrop,” Graf adds. It is perhaps the project’s most compelling idea. In a Manhattan skyscraper, where the view could so easily become the dominant decorative feature, architecture instead determines how and when the city enters the room.

The furniture follows a similarly restrained approach. Pieces by Gio Ponti, Vincent Van Duysen and Tobia Scarpa bring individual character without attempting to compete with the architecture or skyline. “We wanted the furniture to sit comfortably within the scale of the rooms while allowing the architecture and the skyline to remain present,” says Graf. Rather than filling the generous floor plate, furniture creates smaller zones for eating, conversation and rest, giving the eye “places to rest between the interior and the city beyond”.

Materiality provides another layer of continuity. Natural oak runs through joinery and architectural volumes, joined by stone and softly textured surfaces that bring warmth and tactility to the otherwise expansive spaces. Norm deliberately kept the palette restrained, creating what the studio describes as a calm counterpoint to the constantly changing city outside.

In the bathrooms, Grigio Alpi marble introduces a greater sense of solidity. Stone sinks and bathtubs were developed specifically for the project, including a principal bathtub carved from a single block of marble. Its softened curves temper the material's monumentality — a contrast Graf describes as making something substantial feel “more intimate and inviting”.

Satin-finished stainless steel fittings by CEADESIGN from the GIOTTO, GRADI and MILO360 collections add a cooler register against the stone and timber. Their precision and restrained finish allow them to remain part of the broader architectural language rather than becoming decorative statements in themselves.

The staircase offers another sculptural moment. Wrapped in timber and shaped by a continuous curve, it is softened by a leather-covered handrail — a deliberately tactile detail intended to make the architecture something to be physically experienced, rather than simply viewed.

That interest in texture and atmosphere extends to the art. Works by Barcelona-based artist Nikolay Morgunov were selected for their relationship with light, shadow and materiality, qualities that Five Points Development Group saw as closely aligned with Norm Architects’ approach.

“We chose this specific artist because he represents values similar to Norm Architects’ concept,” says Bogdan Peric, Chief Architect at Five Points Development Group. The intention was to use the artwork to create continuity with the interior, rather than introduce a separate visual language.

The quieter mood becomes even more pronounced in the private areas, where pale materials, natural light, and built-in seating create moments of retreat. Even circulation spaces are treated as places to pause, while framed views keep the city present without allowing it to overwhelm the room.

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An unfinished basement? An attic begging for a renovation? These spaces are some of the trickiest to make the most of in our homes. But when done well, it can become the ultimate 'accent' room — a space to flex your design muscles and create a characterful retreat. And no, I'm not just talking about any standard developer's conversion; I'm referring to a transformation as curated as the 'attic suite' in this Notting Hill townhouse by interior designer Alejandra Ríos Moguer, founder of Palma House.

"I didn't want my client's bedroom to be just a place to sleep; I wanted it to be somewhere she'd actually live," Alejandra explains. So she created different areas within the suite. There's a long desk under the window, "with plenty of room to paint, which she loves, and it looks out over the garden," she shares. "Then there's a little snug with two beautiful, comfortable armchairs and a table, the kind of corner where a friend comes up for tea or coffee and a good gossip."

But perhaps one of the most impressive design elements is something you can't actually see — and that's intentional. The ceiling has custom molding that transforms the vents and machinery (which would be eyesores) into a stylistic statement. If you're currently dreaming up your own loft conversion idea, this London attic has more than a few ah-ha moments worth stealing.

The Ceiling

While the whole room is stunning, the ceiling certainly demands your attention. Not because of a bold color choice or maximalist wallpapering, but through a subtle, yet effective decorative plasterwork. "The ceiling was something I really wanted to make a feature of because of the existing beams and all the services within the roof," says Alejandra Ríos Moguer. Rather than trying to hide everything by making the ceiling flat (which would have significantly lowered it), she softened it by making the details feel intentional.

The scalloped plaster detailing was a masterstroke. "It creates these soft curves between the beams, which almost makes the ceiling feel a little bit like fabric," she explains. "The ball-shaped architectural mouldings soften the edges further and give it that slightly more crafted, decorative feel." It blends those traditional design elements with something more unexpected.

And though it turned out amazing, it was, unsurprisingly, one of the biggest challenges of the redesign. There were existing vents and machinery in the roof that needed to be navigated.

"I was actually quite scared of adding more volume to the roof because there was already so much going on with the different angles, beams, vents, and services," says Alejandra. "Normally, you might think the solution is to simplify and remove things, but I wanted to do the opposite and add another layer to it."

She introduced the scalloped plaster and ball mouldings to soften the edges and disguise the services, " while giving the ceiling a much more crafted, decorative feel," continues Alejandra. "I wanted it to feel tactile and almost hand-finished, rather than too architectural or polished." The result is an unexpected ceiling treatment that turns a standard style into an unforgettable moment.

The Bedroom

Overall, the goal of this renovation was to transform the loft into a beautiful bedroom suite — something separate from the main home. "I wanted the bedroom to feel quite different from the rest of the house. It's at the top of the house, so it almost feels like its own little retreat," says Alejandra.

Throughout the bedroom makeover process, Alejandra was "thinking about that feeling you get in a really beautiful hotel room, somewhere that feels cozy and slightly cocooning, but still quite sophisticated." She wanted the space to feel warm but a little bit unexpected, and what better way to create that feeling than stealing inspiration from the best hotel bedrooms?

A lot of that came through the colors and textures. "We used this beautiful moss-green velvet on the bed, burgundy and rust tones, mohair on the curved chairs, and then the grasscloth on the wardrobes with the silk coral tiger fabric," she explains. "I love the contrast between those richer colors and the warmth of the oak." It's so good, you can't believe it's not the primary bedroom.

The Details

However, beyond the main features, the details are what really bring this space to life. From the coral Tiger Mountain fabric on the wardrobe and the purple leather desk chair, to the curated seating area that makes the space feel that much cozier.

The space was already a bedroom, "but it felt quite chaotic, and there were lots of different things happening at once," explains Alejandra. "From the beginning, I knew I wanted the joinery to really follow the architecture, so everything feels very integrated rather than like furniture that's just been put into the room," Alejandra adds. Each moment has its own space to shine, but still works in harmony with one another through materials, colors, and shape.

"I think the biggest thing for me was really embracing the fact that it's an attic," she explains. "There are so many different roof angles and awkward corners, and I didn’t want to try to hide any of that. I actually wanted to make a feature of it."

The Bathroom

"I also knew from the beginning that I wanted the bathroom design mood to have quite a strong personality, because it's such a small space and I think you can be a little more playful with those rooms," says Alejandra.

But again, the biggest challenge was the geometry of the space. "Nothing is really straightforward in an attic — every wall, ceiling, and junction has its own little angle," says Alejandra. That meant the joinery had to be carefully measured and detailed, because you can't hide anything when everything is bespoke.

"I think those constraints ended up making the space much more interesting," Alejandra admits. Nothing like a custom bathroom curation trick to elevate a space from drab to fab.

In terms of the stunning dark green marble counters in the bathroom, "there were definitely some logistical challenges getting materials and larger pieces up to the top of the house," says Alejandra. "The marble basin in particular was quite an operation!" But this suite renovation just further proves that good design choices, no matter the complexity, truly pay off.

"For me, designing a space isn't just about making it look nice; it's about activating it," says Alejandra. "I always think about how a room is going to be used, and then I design around that." Before, it may have been a simple attic bedroom idea, but now it's a captivating, design-forward space that really adds something extra to the home.

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If someone invents a time machine, I hope they use it to go back to the 80s and convince everyone to stop botching beautiful, historic homes with their 'modern' renovation projects.

But, failing time travel, a loving restoration is the answer. Much like many period properties across the globe, this Milanese apartment fell victim to an 80s renovation, resulting in the loss of many of the unique architectural features that make restored modern homes feel so special. As unfortunate as this is, it meant the goal for this project was clear from the jump: "The main priority was to bring out the apartment’s traditional Milanese character." For Matilde Valagussa, an architect at Milan-based design firm Atelier Zero, this meant preserving as much of what remained as possible.

Although this design was sure to honor the history of the home, that by no means meant that there was no room for modern design in the space. In fact, what makes this home so unique is the way in which contemporary design ideas and historical features sit alongside one another in perfect harmony. It's a space that is true to its Milanese roots, embracing the city's current design style just as much as it does the traditions these ideas were built on. With a bold, unique use of color and a style that combines eclecticism with simplicity, this family apartment should be considered the blueprint for modern restoration projects.

The Brief

While many apartments face the challenge of minimal space, luckily, in this home, that wasn't a concern. "The clients are a family of four, and the apartment, which had previously been created by joining two adjoining units, already offered plenty of space," explains Matilde.

Instead, when designing this apartment, they were tasked with making two previously distinct homes feel like one cohesive space. They had to adapt the existing layout to make it work for family life, introducing a better flow through careful tweaks to the internal architecture. Instead of knocking through walls straight away, Matilde found a way to make the space work with minimal damage.

With minimal structural work needed, the priority turned to reinstating as much of the character as possible. As Matilde explains, "Some of its original features had been lost during a renovation in the 1980s, so we wanted to preserve as much as possible of what remained, including the ceiling moldings, paneled doors, and original parquet in the living and dining area and bedrooms."

With such beautiful original features operating as the foundation for the design, Matilde says, "Those existing details became the starting point for the renovation."

The luxury of working with such a unique space is that you don't need to search far for design ideas. In fact, Matilde says, "One of the main sources of inspiration was actually the apartment itself, with things like the proportions of the rooms, the tall doorways and the views connecting one space to another."

Instead of looking to contemporary interior design trends, the basis for the design was developing a style around what was already there and finding ways to heighten and accentuate the features that drew the clients to the property to begin with.

A true transitional style home, Matilde says, "We liked the idea of working with those qualities to create a home where different periods could sit comfortably together."

And though the 80s renovation saw the loss of much of the home's original character, the design ethos of that era actually went on to inspire the approach used in this restoration project. "The freedom of 1980s design was another important reference, particularly the way simple geometries and familiar materials could be combined into something surprising," says Matilde.

This unrestrained, stylistic confidence is evident throughout the space, though perhaps most notably in the color-blocked, painted bands covering the apartment. Without removing the existing architecture, these boldly painted blocks and bands help establish a new, contemporary architectural language that sits alongside the original cornices and period features.

As Matilde puts it, "We were interested in how a few carefully placed elements could give the existing architecture a different feel."

Inspiration came not just from the home itself, but from its surroundings, too. The city of Milan is integral to this home's interior design style; it's the reference point that it all comes back to, and it bleeds into every part of the home.

Milan is not quite like the other tourist destination cities of Italy. There's an urbanity that thrives alongside the city's history, a bustling modern life that can surprise many visitors at first. This is, in part, what the team at Atelier Zero finds so alluring, and so inspiring about the place. "What fascinates us about Milan is how gradually it reveals itself because so much of its beauty is tucked away and you need to spend time with the city to notice it," says Matilde. "We try to bring something of that experience into our interiors."

Much like what she loved about design in the 80s, Milan offers that same element of surprise. A beauty that exists within the unexpected, born out of glimpses of contrast. "We want the home to feel coherent as a whole while offering smaller and unexpected moments that have their own atmosphere."

Perhaps the most obvious reference to Milan comes through the materials: "The new terrazzo floors, original parquet and decorative details also give the apartment a distinctly Milanese character."

But more crucially, what feels so distinctly Milanese is the underlying playfulness throughout the design. "For us though, something particularly Milanese is the sense of humor that accompanies elegance," explains Matilde. "We like an interior that is carefully considered but doesn’t take itself too seriously. An unexpected color or material combination can bring that slight touch of irony into an otherwise composed space."

The Process

A surprisingly simple renovation, considering the transformation; with ample space in the apartment, the bulk of the work came from adapting the layout rather than finding ways to squeeze things in.

Through a series of shifts and repositioning, they found a floor plan that felt right for the family. Most changes focused on introducing more flow and ensuring the space suited the family's lifestyle. For example, a large bathroom was converted into a utility room and a smaller guest bathroom, and an existing bathroom was reworked into an ensuite for the primary bedroom, giving the parents a touch more privacy.

"Elsewhere we simplified the layout by tidying up the awkward recesses, niches and zigzagging wall lines left by the previous renovation," explains Matilde. "These had made the spaces feel unnecessarily fragmented, and resolving them gave the rooms more regular proportions and made it easier to arrange furniture and move through the apartment."

Without major changes, they were able to breathe new life into the home, adapting it to transform how the space felt.

The Design

Perhaps the most striking element of this apartment is how color brings structure to the space. In what could otherwise feel like quite a vast, intimidating home, these geometric splashes of color help the eye navigate through the space, creating distinct zones with nothing more than a lick of paint.

This technique is emblematic of the Atelier Zero approach to color more generally. As Matilde explains it, "We see color as an architectural tool, and it plays an important role in how we organize an apartment."

Color is not just a decorative feature for them; it is used to define the purpose of a space, dictating how you move through it and exist within it. An example of how color theory can be used in the home, Matilde explains, "Each color is associated with a particular function, making those distinctions feel natural as you move around."

In this home, they created further contrasts between the spaces by alternating between warm and cool tones from room to room, creating "a little tension between adjoining spaces." This further plays on that element of surprise, keeping you in a constant state of intrigue and delight.

While there is no shortage of strikingly beautiful spots in this home, from the custom island to the luxuriously large living room, Matilde's favorite spot is something comparatively understated.

Tucked behind the primary bedroom, it's the small built-in tub that takes the top spot for Matilde. "The tub is finished in mosaic and surrounded by walls clad in Moroccan zellige tiles, making it feel like a cozy little retreat," she explains.

An all-blue bathroom may not be the typical choice when designing a spa bathroom, but in this space, the calming color is the perfect fit.

But, as ever, what makes this spot so special is not just the design itself, but how it relates to the city around it. "What really makes it special is the window because you can see the traditional buildings of old Milan alongside the city’s skyscrapers," says Matilde. "It’s a very intimate corner of the home, somewhere to take a bath and look out over the city."

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If this apartment alone was enough to get you craving a trip to Milan, then Livingetc's lifestyle editor, Gilda Bruno's curated list of the best hotels in Milan will, and so will her list of the best restaurants in Milan, too.

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Oftentimes the most successful interior spaces blend traditional design and characterful modern elements — a home that considers the natural world around it, past influences, and the lives of the people who live there. And while the glamorous and opulent fashions of the Art Deco movement have had a fabulous contemporary renaissance over the last couple of years, this modern home in Vienna takes its cue from Deco's design predecessor. And now, I'm convinced that a little Art Nouveau influence breeds the perfect blend of serenity and elegance.

When taking on this project, Ukrainian-based designer Yana Molodykh embraced both the building's unique geometry and the city of Vienna itself. "Vienna has always been a continuous source of inspiration, with the Viennese Secession at its heart. The challenge — and the joy — was to capture the city’s distinctive atmosphere and rich historical heritage while subtly weaving it into the interior," shares Yana. Art Nouveau interior design became the shared language that led to a greater harmony.

"Art Nouveau is characterized by lines that flow smoothly and continuously, without a defined beginning or end. In this apartment, I embraced that fluid, organic approach, allowing lines to wrap around the space like a ribbon — softening sharp corners and creating a sense of continuous movement," adds Yana. This approach turned architectural challenges into design features. And the culmination of this eight-month project is a residence that achieves an atmosphere of elegance, where "luxury is felt through quality rather than volume."

The Living Room

In many ways, the modern living room is the 'room de résistance' of the home, if you will. The curves and Nouveau influence really come to life through the furniture, decor, and structural features. And this space was one of the designer's initial points of focus.

Though Yana Molodykh says, "There weren't any specific design features that I knew I wanted from the very beginning," softening uncomfortable corners and sharp angles with curved forms was paramount. "I especially wanted to correct the trapezoidal shape of the living room." Yana achieved this through custom millwork, "which allowed us to visually reshape the room and make its proportions feel more balanced and harmonious," adds Yana.

The curved wall mirrors the bean-shaped sofa across the room, creating a seamless, flowing spatial experience that "feels both expansive and protective," says Yana.

The Dining Area

The open floorplan guides you from the living room into the dining and kitchen area. Where open layouts can read as dated and sparse in contemporary design, the Art Nouveau influences help make the open concept feel cozier. The flow that the curves create means no entrance to the next 'area' feels like too harsh or stark a change. Rather, the lines draw you from room to room, again, while still feeling elegantly restrained.

The curved mirrored bar, the tall but flowing curtains, and 'whiplash-esque' pendant are some standout decor moments that hint at the Nouveau influence. It's all very subtle, but the quality speaks for itself. Plus, the view of the city from the dining table brings back the home's sense of character.

"The home is nestled within Vienna's diplomatic quarter, in The Ambassy — Parkside Living building, which is positioned masterfully between the historic Lobmeyr workshop and the lush expanse of the Stadtpark," says Yana. The panoramic windows and high ceilings invite the spirit of Vienna indoors, "and offer a rare duality of urban sophistication and serene natural surroundings, Yana adds.

The Kitchen

"The renovation had already been completed when I came into the project, so there was very little we could change structurally," says Yana. Still, fitting in those high-quality details that merge practicality and design was always the goal, which you can see clearly in the kitchen countertop material, gold hardware, and understated color palette.

"One of the main non-negotiables was preserving the original parquet, which was an important part of the apartment's character," says Yana. The warmth of the wooden floors reflects through the rest of the palette, both in this modern kitchen and throughout the rest of the home. "Rather than altering the space, I wanted to work with what was already there and build the design around its existing architectural qualities," adds Yana.

The Bathroom

A similar mindset was at play when creating the main bath — it was important to keep the Art Nouveau style and city of Vienna as a clear influence, but with luxurious, modern finishes. "For me, the connection to the past is not about recreating a traditional design style or historical interior. It is about capturing the spirit of the city and translating it into something contemporary, using modern furniture, lighting, materials, and custom details," explains Yana.

And it couldn't be more clear in this space. The stunning golden, sculptural sconce above the bath, the matching gold hardware around the room, and shape of the mirror are very clear references to Nouveau style, while elements like the layered lighting scheme, contrasting details, and materials make it a functionally and stylistically contemporary space.

The Main Bedroom

Beyond the finishes, materials, and curved motifs, the coordinating paint color palette throughout the apartment really drives home the elegance of this Viennese home. The main bedroom is where the soft blues and natural oranges feel the most realized, but they are all still present throughout the home.

Not only are these shades a classic color palette in both Nouveau design and European cities, but it also has a subtle elegance as a bedroom palette. As Yana describes, "The warm glow of brass and the crystal shimmer of glass, enhanced by delicate touches of blue, create an aesthetic that feels timeless, subtly refined, and harmonious."

"I cannot help but sense the gentle influence of the Vienna Secession in the apartment's color palette," adds Yana.

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Though this Vienna apartment shows how to expertly infuse past interior design styles in an elevated, modern space, Yana says, "I wasn't trying to blend old and new styles. Instead, I was inspired by Vienna itself and its rich architectural and cultural heritage, and used that as a starting point to create a new story for the space through contemporary pieces."

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Being bestowed with a home of great architectural heritage is a joy and an honor — but together with legacy, new owners often also acquire a side helping of pressure. The young couple who inherited this house in Mexico City’s San Ángel neighborhood — an affluent area that, alongside its colonial architecture, also features standout modernist buildings such as Frida Kahlo's and Diego Rivera's house-studio — loved the original structure, designed in 1962 by mid-century architect Jaime Ortiz Monasterio. And yet, they still felt like it needed a shake-up.

That's why they called on architect Andrés Gutiérrez, whose A-G estudio has a penchant for cheerfulness and surprising texture. "They wanted to take away some of its seriousness and make it feel younger, fresher, and more reflective of who they are; a modern home that felt contemporary, playful, and full of color, while still respecting the original architecture," says Andrés, who handled both the renovation and the upbeat interior design. "They also wanted it to have a distinctly Mexican identity, but without falling into folkloric clichés."

The meeting point between those two ideas is precisely where Andrés Gutiérrez's work has been focusing lately. Ever since he started his studio sixteen years ago, with projects spanning residences, restaurants, and hotels, he's always felt drawn to exploring and unpacking the culture of his own country. "I often feel the need to approach design as an ongoing exploration of national identity," he says. "Research is a very important part of my process, and I have a deep love for art."

With this project, that translates into many shrewd choices, from materials to decor. All of the furniture — from modernist armchairs by Ciudad Juarez-born Antonio Attolini Lack to pieces by contemporary studios Ad Hoc, Bibi Bibi, and Comité de Proyectos — was made in Mexico. Much of it was customized in specific hues or finishes for a unique result; some items — including cabinets, credenzas, and the outdoor dining chairs — were designed by Andrés himself (who trained in industrial design as well as interiors).

The art on the walls, too, is all by Mexican creatives. "We were particularly drawn to works that reference Mexico’s pre-Hispanic past and to pieces with a very strong use of color," explains Andrés. "The idea was never to recreate a particular period, but rather to allow these different moments in Mexican design and visual culture to coexist within the same space."

Still, Andrés' pick of a striking color palette — lilac rugs and sofas, duck-egg walls, and pea-green upholstered chairs — also comes from a very personal place. "I've always been deeply connected to color, and I simply can't imagine designing interiors in any other way," he admits.

"For me, one of the most important aspects of interior design, perhaps the most important of all, is making people feel something," he continues. "Color is one of the most powerful tools I have to achieve that. Sometimes I think I use design simply as a means of artistic expression. For me, design and art are first experienced through the eyes, and that visual impact is incredibly important."

That same exuberance applies to his use of volume and shape: from the marble table with chunky metal legs to a tubular, padded bed-frame, many of the pieces have an abundant, sculptural — often quirky, almost wacky — quality. "I've always been a maximalist. I'm drawn to voluptuous forms, and I'm not particularly interested in discretion or simplicity," he adds. "In most of my projects, I tend to choose pieces that feel like substantial objects with personality, weight, and presence."

In the context of this decisive, bold stylistic spirit, it's remarkable (but telling) that the architectural renovation could still have been carried out with a light touch, in a way that feels both sensitive and nuanced.

"The main challenge was finding the right balance between preserving the original architecture and giving the house a completely new life," explains Andrés. "We wanted to retain as much of its original character as possible, particularly the floors and the extensive woodwork throughout the house."

Other than replacing some of the timber and renewing window frames and glass, much of the intervention actually consisted of retrofitting rather than reinventing the structure.

"The house was originally designed almost as a ‘library to live in’, and by the time I first saw it, very little of that idea remained. Recovering that spirit became fundamental to the project," says Andrés. The original bookshelves, which run almost floor-to-ceiling in the living room, had been removed by the previous owners. "We restored everything we could, reintroduced the library as a central element of the house, and used that original concept as the starting point for the entire interior."

The living room also features another striking architectural highlight from the original mid-century design — one that arguably anchors the whole space: a large, wooden umbrella-like column that spans different mezzanine floors, connecting them almost like a central tree radiating outwards.

"It creates a very particular sense of intimacy within what is otherwise a very open space," says Andrés. "During the modernist period in Mexico, these kinds of structural 'umbrellas' were quite common in architecture, combining a structural purpose with a very sculptural presence."

Architect Jaime Ortiz Monasterio used this solution in several of his other projects — as did masters such as Félix Candela and Pedro Ramírez Vázquez.

That period of Mexican architectural history is a recurring source of inspiration for Andrés, but his influences also span beyond the national borders: the Memphis movement of the 1980s and 90s is a frequent point of reference.

"I'm drawn to irreverence; I will always prefer something that stands out, something that might even verge on the ridiculous, over anything too discreet or conventionally elegant," he says. "That is why I love Ettore Sottsass and the Memphis movement so much. I draw inspiration not only from its forms, but also from its philosophy."

He is also interested in how different European styles — from Art Deco to functionalism — were adapted and transformed in Mexico to suit this new context.

His take on exploring Mexican architectural identity is about unpacking that hybridity; it is also inevitably shaped by his own personal viewpoint and aesthetic sensibility.

"I'm interested in simply being myself, in understanding and exploring who I am through design, using the references, materials, stories, and imagery that surround me. And inevitably, Mexico is at the heart of that," he explains.

"For me, living in this country is an extraordinary gift. Its history, its culture, and its visual universe are an inexhaustible source of inspiration. So rather than trying to define what Mexican identity is, I'm more interested in discovering what it means to me, and allowing that personal interpretation to evolve through my work."

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How do you approach an oddly configured apartment when its quirks stem from its revered heritage, but the owner feels no particular attachment to its history? That was the challenge that faced interior designer Lisa Mettis when tackling this three-bedroom modern home in the iconic former Whiteleys shopping center in London.

"You say to anyone who grew up in London that you're working on a flat in Whiteleys and they all have a story about it," she says. "They'll have gone there ice skating as a kid, or on a date as a teenager to Café Rouge. So they'll know its famous interior columns and have warm feelings about them."

Yet said large, concrete poles that crop up in this apartment, one floor beneath the penthouse, had no such romanticism for their new owner, who grew up in America and felt they just got in the way. "We had to find ways to disguise them," says Lisa, founder of Born & Bred Studio.

This necessity actually might have been the making of the project. One of the pillars Lisa clad in ridged plaster, aesthetically enhancing it, then using the same ribbed effect on neighboring joinery doors. For the other, Lisa clad it in plaster again, then created a twin for it just along the wall, using them either side of a very impressive fireplace. "It was logistically very challenging, but it meant one of those columns actually fades from view," she says.

A feature the owners did like, however, was the curved ceiling; that, and the way the apartment stretches under the big glass dome atop the building, creating almost panoramic views of the city. "The backdrop is so nice that we didn't want the design to detract from it," says Lisa of her mostly neutral color scheme.

"But at the same time," she adds, "we wanted to do something special to honor the fact that it's in such a special building." That meant finessing every tiny detail, adding movement and texture and repetition wherever possible, as well as getting a roster of mostly British makers and artisans to give this American client something she'd not seen before.

Newcastle-based Novocastrian did the metalwork, Welsh studio Green's created the joinery, and Chelmsford firm Locker & Riley oversaw all the plasterwork. "It meant we could create a warm family home where every aspect worked in harmony and enhanced the overall effect — an apartment that is full of the unexpected, but only after you really take a second look.

"It's a home that warrants questions, which people come in and say, 'Oh, where is that from?' and 'How did you manage that?'" says Lisa. "It feels like no other place but home."

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Lots of people want a period home, in theory. But in reality, these historical properties are not always so compatible with the way we live now; they were built for a different time, and adjusting them to support our modern ideals while still maintaining the charm and character that drew you to the property to begin with is no easy feat.

In this Georgian home, the client had a clear vision for the kitchen, which they enlisted the help of Naked Kitchens for in the design. "The brief was to design a modern Shaker kitchen that would look fresh and contemporary today while maintaining timeless appeal for years to come," says Jayne Everett, the creative director at Naked Kitchens. The Shaker style is beloved for its classic look, but as an inherently traditional style, making it feel contemporary isn't always easy.

It was achieved through the entire design, but maybe most interestingly through the mix of cabinet doors, each a slight riff of the classic Shaker — arches and half-arches sit alongside glass-fronted and beadboard styles, on top of those more traditional cabinets. It's the sort of idea that doesn't sound like it would work on paper, but will leave you questioning: am I doing enough with my kitchen doors?

The Brief

Finding a way to take the classic Shaker style and rework it in a way that feels fresh and new is no easy task, but luckily, the Naked Kitchen team had the luxury of a beautiful space on their side.

The period property didn't just provide a strong foundation to build on, but it also simplified the challenge of working out the right kitchen layout. As Jayne Everett explains, "Blessed with abundant natural light and expansive Georgian windows overlooking tranquil green space, the room naturally dictated that the layout be centered around these architectural assets."

With this clear outline already mapped out, the design process grew from there. "The design evolved organically, layering rich details to create a twist on the classic Shaker," says Jayne. With a large, open layout and classic Shaker kitchen cabinetry, it was largely down to the color and the finishing details to supply this element of surprise.

Careful to build intrigue without straying too far from tradition, Jayne opted for a rich, two-toned green palette, a subtle play on the traditional sage-green kitchen trend. "Our deep Marsh Green color grounds the base cabinetry, drawing the eye outward toward the leafy views, while the lighter Burnham Green is used for the tall and wall units to frame and anchor the overall architecture," she explains.

From there, they built upon the earthy color scheme, contrasting the soft green tones with rich, dark pops of burgundy and stained oak, adding depth and intrigue to the space.

The Process

A true Georgian-period property, with the signs of wear to prove it, Jayne says, "While the original space was dated, its magnificent windows provided the ideal bones for an extraordinary room." There were updates to be done, but the potential was clear from the start.

The challenge was in finding a way to make the layout work for modern family life, making the space feel more open and sociable. But as the Naked Kitchens team soon discovered, everything they needed was already there.

First up, and perhaps the most significant change to make this room successfully function as a modern kitchen for the young family, they needed to find more space. Luckily, there was plenty of room for the kitchen to expand into. "The small room off the kitchen was incorporated into the overall space, which enabled a larder to be located close to the main kitchen," says Jayne.

With the additional space provided by extending into the adjoining room, Jayne was then able to rework the layout, introducing a more sociable, open-plan design. "Changing the layout of the cabinetry away from being solely around the perimeter of the kitchen and introducing a centrally positioned island with seating was essential to optimizing the flow and functionality of the space," explains Jayne. The kitchen island forms a central gathering point, providing a base for friends and family to orbit around.

It may all sound like relatively simple changes, but this is not to say that they were without their difficulties. One problem the team ran into was the narrow doorway along the oven run, which resulted in a restrictive pinch point. "To accommodate the client's desire for a one-meter range cooker while maintaining balance, we sacrificed corner access and cleverly offset it by introducing a stunning counter-standing cabinet that has since become a cherished focal point," explains Jayne.

The Design

While the open-plan layout and warm, social feel provide a solid foundation for a beautiful family kitchen, it's in the details that the brief was really brought to life.

Perhaps the most crucial detail of all is the unique curved detail included on the Shaker doors on the kitchen cabinetry, creating a contemporary spin on a classic Shaker design. "The curved Shaker profile introduces an elevated layer of interest," says Jayne. The tall, arched doors create a statement without feeling overbearing, and to create more cohesion in the space, Jayne explains, "These gentle arcs are harmoniously mirrored in the mantel surround and the island open shelving, weaving a cohesive design thread throughout the room," she adds.

While curved corners in kitchens have become one of the defining trends of the past few years, these arches feel less expected, while still adding a touch of softness.

Continuing this merging of modernity and tradition, in the corner of the kitchen is a striking, freestanding larder, with a cabinetry style that feels starkly modern against the updated Shaker doors surrounding it. "Conceived as a freestanding piece of furniture, the larder stands apart through its distinct V-groove cabinetry style, unified with the rest of the room via color continuity," says Jayne. But while the pantry is modern and sleek with its burgundy slatted wood finish, the adjoining open shelving brings it back down. "Its curved shelving softens the kitchen's transition points while providing an inviting space to house books and treasured items," says Jayne.

The striking red, repeated on both the larder and the interiors of the upper cabinetry, is perhaps the most notable feature in the room. A beautiful example of how the unexpected red theory works in kitchens; the unexpected addition brings a burst of new life to this kitchen.

Explaining this design choice, Jayne says, "The green palette called for a vibrant, anchoring contrast, for which our dramatic Sharrington Red was the natural choice. Painting the counterstanding drinks cabinet's interior this striking hue creates a theatrical 'showstopper' moment when opened, while simultaneously establishing a visual bridge to the freestanding larder and purposefully integrating it into the overarching design narrative."

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If you're still searching for how to make shaker cabinets feel more modern, we have a few ideas, from color updates to skinny profiles and bevelled edges.

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When a client from the fashion industry hands you a brief consisting of just five words — "I want a Brutalist house" — the temptation might be to lean heavily into the cold, monolithic weight of raw concrete.

But for Milanese studio FANTIBOZZETTIMENEGON, who designed this modern home on a quiet street in Milan for a young client working in the fashion industry, the prompt became the starting point for a recalibration of all that is hard and soft, organic and industrial.

"We wanted to adapt a material language for Milan's urban context and for everyday living," says Martina Menegon, who with Fabio Fanti Bozzetti founded FANTIBOZZETTIMENEGON. "We worked primarily on materials, mixing leather with glass, concrete, steel and lime, always adapting the concept to the space and to how the house would be lived in. We wanted the apartment to be deliberately Brutalist without necessarily chasing current trends."

The full renovation took just over six months, during which time the floor plan was reconfigured, with the kitchen opened out into the living room to transform the layout into a single, continuous space. At the center of the plan, a custom-designed walk-in wardrobe made of glass blocks acts as a luminous core, allowing daylight to travel deep into the apartment while maintaining a clear organizational role.

The main bathroom was also reconfigured, gaining a dual-access system that allows it to function as both a private and guest bathroom. It now champions ease of movement and spatial logic, balancing versatility with architectural rigor.