Exuding Character and Inspirational Design: 106 Carpenter Street Residence

Welcome to a two story contemporary home that manages to stand out due to a slightly different modern architecture. 106 Carpenter Street Residence is located in Brighton, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Full height sliding timber wall panels enhance the exterior design of this home, while offering the inhabitants the chance to let natural light in whenever they feel the need. A full height solid oak entry door opens to a wide hallway which further leads to an informal, open plan living and dining area. White walls and a minimalist furniture arrangement contribute to a general feeling of space and elegance. The living room naturally extends out to a private courtyard with fully fitted outdoor cooking facilities. The second level accommodates three double bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as a guest bedroom with own en-suite, and a study area. Do you find the overall layout of this residence practical?

Snaidero’s Ola Kitchen Gets an Updated New Look:

The Ola kitchen by Snaidero has been around for over 20 years now and during this time it has become a contemporary cult classic for the company. In production since 1990, the award-winning kitchen marked the beginning of the collaboration between Snaidero and thePininfarina Group.

Masculine 36 Square Meter Studio Apartment in Vasaparken:

Another Stockholm apartment caught our attention today. This one has a special masculine feel to it and we would love to see how many of our readers are interested in this kind of interior design. This small but classy and elegant 36 square meter studio apartment is located in the vicinity of Vasaparken, a beautiful Stockholm park. High ceilings ensure that the bright natural light coming from the two opposing windows caress the entire floor plan and offer the possibility of designing the place using dark colors. The 1880s apartment still has the original oak flooring, but the furniture and furnishings give the charming one-room apartment a modern feel. From the hallway, the inhabitants can access the living room/bedroom, the bathroom and the kitchen, so no space was left unused. You can rent it from here. Like it?

Sustainable Home Renovation Overlooking The Vineyards of Sonoma, California:

Sonoma Residence was designed by New-York-based Cooper Joseph Studio and is a beautiful hillside building overlooking the vineyards of Sonoma, California. The project is a two-level renovation of a house an agricultural property and occupies an area of 2,200 square feet.According to the architects, “the Owners requested an efficient renovation that would maximize hillside views and connect the two levels to allow for more open living. They asked that wood be used extensively for the renovation.Since the 25-acre site had no infrastructure, we buried utilities, improved grading to eliminate erosion, and built a solar array able to power the entire property and equipment.Our sustainability strategy involved reusing all the wood from the existing redwood porch structure in an agricultural shed elsewhere on the property. This shed is fitted out with the original kitchen cabinetry, appliances and sliding doors.In addition to the adaptive reuse of elements of the house, we used sustainably harvested Ipe for the structural porch, and decks on both sides of the house.” Be sure to have a look at the two “before photos” at the end of the post for a better understanding of the transformation.

Villa Snow White in Finland:Workshop and Family Home in One Charming Building

Villa Snow White was designed by Helin & Co Architects in Espoo, Finland and is a building accommodating a family home, as well as a showroom. According to the architects, “an obsolete old villa was cleared out off the property before the construction of the new building. The neighbors of the property are a ten year old flat roof detached house and a villa from the 50s. The old trees of the property played a big role in the designing process. The openings of the interiors were set by their location. The concrete structure of the building was casted on the location over steel pillars and cladded with snow white plastered tiles. The surfaces of the interiors are light and the floors are mostly solid oak and limestone. The main entrance locates through a closed outdoor atrium, facing the West towards the evening sun. The atrium can also be entered from the kitchen and via a bridge and a staircase from the sauna. The spaces live with the Northern light and adapt the white surfaces to the scenery in which it locates all the way to the distant horizon of the sea.”

Curl Curl Beach House in Australia:Delightful Timber Residence

Curl Curl Beach House was designed by Australian studio CplusC Architects and is located in a suburb of northern Sydney. According to the architects, the house “exploits the structural and aesthetic benefits of timber with stunning results. The longitudinal division of the home is expressed externally with the metal clad butterfly roof which collects rainwater that is stored in an extensive sub floor bladder tank system. Externally, stud frame walls are clad with Western Red Cedar shiplap boards, stained black and orientated vertically. This creates a bold, modest aesthetic which contrasts with the clear oiled Western Red Cedar doors and windows, used specifically in this application due to its light weight and durability. A defining element in the interior is the sinuous skylight that runs the length of the building and washes light down the eastern external wall. The shadow cast from the exposed LVL beams provide rhythm and interest”. The residence occupies an area of 2,790 square feet and took 24 weeks to build, on a budget of 500,000 Australian dollars. But the outcome is quite stunning.

The Jewel Box :Chiseled Commercial Architecture in Bangalore

 Occupying a tight site measuring 60’ x 40’, the commercial complex named Jewel Box delivers a fascinating architecture. “The idea was to conceive an envelope that rose above the glass box while it established a new identity and visual experience.” Understanding the importance of high visibility for commercial purposes, the architects designed a commercial building that encompasses all necessary things for its modern functioning: a fascinating and imposing facade, transparency for commercial purposes and a smart parking place around the building, allowing its structure to appear to be floating. The Jewel Box in Bangalore, India, was designed by Cadence Architects, who explain their work on this project: “We set out on a process of distorting the glass box with a solid edge around it, we further conceived the transparent edge as a void in a solid as opposed to a two dimensional transparent edge. The object was further articulated as a chiseled object which is multi-faceted. A staircase connecting ground to the first level was further fused with the faceted object. The crystalline form was realized using Ferro concrete whose end result was an animated box, frozen while evolving.”

Clever Small Home Architecture Derived From Site Restrictions in Tokyo:

The River Side House is an impressive project designed by Mizuishi Architect Atelier and located in Tokyo, Japan. The small home was constructed on a triangle site and occupies a building area of 29.07 square meters. According to the architects, the structure of the residence includes functionally separate areas, as follows. The first is the dining & kitchen area, situated up the stairs and having high ceilings with a feeling of rise towards the roof top. The living space is low ceilinged and has full-opening windows on both sides of the bay, ensuring a feeling of floating. There is also a generous spare room to the east, for having guests over. The interior arrangements of this residence are minimalist and tasteful. The walls are painted entirely in white, inspiring openness and tidiness. Wooden accents and splashes of color here and there add a happy tone to the design. Do you find this project as intriguing as we do?

Impressive Contemporary Home: LA Built Around a Spectacular Central Pool

Blue Jay Way Residence comes from McClean Design and is located  in Los Angeles, California, USA. According to the architects, the clients wanted a home built around a central pool, which was the starting point when planning this home: “Upon ascending to the main level of the house, the water element becomes an ornamental pool before dropping into the spa below, and then extends to a 75-foot-long lap pool cantilevered over the slope into the view. The entry to the house is a glass bridge over the pool below. The house is divided in half by the water feature and a pool to minimize the structure’s perceived size and to separate the private spaces (master bedroom, study) from the public (living, dining, kitchen). The living room and master bedroom are cantilevered over outdoor spaces below and appear to hover against the background of the city beyond. The lower level includes several guestrooms, a media room, and a four-car garage. The palette of materials is soft contemporary with extensive use of concrete, wood, and stone.” The project occupies an area of 6800 square feet and has panoramic views of LA, Santa Monica, the Pacific, and Catalina Island. Have a look at the photos for a better understanding and tell us if you are impressed by this home’s architecture or consider it too extravagant.

Delightful Mix of Traditional and Modern in a Moroccan Country Home:

In case you were wondering how a Moroccan country home looked like, but didn’t have the chance to see one, here is a project that will raise your interest even more. Found on JJ Locations, this beautiful crib combines traditional elements with modern design approaches, creating a space that is beautiful, inviting and highly original. The large living room features a concrete fireplace that makes a great contrast with the home arrangements surrounding it. A generous  sofa , paintings and various colorful decorating items contribute to a vivid and dynamic atmosphere. The kitchen is highly original, featuring utilities that are skillfully camouflaged. Exposed beams and wood accents provide a great visual effect. This country residence has a total of two floors, each of them displaying a charming design. Have a look!

Glamorous Fashion Bar in Germany by Berlin Rodeo

Berlin-based architecture & interior design firm Berlin Rodeo designed a fantastic 140 square meter bar in Berlin, Germany. What makes it obviously different is the glamour feeling comprised in a space that filters light and design elements to offer the best entertaining experience possible. Located in Berlin’s Schöneberg neighborhood, the Fashion Bar exploits ever inch of the space in order to leave clients with a personal and astounding feeling of relaxation and fun in the company of friends and acquaintances. A glamorous color palette was used to induce the feeling of luxury and the designers outdid themselves with this project: red, white and gold. White sofas and chairs, wooden tables and glam textured wallpaper in red adorn the entrance part, while modern white bar stools and dark red sofas continue the design to the back of the long and narrow floor plan, in the bar section. Large red pendant lights hang over the tables, creating a soothing atmosphere. Don’t you just love how a narrow space can become a fascinating Fashion Bar?

Modern Villa Displaying an Original Geometry in Brazil:

Vila Castela was designed by Anastasia Architects and is an original looking modern home located in Nova Lima, Brazil. The cantilevered volumes are a result of the site characteristics: “We have chosen this concept not only for aesthetic reasons, but above all to reduce the interference of the building mass in the topography, keeping the site as natural as possible. As we placed the ground level of the residence 7 meters below the street , we were able to preserve the pedestrian view of the forest, at the same time that keeping the privacy of the owners, because the main apertures and the glass walls are oriented to the east, on the opposite side of the street. The urban impact of the residence is minimized, in benefit of the beautiful view of the woods“. According to the architects, the total constructed area is 650 sq meters and the residence has three floors: the basement with sauna, Jacuzzi, and an wine cellar, the ground floor (living area and the kitchen and external terrace) and the first floor, where the bedrooms are located. We have to know: do you find the geometry of this residence appealing?

Contemporary Design and Modern Layout in a TriBeCa Loft

We received some photos of a beautifully designed TriBeCa Loft and we just had to share them with you. The interiors of this historic TriBeCa warehouse were created by Office of Architecture in collaboration with Push. The inhabitants, a young couple looking to start a family, needed a space that would encompass all the modern necessities: “After gutting the existing labyrinthian space and leaving only key structural elements such as the existing heavy timber beams, steel columns, and brick walls, the architects were able to carefully organise the private and public spaces in such a manner that the full depth of the entire unit remains uninterrupted. This enables the living room, den, and kitchen areas on the east side of the unit to benefit from the natural light and views of the bedroom windows on the west without ever catching glimpse of the sleeping areas. To help further define and facilitate specific activities, a series of cabinetry, a cantilevered wet bar, as well as large sliding and accordion doors.” Take a look at the photos to see how the space came together and enjoy the modern inspiration!

Cosy Apartment With just Enough Space for Everything

Small, comfortable and bright, this next Stockholm apartment will leave you refreshed and maybe give you some inspiration on how to decorate a small apartment. Found here, the 38 square meter apartment features beautiful light-colored rustic flooring throughout and a full-size kitchen with plenty of storage space. Two windows convey all the necessary light to caress the interiors: on in the bedroom and the other in the kitchen. High ceiling and white stucco ensure that the rooms are well lit and offer a sense of grandeur in this confined space. The bedroom features a small mezzanine that can be used as a relaxation spot or a second bed. Located in a quiet location facing the courtyard, the apartment also features a walk-in closet in the living room. The small apartment has access to a courtyard with barbecue and an outdoor dining area, allowing the inhabitants to enjoy their free time close to home, in a relaxed atmosphere.

Unique Dining Experience at Phantom Opera Garnier Restaurant

The Phantom Opera Garnier Restaurant in Paris, designed by French architect Odile Decq, is a place to enjoy a good meal in the company of friends, surrounded by an interesting interior design. A curvaceous mezzanine level steals the attention once you enter through the columns of Opera Garnier’s east facade. Red and white are the predominant colors, creating an interesting contrasting effect with the fabulous Neo-Baroque interiors of the building. The architects working on this project had to overcome many problems. The architecture was to be left untouched and all the modifications had to be reversible. With a budget of $6 million, the architects managed to construct a contemporary interior that seems to be levitating without interfering with the structure of the Opera. The curvaceous mezzanine can accommodate 90 guests and offer them a unique dining experience in the presence of fantastic old architecture blended with contemporary shapes and colors and modern interior design.

Shorter Residence by PB Elemental:Original Mix of Traditional and Modern

Shorter Residence was designed by Pb Elemental Architecture and is located in Wenatchee Valley, Washington. The project consisted in an extension of a 1906 apple orchard farm house which currently houses a master suite, family room and dining area. A remodel of the existing garage was also included in the clients’ brief. Here are more details from  the architects: “The house is more than just a residence, the clients also run a ski team and house many of the team in the home at one time or another during the season. The design was created to maximize views of the valley and surrounding hills, while providing the owners refuge from the daily activities of working from home. The former master bedroom was converted into a new bath and closets, a corten steel structure was built to house the bedroom and sitting area. The spaces share a fireplace and roof deck over the new dining area. The former outdoor deck was removed and replaced by the new living spaces on the second floor. Exterior materials include corten standing seam, polycarbonate, cement fiber panels and cedar rain screen siding.”How do you appreciate this project’s mix of old and new?

Rural Comfort Meets Modern Lifestyle:Strekov House

 Designed by 3 +1 Architekti, the Strekov House borrowed its location’s name: Strekov, Czech Republic. The 173 square meter home is located on the border between a highly populated area and the countryside, neighboring residential buildings and vacation homes. The outside space delights the homeowners with a lovely orchard of apple trees, plum trees and cherry trees and fascinates with a panoramic view of the valley below. The main construction material was wood, making the connection to the outside rural area, the orchard and the vast 3,000 square foot property. The long garden resting on a steep terrain is a dream home for its inhabitants – perfect combination of modern lifestyle and comfortable surroundings. The three volume house is located on the lower part of the property for privacy and easy road access. Some beautiful hand-drawn architectural drawings of this house can be enjoyed below

The Hotchkiss Residence:Simple, Practical and Contemporary

The Hotchkiss Residence was designed by Portland-based studio Scott Edwards Architecture and is located on the banks of the Columbia river in Vancouver, Washington. The 1,988 square foot residence was especially redefined for a couple in their 70′s who needed a make-over of the building they inhabited. According to the architects, “the 1.5 bedroom home responds to amazing views of the river and Mt. Hood beyond. The home, designed by Rick Berry, utilizes the Northwest vernacular, which emphasizes the wood structural system, shields the home from 9 months of rain, and captures winter sunlight. The single slope roof originates over the bedroom and rises to its zenith above the living room. With a budget of $550k, the design is restrained by simplicity, emphases its structural system, compact for an aging client, and built to respond to the quick changing Northwest weather. The home linked by bridges to the owners daughters and sons homes, which sit adjacent, completes the family compound.” Have a look at the photos below and don’t forget to tell us what details you find interesting.

The Harrison Street Residences in California Built for a Young Family

The Harrison Street Residences were designed by by Dawson+Clinton design and build firm. The multi-family residential building is located in in San Francisco, California. Seamlessly connecting the interior and exterior spaces, the design of this residential building proves that multi-unit residences have a specific charm in an urban neighborhood. Created for one of the owners at Dawson+Clinton, the home of Paul Dawson and his young growing family was completed in three years. Basing the design on the family needs – especially on what it takes to raise two young children aged 3 and 5 in an urban setting – the Harrison Street Residence was built to offer as much safe space for outdoor activities and as much entertaining space on the inside. In addition to this, the roof deck allows the parents to keep an eye on the children as they enjoy the back garden. The bright interior spaces were especially created to be open and durable, to endure the games of growing children. This residence displays a modern, high-quality environment for a young family while looking contemporary and youthful.

Fun and Creative: Face Shelving by Alexi Mccarthy

Here is an original shelving unit that falls under the category “do it yourself”. The Face Shelving comes from Alexi Mccarthy and is a cheerful storage unit for books and various small objects. The designer tells its story as follows: “It started from a chat my girlfriend and I were having. A year and a father-son project later, the very originally named ‘Face Shelving’ is finally done. The idea is that depending what you put in or on the shelves, you create different faces and expressions.” Paying tribute to simplicity, this unit is truly ingenious. Even though it would look great in a variety of colors, we particularly like the choice of red, which makes things…explosively fun. Enjoy imagining how the face on the wall would look with various book combinations on it and let us know if the designer triggered your appetite for creating something similar