FOCUS ON | Marble for the kitchen

I spotted this image in Pinterest last week and I immediately liked the marble tiles in the kitchen: they are an elegant and classic choice for the space and has a stylish and contemporary look. Also, the combination of green hues from the glass bottles and the Pelargonium plants fits well the vein of the marble.

For more kitchen inspiration, check here and here.

Via Husman Hagberg

Ps: Have you joined the GIVEAWAY here already?

FOCUS ON | Invisible kitchen

Invisible kitchen is a project by Dutch i29 interior architects. The design office offers the perfect solution for all the people looking for a minimal kitchen,  for those who suffer at the only idea of having things displayed on wall and shelves. 

The idea is to create a system that can blend with the interior space thanks to a series of panels - in this particular case Parisian style ones - that hide behind cabinets and appliances. The most interesting thing is to see how i29 interior architects managed to fit all the connection (water, cooling, electrical) within the black island, whose top is just a few centimetres thick. I find quite intriguing how they solved the lower part of the kitchen island by applying a distorted perspective effect that helps reduce the visual impact of the legs.

Source Design Milk.

FOCUS ON | Monochromatic loft

It comes with no surprise Desiree-Vosgesparis' apartment was on of the first ones to catch my attention in the jungle of interior inspiration. We are talking about my pre-blogging era [ yes, there was one ], when the only addiction of mine was surfing Pinterest. I believe Vosgeparis account was of the first I followed back then: I simply loved that Scandinavian-Industrial-Rock-Style and those pictures, always full of energy and passion.

As one of the international homes that are part of the Small Cool 2014 in Apartment Therapy, Desiree shared some simple, clever ideas about how to transform a small home into a spacious loft. I was quite surprised to discover the apartment actually measures "only" 80 sqm because it looked much bigger to me. I guess the trick of taking away doors and door posts as well as laying the same floor around the whole house created that sense of vastness. Also the monochromatic palette and the reduced list of big pieces of furniture helped to create a clear, uncluttered space.

You can discover more about Desiree's tricks in Apartment Therapy and vote Vosgesparis home to keep high the good European interior style!

 

   

All images ©Vosgesparis, with thanks.

FOCUS ON | Minimal bedroom in grey

I stumbled upon this work from Swedish agency Fantastic Frank last week-end. Particularly, I liked the minimal, simple bedroom and its light Japanese touch: the green branch in the image above looks almost like an Ikebana. Our sight is guided towards this focal point and make you wonder what's beyond, creating the urge to discover more. The overall atmosphere is calm and relaxed.

Via Fantastic Frank

FOCUS ON | Home office

I spotted these images in Bjorn Lofterud's website: they belong to Dallasday, a Swedish company that is actually dedicated to design interior solutions for contemporary meeting spaces. Don't you think this essential space could easily look like a dining area in a hybrid home-office place?

Via Bjorn Lofterud

FOCUS ON | Japan and Scandinavia influences

This house is located in Cortalloid and designed by Switzerland-based Architecture Studio Frundgallina. The place shows reminiscences of both Nordic and Japanese architectures with its monochromatic tones and minimal lines. I tend not to like flooring built in different materials because they interrupt the natural flow of space, especially in open ones. But, in this case, the use of concrete next to wooden floors works very well and underline the different atmospheres the architects thought for each room: a functional, essential approach for the kitchen and a more domestic one for the living and communal rooms. 

Via This is paper

FOCUS ON | Archetypes

‘House for mother’ is a building designed by Swedish office Förstberg Arkitektur och Formgivning (FAF). The house is very impressive: a simple but not simplistic plan and a very  neutral material palette. I am very fond of this kind of architectures that draw back to the basic shape of houses, similar to those we used to draw as kids. I find there is something archetypal in this shape, re-assuring in a way. 

The house is like a manifesto for simple living and design: there is no space for unnecessary  things, only intelligent design solutions. An example is the use of white painting on walls and floors to divide the living room into two parts. Also, the white area brings in more light and I would say play with the sense of perspective: it's a pity we cannot confirm it as there is no picture takes on the other side.

 

Via designboom.

FOCUS ON | Dark walls

Moody colours are hot and we noticed it in the net, especially in Pinterest. Scandinavian fans have seen already lots of great example of black interior surfaces but they were mainly accent walls. These days, it seems the trend has conquered the whole house but also moved towards a more reflective palette of blue and green hues. 

Though I'm still a great fan of white interiors - and always will be, I have to admit I feel intrigued by this blue-greyish tone and I wouldn't mind to give it a chance.

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FOCUS ON | Bathroom details

First Inspired Wednesday of the year and it is entirely dedicated to the most relaxing room in the house. Textures and details are the most important thing when you want to give a space a special atmosphere. I hope you enjoy the tour as much as I do.

Images via

FOCUS ON | Round tables

We've been thinking of changing the dining table for a while: the one we have now was perfect in the previous flat and works quite fine in this one. But, due to the dimensions of the space, we have to place it right in front of the window door and therefore we have no access to the balcony from here. ... It could sound as an excuse as we have access to both the next rooms, but I do feel a round table would look perfect next to the Parentesi lamp by Flos and would enrich the decoration. 

I collected some images for inspiration, including the everlasting classic Saarinen's Tulip  and its easy-going counterpart by Ikea. But, I think a smaller version of  the one designed by Int-sight for Iconista would be the perfect choice. I had the chance to see and touch it when I was there during the photo shooting we did (I know, still cannot believe it..) and I loved it, especially the texture: the effect of the light on the top would underlined it even more. Could I have eventually come up with the solution? To be continued...

Via

FOCUS ON | Interior windows

When I first spotted the use of industrial windows used inside here, I found the idea very interesting. From one side, it provides separation when necessary but allows light to enter in rooms that would be quite dark. In this Parisienne flat renovated by Septembre studio, the idea is extended to a the entire wall, creating a separation between the living area and the bedrooms. The flat, that used to be a workshop, is enriched by the industrial look of the windows that become a strong counterpart of the black wall on the other side.

Spotted on Emma Designblogg Pinterest

Via Septembre

FOCUS ON |Grey softness

I have no idea if it is for the nature of light in these pictures or for the soft appearance of the beds but wouldn't you like to spend a whole Saturday in one of these rooms?  And all these grey shades turn out to be so calming and restoring.

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FOCUS ON | Bedroom details

Some detail can add lot of character and create just the perfect atmosphere like the small black lamp next to the bed or a few magazines tied together. And what about those elegant Monstera leaves?

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