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In Wroclaw, Poland is a lively terraced house that reflects the youthful energy of the couple who owns it. Designed by Znamy się for the owners, and their two dogs, who love to cook, entertain friends, and play board games. Drawing inspiration from the whimsical world of Playshapes (wooden blocks that can be moved, layered, or combined), this modern home now boasts a fusion of structures, forms, and vibrant colors that bolster creativity, socializing, and play.
The new interior holds many elements that allow the owners to play with form. Moveable furniture sets the stage with shelves on wheels that enable the couple to create flexible arrangements and new spaces. The kitchen island is not only the place for food prep and cooking, it stores board games and houses water dispensers for their beloved dogs. The dining table’s top lifts to play games and work puzzles.
Geometric shapes and a strong palette of colors intertwine forming layered spaces rich in textures and visual intrigue. The inclusion of lots of wooden elements gives nod to Playshapes, while adding organic charm.
Three shelves set within a blue painted alcove hold a large selection of plants and objects for a touch of biophilia.
The square dining table lives under one of the hanging grids that holds plants. Similar gridded structures live alongside the wooden staircase adding a pop of color while providing safety for those climbing the stairs.
The bathroom features similar wooden cabinets as the kitchen island with geometric patterns adorning the fronts. An inset cabinet is painted a playful pink on the inside, pairing nicely with the black and white floor tile.
Photography by Migdal Studio.
Tinder’s new headquarters in West Hollywood, California designed by Rapt Studio could be imagined as a thoughtful response to the transformative changes that have affected the corporate workplace dynamics the last few years. The seven-story, 77,000-square-foot project, handled by the same creative consultancy responsible for developing other creative spaces for the likes of Google, Dropbox, and Vans, is imagined to reestablish the pandemic-frayed ties that bind individuals into creative collaborative teams – and by extension, between the app users they seek to support – designing a multi-level headquarters layered with a multitude of opportunities for collaboration and connection.
Rapt Studio began the project by researching existing public space typologies, from the town square to the speakeasy, that empower a progressive deepening of ties that bind workers with their work in an organic manner.
Modeled after a town square, The Commons is the largest and most expansive of the spaces, and also the entry point into Tinder’s new headquarters. The airy environment is intended to encourage casual interactions and large enough to accommodate for company-wide gatherings.
The café — or “Boost Bar” — sits on the second floor, giving employees access to the skills of an in-house barista, and in turn providing an informal space to work away from the desk.
The IT help desk is fashioned after the nostalgic memories of the neighborhood arcade.
Diffuse lighting, custom modular furniture on wheels, and walls clad in top-to-bottom whiteboards all inhabit La Galleria, a room drawing its atmosphere from the workshops and displays of an artist studio.
A custom hot-pink central table with cutouts along the edges offers a surprisingly idiosyncratic hue to the space’s otherwise muted purpose.
Floor six is dedicated to quieter activities and appropriately demarcated as The Stacks, a tranquil communal space fashioned after a library.
Deep blue hues across plush fabrics, with curvilinear walls and curtains framing windows overlooking the LA skyline give the pinnacle seventh floor a nightclub vibe. Seating arrangements are situated to encourage engagement within intimate groups – a “secret” employee getaway of sorts.
“Connection is at the heart of the Tinder brand,” says Rapt Studio CEO and Chief Creative Officer David Galullo. “To design a space that deepens connection within Tinder, we looked to the places where we typically build relationships and then mapped them onto a floor plan. The end project emphasizes how design itself can be a force of connection.”
Tinder’s new HQ shares some similarities to Rapt Studio’s previous project, The Schoolhouse, a creative office for The Google School for Leaders. Each share the goal to spur informal engagements between team members by carving out both shared and intimate spaces, and furnished to empower employees to adapt those spaces to their needs on an as-needed basis.
A Brutalist-inspired apartment in the suburbs of Rome in Tor de’ Cenci recently received a complete renovation by STUDIOTAMAT. Designed for a lawyer couple, the project consisted of renovating the 120-square-meter apartment, along with a coveted 40-square-meter terrace. The Casa Rude residence overlooks the Castelporziano Nature Reserve offering both wooded and sea views, an ideal locale after years of living in small apartments in the heart of the city. Now, their space is filled with natural light, original character, and modern conveniences.
“What guided us in the design was the desire to enhance the distinctive features of the unique terraced building, dating back to the 1980s, which houses the apartment. We wanted to restore fluidity to the spaces, encourage the opening, and the discovery of pre-existing materials and details, on which to set a new vision,” says STUDIOTAMAT co-founder Tommaso Amato.
The main living area is designed much like a open plan loft with unfinished walls and the support structure’s exposed concrete visually connecting the spaces.
Paired with the original Brutalist details are a variety of tones, textures, and materials that add up to a visually enticing space. The roughness of the terracotta tiles on the oval island and concrete pillars are juxtaposed with the smooth Patagonia marble countertops that connect the two.
A custom dining table with a Shou sugi treated wood top rests on a black base and a glossy red ceramic leg for a sleek look.
A large, multifunctional birch wood cube is built to hide the pantry, hold coats, provide storage, and house a TV.
A wall of perforated bricks separates the living room and home office allowing natural light to pass through. A custom desk extends out from the built-in shelves and is held up by a circular red wheel, complementing the dining table’s leg a few feet away. The wheel allows the desk to roll along on a track to a new position.
A pivoting door visually separates the public areas from the sleeping area, which houses a main bedroom with ensuite bathroom, and a guest room.
In the primary bedroom, sliding ribbed glass doors offer privacy to those in the bathroom while allowing light in.
The large terrace features an outdoor kitchen, seating areas, dining space, and outdoor shower, all of which benefit from sunset views.
STUDIOTAMAT \\\ Photo: Flavia Rossi
Photography by Serena Eller Vainicher.
To reimagine a dated, 1970s ranch in Pleasanton, California, Destination Eichler partnered with Eyerly Architecture to bring this split-level house into today’s times. While the young family appreciated the 70s character of the home, they desired a fresh spin with added functionality seen in today’s builds. The updated abode now features modern details, mid-century furnishings, and a plethora of beautiful tile from Fireclay Tile.
A glass wall opens out from a multipurpose room offering views of Mount Diablo. The room’s other focal point is a double-sided fireplace that was updated with vertical wood slats and tile in a large, circular pattern.
The kitchen is renovated with light wood cabinets and a mosaic wall made with hexagonal tiles that complement the blue range.
The main living room features an angled wood ceiling and the other side of the double-sided fireplace. Clad in matte black tile, the fireplace has a minimalist aesthetic that is perfectly juxtaposed with the white walls and beams.
In the basement, which the original architect named “Rumpus Room,” a new kitchenette and bar is there to entertain guests.
Photos by John Shum.
As a former dancer, interior stylist and product designer Colin King has an understanding of the power of stillness. It’s an awareness he brings to his practice since moving to the realm of interiors. By working with several design firms where he oversaw content creation and art direction, Colin became more and more curious about how to execute and capture visual storytelling through the arranging of objects. The experience led him to make an unspoken promise to the forgotten corners of the home, that he would transform them into something worthy of attention.
As a go-to stylist for many leading brands and publications, Colin is a regular contributor to Architectural Digest, T, Ark, and Rum magazines. He collaborates regularly with West Elm, Anthropologie, Zara Home, Crate & Barrel, and Roman and Williams Guild, and has his own product lines with Beni Rugs and MENU, with more in the works. Colin was recently named the Artistic Director-at-Large at Beni Rugs and continues to expand his practice to include product design, private client interiors, exhibition design, and creative direction, spreading his signature aesthetic across the industry.
This month Colin adds another title to the list: author. Arranging Things, published by Rizzoli, shares his intuitive, personal process of elevating spaces. It takes shape through a series of anecdotes and visual essays written with Architectural Digest’s Sam Cochran and a foreword by Robin Standefer of Roman and Williams. Organized by theme, Arranging Things offers insights into Colin’s approach to styling through showcasing his work for home brands and publications, installation design, and even his own home.
“Arranging Things is about looking at objects in an unexpected way, and encouraging others to view them beyond their everyday use,” Colin shared. “Whether a bowl, a single candle, a branch from your yard, I want readers to elevate these simple objects to create sophisticated vignettes that bring joy into their home.”
This week, Colin King joins us for Friday Five!
Colin King \\\ Photo: William Jess Laird
Photo: Colin King
Having elements of nature around me in my home is extremely important. Whether I am styling a shoot or just sourcing fresh flowers and branches for my own home, I always return to the flower market on 28th Street. My favorite spot is 28th Street Wholesale Flowers – Persaud and his team take great care of me there and they always have the best selection.
There is a large branch in my living room which usually stands 8-10ft tall. I enlisted my good friend Alex Crowder, founder of Field Studies Flora, and her foraging team to help me source unique branches of this scale. I decided to go with a branch instead of a tree so I could change it out every couple of months and watch the decay which provides me with so much inspiration. Florals and nature add texture, color, softness, life, and inspiration to every space.
Photo: Colin King
I am a lover of all things print. Whether it’s overspending at Casa Magazines, combing through the shelves at the Strand, writing notes on stationery, or reading the newest selection from my book club, there is nothing I love more than holding something tactile and tangible. I am always picking up the latest issues of AD, Arc Journal, World of Interiors, and Apartmento. I love to look at design and styling through the eyes of others, I learn so much that way. Whenever I travel, I am always on the hunt for out-of-print books or obscure finds with interesting covers for my own personal collection and to style with. A book is always a favorite prop. I have this beautiful stationery that I love using to send thank yous and spontaneous notes to clients and acquaintances. And right now I am deep in The Power Broker, the most recent select for my book club. There is just nothing like print.
Photo: Anna Jurkovska Imagery via Shutterstock
I danced almost every day from the age of eight. Moving my body helps me connect to myself and get in the present moment – I have so much gratitude for my facility and a healthy body. Five days a week I go to Barry’s Bootcamp classes and once a week I attend my friend Marisa Competello’s Moves dance class. It’s there where I find a sense of freedom and belonging. It’s all ages and all levels and it’s just pure joy. I have no attachment to the outcome and just really try to let go and lose myself in the music and movement.
Photo: Colin King
I am a member at almost every museum in the city, from the Met to the Noguchi, the MoMA to the New Museum. I am also a member at the Joyce Theatre, which is a dance performance venue in Chelsea. I think it’s really important as a creative person to see what other artists are making across all mediums. Some recent standouts: Lea Michele in Funny Girl, my good friend Eva Alt’s choreography at the ABT Incubator performance, and the Lucio Fontana Sculpture show at Hauser and Wirth. I love doing studio visits with friends like ceramist Natalie Weinberger and Danny Kaplan to see their process and shop their newest creations straight from the kiln for shoots. I’ve even sat for artist Jack Ceglic as he drew my portrait in his East Hampton studio. I try to find the balance of looking at both dead and contemporary artists.
Photo: Colin King
Becoming an uncle (twice), and recently being asked to be Godfather for a friend’s son, has brought me more joy than I could have ever imagined and taught me a new kind of love.
MENU, Sentiment Paper Weight \\\ Photo: Rich Stapleton
Beni, Obscura Collection \\\ Photo: Adrian Gaut
Photo: Colin King
INNESS is a boutique country refuge located in Accord, New York, designed by Post Company in partnership with restaurateur and trained architect Taavo Somer, development team Michael Barry, CBSK Ironstate, and Lee Pollock. Named after renowned American landscape painter George Inness, the retreat was brought to life by the aforementioned group of designers and developers.
The 225-acre property features 40 hotel rooms distributed between a 12-room farmhouse and 28 cabins. Amenities include a restaurant and lounge, a 9-hole golf course by King Collins, a sports outfitter, swimming pools, tennis courts, hiking trails, an events barn, a farm shop, and a 3-acre organic farm designed by landscape architect Miranda Brooks. Slated for 2023, the wellness building will offer a spa, gym, and spaces for movement classes and yoga.
The property’s central theme revolves around the contrast between the cultivated and the wild. The grounds are anchored by social hubs designed for both aesthetic appeal and communal function, while also offering ample space for exploration and discovery. Inspired by the region’s Colonial Dutch architecture, the buildings showcase a minimalist design that highlights the picturesque landscape. Rustic details and an emphasis on local materials unify the structures, which are further enhanced by Miranda Brooks’ carefully balanced landscaping that seamlessly blends wild growth with manicured elegance.
The farmhouse serves as a central hub, featuring a communal lobby bar, guest kitchen by Plain English, library room, and game room. A coffee service and continental breakfast are available for guests and members throughout the week. The farmhouse rooms offer mountain views, modern amenities, and are furnished with a mix of vintage and custom furniture – including pieces by Sixpenny – artwork, and wares to create a cozy, lived-in atmosphere.
Photos by Adrian Gaut.
Twenty years ago, Italian designer Stefano Giovannoni debuted ILBAGNOALESSI, a modern bathroom collection designed for Laufen in collaboration with Alessi. The series garnered mass attention and acclaim for its reinterpretation of typical bath products as the designs were soft and sculptural, like objects of art instead of just objects of necessity. With the evolution of materials and technology, Giovannoni decided to revisit and innovate upon the collection.
Since the collection’s original debut, Laufen has continued to conduct ongoing research and evolve its technology and materials. A new ceramic material named Saphirkeramik has made it possible to create thin, malleable forms that are still extremely durable. Giovannoni used Saphirkeramik to reinterpret the Tuna washbasin which now features a slimmer profile, a reality that would not have been possible two decades ago.
The new freestanding tub is made with Sentec, a mineral composite that feels velvety to the touch. In a manner similar to the washbasin, the tub has a subtle asymmetry as its borders widen on one end to provide a headrest or surface for objects.
To learn more about the ILBAGNOALESSI collection, visit laufen.com.
Maison de la Luz is a boutique hotel located in New Orleans, Louisiana, conceived by Atelier Ace. The establishment was inspired by traditional Southern guest houses, and features an environment of effortless sophistication and luxury. The guest house, which was designed in partnership with Studio Shamshiri, offers 67 private rooms filled with quiet Southern design typologies.
The building that houses Maison de la Luz was an Italianate style structure with a rich history within the city. It served as the City Hall annex for nearly 50 years from its construction in 1908 until 1957. Despite its historical significance, the design team successfully transformed the 55,464-square-foot building into an exclusive guest house while maintaining its original charm.
The guest house offers an airy and serene breakfast room, a private living room, and a secret salon connected to Bar Marilou, providing guests with a unique and unorthodox experience matched by its historical aesthetic and ambiance.
Photos by Stephen Kent Johnson.
Welcome Home is a recently completed project by No Architects, who designed a modern apartment for a family with small children. The Prague apartment received a reconfigured layout that includes a new multipurpose room that works as a study, playroom, and guest room. Sliding doors can close to hide the room from the living room when it’s not in use or for privacy when someone is visiting or needing to work. Even with the doors closed, the open kitchen, dining room, and living room provide ample space for the family to enjoy.
The unique kitchen boasts an oval, angled island with two bases in different finishes. The larger white base rests upon an elevated floor decked out in a patterned tile, while the wood column base sits on the main herringbone floor. The cabinets include a row of wood fronted uppers with light blue cabinets surrounding them.
The blue cabinets curve at one end, complementing the curves of the island and raised tile floor.
A double-sided, navy blue leather sofa floats in the center of the living room surrounded by built-in storage and display cabinets. One side of the sofa faces the television, while the other looks towards the windows with views of Prague.
The combo room just off the living room houses an elevated, built-in bed with storage under and behind it. On the opposite side, a light blue desk setup lives beside a large wooden storage cabinet with red legs.
The all-white hallway gets a boost from a cobalt blue console table that rests against the wall.
A seating nook with storage is built into the hallway near the front door, offering a good place to drop belongings after entering the apartment.
More wooden storage cabinets with red legs outfit the entryway.
A child’s room features a modern bunkbed that’s complete with storage, stairs, hidden lighting, and a privacy screen.
No Architects
Photos by Studio Flusser.
Coil + Drift have recently relocated to Upstate New York, opening their doors to a new 3000-square-foot studio within the Catskill Mountains. Nestled two hours north of New York City, the space houses an office, showroom, and state-of-the-art production facility where all of Coil + Drift’s lighting fixtures are now produced by their in-house production team.
Founder and designer John Sorensen-Jolink established Coil + Drift in New York City back in 2016, but in 2021, moved the studio to the Catskill Mountains to immerse the team in the wild landscape that inspires much of his material-forward designs. A former dancer-turned-designer, Sorensen-Jolink designs objects that are grounded in human connection and spacial awareness, with a deep reverence for nature.
Visitors to their new studio showroom can view a series of new additions to Coil + Drift’s existing collection. The highly popular YAMA table lamp is now available as a floor lamp in a new tarnished nickel finish. The Atlas series has also been expanded to include a new mobile-like chandelier, and the June Floor Mirror has been introduced in a new ebonized maple finish.
Photos by Zach Hyman.
The new Design En Rogue Architecture collection from S. Harris, part of Fabricut since 1954, translates a story many modern design lovers can appreciate – that of the Bauhaus school – into pattern and texture on fabric.
We got a sneak peek at the new designs that will be launching later this spring.
Known as a place as well as a method of teaching in pre-war Germany, the avant-garde Bauhaus brought together beauty and function, mass production and artistic vision, and disciplines from art to architecture. It was something never before seen, but has inspired creatives ever since.
The Design En Rogue Architecture collection unites designs based in organic and industrial art with those of architecture, taking inspiration from the Bauhaus artists who first introduced the world to this study of color, form, shape, and silhouette.
“This collection is full of highly structured textiles with a feminine essence – textiles that strike a chord.” said Jodi Finer, S. Harris Creative Director. “They’re movement-centric, statement-oriented, and evoke positivity. Inspired by the notion of moving forward through constant change as the only stabilizing force, we continue to test limits.”
You’ll find ten patterns in the Design En Rogue Architecture collection: Walker Fields, Isle of Capri, Senicio, Vastu, Off the Cuff, Sheeler Modern, Abstract Lines, Nouvel, Piston Mini, and Usonian.
A modern take on the classic floral print, Walker Fields found its inspiration in the wild landscapes of Walker Canyon and the Temescal Mountains in Lake Elsinore, California. A super soft alpaca fabric provides a subtle background to the brighter embroidery.
On the coast of Italy you’ll find Capri and its breathtaking scenery that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. Isle of Capri brings to life the island’s landscape that’s scattered with luxury hotels and impressive yachts. It features intricate embroidery on an alpaca-blended wool.
Ahead of his time, artist Paul Klee was a master of color, shape, and form through his use of complicated geometries. Senecio is modeled after Klee’s 1922 portrait “Senecio,” alternatively known as “Head of a Man Going Senile”. Senecio is available in four colorways – American Blue, Amour, Java, and the aptly named Klee – that highlight the angles and perspective of the portrait.
The ancient Indian practice of vastu shastra is a way of organizing the home through architecture and planning of the space. The goal is to fill a home with good energy and positivity. Vastu takes its cues from the role of geometry within these principles. Choose from Citron, Natural Black, Mineral, and Pebble colorways.
Taking advantage of a more abstract interpretation of geometry, Off the Cuff showcases repetitive lines and closed, curving shapes. There’s a feeling of movement and energy that brings this fabric to life. Available colorways include Abyss, Citrus, and Shipwreck.
The work of modern artist Charles Sheeler depicted the American Heartland, where machinery and factories changed the landscape of work. Sheeler Modern borrows from the complex nature of modern machinery and translates it into a composition of shape, value, color, and repetition.
Abstract Lines combines detailed embroidery with an energetic color and soft, alpaca-blended wool. Flowing lines are embroidered in metallic purple thread that makes both the pattern and bright-yellow background pop.
Featuring a geometric pattern in metallic cut velvet, Nouvel offers texture and depth. Inspired by French architect Jean Nouvel, who is known for using contrasting forms to create visual interest, Nouvel plays with shadow, light, and positive and negative spaces. Nouvel is available in Boysenberry, Honeycomb, Passion Plum, and Tamarindo.
A smaller version of the Piston pattern at S. Harris, Piston Mini features the same rounded, expressive geometric shapes. Made of 100% cotton, this fabric is ideal for use in bedding and draperies. It is available in Pink Sun and Sand Castle.
Usonian looks to Frank Lloyd Wright for its name and design. Mimicking Wright’s use of minimal details and utopian principles, its boldness is a surprise and a delight. Choose from New World Blue, Red Tribune, and Terracotta.
Great design starts with a story. Born in metropolitan America at the turn of the 19th century, S. Harris continues to celebrate its roots in pattern, color, texture, and innovation. Every collection is designed as a love letter to the natural world, a tribute to history, the romance of travel, and a platform for storytellers. The brand’s pursuit of progress is alive in every fabric, wallcovering, trim, and accessory they make.
Explore Design En Rogue Architecture, launching this spring, and the full catalog of fabrics, trimmings, wallcoverings, and finished home goods at at fabricut.com/sharris.
Working with the theme of “Colour Vibes,” color and design phenom Tekla Evelina Severin transformed a 250-square-meter (almost 2,700 square feet) empty space for the FORMEX interior fair last month. The project involved exhibition design, curation, and styling a series of rooms, which resemble either a beautifully staged set for a magazine photo shoot or a perfectly executed interior of a home. Taking inspiration from a labyrinth, hide-and-seek games, and a Rubik’s cube, Dimensions of Colour consists of multiple spaces placed in a zigzag formation, allowing for changes in perspective from every view. No matter the angle, new framed vignettes appear, as do ever-changing color palettes, making the space feel like it’s bouncing back and forth between realism and surrealism.
Immersed in Severin’s color-blocked world are a curated roster of 200 products sourced from 400 exhibitors, resulting in a broad mix of objects that feel like they belong.
Each space features black and white checkered floors with layers of rich, saturated wall colors. Topped off with furnishings – some that match and some that contrast – that give each room a purpose, whether it’s a living room, kitchen, bedroom, kid’s space, atrium, or living room.
Despite the use of so many colors, none of them feel out of place, as each works with the color beside it, across the room, or in the next space.
Concept illustration
Concept illustration
Concept illustration
Photos by Fredrik Bengtsson and Tekla Evelina Severin.
Typically, when someone says you’re being strung along, it’s rarely intended to communicate anything positive. But in the case of String Furniture’s modular shelving system, the design classic continues to be associated with the best of modern design – a flexible, expandable, contemporary classic with an airy aesthetic that seems to never wear out its welcome regardless of era or interior space.
If it sounds like I’m an unabashed fan, you’re not mistaken. I recently invested in a 3-panel, 12-shelf configuration for my home office to join a pair of two-tier String Pocket wall units. Designed by Swedish architect Nisse Strinning in collaboration with his wife Kajsa Strinning in 1949, the design retains an inspiring vitality inspiring organization and display.
Today, String Furniture is dipping into their archives to refresh a 1955 classic originally designed by Swedish architect Olle Pira. Designed for the Helsingborg exhibition of 1955 in 1955, the Pira G2 modular shelving system has been updated by architect Anna von Schewen and the industrial designer Björn Dahlström in time for the 2023 Stockholm Furniture Festival, which ended February 11th.
The refreshed design retains the modular spirit of the original, robust yet visually transparent. “The ambition was never to design a retro-style piece of furniture, but rather to embrace the core idea behind the original PIRA and create a taller, wider version” explains Björn Dahlström.
The shelves are made of lacquered steel sheets and secure onto extruded aluminum poles, with a choice of walnut or white oak cabinets and bookends, with each shelf rated for over 110lbs of weight capacity – more than sufficient to ease concerns of any dedicated bibliophile and/or to accommodate for a designer’s large tome library.
While adaptable as a wall-mounted storage and display piece, the Pira G2 truly shines when configured as a free-standing shelving unit, operating both as a display and room divider with each shelf creating a window to the other side and carving out smaller, more intimate spaces in the process.
I’ve been on the hunt for a room divider to visually break up a long room for months now, and at first glance the Pira G2 seems to offer everything I would hope for in a storage solution. Alas, I realized I was indeed being strung along the entire time – at least in my specific case – as the Pira G2’s 318cm max height doesn’t quiet extend sufficiently high enough to secure onto our high ceilings. But for most homes, the Pira G2’s modular sheet-steel construction should offer a centerpiece presence engineered to last a lifetime.
SPACE10 is looking a little different since we visited it last. The Copenhagen-based research and design lab recently unveiled its redesigned headquarters completed in collaboration with architecture and design studio Spacon & X. While two levels of the three-floor building will remain the same, with the basement as a fabrication laboratory/tech studio and the top floor as a workspace for the SPACE10 team, the main floor has been fully transformed into a community-centric space, even more so then before. New additions, including a public library with a take-a-book-leave-a-book system, foster an environment that’s conducive for community exchange and creative ideation.
Inspired by the concept of a newsstand, the public library with its modular racks and displays will feature 100 books, magazines, and titles for kids – all hand-selected by the SPACE10 team, as well as input from guest curators and the community. This selection will change throughout the year with new, relevant titles. A book exchange is also available where guests can simply leave a book and take a different one home. The racks, made from locally-sourced organic wood, wool, and Danish-produced aluminum, add a delightful pop of color to the white tiled space.
Our methodology has always centered on involving people in research and design processes in order to continue to diversify our perspectives and create solutions that truly matter for the many. We learned in a recent SPACE10 survey that 87% of our community follow us for ‘inspiration and new ideas’, while 59% want to be part of a ‘like-minded community.’ This felt like an opportunity to provide the community with a physical space that can be used for research, discussions, and meetups, and share books we at SPACE10 find inspiring and that are shaping our own conversations and projects. We want to foster spaces where people and ideas can meet, and what better than a library to provide serendipitous encounters and conversations on a daily basis.
– Kevin Curran, Spatial Design & Partnerships at SPACE10
Next to the library is a kiosk where visitors can check out and purchase local drinks and snacks while they enjoy the space. Guests can also buy a souvenir from a curated selection of design objects including stationery, homewares, toys, books, and SPACE10 merchandise.
The rest of the space will function as usual. A program of events, always free to attend, will continue to highlight new guests and cultivate a space for discussion, conversation, and inspiration. The gallery area will host two exhibitions a year, with this year’s The Ideal City 2040 installation currently on view through spring 2023. Around the floor, various seating options, from window stools to reading nooks, allow guests to relax, enjoy a coffee, work, study, or check out the books from the featured library.
Photo: Emilia Staugaard
Photos by Seth Nicolas unless otherwise noted.
What began as a kitchen renovation and floor replacement in 2021, turned into a major renovation of a condo in Southwest Portland, Oregon. Overhauled by Casey Keasler, founder of interior design studio Casework, the once dated apartment needed its spaces reevaluated to make it work for the long time owners. The results of the bold transformation have brought about a modern and fresh aesthetic seen throughout, most notably in the main living space.
Homeowner Ana Quinones
The contemporary kitchen stands out with its cabinets painted soft Rushing River green by Benjamin Moore. Paired with the marbled Dolomite countertops, island, and backsplash, and walnut elements, the kitchen feels high end yet livable.
Casework worked with general contractors, Hammer & Hand, to complete the transformation, which was inspired by some of the homeowner’s favorite museums and spaces, including The Walker in Minneapolis, SFMOMA, Portland’s Snow Peak store, and Stockholm’s Ett Hem. The couple loves clean, contemporary interiors and the use of natural materials, which Keasler incorporated into their new space. The design theme can be broken down into three works – purposeful, clean, and cultivated.
White oak flooring throughout the main areas and bedrooms, lightened the overall appearance of the space.
The main bathroom is contemporary with a classic feel, thanks to the mix of the textured marble pattern, rich wood details, and clean, white and grey tiles.
Rich shades of blue outfit the main bedroom, alongside lighter elements like the flooring, headboard, nightstands, and art piece above the bed.
Photos by George Barberis.
Designer and art director Serena Confalonieri is known for her identifying aesthetic which is all together graphic, colorful, and emotional. In one of her latest projects, she brings her design sense to Zdora, a project and installation created in collaboration with Very Simple Kitchen and La Pietra Compattata. Zdora, the dialectal word for “sfogline” in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy where Very Simple Kitchen and La Pietra Compattata are based, refers to the Italian women who prepare the dough by hand to make fresh pasta for Sunday lunch, typically enjoyed on a traditional checkered tablecloth. That textile has now been translated to the kitchen walls, table, and seating tops.
The surfaces by La Pietra Compattata are made of exclusively natural raw materials, including porphyry, quartz, and granite, that have been recovered from processed stones, ground into a mixture, and compacted into a hard material by pressing. Confalonieri curated perfect color palettes for the project, ones that match the color variations proposed by Very Simple Kitchen.
On the tables, the pattern imitates the look of the inspirational tablecloth by falling over the edges on the short sides. The chairs simply showcase the pattern on its surface tops. For the kitchen, the pattern continues upwards to create a humble backsplash or a full wall mural. The resulting effect of all three elements in the same vignette is a modern interpretation of the colorful, Italian-inspired kitchen.
Photos by Serena Eller Vainicher.
If you’ve spent any amount of time on social media the past three years, chances are you’ve run across the cookware brand Our Place. Founded in 2019 by Shiza Shahid, the direct-to-consumer brand has grown from its start-up days to now opening up their second Los Angeles retail location in West Hollywood. After the success of their Mythology-designed Venice location, Our Place turned to Ringo Studio to create a new store on Melrose that complements their designs and ethos. Alongside visually delightful product displays and a color palette that matches the colors of their popular pans, the space includes the Building a Bigger Table Room that exudes their mission to “welcome everyone to have a seat at the table.”
The store is designed as a one-stop shop where customers can check out the brand’s cookware, tableware, and kitchen tools up close. The home-like atmosphere features curated product vignettes that make each piece stand out, almost like a sculptural piece of art.
While the brand started with just one product – the Always Pan – they’ve expanded their line to include the newer Mini Always Pan, Perfect Pot, Mini Perfect Pot, Ovenware Set, dinnerware, drinkware, serveware, and kitchen tools.
The Building a Bigger Table Room features curvy lavender fabric panels that hang from the ceiling, mimicking the curves of the wavy dining table. Mirrored walls give the appearance that the table spans into infinity, thereby making enough room for everyone to have a seat.
To see more from Our Place, visit fromourplace.com.
Photos by Jenna Peffley.
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Hotel Riomar, Ibiza, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is a boutique hotel located in Ibiza, Spain, relaunched with a new design conceived by MA Hotels. As one of the first hotels to arrive on the island, and the first in Santa Eulalia, the new space embraces the building’s inherent mid-century layered interiors by celebrating the nostalgic qualities of its past.
Pierre Jeanneret Armchairs are met with custom designed sofas facing archways framing views of the beach. The neutral color palette was inspired by the island’s landscape, with accented tones of orange serving as the theme of the space.
The hotel comprises 112 guest rooms with four suites, all of which include a private balcony or terrace. The Ocean Brasserie & Bar features hand-painted ceramic tiles with bar seating and travertine tables. The soft stone-colored walls in the fitness area, accented by black details and large contemporary artwork, create a tranquil atmosphere.
Photos by Tribute Portfolio.
Located in Prague, Czech Republic, House for Dorothy was designed by boq architekti who were hired during the late stages of construction to design the interior for a family. The interior showcases concrete and wood as the materials of choice, which are topped off with playful details throughout. On the main floor, the open living space feels bright and open with surrounding windows and sliding glass doors that lead to the outdoor space.
The designers keep the color palette neutral with the use of white, anthracite grey, and natural wood, along with the occasional curated use of color.
A cozy lounge space is situated at one end of the main floor offering a quiet space to read or relax by the fire.
The central living room features two white bookcases framing the staircase with space in the middle for a projection screen. When the screen is rolled up, the minimalist wooden staircase with glass railing stands out and cleverly disguises storage underneath.
The sofa is modular and can be reconfigured into three different setups for various scenarios.
A massive kitchen island allows plenty of space for food prep. A dropped ceiling above the island mirrors its shape and offers ambient light as it’s backlit.
The kid’s room includes a multifunctional wall unit that houses storage while creating a house-shaped nook at the head of the bed.
Photos by Tomas Dittrich.
When it came time to design their new office in Poznań, Poland, FORMSON hired Polish design studio SPACELAB, led by architect Agnieszka Deptuła. The main source of the design’s inspiration came about on a visit to the company’s headquarters where they spotted bins of silicone spatulas that FORMSON manufactures. Seeing the identically shaped kitchen utensils all together gave them the idea of mounting thousands of them on different walls as three-dimensional advertisements using their own products.
FORMSON, known for their colorful kitchen equipment, carried the same vibe into their office space with the use of PANTONE colors. While the entry and staircase leading to the office is monochrome, vibrant colors greet guests as soon as they step inside.
At front and center is a vibrant structure in PANTONE 2117C with a red ‘Hello’ behind a sea of matching spatulas jutting out from the wall.
The purple-blue hue shows up throughout the office, interspersed with black and white stripes, and electric PANTONE Living Coral 15-1646.
SPACELAB made use of another product made by FORMSON – perforated trivets – hung on the walls in the conference room. Used in a repeat pattern, the item becomes part of a dramatic backdrop that would never lead one to think they’re anything but a wall covering.
The colorful bathrooms are given the same playful treatment with the PANTONE colors continuing on along with white square tiles and black grout.
Photos by MOIZ.
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