Displaying posts from May, 2025

Creating harmony between nature and architecture. Rusty Corten steel planters filled with lush ferns and trailing Muehlenbeckia. Slender multi stem Himalayan birches standing tall, against shou-sugiban cladded side extension and dark charcoal clay pavers. A blend of textures and green tones bringing life to the space.
There’s something about exposed brick and blackened wood and modern-vibe pavers that really just hit the spot. Absolutely love this small backyard courtyard garden space designed by East London Garden Design. Photos: Rachel Oates

Overlooking Sydney Harbour, this Balmoral residence was designed by Eaton Molina Architects director Jake Eaton. (The project began during his time at Burley Katon Halliday and was completed at EMA.) The architecture balances light, scale and materiality, shaped through a collaborative design process. Landscape design by Dangar Barin Smith overcomes limited deep soil by using raised planters atop slabs. These create layered, thriving gardens with species chosen for resilience, forming a soft, coastal landscape that embraces the home.

Photography by Prue Ruscoe.

Stokes 12, designed by Sydney-based Smart Design Studio, features a unique apartment above a workspace, formed by four offset brick vaults that stretch the length of the building. These arched structures frame views of the sky and street trees while creating a sculptural interior defined by stacked bricks and curved surfaces. Built with unmortared bricks, a thin concrete layer, and galvanized sheeting, the apartment includes custom-designed furniture and simple, understated finishes that enhance its industrial character and architectural clarity.

As soon as I started scrolling through the listing for Selwood Lodge – an exceptional Grade II-listed house that marries Gothic revival architecture with European villa-style romance on Inigo I instantly recognized the infamous deVOL kitchen of Pearl Lowe. This entire house is eclectic vintage maximalism wizardry and I love every bit of it. It’s like a big hug from the sweetest (and most stylish) granny.

Set in the lively heart of Seattle, this Craftsman home was transformed for a Brooklyn couple into a summer retreat that marries modern architecture with traditional elements. Tasked with softening the stark, contemporary updates like the steel staircase, we painted the interiors in a warm Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams, creating a cozy atmosphere ideal for both relaxation and entertainment. The renovation embraced the couple’s urban style while staying true to the home’s Craftsman roots, blending sophisticated urban tastes with practical, stylish living. The result is a harmoniously updated space that feels timeless, marrying the classic with the contemporary in a way that is both inviting and uniquely personal.
I do love this home (my home is a Craftsman too) and the classic style designer Lisa Staton inbued throughout is really pretty but I can’t help but think how much more warmth and beauty would be present if all the woodwork everywhere hadn’t been painted/effort taken to strip it. UGH.