Renovations to this historic 1830’s Connecticut farmhouse started with the directive, “I don’t want to lose any of the character and history of the place.” From what had become a dark maze of interior rooms over nearly two centuries, we created a plan for a modern family. We recast the details of the original house in a completely new layout: original baseboards, doors, trims, and flooring complement a modern design with interiors by Fawn Galli that opens views from spacious rooms to the beautiful surrounding mountains.
Douglas C. Wright Architects did right by this beautiful old home, and I love that the new addition is black and seems to fade into the background. Photos: Costa Picadas.

Another year has ended for the A’ Design Award & Competition. With sooooo many categories to apply for this is the world’s largest design competition. But it is not just an award. It is an indicator of quality and perfection in design, recognized worldwide, bringing your design front and centre before design companies and professionals. Categories such as Interior Space and Exhibition Design; Architecture, Building and Structure Design; Furniture, Decorative Items and Homeware Design; Lighting Products and Lighting Projects Design; Arts, Crafts and Ready-Made Design; Landscape Planning and Garden Design and so many more.

Entries have been judged by an international jury panel of scholars, professionals and media members. The prize? The trophy, of course, a certificate of quality, inclusion in the prestigious A’ Design Award and Competition exhibition and the yearly ResultBook but even more importantly press, PR, introduction to industry professionals and companies and international exposure. The fame, the prestige, the recognition and so much more.
And finally the 2024-2025 winners have been announced! Can you imagine the scale of this competition? Winners from over 100 countries in over 100 different design disciplines!

Here are some of my favourite winners for 2024-2025 in the Furniture and Lighting Products & Fixtures categories.

Genipabu by Estúdio Galho

Embrasse Moi Lamp by Giuseppe Tortato

AI Vision Sofa by Yunxiang Zou

Tura Table by Mai Wahdan

Chicago Line Armchair by Alexandre Kasper

Accordion Modular Sofa by Yuqi Wang

Color Roller Furniture Set by Chuheng He

Ori Floor Lamp by Lincoln Chen

Crochet Floor Lamp by Alexey Danilin

Infinito Light by Seyedsajad Jalalsadat

Kromme Coffee Table by Robert Wakeland

Cat Ear Multifunctional Chair by Mingzhi Cai and Hongqi Cai

Andorinha Chair by Matthias Ambros

Cornices New Chinese Furniture by Wei Jingye and Fan Anran

Osso Chair by Wongsun Yoo

Firefly Lamp by Mahya Hoseini

Curved Chair by Beijing Forestry University

Musubi Stool by Mizuki Chinen

Churros Lighting by Yi Hsien Lin

Ultra Mariner Lighting Planter System by Studio Beam

EcoMod Modular Lighting Fixtures by Guoyu Wang

These are just a small sample of the winners. If you head here you can explore so many more categories and their winners.

A’ Design Award and Competitions are organized and awarded annually and internationally in a wide range of categories, and you can check this link to find more details . Every year projects that focus on innovation, technology, design and creativity are awarded with the A’ Award. While realized projects find opportunities to get published, reach new markets and meet a wide range of buyers for their existing products, the organization also helps the creative minds and startups to meet with the business people to realize their product ideas. Early Registrations to A’ Design Award are now open, enter your works for fame, prestige and international publicity. To register for next year’s competition you can do so here.

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This post is brought to you in collaboration with A’ Design Award and Competition.

South Finistère – In the heart of 1 hectare of wooded grounds with pond, fountain and justice column, majestic 18th century château once belonging to an illustrious figure in Breton history. It includes : Period entrance hall, 4 towers, stone balcony, wood panelling, solid parquet flooring, marble fireplaces, several terraces surrounding the château. Panoramic views over the landscaped grounds and countryside. First floor: entrance hall, kitchen, utility room, large reception room with fireplace, 2 lounges, shower room. Upstairs: library with wood panelling, 6 bedrooms (2 of which are being restored), bathroom, attic for conversion. Cellar and hangar of approx. 100m2.
I honestly thought this was going to be an abandoned castle by the looks of the exterior. But alas it is not, and it is really charming on the inside! Maybe they could try some semi-gentle pressure washing? Regardless this is really cute and reasonably priced @ €748,000. For sale via Kretz.

Welcome to Camp Roig 31, a totally unique townhouse in the heart of Alaró on the foothills of the Tramuntana mountains, meticulously designed and renovated by Durietz Design & Development. Camp Roig 31 is a 600+ m2 townhouse with a sun-bathed 410 m2 courtyard overlooking the Alaró twin peaks and surroundings. The house, built in 1910, was originally as a halfway house for crops and meat from a large possession outside the town and has now been restored and upgraded into a modern big family residence with all the luxuries one could expect, with 5-7 bedrooms, 5 baths, wine cellar with it’s own house wine, 10x4m pool, garage and much more. The house has many antique charming details like two stone fireplaces and wooden carvings, but probably its main feature is the airy roofed terrace with arched openings to the private expansive backyard and mountain views.
What a spectacular home this is! Majorca living with the finest of details and Spanish style elegance. Once this home was put on the market I bet it sold really damn fast.

Residence Tuileries, designed by Necchi Architecture, is a 100 m² two-story townhouse located in the 1st arrondissement steps away from Tuileries Gardens and the Louvre. It is as elegantly Parisian as you could want, with elements of the 80s and 90s added in. Now this is where I would want to stay on my first visit to Paris….and I can! It is available through Pied À Terre website – a place to find architect-designed, unique apartments & townhouses unlike what you can find at a hotel or Airbnb. Photos: Ludovic Balay.