Just a little taste, not quite enough. Always leave them wanting more so they say. A little tease. A little inspiration. A little loft with a lot of style. By Portland, Oregon based JHL Design.

A balance between restoration and intervention… that’s how Martin Young Design describe their work on this 1907 San Francisco house. The past is acknowledged and lovingly restored but contemporary finishes and furnishings add a fresh, new layer. A modern way of living with history.

It’s not a house. It’s not somewhere where you would live. (Well you could if wine was your thing.) I don’t care. There’s something about this liquor store’s design that appeals to me. No jokes please about the wine doing the attracting. I love the rough, exposed brick walls, the oversized graphic, the industrial pieces used as display and yes the wine bottle chandelier. Perhaps I could drink enough to make my own. Inspiration can come from anywhere and everywhere… even a room full of wine. Wine Republic by Red Design Group.

This extension to an old weatherboard home in Northcote, Melbourne is good design, plain and simple. The repetitive use of timber boxes gives a clean lined and contemporary feel while the retention of heritage features does not detract from this modern family home. Light filled, open, blending old and new. Who would know what is hiding behind the old facade? Stompbox by Melbourne based building designers Altereco.

Photography by Tara Pearce.

The soaring ceiling in this two bedroom duplex in a converted 19th century schoolhouse in Cobble Hill, New York lifts this otherwise small space to another level. Natasi Vail Design has exploited the height during their renovation of the space with clever built ins to maximise storage and provide architectural detail. Splashes of blue and pink play against white walls while a gallery hang of small art pieces accentuates the height. The original kitchen has a low ceiling height but by removing upper cabinets and replacing them with open shelves the space appears more open. An awkward apartment soars to new heights