I’ve been stalking houses in Sydney and Melbourne lately. Perhaps I’ve been a bit of a snob. I’ve ignored my own backyard here in Brisbane. So when I finally started stalking the local streets again on the weekend I found this amazing shipping container house in the riverside suburb of Graceville. We’ve featured shipping container conversions on Desire to Inspire before (like this guest house and a commercial space in Brazil) but this takes the use of containers to another level. Three levels in fact. Four bedrooms, four bathrooms, extensive open plan living area and a level of finish that belies the industrial origin of the building blocks. The link to the real estate listing is here and you’ll find an interview with the builder/designer Todd Miller from Ziegler Build here.

Hello little floor. You are so intriguing. Are you pieces of old wood? Are you tile? Tell me you’re not vinyl. Bet you’re laminate flooring. Sssshhh don’t tell anyone but I know you are because of the photo file name. Doesn’t change anything though. This fabulous shot by photographer Thomas Popinger definitely has me floored.

There’s something about white walls, dark floors, warm wood and period features that makes me go weak at the knees. Throw in a tiny dash of quirk and well, quite frankly, I’m smitten. Midcentury furniture is an added bonus. I could think of nothing better than winding up the staircase of this Clifton Hill townhouse in Brooklyn, NY by Elizabeth Roberts and Ensemble Architecture exploring rooms, stealing ideas, thumbing through bookcases and rolling around on the bathroom sheepskin. Er, um, a bit too much information.

Situated in a 100 year old building in Istanbul is the boutique hotel, Karaköy Rooms. The elegant renovation by Turkish design firm RunArchitecture is a modern take on a once grand past. White walls, often with dark grey ceilings, are balanced by wooden floors. Where original mouldings are missing they are simply replaced or referenced with paint. Perhaps the standout feature of each room is the exposed copper piping that carries the electrical supply. Simply modern and historically fabulous.

Stark minimalism in black and white. Glass walls like a gold fish bowl. Everything on show. Reflective surfaces bouncing light. Hard, lean, buffed. The perfect exhibitionist. But wait there is a softer side. Concealed lighting throws rough bricks into relief. Solid planks warm walls. Could you? Would you? Are you a secret exhibitionist. Bold living by Montreal interior designer Anne Sophie Goneau.