I’ve highlighted Brazilian photographer Fran Parente‘s work before. It’s hard not to as he has snapped the work of many of Brazil’s hottest architects and designers. What I love most about his work is his ability to capture the personality of these spaces. Bold, quirky, strong, theatrical and even, at times, real. Fantasy and fact. Brilliant.

Is it wrong to be mesmerised by a powder room? Walls like smoke swirls or dye unwinding in water. If this was mine I’d be worried that I would spend far too much time in there sitting, lost in the eddies of the Aura wallpaper by Trove. Found in the portfolio of Sutro Architects.

Hiding silently in the shadows of moss covered trees, dark walls blend seamlessly with old growth. Enter the door and all changes. Wide walls of windows capture the light throwing black and white interiors into stark relief. Wooden accents warm and burnish. Retro meets modern. Light versus dark. Sharp angles against the softening canopy of mature trees. The Arboretum Residence remodel by Portland, Oregon based Skylab Architects.

Sutro Architects call it a Parisian Modern Flat… except it’s in the Pacific Heights area of San Francisco. A chic Euro vibe with sun shining in through large windows onto white walls and herringbone floors. Good architectural bones and great new architectural design. I really don’t care where the flat is. I’m moving in. J’adore.

Take a 1973 Eichler house in Palo Alto. A little tired but very proud. Introduce it to a young family who fell in love with it and wanted to breath new life into it in that minimal sort of way you should when confronted with a faded mid century gem. Enter San Francisco architectural firm yamamar  and the magic happens. Finally add interiors by Alison Garvey. It’s a happily ever after ending.