It isn’t so much a look. It’s a connection. That tug at your heart, the stirring of a memory in your design mind. Dreams and history and reminiscence. I’ve never met Seattle based interior designer Brian Paquette, never lived in his part of the world but there is something. A connection. A link. An understanding. A love of what he creates. The simplicity, the honesty, the beauty.

… with alcohol to make me fall for this home by Dutch interior architects i29. Modern and fabulous with a limited palette of grey and white. The hero though is the plywood used repeatedly throughout the home. An often overlooked, “second class” building material is the standout here. That and the open plan design, the fireplace, the walls of glass. No definitely the plywood 😉

Knock, knock. Helloooo! Open the door please. Please? I want to move in. The designer calls it “vintage vernacular”. The language is colourful, a little old fashioned but definitely with street cred. A little retro, a little indie, a little Hollywood Regency glam. A lot of lovely! Fab house by Brett Mickan Interior Design.

A fusion of modern with old world charm, light and shade, minimalism with maximum impact. This Melbourne based design firm creates a modern glamour with a clean line and a luxe but less vibe. That’s how I first described Mim Design‘s work back in 2009. Nothing much has changed. Except the body of work has exploded. Perhaps a little more layered, a little less minimal. Beautiful, clean lined modern interiors that surprise the senses and embrace modern living to the max.

I’m stalking one of the first modern buildings in Australia… Stanhill, designed by Frederick Romberg and built in 1948. On the third floor of this amazing building, part multi-storied urban living, part modernist monument is a 2 bedroom apartment that has undergone cosmetic changes but still harks back to its design beginnings. Want to live in a piece of history? Link here while it lasts. (Thanks Markus!)