Displaying posts labeled "Dark"

Helsinki based interior architect and designer Joanna Laajisto‘s philosophy is “not to clutter this world with unnecessary things but to find the hidden beauty of each space and to enhance it by creative solutions.” Two inspiring projects. The first Bar&Co, a modern take on a 1920’s bistro. Think marble, oak, leather, wrought iron and copper. Love the hand forged copper candle sconces. The second a dark and brooding minimalist home. A modern interior of rich woods and contemporary furniture.

Another project by Auckland architects Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects. I couldn’t help myself. I love their work. New Zealand is such a beautiful country with architecture that celebrates the land of the long white cloud. This alteration and addition to a Queenstown house sits comfortably within its stunning surrounds. Stone and glass and metal. Areas for communing and others for cocooning. Luxury and practicality and all with that view. God’s own country I believe.

Imagine a little cottage in the country. A weekend retreat. An escape. Do your imaginings turn to nightmares at the thought of chintz and yellow pine, old iron beds and shabby chic armoires? You’re a minimalist. You like it clean lined and modern with nary a whiff of dried flowers and old advertising signs, thrifted tat and dust catchers. I have found your perfect tree change getaway. Simple, stylish and with a scarcity of scatter cushions. A small black cottage on acreage with studio accommodation for guests. After all if you dislike clutter that much it might be best to keep your friends a few metres away 😉 The first of two real estate stalkings for today. At Wheatsheath, just outside the spa town of Daylesford in Victoria. But you are too late. Someone has just bought it. Link here.

Almost a year ago a late afternoon storm had me racing to wax lyrical about interior stylist Hilary Robertson. Roiling clouds and a darkening light seemed a good match to the moody, limited palette of the work I featured back then. Today the sky is full of smoke, grey and once again menacing. The thick air sits heavy on my chest and the edges of my mind are picked at and bothered by news of fire not far from home. Once again I seek solace, no, inspiration in the moody tones of Robertson’s work. Dark and deliciously distracting. So here’s to you Mrs. Robertson for brightening my day.

Belgian architect Dieter Vander Velpen emailed us with an intriguing project he recently completed. At first I wondered about blogging it as it’s a commercial space and we prefer featuring residential designs but this one could be REALLY fun translated into a residential space. This project is Garde-robe Nationale, a womanswear boutique in Antwerp where Dieter acted as artchitect and interior designer. The lighting in the ceiling was bulky, the clothing racks stuck out into the space and were on risers, and it was pretty dull overall.  

Dieter worked some serious magic on this shop. The floors were levelled out and original hardwood restored, the majority of the clothing displays were lined up on the outer walls for better sight lines through the shop and then my favourite element – the introduction of a light and dark zone. The front of the store is now all in white, and as you move along towards the rear where the fitting rooms are, the vibe is much more loungey with dark oak veneer walls and ceiling and floors stained the same dark shade. I think this would be such a phenomenal space if you think of it as the main floor of a home. Imagine the light zone as the kitchen and connecting dining space, and as you move into the dark zone you are in the sitting room with a huge sectional and and big TV built-into the wall with a long, low media cabinet….yes, I can see the potential…. (photos by Thomas De Bruyne)