Displaying posts labeled "Tile"

The Studio’s first ground-up build finds both solace and togetherness in a one-room pavilion envisioned as a family retreat unfolding in the garden behind the main home, enveloped and enlivened in a thatch of greenery. A pleasing admixture of provenance and period fulfills the desire to “mess up the hair of the house”: custom furniture of the Studio’s own design — a sofa the color of saffron, tactile tables hewn from local lava stone; vintage Postwar examples — Pierre Chapo, Jeanerret, Noguchi. A bar of locally-sculpted brass rings a half-round form that hugs the structure, creating a self-contained entertaining space. Terracotta tiles in the bathroom tap into the heritage of Mexican craft. Barragan-inspired shutters frame the windows, a custom pattern Nepalese silk rug stretches across the floor like a sun-baked field. 
Another stellar project of absolute perfection by Studio Valle de Valle set among the stunning greenery of Mexico. What a dream! Photos: Stephen Kent Johnson.

One of the oldest homes in Toronto becomes the site of true balance, between landmark preservation and reimagination, between the past and the present. The home’s stately Italianate exterior, largely preserved and restored, down to the oatmeal color of the brick; its interior, fully remained and reconfigured. The home’s original lozenge-shaped windows, present in the entry glass and transom, become a guiding theme. This elliptical form guides the walls, softened into curves, or gets spliced into the fireplace surround as if embossed; ceilings form into generous arcs, amplifying the securing sense of enclosure. Small details reveal themselves. The library, clad in rich wood and sprouting bulbous globe fixtures from its vaulted ceiling, centers a double-height fireplace. A lower level sitting room offers a sophisticated take on the man cave. On the same level, a cinema room studded with plush modular seating wrapping around an ovoid-ceilinged sauna (literally) round out the home’s invitations to comfort.
Designed by Studio Valle de Valle (the partnership of the iconic Giancarlo Valle and Jane Keltner de Valle), they have brought an unmatched level of sophistication and funkiness to Canada with this incredible project. This house is everything. Photos: Stephen Kent Johnson.

Eclectic Mediterranean meets Postmodern charm in this expressive forever home for a family of six in Gordon, a suburb on Sydney’s leafy North Shore. Set on a generous block with a tennis court and swimming pool, the two-storey Federation residence built in 1918 — now complete with a brand-new rear extension — has been transformed by Greg Natale into a charming collision of colour, character, and considered design. From citrus-banded ceilings to graphic chandeliers, Greg celebrates the joy of decoration while staying grounded in thoughtful craftsmanship. Traditional elements such as parquetry flooring, fluted wall panelling, and custom mouldings are reimagined through witty, contemporary interventions. Checkerboard zellige tiles, richly veined marbles, terrazzo flooring, and sculptural joinery introduce layers of contrast and depth, lending the home its eclectic edge. The palette moves confidently between soft European neutrals and irreverent jolts of red, chartreuse, and cerulean, expressed through nuanced gestures like red wine joinery and playful Murano glass chandeliers. Postmodern silhouettes appear throughout, from the angular Cassina console in the entryway to the round-footed tub in the primary ensuite.
Greg Natale has been a favourite designer of ours since the dawn of time, and he continues to blow me away with his creativity and always stepping outside the box. The main ensuite alone is a work of art. Photos: Anson Smart.

A young family approached our studio and asked us to help them gut-renovate a Landmarked townhouse they had recently purchased in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Both clients love color and tile and these elements became a key part of the overall renovation project. We selected a porcelain tile that is playful, fun and has a timeless aesthetic to use throughout the parlor floor. we installed a checkerboard blue and white tile pattern all the way down the length of the parlor primary hallway, rather than the typical wood floor one normally sees. Color plays a key role throughout the home and, in particular, on the parlor level. Door frames are painted in various bright shades, the primary hallway has a blue paint wainscot that wraps around into the mudroom zone, and the center living space (and future library) is painted a shade of deep green. One of the early requests the clients made during our design process together was for a pink kitchen. Although there is lots of color used throughout the home, the brighter hues are carefully balanced with large areas of more neutral tones.
If bold primary colours are your jam, then this home is right up your alley! Designed by Studio Officina, this is a really fun take on colour. As much as I love colourful walls and ceilings, I am also obsessed with neutral walls and boldly painted trim and windows. Photos: Louisa & Fyodor.

Though you wouldn’t know it, this Chicago suburbs home was a completely new build. It honors classical design principles and timeless traditional architecture while embracing a colorful, livable spirit. Formal elements—columns, moldings, a sweeping stair, and a grand two-story library—are paired with bold palettes, playful patterns, and antique furnishings to create rooms that feel both historic and fresh. The result is a home that balances proportion and permanence with warmth, wit, and modern comfort, standing as a testament to Chicago architecture and design.
I love the contradiction of formal and whimsical elements in this house. Serious, but nah, just kidding. Design: Summer Thornton; Photos: Thomas Loof; Architecture: Heidi Lightner Architects