Interior Design Sense

…who loves black. There’s something I find really intriguing about one random black wall.

Black kitchen cabinets make for a sexy kitchen (particularly when paired with white subway tiles which creates just about my ideal kitchen…and add a white apron-front sink and wall-mount faucet and the heart palpitations begin).

A bedroom of black and white creates a combo of glamour/sexiness/mystery/masculinity. And I love the subtle drama of this space.

via Fantastic Frank, Stuart McIntyre, Erik Andersson Architects

And now for the dark. If you enjoyed seeing photos of the progress going on at Jo’s place, I think you’ll appreciate this post. It’s a home bathed in black (mostly). It’s moody, modern and gives off a completely different vibe than my post earlier today. Which would you prefer?

via Groves Natcheva Architects

Heather sent us the following request: I have a fantasy in which I own a cottage and of course it has one (or more) alcove beds–you know, those beds that are built right into the wall, sometimes with drawers or a trundle underneath, sometimes with a window in the nook itself? Can you put together a collection of those? I would love to see it, if only to fuel the fantasy. I LOVE the idea of sleeping/reading nooks, tucked away in corners. And sleeping arrangements at a cottage is always a dilemma because the more the merrier, and squeezing in as many potential “beds” as possible is always a must. Plus, you can get away with being an adult and sleeping in a not-so-ordinary bed, which in my mind is a total bonus. Many of the photos I found are of children’s rooms but translate so well into ideal beds at a cottage. (P.S. Check out this post I did on napping nooks, and this one on couches in alcoves).

Hus & Hem
Hus & Hem
Sunset
Folio
Sunset
Sunset
Fernau + Hartman Architects
Fernau + Hartman
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles
Sunset
Steven Gambrel
Per Ranung
Design*Sponge
Robert Gervais
The London Magazine
Elliston Lutz
House Beautiful

A couple weeks back Maureen shared with us a home featured in the Modern Home Tour in Austin. This time it’s a home from the Outdoor Living Tour that is a DREAM!
As described by the architect (Cass Cheesar Architects): One of the main objectives of this project was to celebrate sustainable design while making the elements esthetically intriguing. The cypress rain screen was allowed to gray in it’s natural time and the steel was left to create a seal of rust. Another objective was to site the project so the clients could experience the urban nature of their backyard while maintaining a small carbon footprint.
He called it The Screened Living Room. How I wish I had the space for something like this in my yard. WOW!! (Photos by Andrew Chan)

I couldn’t help myself. I had to dip back into New Zealand architects Sumin Chaplin’s portfolio again. This time I was drawn to their contemporary take on the rustic shed and the old barn. Rich with texture, warm with aged timbers, always a fabulous view and just out and out comfy. Stylish yes but never precious. The barn I can see full of kids and dogs, friends and long summer days. As for the boatshed after the jump, imagine cooking freshly caught fish in that kitchen as the sun starts to set on another perfect day out on the water. If you haven’t already you must visit their website. Their portfolio is amazing.

Is there a land more beautiful than my own Australia? Yes I believe there is. I think at last I have to admit that New Zealand is just a little more stunning. Just a little more. This slice of perfection is the Alan Pye Cottage, part of the iconic Huka Lodge at Huka Falls, Taupo, New Zealand. Eclectic luxury created by interior designer Virginia Fisher and Christian Anderson and Sumich Chaplin Architects (on whose site I found these pictures). Words fail me. Stunning landscape matched by sophisticated interiors drawing influence from the English Arts & Crafts movement. A powerful colour palette references the hypnotic turquoise green waters of the Waikato River. So many Kiwis cross the sea to Australia. I think we Aussies should be slipping quietly over to New Zealand. Paradise!

Remember the minimalist church conversion last week? Well the owners traded up … to a bigger church. Again by Zecc Architects. (Thanks for the heads up Zecc.) Still the clean minimal lines with respect to the original structure. Look at those stained glass windows, the plaster work. It’s a play on spatial qualities, lines of sight, the enclosed and the soaringly open, the secular and the religious remnants. Monkish in how spartan it is but elegant in its restraint. And if they trade up again will it be a cathedral?

I got my hands on a new book the other day called The Happy Home Project by Jean Nayar (from Filipacchi Publishing). It just came out this month and it is along the same lines as Meghan’s book that I reviewed last week (here) – it is essentially a guide to decorating your home. With chapters on style, sustainability, spirit, substance, renovation and decorating plus a helpful resource section, it is full of advice on how to achieve the spaces you are after with expert advice from architects, designers, organizing specialists and contractors. With a special emphasis on living harmoniously with nature, The Happy Home Project also explores some of the more subtle ways one can turn a house into a home. I am all about incorporating nature into my home so this book is up my alley (and I need all the guidance I can get to make it through my upcoming home renovations/additions), and has lots of photos of beautiful spaces. Some that I love are below.