Living Area

Costis Psychas was diving off the coast of Therassia, an islet in Greece's Aegean Sea, when he first spotted his future dream home. Nestled in a cove at the base of a ruddy cliff, the building had been abandoned for decades and was not much more than a pile of rubble. "I almost didn't see it at first because it was built of red volcanic stones collected from the mountain, so it blends into its environment," he says. What's more, much of the structure was under water. "Which," says this passionate sailor, "is what makes it so special."

The low tables in the living area are family heirlooms that were originally used for making flatbread; the wool pillows and cotton rugs were handwoven in Greece, and the handmade floors are a mix of white cement and sand.

Reference: http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/interiors/sailors-delight-a-dream-home-of-the-coast-of-santorini#slide-1

Living Room

If there were a movie character based on Nathaniel Goldberg, the Paris-raised, New York-based fashion photographer whose work has graced countless magazine covers and ad campaigns for luxury products, the character's home would probably be a soaring loft in Chelsea overlooking the Hudson River. There would likely be the usual slabs of angular white furniture, walls covered with aggressively contemporary art, and nubile models swanning in and out.

But in the real world, Goldberg stands clad in jeans and a gray hoodie at the door of a cozy-yet-somehow-formal 1820s Greek Revival house two hours north of Manhattan in Columbia County, as his Labradors, Arthur and Henry, gambol in the garden. "I don't live a Hollywood life, a fast life," he says with a slight French accent, standing on a simple coir rug. "When I'm home, I like things to be comfortable. I like a lot of peace."

In the living room, the 18th-century Swedish sofa and trio of wood cocktail tables are from Galerie Stéphane Olivier in Paris; the wingback chair, 1940s French iron-and-wood armchair, 1930s étagère, and 1940s American floor lamp were all found in nearby Hudson, New York.

Reference: http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/interiors/paris-on-the-hudson-nathaniel-goldbergs-hudson-valley-home-living-room#slide-1

PARLOR

Growing up in Corsicana, an old gun-slinging town about an hour south of Dallas, Susan Hable Smith fantasized about pursuing a career in art and design in New York City. Her parents were concerned. "They wondered how I would support myself," she says.

Hable Smith eventually moved to Alabama for college and then to California, where she worked as a fashion and accessories designer, but she never lost sight of New York. At last, in 1999, the timing felt right. But then, shortly before her move, she met her future husband, the attorney Peter W. Smith, who was based in New York. Coincidentally, he was ready to leave the city and offered to join her in California. "If you want to be with me," she recalls telling him, "then you need to stay in New York."

In the parlor, an antique Indonesian daybed is upholstered with antique Moroccan wedding blankets, a vintage shipping pallet serves as a cocktail table, the custom-made floor lamp is by Robert Ogden, and the painting is by Jeannie Weissglass; the curtains are of washed linen by Libeco, and the custom-made rug is by Elson & Company.

Reference: http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/interiors/georgian-revival#slide-1

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Loggica
When Cynthia Frank convinced her husband to buy a seven-bedroom house a block from the ocean in Southampton, New York, their children braced for the onslaught of 18th-century French furniture. "They refer to me as 'the mother who buys chairs that no one wants to sit in,'" Frank says. "A lot of our homes have been very formal—very behind the silk rope."

The loggia’s antique arm-chairs and bench are upholstered in Pierre Frey fabrics, the Lucite-and-metal cocktail table is vintage, and the flooring is marble.


Reference: http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/interiors/cynthia-frank-home#slide-1

Living Room
For most city dwellers, having a weekend house traditionally meant getting away from it all—perhaps to a place near the water, or somewhere nestled in the piney woods.

But then came the overdevelopment of many formerly bucolic enclaves, and its ugly twin: the unbearable drudgery of weekend traffic. For one New York-based couple, the three-hour haul from their townhouse on the Upper East Side to the Hamptons each Friday evening became too stressful. So they went where few weekenders had gone before: to Greenwich, Connecticut, the ultimate suburb for city commuters.

Only 40 minutes from Manhattan, the Fairfield County town is widely considered among the area's most luxurious bedroom communities. But to this couple with young children, Greenwich would become a leafy refuge at the end of a hectic week.

The living room of a Greenwich, Connecticut, home designed by Thom Filicia includes a 19th-century Italian sofa from Lucca Antiques upholstered in Belgian linen, petrified wood and ceramic stools, a light fixture by the Urban Electric Co., and a Louis XVI armchair; the side table is from Lillian August, and the mirror is by Thom Filicia Home Collection.


Reference: http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/interiors/thom-filicia-connecticut-home#slide-1

Los Angeles–based Kristen Buckingham discovered her passion for design while working on a dream home for her family (she and husband Lindsey Buckingham, from Fleetwood Mac, have three kids). Her Wallace Neff–inspired house led to decorating an actual Neff homestead for actress Reese Witherspoon, as well as to an eponymous shop along the La Cienega design corridor, where she showcases antiques and modern art, as well as her line of bespoke furniture. "Everything I gravitate toward is traditional at heart but has an edge to it," says Buckingham. "I like things fresh and clean—nothing is worse than a home where no one could

Reminding us of the scary childhood stories, when the biggest challenge was to walk through the enchanted forests that completely transformed themselves after the nightfall, the two artists, Thyra Hilden and Pio Diaz, together known as HildenDiaz created a unique work of art, that can be hanged…from the ceiling. The artistic item is called Forms in Nature. Quite impressing when the light is turned on, the enigmatic mystery-generator chandelier is one item you can ignore if you (still) like to wander through the wild woods. Here is what the artists have to say about their less common work:  “Using a simple action, such as intensifying the brightness at the centre of the artwork, the light transforms the space and adds character, such the work throws oversized shadows onto walls and ceilings in the space in which it hangs.”

Prentiss Architects studio has defined this volumetric and cozy contemporary dwelling, located on a ridge on San Juan Island. Two volumes compose the main residence. There is another additional structure, used as an office, studio and a garage. The house was envisioned as a home for a couple and it faced a few construction problems, due to the raw terrain. The house overlooks the coast of San Juan Island, offering stunning views and overall, an incredible living experience.

The ingenious organic shapes displayed by the Don Café House in Pristina, Kosovo make this project stand out. The creative team at Innarch wanted to develop a space that would reinterpret the idea of a sack filled with coffee grains. It is inspiring how the color palette, furniture, chandeliers and wall design stay true to this idea, ensuring a unique visitor experience.

The project entitled ‘The Glass House” consists of a traditional-like home adorned with modern extensions of glass. As a result, the house adopts a very contemporary look, inviting you into a bright and luminous interior. This project was completed in 2012, July, by the award-winning AR Design Studio, in Winchester, England. The clients (a couple) wanted to keep the traditional façade but they also wanted to add a touch of contemporary. The couple’s love for glass had a significant part in choosing the right design studio to deal with the renewal of the existing house.

LINK Arkitektur have completed the design and development of the Froeyland Orstad Church, a modern house of prayer in the small village of Orstad, Norway. The 2100 square meter building has an impressive capacity of 600 seats and accommodates the country’s first baptismal pool. With an appearance inspired by the surrounding landscape, the roof slopes in two directions, further blending in with the rest of the white geometrical shapes, resulting in a diverse composition.

This residence in Johannesburg, South Africa developed by the team at Summersun Property Group and initially discovered by Freshome on Sotheby’s is a massive display of opulence. The generously-sized house features five bedrooms, five bathrooms and large living areas for social encounters. The alternation between covered and open spaces contribute to its breezy, holiday-inspiring appearance.

A-001 Taller de Arquitectura have completed the design and development of Casa del Viento, a contemporary residence in the city of Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Reflecting the cultural mix that characterizes the region, the architecture of the building includes a variety of materials, ranging from exposed concrete and glass to the more traditional stone. The result is an imposing modern mansion, complete with a terrace the owners wanted for meditation, small balconies and a swimming pool reflecting the silhouette of Tepoztlán.

All creative spirits dream of a remote study room with just enough furniture elements to trigger that sense of comfort. This is the case with the writer’s studio below, envisioned bySMNG-A Architects in Lakeside, Michigan, USA and discovered on ArchDaily. Part of a larger property, including a main house completed in 1986 and large green spaces, the 448 square-foot rectangle-shaped dwelling also provides space for visitors coming over during week-ends.

A highly modern architecture approach, a generous mix of materials, spacious interiors and extensive ocean views characterize Casa Spa, located in Playa Gaviotas, Canete, Peru. The project was envisioned by Gomez de la Torre & Guerrero Arquitectos as an opulent retreat, where the transition from one covered living zone to the neighboring open space is barely noticeable.

Mediterrani 32 is a high-quality architectural project that focuses on the importance of nature and bringing it inside the house. The project was completed by Isern Associates and inspired by the words of Claude Monet, the impressionist painter, who stated that only the surrounding atmosphere can embellish a subject and give to it a true value. Exploring the words of Monet, the designers envisioned a space that establishes a dialogue between the interior and the exterior environment. The location, very steep and narrow, did not represent an advantage. The designers chose to expand the house on vertical levels. 

Inspired by the Ionic architecture order, Studio 65 designed a seat, chaise and side table for lounging entitled Colonna. By literally breaking down a column, the designers developed three seating units, each with a well designed personality. The upper part of the “stack”, “Capitello”, is also the most alluring one, presenting interesting details from every standpoint and offering a high level of comfort.

Drawing on themes from luxury, glamorous and trendy blends, Eskada Club Portodesigned by AAMD stands for an invigorating atmosphere. Thought from a range of differently design rooms, each with its own special feature, it has achieved a unique environment out of the mix between past, present and future. In the buildings restoration, materials were carefully chosen to guaranty comfort and innovative design.  Retaining the original features and characteristics of its stunning façade and blending them with modern European design, it stands out for an exclusive club in the nightlife of North´s Portugal region.

Advocates of the “Green City” concept, the creative team at WOHA developed a hotel design with a surreal appearance. PARKROYAL on Pickering is a highly modern architecture project in Singapore, combining concrete organic shapes with simple rectangular volumes and incredible sky-gardens. Greenery flourishes at every four levels of the hotel, visually blending the massive accommodation unit with the neighboring park.

A gorgeous place to eat when in Barcelona. A powerful mix of exuberance and minimalism, the union between two great cultures, one minimalist and quiet and the other, loud and abundant, both strong and influential meet and create this great fusion of tastes and flavours. Ikibana restaurant is the expression of two cultures that are both very passionate about nature. On one hand, there’s Japan, where the dialogue between the man and the natural ambient is very important and on the other, there’s Brazil, a country that exhales lushness through its landscape. Ikibana is the work of El Equipo Creativo, that managed to design a great place for people who like exploring antagonistic cuisines.

Cloudy is Fabbian Illuminazione’s new blown-glass lamp created by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur. Normally, when we look at clouds, we seek organic shapes, similar to objects of living beings. In this case, the creative process has been reversed: this is a special object which, during its creation, revealed all its potential. “Cloudy is a paradox! This lamp has been created using extremely complex steel molds, which have given it an almost magical lightness, a glass cloud floating in the air”, explains young designer, Mathieu Lehanneur.

This super stunning residence is a project developed by Meridith Baer and La Kaza. Ravishing and gorgeous, the private residence located in the spectacular city of Los Angeles, aims to offer a unique living experience to its inhabitants. The house promises a staggering panoramic view over the city and some of the most exquisite high class facilities: a gorgeous wine cellar, a home theatre room, where you can soak your feet into comfy pillows while watching over and over again your favourite movies, together with your friends, a stunning luxury swimming pool with a wide patio and a refined terrace, on top of all this.

Reference: http://freshome.com/2013/05/22/private-house-with-a-stylish-interior-in-l-a-and-a-breathtaking-view-over-the-city/