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Ultimate holiday pad in the Brazilian mountains
A house designed for entertainment, House in Itaipava is a home built for entertainment located in the mountainous region of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Surrounded by lush landscaping, natural ponds and mountains, the home has been designed by Brazilian studio Cadas Architecture. The retreat demonstrates a stunning display of multiple open and relaxing leisure spaces with materials of wood, glass, stone and plenty of natural daylight. There are two separate spaces on the property, both mixing modern lines with a cozy interior, typical of the architecture in the region. One of the houses seems to float upon a natural pond which also provides a natural cooling effect. Sliding glass panels open on either side to provide natural cross ventilation through the living area, which eliminates the use of air conditioning, even on hot summer days.
There is a double height spa/relaxation zone with inviting lounge beds situated in front of a high stone fireplace as well as an indoor pool, perfect for get-togethers with family and friends. The other main house is situated higher up on the hill and provides fabulous views of the surrounding landscape. The interior is built as an open concept, with a living area, entertainment area, kitchen and dining room. Upstairs, roughhewn beams form a counterpoint between the undulating textures of natural wood and the machined planks of the wooded flooring and the lattice of basketry forming the ceiling. A large terrace expands out from the house with seating areas to enjoy the views and a built-in fire pit. Via
Photos: Denilson Machado and Decio Daniel
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Beyond spectacular SoHo loft conversion
Nestled on the sixth floor of an 1882 red brick building with an intriguing past as a department store, this converted loft in Soho, New York has been designed by The Apartment Creative Agency. The loft boasts a spacious layout, 13-foot ceilings, original Corinthian-style columns, and enormous thermopane windows. Located on coveted Crosby Street, a cobblestone road centrally located, but invitingly hidden between Soho and Nolita, the apartment was featured in the film “Devil Wears Prada” where it was highlighted as the cinematic expression of a modern designer home. Featuring one-of-a-kind custom finishes, sculptural stacked-wood fireplace, multi-zoned environments, Marc Sadler Boffi kitchen, library corner with floating book shelves, great light and views, as well as a dramatic entrance hall detailed with six huge arches etched from an exposed brick wall, which leads into the impressive main room.
Photos: © The Apartment Creative Agency
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Light drenched ultra-modern retreat
This beautiful home in Paddington, New South Wales, Australia is an eclectic blend of designer finishes and cutting edge appointments with a touch of uber-cool industrial chic. The residence is a secret in/outdoor sanctuary with voluminous spaces drenched in light. There is approximately 6.1 meters of frontage embracing a deep rear north aspect. Features of this spectacular home includes soaring ceilings, limestone floors and a hinged wall window, generous lounge with wood fire flanked by the outdoors, private entertainers’ courtyard and sundeck with plunge pool, an open plan kitchen with dining and built-in perimeter seating, spacious mezzanine level study, guest water closet, home automation, master retreat with mosaic tiled en-suite, walk-in robe and balcony, skylit attic bedroom which also includes an en-suite. Via
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West SoHo duplex displaying original details
This rare gem is located in an historic loft building in the West Village of Manhattan, New York. The spacious duplex apartment offers 3,500 square feet of living space with the additional flexibility of an open, wooden beamed and columned, beautifully scaled loft studio, showplace/office for possible interior combination. The total square footage of the duplex is 5,700 feet. The 3rd floor is comprised of a gallery vestibule giving on to the salon measuring 38×25 feet with 18 foot high ceilings and a double row of new double paned south facing windows. This is a very beautiful and accommodating entertaining space. The also offers a warm and inviting eat-in kitchen, a guest bedroom/bath suite, pantry and more, complete this floor. The 4th floor is accessed by an interior wonderful original wooden staircase leading up from the foyer to the gallery area, the master bedroom suite, full bath and the home office. The laundry room is also on this floor. The magic is also in the 2,215 square foot 2nd floor, with the exposed wooden beams and wooden columns which have rarely been preserved in West Soho. This floor has two offices and bathroom, small kitchen/pantry and a very large open space for studio/showroom/office, or to be swiftly combined with 3 and 4 for a 5,700 square foot very rare home.
This fabulous piece of real estate is listed for sale at $10,900,000 from here.
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Exquisite London duplex with luminous interiors
This stunning six bedroom London duplex apartment is located within an exclusive and private gated development of Academy Gardens. Arranged over two floors with a fabulous double height reception room, an eat in kitchen complete with Gaggenau appliances, second reception room, five bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms, massage room, beautiful staircase and balustrade, stone floors, balcony and fireplace. The 5,925 square foot property also includes communal gardens, swimming pool, private gym, three parking spaces and concierge all within a moments walk of Kensington High Street, Notting Hill Gate and the green spaces of Holland Park. This fabulous home is listed here at the asking price of only $39,968,078!
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The inspiring modern G House
Located in Valle Real, Zapopan, Mexico, and designed by Agraz Arquitectos, Casa G illustrates a creative approach to the art and craft of architecture. Its design departed from the unique coordinates created by the meeting between the terrain’s configuration and the paths the sun takes as it envelops in nourishing rays. The three-story beauty features a two-car underground garage, clean, simple lines on the outside, ample glazed surfaces and interior design detailing that have just enough wow-factor to mesmerize. There is a rugged wooden marble staircase offset by a pitch red wall. There are recessed light fixtures that spring like brooks from the walls and the floor. There is a small interior pool endlessly reflecting (and reflective of) an ample window which looks out into the yard. The resting area is upstairs: a master bedroom and two adjacent rooms for guests or family, with serene views of the garden. The main living spaces (kitchen, living room, dining room) maximize the presence of natural light with their south-eastern orientation. Most ingeniously, however, the slits in the hallway skylight allow the light to romp and play inside, achieving unusual, strikingly beautiful effects. What do you think of this incredible residence?
Visit the website of Agraz Arquitectos here.
Photos:Â Courtesy of Agraz Arquitectos
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Retro IKEA-inspired pad
Today we bring to you this fascinating and playful villa we found on Bjurfors that was built in 2005 in the small village of Furulund, Sweden. The combination of ceiling height and generous windows allows for plenty of natural light to fill the four bedroom, two bathroom residence. The current owner has put great care in the details with fun interior styling of Ikea furniture, wood laminate flooring and splashes of bold and colorful elements which exudes personality. This retro-inspired and very stylish dwelling offers 1,969 square foot (183 square meters) of open and practical living space, with cozy and comfortable interiors and a working fireplace.
This fabulous dream home with the most delicious and original detailing is listed for sale here. What do you think of this cool home design?
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Stunning contemporary Glenbrook Residence
The Glenbrook Residence is a beautiful, complex and contemporary property situated in Bethesda, Maryland designed by David Jameson Architect. The home is comprised of two stone structures surround a glass pavilion within a wooded landscape in Bethesda, Maryland. The concept for the Glenbrook residence was to create three distinct structures: one for the most public programs (entry space, garage and guest bedrooms), one for the most private living programs and one where “public†and private can co-exist. This concept in itself is extremely contemporary and unique in thought, and Architect David Jameson has executed it brilliantly. Surrounded by a beautiful landscape, the house also exudes a natural feel. This is all juxtaposed with the unique shape and structure of the house, as well as the bright colors and refined palette that consists of the materials.
The living pavilion is conceived as the center-piece of the concept and glows like a crystal between the heavy wall elements of the house and contains the cooking, eating, and living spaces. The interior, which is clearly visible from the exterior – an aspect included on purpose by the architect to blur the lines between public and private (a clearly contemporary, luxury aspect) – is spacious, comfortable and lavish. The bright, natural colors mix well with the houses exterior, while it adds a relaxing, comforting feel to the home.
The building is made of all natural materials with a 100-year lifespan and features an underground spring-fed water furnace HVAC system. This adds an efficient aspect to this luxurious, modern home. Via
Visit the website of David Jameson Architect here.
Photos: Paul Warchol Photography
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Charming loft home in Barcelona
This charming loft home in Barcelona, Spain was designed by Interior Designer Mireia Pla of Studio Vuong. Conceived as a single storey home of 1,076 square feet (100 square meters), where the search of natural light became an absolute priority. Such objective was achieved through the installation of fixed glass, large sliding doors to the terrace that close the external environments, and three large skylights in the ceiling of the kitchen.
Having high ceilings allowed the designer to make an extra room like a bedroom duplex and getting better distribution. The ground floor is oak and oil, which gives a rustic look and at the same time contrasts with the white walls and decor. Furniture, some designed especially for this loft are recycled and natural woods, leaving many untreated and view the grain of the wood. The neoclassical style sofa is upholstered in velvet. Other decorative details complement with this artistic loft. On the terrace, the rest area has been raised and a built-in polished concrete sofa has been upholstered in white. The decorative details as the kilim rug give an exotic touch to this small paradise.
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A unique Japanese tree house
‘Tree House’ by Mount Fuji Architects Studio is located in a typical residential area of northern part of Tokyo, Japan. This small 866 square foot (80.45 square meters) residence was designed for a young couple, the property is situated close to neighbor’s houses. The problem with this was a shortage of natural light and privacy, to resolve this, the architects chose a ‘centripetal tendency’ by limiting the building horizontally.
They selected the polar-coordinate-system as the geometry of the architecture instead of the Cartesian-coordinate-system. The rule is very simple. Each level frame was rotated and reproduced by 11.25 degrees and every frame is 55mm higher than next one. As a result, the strong structure which looks like big tree has been realized.
The main space is divided into 4 different characterized spaces by this big tree-like column. All spaces have a different composition in regards to height, width and light amount projected. The high and well lit space is for dining and the low and dim space is for sleeping. In the house people will find their favorite spot, not by order of named rooms but rather with functions.
Photos: Kenichi Suzuki
