Unbelievable modern transformation in South Yarra

South Yarra Residence is a modern addition and remodel by architecture studio Nixon Tulloch Fortey in South Yarra, Australia. If you notice in the last picture, the front of the Victorian home has been historically preserved in keeping with the surrounding neighborhood. The interior features modern updates with splashes of bold colors throughout. The back of the house has been completely modernized and looks fabulous with the large expanse of glass that helps blur the boundaries between the outdoors and in. What do you think of this remodel, would you have left the original front facade or would you have updated it to match the rear facade?

Maison d’Ulysse: Guest house with Mediterranean charm

The Maison d’Ulysse is an historic 17th century fortified farmhouse in the South of France and bears the name of one of its former owners, the archaeologist and poet Ulysse Dumas. Dumas (1872-1909) is a major figure in local history. He made important archaeological discoveries about the prehistoric settlement of the region. Since that time, the farmhouse and its garden have retained a great deal of their poetry, as can be seen from the mulberry trees, ancient oaks and fig trees which border the property. Today, the house – which is listed by the “Fondation du Patrimoine” heritage foundation, with a label for its historical value – is one of France’s finest high-class guest houses.

Inside, you will be immersed in the magic of the house, which has been restored with due respect for its authenticity. Settle down in the comfort of your luxury guest house room and rest in the coolness of its natural limewashed walls. You will be charmed by the contemporary decoration, combining modernity of lines and sobriety of materials, from the Baron Perché room to the Chant du Mûrier suite. Round-off your well-being stay with a swim in the magnificent swimming pool, before relaxing in the spa area and Turkish bath. Then take a stroll in the Mediterranean dry gardens, where luxuriant perennials, shrubs and climbing plants grow side by side.

To stay at the beautiful La Maison d’Ulysse, prices range from $160 – $400 per night, from here.

Historically preserved mansion gets eclectic makeover

A true mansion, originally from 1922, with preserved architecture and full of details that reveal a rare magnificence, is the headquarters of the 22nd Edition of Casa Cor Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With very high ceilings and large windows, the beautiful and famous building has been designed in an eclectic style with over 5,400 square meters of constructed area, divided into 52 environments, with about 80 professionals that have demonstrated that it is possible to renew with style, but without deleting the marks of time. The building was once a Boarding School of Nursing Anna Nery (1926 – 1973) and the College Student House (1973 – 1995). Here, past, present and future coexist in harmony. Enjoy the amazing photos of interior design and architecture!

The hotel’s lounge is a a 130 square meters balanced composition between pieces of diverse styles by architect Gisele Taranto. Imperfections were left on the floor, walls and frames as a way to rescue the memory of the mansion. The space also gathers pieces of art selected by curator Mara Fainziliber. Maneco Quinderé did the lighting.

The ceiling received a new structure made of corten steel and polycarbonate below the existing one, creating a semi-transparent layer that allows a partial view of it in its real condition.

Gisele also created a “book wall”, using books as bricks to complete part of a missing wall, making reference to the works of the german Hubertus Gojowczyk.

Lobby/reception. Hot pink walls contrast with the old, original elements of the property, in the environment of architect Pedro Paranaguá. Italian sofa, fitted with low modules and loose, reaffirm the contemporary twist. The Wave of Italian lamp Foscarini, bring movement to the high ceiling, with apparent frame. With organic form, the sculpture of Gabriela Maciel finished off the decor.

SPA Deca. The Tunisian marble floor tilts and turns into a ramp where they were carved lounge chairs and a niche for candles and books. Creativity excelled in architect Miguel Pinto Guimarães Playbook. He also designed a concrete Pergola which looks like a lace, in partnership with the artist Fabian Benicio. Among the decorative objects, Italian pads Lisa Corti and Alice Felzenszwalb ceramics give touches of color along the vertical wall landscaping. Italian lamps Tolomeo, on the sides, focus only the essentials.

Designer’s Studio. The mix between rustic and luxurious materials is the keynote of this space, a loft built by the architects Gabriela Eloy and Carolina Travaglini (1883–1961) for a young woman tied to the universe of fashion.

Jewelry. Divided into lounge and area, the space of Interior designers Mariana Dean, Jason Sartori and Luciana Arnaud pays homage to the fashion designer Coco Chanel and makes reference to her collection of jewelry. Crystal pendant refers to the retro atmosphere that permeates the atmosphere.

Loft + River. The architect Luiz Fernando Grabowsky idealized a space with a mixture of lounge, and office suite, based on a sophisticated and versatile dweller. The stacking bookcase modules of different sizes and finishes (mimics the wood), in the background, and the shiny lacquer orange and navy blue.

Kitchen. Orange and off-white were the choices of architects Lia Lamego and Fernanda Mancini to color the four corners of the kitchen. The project design was based on practicality. Porcelain flooring rustic texture coating won, in contrast to the softness of the glass countertop, in the same tone. A cutout in the ceiling gives lighting.

Reading room. The soft sofa by Sergio Rodrigues, is paired with the model of straight lines created by Lena Machado. They make up the elegant living drafted by the duo of architects Cristina Bezamat and Laura Bezamat.

Interactive room. Reuse was the watchword for Tiana Meggiolaro and Bia Lynch who set up the room with brick walls left exposed. “Based on the concept of upcycling and demos new function was given to the pallets, wooden structures used in freight transport that became bookshelf and countertop,” says Tiana. 

Public bathroom. A dress with promotional stickers on the door leaves no doubt: the space is for women. But the architect was Adenowo Ketlein plus and extra effort in other women: walls with paper printed with rose petals and a showy red bench. In lighting, the trough with cold light, clipped on the ceiling, help in the retouching of makeup.

Foyer of Brigadier. As they could not interfere in the architecture of the house, architects Carolina Ladder and Patricia Landau created a Pergola of iron blue that announces the entrance to the shop of Brigadier. Attached to this structure, is a canvas blue pendant armchair. To taste the sweets of Fabiana D ‘ Ângelo, round wooden tables surrounded by classical Platner chairs were lined with citrus-green tone twill.

Contemporary barn conversion in the Cotswolds

Brotherton Barn is a stunning contemporary conversion of a Grade 2 listed detached Cotswold, England stone barn originally constructed circa 1759. The 3,229 square foot structure was designed by The Anderson Orr Partnership, whose clients wished to have an effortless connection between the open plan living area and the secluded master bedroom suite without detracting from the height and volume of the vaulted spaces of the barn.

The second key element for the barn conversion brief was how to design the entrance. With most barn conversions you find giving the building its own distinct entrance difficult because you’re working with the original openings and these tend to be large openings to the sides of the building.

For the principle entrance a single storey element already existed. Both the architects and the client felt they could utilize this element for the entrance by opening up the roof with glazing and inserting a pod which neatly houses the utility and cloakroom. What has been created now gives the approaching visitor a sense of arrival and an idea of what can be expected inside.

More than half the building to the rear section of the barn was lowered into the ground to ensure two storeys could be accommodated within the existing envelope of the barn. In addition the original buttress and stone walls were sensitively repaired and rebuilt; the original roof had also fallen to disrepair and in places collapsed.

To provide the effortless connection between the open plan living area and the secluded master bedroom suite, a floating oak staircase and gallery was designed.

Photographs: David Stewart

Scandinavian apartment with tasteful modern design

This 18th century property, spotted on Fantastic Frank,  is situated in a former inn with only three apartments that have been carefully preserved and restored in Ekensberg, Sweden. With its own entrance with original stone floors and wooden doors and unique floor plan, this special apartment has two rooms, open-plan kitchen with small dining area and living room with variable ceiling height and its own private and inviting patio of about 16 square meters. The 45 square meters apartment features tasteful modern design and function in harmony with details that are preserved from the building. There is also an intimate bedroom and bathroom with tiled floors and underfloor heating and bathtub.

Farmhouse restoration incorporating contemporary elements

This beautiful project focuses on the restoration and expansion of a farmhouse by A2BC Studio on the terraced hillside of Cinque Terre in Liguria, Italy. The main emphasis of the project is on the recovery and emphasis of original materials and construction techniques in a contemporary perspective. The main house has fully retained its structure and distribution while incorporating contemporary elements in substitution for the parts of the building that were not recoverable due to advanced stages of deterioration.

New concrete paving unifies the spaces of the house, white plaster for the interior highlights the stone on the original bearing walls, and the new black window frames create a balanced contrast with the interiors of the house and the framing of the landscape. The furniture is refined yet simple, as it plays on the combination of recovered and modern pieces, using colors that recall those of the surrounding landscape.

The restoration of the main house is complemented by the reconstruction of the adjacent barn, of which only the foundation remained. A simple volume of split stone, typical of Liguria, is hollow to allow for a generous full-height opening towards the sea, whose adjustable brise soleil, the typical Genoese shutters, allow regulation of the light throughout the day. Inside, the smallest spaces, the ‘garden rooms’ (the surface is approximately equal to Le Corbusier’s Cabanon at Cap-Martin) has no more than a bed, water closet, sink, and shower. The scheme is repeated on two floors.

Surry Hills warehouse converted to incredible dwelling

This exclusive 1850s carriage house is one of Surry Hills, a suburb of Sydney, Australia’s finest single dwelling warehouses, which has been designed by Hare & Klein Interior Design. This unique design encompasses 8,395 square feet (780 square meters) of living space spread out across three levels, embracing a convenient cosmopolitan lifestyle.

The home features an incredible open plan with a Blackbutt featured kitchen, casual and formal living area, outdoor entertaining deck, ground floor studio/gallery, four bedrooms including a master bedroom with deluxe en-suite bathroom and spacious guest wing with en-suite bathroom, four car garage with two tandem internal access and unique features such as beautiful fireplace, chic lighting and exposed timber beamed ceilings.

The home was also a shortlisted entry in the 2011 Australian Interior Design Awards.

 Photos: Jenni Hare

Beautiful architecturally salvaged home in Madrid

An elegant and imaginative collage aesthetic permeates this house spotted on Nuevo Esilo, situated in one of the most dynamic areas of Madrid, the Barrio de Las Letras. With an unbeatable blend, interior designer Marie-Caroline Willms, who runs EMCI. ID Projects has achieved an environment full of creativity and surprising contrasts. The home is located in the cultural axis, the Art triangle, which is a valuable factor to boost the reform of an abandoned home during the last hundred years. But, in addition, the floor itself was a diamond for polishing. But with a legacy, the typical distribution of the century past, of labyrinthine corridors, a kitchen away from the rest of the rooms and electrical wiring at the sight, its great potential is intuited under so much decadence.

The objective was starting from scratch, but respecting the identity of the building: “When I saw the high ceilings with crown molding, self-leveling floor… I got excited with its possibilities”. It was necessary to re-distribute the spaces according to the life of the new occupants. The designer restored the original framework, with beams and pillars of wood, and brick walls that were left exposed. The floor became a loft with environments by original combinations, which highlights a subtle elegance and a chic Bohemian flair. The house is a suggestive compilation of trends, well-seasoned with powerful notes of humor, classic refinements, unique accent pieces such as a bouquet of flowers made with colorful balloons in the living room and antiques.

Fascinating preservation of former Carnegie Library

This stunning Mill Valley, California home was built in 1910, originally one of the 2,500 libraries that had been built by businessman Andrew Carnegie. When a new library was built in the area 50 years later, this structure became a private residence, with several years of remodels the home fell into disrepair. A local family of four purchased this home in 2008, with none of the original interior intact, only a single bookcase was left in the living room. They called upon Bay Area design firm Union Studio along with custom cabinet and woodworking company, The Last Inch, to redesign the space and preserve what was left of the remaining structure while giving a modern update.

The family that purchased the home is very artist, working in the design field, and wished to create a big and bold interior that would encourage creativity. Solid wide-plank white oak in a matte commercial finish is featured throughout the interior spaces. With exposed brick, steel and wood elements, this fabulous home has an industrial feel yet radiates a warm and cozy ambiance.

The long space allowed for a 16-foot island, perfect for family cooking and entertaining.

The refrigerator doors are cladded hot-rolled steel.

The shape of the skylight mimics the island below, allowing plenty of natural light to penetrate the space, yet still leaving the original roof trusses intact. The block of open cabinetry next to the island also lets light in, as well as separating the staircase from the kitchen area.

A modular cooktop from Gaggenau has downdraft vents, so a hood does not have to hang above. Instead, dramatic black linen pendants draw attention to the space’s high ceilings.

The shelves in the adjacent dining space replaced windows that had been removed during a previous remodel. Although windows were considered, the view was so unpleasant that shelving was installed instead. This change still maintains the structure’s historic exterior.

Photos: Matt Bear / Union Studio

Incredible renovation of an old mercantile building

The Leavitt Residence is an extensive renovation to a 1920′s mercantile building in the Chicago neighborhood of Bucktown by architecture studio Miller Hull Partnership. The 3-story existing structure consisted of heavy timber framing, with brick cladding at the exterior. An effort was made to respect the existing 8,600 square foot building while at the same time inserting dramatic new design gestures. The most significant insertion was to add an expansive window wall which extrudes upward and flows over the roof to create a highly transparent penthouse. The window wall provides connection to a private yard, a valuable asset in this dense urban setting.

he second major undertaking in the building renovation was to replace the east façade which was determined unstable. The solution aims to replicate the rhythm of the existing columns while also announcing a modernist influence at the second level.

Mirroring the triangular footprint of the building, a 3-story triangular shaped atrium is at the heart of the home, giving way to massive timber staircases surrounded by cedar and glass. The original beams and exposed brick juxtapose the modern Arclinea kitchen, echoing the same tension between old and new that’s created by the steel and glass window wall addition.

Photos: Marty Peters