But surprisingly less luxurious is their former home on the grounds of Kensington Palace, where the couple lived early in their relationship. The realities of living in the “tiny” 1,324-square-foot Nottingham Cottage are revealed in the documentary’s home movie footage.

Affectionally known as “Nott Cott,” Nottingham Cottage is among the smaller houses on the palace grounds, containing two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, small living spaces, and a petite back garden. Harry first moved into the cottage in 2013, and Meghan joined him in 2017, shortly before the couple’s engagement.

Home movie footage depicts interiors that look cozy and relatable. The proportions are small, the materials similar to those you’d see in any other modest home. The kitchen features a checkered black and white floor, white cabinets, and unremarkable gray countertops. This is where Harry proposed to Meghan while roasting a chicken. The compact living room is featured in a scene in which the couple announces their engagement to the world.

Closet space is apparently tight, as the prince is pictured dressing in his officer’s uniform with a freestanding rack of clothing behind him. In another shot, Meghan stands in the doorway of an apparently carpeted bathroom. “It was just a chapter of our lives where I don’t think anyone could believe what it was actually like behind the scenes,” she said of the couple’s time in the home.

“It is on a slight lean with really low ceilings,” Harry said. “I don’t know who it was for. They must have been short,” Meghan added, “He would just hit his head constantly because he’s so tall.” Oprah was apparently astonished by the size of the cottage when she visited. Harry said, “Well, Oprah came over for tea, didn’t she? And when she came in, she sat down, she goes ‘No one would ever believe it!'”

Nottingham Cottage was designed by architect Christopher Wren for William III and Mary II in 1689. The decor and finishings have changed several times since then, as the cottage was occupied by various generations of royalty. Queen Elizabeth II’s uncle, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester lived there prior to the 1950s before it became home to several senior members of the royal family’s staff.

Notably, the cottage was once promised for life to Marion Crawford, a former governess of then-Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, but her rights to it were revoked after she published a tell-all memoir about the royal family.

Other occupants included Miles Hunt-Davis, the Duke of Edinburgh’s private secretary; Robert Fellowes, Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary, and his wife Lady Jane Fellowes, who is the older sister of Princess Diana; and Prince William and Kate Middleton, the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, prior to the birth of Prince George. After Harry and Meghan moved out, Princess Eugenie moved in along with her husband Jack Brooksbank and their son August.

As for Harry and Meghan’s Montecito home, where they live with their children Archie and Lillibet, it seems that the couple may find it not quite private enough given their ultra-high profile. Though the seven-acre estate is located off the beaten path about 90 minutes north of Los Angeles (near the estates of Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres), the family still has trouble with trespassers and paparazzi.

Realtor.com reports that police were called to the residence nine times in nine months, once resulting in the arrest of a man named Nickolas Brooks, who drove over 2,300 miles from Ohio to intrude on the property. Next up for Harry and Meghan might be a more secure residence within a guard-gated community.

The post Netflix’s “Harry & Meghan” Doc Gives Us a Peek at Nottingham Cottage, the Couple’s First Home first appeared on Dornob.

From the outset, the MO Bakery owners knew they wanted a space that presented their baked goods as the stars of the show, highlighting them like precious jewels in a display case. Masquespacio honed in on water as a theme after realizing it’s one of the main ingredients in both baked goods and coffee, dividing the space into three different areas that each represent a different phase in the process of baking and brewing.

The first zone is dedicated to the liquid state, where water makes the dough start to come together. Next is the bar zone, where a massive waterfall-like installation made of sandblasted glass tubes hovers overhead. The front of the bar features the “solid-state” zone, with lamps representing ice. The third zone is the “gaseous state,” where a series of fire bulbs represent the moment when the pastry is baked in the oven.

Throughout the interiors, custom seating ranging from low lounges to high stools offers comfortable vantage points to take it all in. The various metallic finishes were designed to generate reflections mimicking the distortion that occurs when viewing objects through water. The scale of the space encourages people to stay a while, gazing up at everything and taking in the scents of the bakery’s goods.

“On the other hand, the lighting incorporates fully controllable RGB lighting to set moods that could convert the space to a different status, being able to represent a ‘different space’ within a space, in campaigns, engagements, or talks, which is also extended by the reflections of the space in chrome fabrics, tables, and spheres [that create] another level of optical fusion,” say the designers. “This space is not solid. It is interchangeable and dynamic following what the brand has to say. Welcome to the new mood branding.”

With decor and lighting that moody, the MO Bakery almost feels like a bar or nightclub instead of a daytime-oriented café. Which begs the question: why don’t we have more cool spaces to hang out in that aren’t bars or nightclubs? Masquespacio is onto something here.

MO Bakery wanted to stand out from its competition, and it’s probably safe to say they’ve successfully done so with this imaginative interior design. Check out three previous projects that capture Masquespacio’s creative approach to design: a vivid and playful Mango teen store in Milan, Italy; a lavender-hued sunglasses store in Bogotá, Colombia; and a pastel Bun burger restaurant on Milan’s Via Dell’Orso.

The post Masquespacio’s Retrofuturistic Bakery Inspired by Flowing Liquids first appeared on Dornob.

Located inside LA’s Westfield Century City shopping mall, the SKKN pop-up displays small cylindrical and spherical products on huge slabs of cement and alcoves in the smooth, bare walls. Perron-Roettinger co-founder Willo Perron says he drew inspiration from rock quarries when designing the 1,330-square-foot space, bringing in large-scale shapes meant to evoke massive chunks of raw minerals. Instead of contrasting with the products, the setting amplifies their simple, elemental forms.

If the products are a little mysterious, that’s because they’re meant to be. Perron-Roettinger created opaque containers that obscure their contents, with labels like “face cream” and “exfoliator” printed in tiny, barely legible text. The refillable containers are also housed within secondary packaging that’s textured to resemble naturally occurring materials.

“We like how it feels to hold a ceramic mug, the natural color of a clay pot, what it feels like to run your hand through sand, and all the different shades and textures of limestone quarry,” Perron-Roettinger co-founder Brian Roettinger told It’s Nice That.

Staying within the same limited gray and beige color palette, Kardashian’s SKKN Home Accessories Collection is also on display at the LA pop-up. The five-piece houseware collection aims to capture the “calming aesthetic and neutral color palette of Kardashian’s home.” All made of hand-poured concrete, the collection consists of a vanity tray, spherical storage container, waste basket, tissue box, and a canister with a lid.

“I knew I wanted to complement my skincare collection with home accessories, designed to display my products and elevate the home with modern, minimalistic elegance,” Kardashian says. “When designing this collection, I wanted to bring the monochromatic interior design elements from my home to others. I’m excited to be able to share this collection with everyone.”

The SKKN pop-up shop will remain in place until the end of the year. As stark as the interior design and products may be, there’s no confusing the store for that of any other brand. Two enormous digital displays splashed with Kim’s face bookend the space, reminding shoppers what they’re really there for: a little bit of bottled essence du nouveau riche.

Willo Perron previously designed a pop-up store for Kardashian’s brand of undergarments, SKIMS, in 2021. Located on the ground floor of the Parisian department store Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, the store was similarly smooth, beige, and low on embellishments, but drew inspiration from the hues and curves of human bodies instead of stone. The same design was repeated for a second pop-up store in Los Angeles later that year.

The post Kim Kardashian’s SKKN Pop-Up Store is Just as Greige as Her Minimalist Home first appeared on Dornob.

Enter Taylor Swift’s former New York residence, a charming carriage house in Greenwich Village which the songstress rented as recently as 2016. Situated in one of NYC’s most iconic neighborhoods, the five-story former pop palace is perhaps most famous as the subject of her song “Cornelia Street,” in which she refers to the early days of her relationship with the actor Joe Alwyn. The townhouse is situated on the quaint (you guessed it) Cornelia Street near Washington Square Park. At the time of Swift’s living there, it was owned by former Soho House executive David Aldea, who according to Vulture didn’t even know who Swift was when she asked to rent the property while renovations were being made to her own Tribeca apartment.

Upon first glance, 23 Cornelia Street is easily overlooked from the street. With an unassuming brick facade and wooden doors, the property doesn’t exactly scream “glamour.” Swift herself supposedly chose the townhouse because of its private garage, through which she could enter and exit in relative peace (though devoted Swifties naturally discovered where she was staying at the time).

Built in 1899, the historic home is a sprawling 5,500-square-foot dream of luxe grandiosity and glam touches that are very fitting for a star of Swift’s caliber. The basement alone is an airy, seemingly sky-high ceilinged lounge complete with a queenly glass chandelier, a private garden, indoor pool, and gym area. But it’s the townhouse’s living room which undoubtedly holds the most appeal for fans, as it’s featured in a video Swift posted of herself at the time writing the song “King of my Heart.”

During her tenure at 23 Cornelia Street, Swift reportedly used up the entire home, which boasts a total of four bedrooms and six bathrooms. It’s hard not to picture her using the sumptuous primary bedroom, complete with a small terrace and free-standing bath, or spending time on the rooftop terrace with her beau (as she sings in “King”: “With all these nights we’re spending/Up on the roof…”).

The home most recently sold in 2019 for a whopping $11.5 million. Today it’s unoccupied by residents, but instead serves as a “corporate house” for the Italian furniture company Zanotta. Any fans dying to get a glimpse into the pop star’s former abode can still book a tour hosted by the New York Junior League (NYJL). The female-led organization recently hosted a Fall House Tour and is planning another one in Spring of 2023, so make sure to mark your calendar if you’re a Swiftie!

The post Get a Glimpse Inside Taylor Swift’s Former NYC Home Turned Furniture Gallery first appeared on Dornob.

Anderson’s style – punctuated by perfectly symmetrical framing and over-the-top pastel palettes – has become so iconic these days that the folks over at home care platform Angi (formerly Angie’s List) recently wondered what the director’s work might look like on the small screen. They took up the challenge by enlisting interior designer Lau Wlasenkov to give the sets of several beloved TV shows the full Anderson treatment. Don’t forget to look for Easter eggs from each series as you peruse these fun, light-hearted re-imaginings:

Friends

While Monica Geller’s iconic living room from the hit 1990s sitcom was already slathered in pastel purple, Angi switched it up to Anderson’s more signature red and pink palette. They also decluttered the space and added a retro wood-encased TV console. By setting the furniture at right angles, they produced more symmetry, a move echoed by the giant swaths of fabric balanced on either side of the main window. Phoebe Buffay’s legendary guitar also gets a place of honor in this Wes-ified room.

Russian Doll

This critically acclaimed Netflix series features a main character (Nadia) who finds herself in trapped in time, continually “waking up” in her bathroom at the exact same moment after every loop. In the show, Nadia’s bathroom is dark with black tiles, brass accents, and minimal lighting. The Angi designers gave it a Wes Anderson makeover by lightening the mood considerably. Geometric blue tiles in contrasting patterns create a type of symmetry above and below the vanity, as do stacks of steamer trunks placed strategically on either side. Warm-colored wood breaks up the busy-ness of the colors and designs. Savvy fans can also spot Nadia’s cigarette pack left casually in one corner.

Bridgerton

While this Netflix show about 19th-century love and gossip in British high society has already spawned an entire “Regencycore” aesthetic on social media, main character Daphne’s bedroom really goes next level with some Wes Anderson tweaks. Wlasenkov recovered the walls in bright red zebra-pattern wallpaper and outfitted both the foot bench and headboard in the same lush velvet fabric for symmetry. A playful, modern table lamp on one side of the bed balances out Daphne’s fluffy fan on the other.

Mad Men

This Emmy and Golden Globe-winning period drama set in the 1960s was credited for sparking a renewed love affair with the fashion of the era when it first came out in the mid-2000s. To make main character Don Draper’s kitchen more Wes Anderson-like, Angi erased the soulless oak-and-plaid decor and added bright yellow striped wallpaper, a happy floral curtain, and gleaming white cupboards. Draper’s hat also sits much nicer on the new dark butcher block counters.

Angi and Wlasenkov also worked together to create Wes Anderson versions of the Succession and Sex Education sets, both of which can be viewed in all their kitschy glory on Angi’s official site.

If this collection of TV set makeovers has you craving Anderson’s signature style in your own home, there are a few key things to keep in mind to recreate his signature look. Start with an element of symmetry, but keep it whimsical. Use a bold palette of three to five colors, playing around with saturated hues that make a statement while still complimenting each other. Add texture to your walls by adding paneling, even if its just on the lower half, and fill it in with intriguing colors. Create a carefully curated collection of beloved belongings you can artfully display around the room. With a little effort, you’ll feel like you’re on the set of one of your favorite Wes Anderson movies every day.

The post Iconic TV Sets Get Reimagined in Wes Anderson’s Signature Style first appeared on Dornob.

Seeking a home for their young family and their retired parents, one Belgian couple purchased such a property and contemplated their options. Ultimately, they decided they wanted to preserve the history and character of the existing buildings, hiring Aalst-based firm Objekt Architecten to bring their vision to life.

The design brief was relatively unusual. The clients wanted one home for themselves and their children, and a separate but connected “care home” for their elderly parents. This aging-friendly home would need to be set up so that the parents could live there for the rest of their lives, even as their abilities changed. Both homes would require privacy and nice views of the surrounding farmlands while maintaining easy access to each other in case of emergencies.

Objekt Architecten started by preserving as many of the exterior walls of the crumbling buildings as they could. They chose concrete as a primary material to complement the neutral tones and textures of the existing brick, plaster, and mortar. Red terracotta floor tiles and traditional red clay roofing tiles were also brought in to mimic the look and feel of the original elements.

The architects left the appearance of the existing house and barn unchanged, turning the old farmhouse into the care home portion of the estate. Designed with accessibility in mind, the single-level structure contains sleeping quarters, a bathroom, and several spacious storage rooms, as well as covered outdoor areas. This home connects directly to the young family’s new house, which was built within the shell of the adjacent barn.

Clad in a striking bronze-colored aluminum finish, the new volume is set back from the original walls under the same new roof to create covered outdoor walkways. The roof of the care home was extended to stand perpendicular to the new volume. On the other side, the roof rests on the original exterior wall. One long hall links all the bedrooms, and skylights let in an abundance of natural light.

The architects call this project “Old & New,” reflecting both the contrast in historic and modern architectural styles and the contrasting but complementary needs of various generations of the family.

The team explains that “in the new house, the choice fell on a low-maintenance, polished concrete floor. In the sitting area — which houses the lounge and the play area — a contrasting sandblasted oak herringbone parquet was chosen. In the center of the house, we find a royal blue core, which on one side houses a toilet, a cloakroom, and a staircase, and on the other side is part of the kitchen and storage room. The rounded kitchen island, finished in a natural wood tone, has a peach-colored countertop.”

“Together with the brass accents, these give the whole a contemporary, luxurious look. With this renovation, we tried to transform an existing house into a care home where the original residents feel at home and can live a lifetime, while the clients do not have to sacrifice modern comfort and privacy.”

The post Old & New: Belgian Farmhouse Converted into a Contemporary Care Home first appeared on Dornob.

“I work from home, so I wanted to create something completely personal and comfortable,” the 21-year-old told Architectural Digest. “I brought in references from many decades and design eras, and I tried to meld them into something that feels not only cohesive but new. It wasn’t about following the rules or sticking to one aesthetic. I tried to approach it all with a lightheartedness and an open mind.”

The process began when Chamberlain bought the five-bedroom, seven-bathroom estate in June 2021 for $4.3 million. The 4,440-square-foot home was built in 1955 and had plenty of existing charm with high, open beam ceilings and cozy fireplaces. She then enlisted the design talents of Ashley Drost and Marie Trohman of Proem Studio to help her put her own spin on the space.

“It almost felt like a summer camp, so we leaned into that mood. We described it as Wet Hot American Summer meets Troop Beverly Hills. Emma said, ‘I love that idea, but I have no clue what you’re talking about,’ ” an amused Drost recalls.

Chamberlain also turned to the world wide web to help her settle on a vision (only natural for someone with more than 11.8 million followers on YouTube alone). “I’m a mood board type of girl. I scoured every corner on the internet, every weird, deep hole on Pinterest,” she says. “I find inspiration for the home everywhere, the same as fashion. It’s all one in my mind.”

The home’s color palette is muted and inviting. While the backdrop of the interior features lots of white and natural wood, the kitchen hosts a wash of calming green tones, and the bathroom has playful blue tiles splashed across the wall and floor. Drost and Trohman incorporated natural textures and materials like swaths of raw copper, cork ceiling treatments, and braided banana tree bark as wallpaper.

Quirky accents feel right at home for Chamberlain, who was once named “the funniest person on YouTube” by the New York Times. Among other things, the dining room chandelier is composed of a pair of oversized metal chains that end in glowing orbs, and there’s a custom cat bed carved out of a vintage TV console. All throughout the renovation process, the young starlet has been hard at work on her popular “Anything Goes” podcast, building her Chamberlain Coffee enterprise, and collaborating with high-profile fashion houses like Louis Vuitton and Cartier to promote her brand.

Ultimately, “the most talked-about teen influencer in the world” (according to The Atlantic) isn’t concerned about whether her followers or others dig her residential style. As she puts it, “I don’t really care if people don’t like it. I’m the one who lives here, so I have to love it. And I do.”

Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest

The post The Internet is Losing It for Emma Chamberlain’s Renovated LA Home first appeared on Dornob.

Formerly known as Harman Hall, the Cherry Creek North gem was built at the turn of the 20th century and is an integral part of Denver history. Often referred to as the city’s most iconic residence, the building served as a town hall before being converted into a stylish residence. However, like many buildings of its age, this Colorado landmark also has its secrets, including a former speakeasy (a remnant of the days of Prohibition, when passwords and hidden rooms were the norm). Today, the expansive home is a renovated dream space on the market for approximately $15 million, making it by far the priciest listing in the area.

Purchased by Pat Hamill, CEO of Oakwood Homes, the historic residence certainly needed a little TLC. Hamill was just the man to return the home to its former glory. After an epic 2010 expansion and renovation, the former Harman Hall is now a contemporary residence that retains nods to its iconic past, complete with authentic turn-of-the-century touches like reclaimed wood and blast-from-the-past patterns.

For his part, Hamill felt that the “iconic home” was special, and certainly worth all the trouble. In addition to expanding the residence’s square footage by approximately 7,000 square feet and gutting the interior, he also paid homage to the house’s past by restoring its original red brick facade. In a nod to the former speakeasy, Hamill also transformed the lowest level into a private event space fit for Prohibition-era partying, though it now hosts charity events and gathering rather than secret social meetings.

The former speakeasy also has another more modern function. Connecting to an underground showroom with space for up to 10 cars, the space serves as a showcase for grandeur and luxury, complete with a hydraulic lift and connecting three-car garage.

Though replete with modern touches like heated wood floors, floor-to-ceiling doors, and elevators, the former Harman Hall remains an iconic cornerstone of Denver architecture. Now a sprawling luxury residence, the historic home retains much of its turn-of-the-century charm with nods to the past that can be seen everywhere from its restored brick facade to its speakeasy-turned-entertainment space. And while you may not need a secret handshake or code word to enter this majestic manor, you do need a cool $15 million to make it your own. But perhaps that’s price worth paying for this unique piece of Denver history.

The post This $15 Million Denver Home is Packed with Historic Secrets, Including an Underground Speakeasy first appeared on Dornob.

Located on the fourth floor of a First Republic building on Narodni Street in Prague, the Poetizer offices are minimalist yet romantic, much like the company itself. Poetizer is the world’s largest social network for poets and poetry lovers, providing a simple platform where millions of users from 120 countries can publish their creations in plain black text against a crisp white background. The designers wanted to capture the essence of the company and its focus on environmental protection, creating spaces where employees can feel relaxed and included.

At the center of the design is a beautiful indoor greenhouse space, “a wild jungle, a mythical Eden, an area that expresses the concept of wild thinking,” as Císar explains. “Thinking that, according to Claude Lévi-Strauss, is close to our ancient ancestors and contemporary poets. He contrasted this initially intuitive and associative thinking, which he likened to a rich rainforest ecosystem, with an already domesticated, strictly rational thinking.”

Set within a larger room, the greenhouse offers space for streaming poetry readings, lounging, and brainstorming. The gabled open metal frame hosts 171 living plants with over 100 species represented, and sofas and chairs facing each other for small meetings and conversations. Between the plants, the daylight streaming in from the adjacent windows, and the deck-like flooring, six or more occupants can get a little taste of the outdoors without leaving the office.

Just outside the greenhouse is the Poetizer HQ’s main room, containing two islands of individual workstations. The desks are on wheels so users can choose to either keep them grouped together or move them away for privacy and concentration.

If employees want to get even more introspective, they can choose to enter a series of smaller study rooms, meeting rooms, and conference rooms in various sizes, all painted dramatic dark hues of green and blue. Feeling almost womb-like in contrast to the bright and open main room, these spaces get extra warmth from lots of wood, pops of red furniture, lush velvet textiles, moody lighting, and additional plants.

“Proud to design for Poetizer, the world’s biggest social network for poetry lovers and a digital publishing house,” says Císar. “The concept builds upon the focus and the minimalist identity of Poetizer. The center stage of the office is occupied by a greenhouse — the wild jungle, the mythical Eden. This boldly placed object creates a space to meet informally, to stream poetry readings, or just simply to relax. Thank you very much Lukáš Sedláček, CEO of Poetizer, for the opportunity and patience.”

The post Beautiful Indoor Greenhouse Takes Poetizer’s Prague Offices to the Next Level first appeared on Dornob.

Casa TO features nine spacious suites acting as private sanctuaries in contrast to the open public areas. A covered infinity pool and terraced solarium form the heart of the hotel, offering stepped seating areas for guests to lounge in the sun and then wander down into the water to cool off. Enormous round portals in the massive concrete walls create interesting geometries and frame various views of the interiors and exteriors: the pool sparkling in the sunlight, vines crawling up the textural wall, inviting seating areas, and the lush vegetation outside.

“The project was outlined under the imprint of simplicity and conceptual elegance, where tradition and avant garde are amalgamated in an unprecedented structure embraced by the tranquility of nature,” the architects explain. “Its name, Casa TO, arises from the idea of serene contemplation in a defined space, as the reinterpretation of an Oaxacan temple, which generates a radical sensory experience just by entering it. The structure evokes the lattice pattern of two historic waterworks of timeless beauty, the Basilica Cistern — Yerebatan Sarayi — in Istanbul, dating from the 6th century, and the Hornsey Wood Reservoir in London’s Finsbury Park, built in the 19th century.”

The team adds that “Casa TO’s natural environment defined its interior design, which was inspired by the natural hue of a blue Madagascar palm tree — Bismarckia nobilis — located on the original grounds. The color palette is made up of the typical tones of concrete and stainless steel, which are complemented by shades of turquoise, present in the ironworks, the lamps by Natural Urbano Studio, and some decorative details; in addition to yellow, blue, and green accents, which contrast in the glassware and textile elements made by Vivenda, Alfredo Orozco’s Experimental Textile Workshop, and the Taller Ocho rugs.”

The influence of Oaxacan temples is evident in the hotel’s vaulted ceilings and steps, as is that of traditional Mexican courtyard houses, which are evoked in the solarium and the tropical greenery sprinkled throughout the hotel. Furniture built by expert carpenters from Puebla, Guadalajara, and Oaxaca stands alongside bamboo pieces by Tiago Solís Van Beuren. Guest rooms are open to the fresh air, with the beds tucked into little sheltered nooks and small private terraces acting as giant skylights.

Casa TO is perhaps the most dramatic and innovative project yet from Ludwig Godefroy Architecture, an elevation of the firm’s signature aesthetic of clean concrete forms accented by warm natural materials. Check out their previous project, Casa Zicatela, a home that looks like a bunker from outside but hides luxurious private spaces and reflecting pools behind its sturdy walls.

The post Casa TO: Concrete Cutouts Surprise and Delight in a Modern Mexico Hotel first appeared on Dornob.

Below are some stunning examples of global retailers embracing fresh, forward-thinking aesthetics to make a big statement:

Hug Concept Store — Chengdu, China

High fashion is the perfect template for this inventive and iconoclastic mashup of neutrality and sparse, avant-garde surroundings from Atmosphere Architects. Stark and spacey with bold pops of the brand’s signature blue hue, the background exudes 2001: A Space Odyssey vibes while serving as a stylish, sumptuously sparse setting that puts the attention squarely on the designer wares.

KIKS — Beijing, China

A rollicking redesign that’s big on planetary power, this stylish streetwear brand’s new store resembles the solar system itself, complete with colorful curved walls dotted with trendy merchandise that seems to orbit the space around you. ROOI Design & Research really pushed the envelope here with a movable, ready-made retail universe that draws in customers with its own kind of gravitational pull.

AKRIS — Washington, US

Swiss fashion brand AKRIS raises the bar with a no-limits layout from David Chipperfield Architects. Here too, the focus is on the clothing and accessories. But these wares almost seem to float magically outside of time and space, thanks to a specially designed system of cables supporting both shelves and hangers from behind the scenes. A trendy neutral backdrop completes the illusion, with a touch of sophistication in the form of chic limestone flooring.

Cris Belos — Belo Horizonte, Brazil

This luxe, elevated boutique by the London and São Paulo-based Carolina Maluhy + Partners is dominated by creamy neutral tones and curvy, imaginative touches that exude a futuristic fashion house vibe. Consisting of four connected rooms (each more sweeping than the last), the sprawling space has no shortage of elegance: simply look to the sweeping staircase or the airy, incandescent ceiling if you don’t believe us.

Bala — Soho, New York City

Consumer engagement and sensory immersion go hand-in-hand in Bala’s first-ever retail space. Designed by Madelynn Ringo of Ringo Studio, the playful space is brimming with pretty pastels and gorgeous geometry. An experiential store where guests are encouraged to embrace the products’ textures, weightiness, and above all, playfulness, the vivid hues and soft, inviting atmosphere embody the brand’s aesthetic perfectly.

These forward-thinking retail stores prove that the industry really is looking ahead when it comes to inspiration. Fun, futuristic, and above all, fashionable, these trendy spots are riding the wave of fresh aesthetics that encourage guests to get lost in the moment.

The post Looking Ahead: These Retail Stores are Futuristic and Fashionable first appeared on Dornob.

Vaporwave was formed in the early 2010s from a desire to recapture the distinctive style and lo-fi technologies of previous decades like the 80s and 90s. Today, the trend champions cyberpunk spin-offs and electronica excesses of all kinds — and all of these influences have been tastefully worked into Mombá Arquitetura’s FM House.

A mashup of contemporary touches and throwback themes dominates the over 750-square-foot residence, where original features like while tile and granite floors co-exist with bright pops of color and futuristic furniture finds. Sharp angles are tempered by soft walls, and bold colors are given texture by plush textiles.

The kitchen highlights the space’s desire to accommodate both vaporwave and contemporary styles, with its vivid blue cabinetry and bright white tile backsplash. Plant life softens the scene and complements the room’s angular lines perfectly, while geometric shapes abound in every available nook and cranny. A mostly open plan creates the illusion of space in the house, while the middle wall sets a boundary between the kitchen and living area. A tucked away dining space completes the scene, itself hosting a similar mix of contemporary and vintage accents.

A blocky, angular sofa further creates a separation of space between the office and living area for a refined update of the increasingly popular mashup of home and office life making its way into modern living spaces. The couch’s graphic patten immediately draws the eye, and makes the perfect complement to the bold black and white rug on the floor.

The bedroom is another study in contrasts, featuring a muted pink wall as the backdrop for even stronger patterns and bolder colors. Hip light fixtures and a tucked away plant are welcome accents in this cozy space that’s as trendy as it is comfortable.

The perfect embodiment of the nostalgic vaporwave trend, Mombá Arquitetura’s FM House is a study in contrasts. Like the trend itself, it relies heavily on iconoclastic pairings that are full of texture and depth. Bursting with technicolor ferocity and tempered by soft, homey touches, this Brazilian masterpiece is yet another example of the design duo’s penchant for pushing the aesthetic envelope.

The post Mombá Arquitetura’s FM House Brings Vaporwave to the Modern Living Space first appeared on Dornob.

The restaurant design is impressive from the moment visitors walk in the door. The cocoon-like vaulted lobby is surrounded by a wooden space divider that takes its shape from the Ling Ling logo, which is rendered in neon. A low ceiling consisting of bunched illuminated textiles helps foster an atmosphere of suspense before guests are ushered into the surprisingly grand interiors, where trailing greenery frames a full-sized tree strung with outdoor lighting.

“The restaurant’s interior design concept started out with the idea of generating a space recalling the grand courtyards and terraces so characteristic of Mexican architecture,” the architects explain. “This was one of the greatest challenges in the design of the project, with the formal approach and the design process using structural elements and construction methods that helped to blur the boundary between architecture and interior design. As a result, the idea emerged of a triple-height space with a porticoed structure and lush vegetation of the terrace.”

Ceilings consisting of neutral-toned wooden louvers give the restaurant the appearance of a natural landscape, “carved” out to envelop the dining areas and give them an intimate feeling despite the expansiveness of the space. Though abstracted, the result mimics the feel of adjacent buildings, mountains, and trees surrounding a courtyard and generates a natural traffic pattern through the restaurant’s many rooms. With natural light and views providing the space’s dominating features, the architects focused on a palette of vegetative hues.

“The space benefits from the triple height and corner location to surprise guests with a glazed atrium structure offering 270-degree views across the whole city,” the firm adds. “Meanwhile, the inner salon and dining room are enclosed within a vaulted structure constructed using wood stereotomy techniques, highlighted by gentle illumination, and fitted out with custom-made furniture. Under this wood structure, the Sushi Bar recreates an Asian atmosphere that will bring the guests face-to-face with the preparation of the cuisine, giving a more personal touch to their experience. On the other hand, the main bar encloses a perfect frame of the skyline of the city through an item of dynamic furniture.”

Ling Ling Restaurant and Chapultepec Uno are located in the historic Reforma neighborhood, steps away from popular Mexico City landmarks like the Diana the Huntress Fountain and the Angel of Independence. If you want the best views in the house, reserve the Tres 60 table, a banquette sitting at the point of the dining room so you feel like you’re floating above the city.

The post A Tree-Filled Courtyard at the Top of a Skyscraper: Ling Ling Restaurant in Mexico City first appeared on Dornob.

The problem? The property’s location, though lovely, was on a somewhat busy street that faced the late afternoon sun and fell victim to the punishing winds from the southwest.

Enter Heliotrope Architects: A Seattle-based firm that, according to co-founder and principal Joseph Herrin, is “[known for their] west-facing, Puget Sound and Olympic Mountain-view, house on a hill” aesthetics. One need only look at their portfolio rife with projects like the “Cascade Residence” to see that the group was up to the task.

The key was creating a home that was private enough to be secluded from street view, but open enough to enjoy the Pacific Northwest scenery. A house that blurred the lines between indoor and outdoor living without being too exposed, and a contemporary, stylish space that was still cozy enough to act as a family home.

Heliotrope met these challenges and then some. Through the use of more layered design, they managed to overcome the paradox of protecting the home from the elements while also welcoming them in with open arms. An open, water-facing dining and living area is tempered by deep overhangs, while “smaller, ‘punched’ windows provide more of a feeling of protection,” according to Herrin. As a result, the afternoon sun peeps in the windows just enough to reflect off the Sound for a “here comes the sun” feel that’s a welcome balm to those ever-cloudy Washington days.

The clients also wanted to enhance the “Fauntleroy” home’s sense of privacy without making it feel too sheltered. To address this, the firm built a sturdy cedar fence that’s virtually indistinguishable from its surroundings. The result is a quasi-courtyard formed from a clever combination of the fence, juxtaposed walls, hedges, and a water feature that not only creates a private space, but the perfect outdoor lounge.

Inside, the home’s theme of indoor/outdoor living is continued through ocean-facing rooms dominated by warm tones that make the perfect backdrop for the stunning views. White oak floors, floating wood benches, and a connecting garden/porch/side window further enhance the feeling of letting the outside in.

As for the outdoors, Heliotrope wanted to maximize the location’s beach proximity, so they created the perfect haven for going from porch to ocean and vice versa — an unfussy space exposed to the elements, yet elevated with creature comforts like an outdoor shower, fire pit, sauna, and wine bar. Best of all, the space sprouts organically from the main structure, a natural addition that also blends seamlessly with the scenery.

As Herrin says, “While there is a natural desire to open up to [the weather from the southwest], there is also a need to protect oneself from it.” Thanks to the Fauntleroy home’s thoughtful design, the occupants will undoubtedly be able to weather any storm for years to come.

The post This Puget Sound Home by Heliotrope Architects Effortlessly Blends In and Outdoor Living first appeared on Dornob.

Starting in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the Paris-based makers of the famous Birkin bag set up shop in a vintage commercial warehouse, drenching the space in iconic orange and inviting guests to sign up for workout classes every hour from 11 am to 6 pm during the space’s four-day run.

Of course, these sweat sessions were no ordinary sports fare. The Hermès website invited patrons to “practice stretching with belts, yoga with silk scarves, and voguing with hats!” Visitors were asked to choose one of three brand bracelets to wear during shadowboxing instruction. The instructors, dressed completely in Hermès’ signature orange, encouraged participants to “think elegantly” as they jabbed, crossed, and kicked. A display of Hermès products was also reflected in the studio mirror for all to ogle during the workout.

In a class called “Mirror Mirror with Small Leather Goods,” visitors were handed Kelly wallets with the brand’s signature “H” gold buckle to clutch while they aerobically leaped and jumped in circles.

Billed as an “unconventional event” where “fitness meets fashion,” the pop-up Hermèsfit gym flexed its muscles in places like Bangkok, Paris, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Taiwan. In July, it ended its first run at the famous Hollywood Athletic Club. Designed in 1924 by the same architects that created Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre, this swanky locale formerly played host to the calisthenics of early stars like Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and even Walt Disney.

For the Hollywood event, Hermès converted the space into an orange fantasy, with large graphic motifs in the style of ancient Greek athletes. Barbells in the shape of high-fashion shoes sat atop a weight bench, while a climbing wall worked double time as photo booth. For those less inclined to cardio, a juice bar and a giant circular ping pong table in bright orange were also available. Punching bags were wrapped in silk carré scarves, and athletic shoes and hats were strategically placed on walls to be touched, admired, and desired by patrons.

By night, the gym transformed into a dance club, with the boxing ring serving as a stage for performances by acts like the L.A. Dance Project, Neal Francis, Pearl and The Oysters, DJ Erez, and Spill Tab.

The limited Hermèsfit event is going Down Under next, with a booking in Sydney from October 14th to 16th at Hordern Pavilion in Moore Park.

For those unable to attend a live event, Maison Hermès has an entire line of goods to help you “choose your own choreography.” Visitors can browse the collection on the Hermèsfit webpage, including things like the $1,225 Freestyle Sneakers, the $480 La Selle Imaginaire scarf, or the sporty $365 Glenan H bracelet.

Hermès has a long and illustrious history as a brand. Initially established in 1837 as a saddle and saddle bag purveyor, they’ve gone on to make a name for themselves in high-fashion leather goods, homeware, and lifestyle accessories. The company has also hosted many attention-grabbing events over the years, including a yearly exhibit at Milan Design Week.

The post Hermès Pop-Up Gyms Let Guests Shop Fits While Getting Fit first appeared on Dornob.

Recently, a new contender has stepped onto the scene, eager to make its mark and find a place in the pantheon of evergreen design trends. But what exactly is organic brutalism?

Though it’s been gaining a lot of steam lately, brutalism has been around for decades, first making a splash post-WWII with its strong geometric shapes and use of raw materials like concrete, metal, and wood. Organic brutalism takes a softer approach, eschewing dramatic metals and clunky concrete in favor of deep woods and timeless, textured feels.

Don’t Be a Square

One of the cornerstones of organic brutalism is a reliance on bold, geometric shapes that catch the eye and make an immediate statement. A deep wood palette is ideal for these pieces, as the raw texture marries the organic wood with the sharp brutalist shapes for a match made in heaven (as seen in the 1970s credenza above).

Monolithic Marvels

It’s not just the textures of classic brutalism being redefined — the forms are also changing. Blocky silhouettes and monolithic shapes make a visual impact with their boldness, while the imperfectly perfect wood adds depth and warmth to the spaces they inhabit. And “blocky” doesn’t have to be a negative word — those with an appreciative eye for organic brutalism may want to try giving the trend a raw, unfinished twist, as seen in these curvy stools whose added charm is enhanced by their bulky design.

Setting the Scene

A little goes a long way with organic brutalism, and a neutral color palette is the best way to highlight the trend’s more dramatic forms. You can also incorporate textiles to soften the look. You can’t go wrong with subtle metal touches, neutral-toned fabrics, and a couple small splashes of color.

Brutalism is back and softer than ever, relying more heavily on natural materials like heavily-textured wood to make a big statement. While classic brutalism leans into a more industrial feel with sharper edges and angles, organic brutalism adds depth, warmth, and life to the mix. The result is a trend that’s sure to make a welcome addition to any 21st-century home.

Images sourced from Style by Emily Henderson

The post Is Organic Brutalism the Next Big Design Trend? first appeared on Dornob.