Enter Stripe Street Studio, a New York City-based interior design firm created by event producer and home stylist Stacey Herman to help dads who aren’t looking for a typical man cave or bachelor pad. It’s for those who still plan to be heavily involved in their children’s care and lives and need a space to fit that dynamic.

“They want family homes. It’s just they happen to not be married anymore,” Herman explains “What’s so important is to save that bond and to build on it, to create a home where your kids feel like there are two homes. It’s not like, ‘Oh, I’m going to Dad’s pad.’”

Creating that seamless shift for dads and their offspring is the whole point of Stripe Street. Herman (aptly naming herself the company’s “Chief Transition Officer”) and her team help newly single dads from start to finish, including the actual moving process. Even better, they promise to leave the entire household unpacked and logically organized so the family can get right into living from day one.

The team kicks things off by analyzing the best of use of space based on the needs of the dad and his kids. The required areas are then identified (“where to sit, eat, and sleep”) and personalized to match the family’s aesthetic. The last step is creating “ambiance and comfort.”

While her services cater to a niche market – the average American dad coming out of divorce doesn’t exactly have a ton of resources to set up a new home – for those who fit the profile, Herman’s studio could make the splitting of households much easier. Her website says they can provide “everything for your home from furniture and rugs, towels and linens…all the way to the vegetable peeler.”

Herman’s background makes her an especially great fit for this new venture. She has over 25 years of design experience working for print institutions like Condé Nast and Hearst Corporation, specifically with roles at Vanity Fair and Elle Décor. During this time, she learned the importance of logistics and functionality in addition to aesthetic as she orchestrated large multi-platform events and marketing programs. In 2015, she launched Fluid Design + Relocation, a company that specializes in outfitting private homes across the U.S. and creating custom pieces for corporate entities. It’s from there that her passion for helping divorced dads find their style truly blossomed.

The Stripe Street website showcases the studio’s work on three different projects so far. “Mid-West Strong” was created for a dad and his energetic boys. The team put together a masculine but tailored decor that would be “indestructible” enough for their life of riding four-wheelers, playing with toys, and fishing.

Another dad and his young girls got the “Manhattan Happy” treatment, an upbeat and fun-loving look that incorporates sunny yellows and playful patterns in the common areas, but mature, more subdued tones in the master bedroom and sitting room.

With “Masculine Refinement,” the father of college-age kids got a calm and sophisticated style, with warm colors and rich textures that “replicate the feel and elegance of a gentleman’s closet.” A variety of wood tones, leathers, and velvets combine to make this home a contemplative space for Dad and his visiting children.

Even if Stripe Street Studio only serves a small segment of divorcees, the fact that it exists shows the growing need for such services. It could even act as a market forerunner to elevate the dated “dad pad” to a place where a father and his kids can truly feel at home.

The post Stacey Herman is Helping Divorced Dads Up Their Interior Design Game first appeared on Dornob.

Guests expecting a Disney-like theme park attraction might be somewhat disappointed, as there aren’t exactly rides here — though you do receive special admission discounts to Dutch Wonderland, which has 35 family-friendly rides of its own. There are also plenty of chances to interact with characters from popular cartoons like the Powerpuff Girls, Adventure Time, and Teen Titans.

The hotel’s official website reads: “Welcome to the world’s very first Cartoon Network Hotel! From the moment you enter the lobby, you’ll realize this is unlike any place your family has stayed before. With our character-themed guest rooms and Dream Suites, it’s like having a sleepover…in a cartoon! Dine-in at the Cartoon Kitchen and dig-in to delicious dishes straight from your favorite shows (Bacon pancakes, anyone?!) Adventure awaits around every corner as you immerse yourself in the cartoon world with our daily activities and experiences. It’s everything you love about Cartoon Network in one fun family resort!”

“Cool off at our Adventure Time-themed, resort-style outdoor pool, The Powerpuff Girls “Splash Pad,” or take a dip at our new indoor facility. Watch cartoons under the stars! Gather the family, find a cozy spot on the lawn, and watch cartoons projected on to our giant Finn movie screen. You may even catch exclusive, never-before-seen episodes of shows! Kids can earn Summer Camp Island merit badges, turn into a Powerpuff Girl, and bring their very own cartoons to life with our Toon Room’s interactive games and experiences!”

It seems like summer will be the ideal time to visit, especially considering the Adventure Time-themed pool area with all its lawn games, outdoor fire pits, and big-screen outdoor theater. But the indoor play area looks fun, too, boasting a Ben 10 Omnicade, Toon Room kids’ play area, and “kids kitchen” where young guests can learn how to cook snacks.

Bonus: the indoor pool is heated year round, and there’s even a hot tub for adults in need of a relaxing break from parenting. You can also host parties for up to eight people in themed “Dream Cubes” complete with cake and party favors, or reserve a private “character breakfast.”

Of course, there’s no shame in being an adult cartoon enthusiast, and the interior design of the guest rooms reflects exactly as much. They’re a lot more “grown up” than you might imagine, with mostly minimalist decor, a few brightly colored accents, and cartoon-themed accessories like throw pillows and wall art.

The Dream Suites are fairly luxe, with room for up to eight guests each. In the ADA-accessible Powerpuff Girls Dream Suite, for example, you’ll find two sets of bunk beds in private themed spaces just off the main living room area, a 75-inch TV with custom Cartoon Network channels, a kitchenette, a dining area, and a bathtub.

Standard rooms at the new Cartoon Network hotel start at $289 a night, while the Dream Suites start at $489.

The post New Cartoon Network Hotel Opening Summer 2020 first appeared on Dornob.

As we adapt to the idea of sharing ourselves online, there are those adopting that same strategy to connect us in subtle ways when we are not at the computer – like this creative multipurpose night light in the shape of an archetypal gabled house. In a fun twist, it’s connected to the IoT (Internet of Things).

The so-called Good Night Lamp starts with your own house-shaped lighting fixture, but allows you to expand your collection with smaller homes that reflect that activities of loved ones.

And of course, how you cluster or distribute these may be a reflection of where you want illumination at different times of day (based on expected occupancy) or simply how you want to arrange and remember who is where.

Unlike Twitter or Facebook status updates (or even FourSquare check-ins) these are simply signals of presence – home or away, awake or asleep, set to states determined by their users.

“Turn a Big Lamp on and Little Lamps which you’ve given away turn on too. Anywhere in the world. Use the Good Night Lamp to tell a loved one ‘now’s a good time for a chat’, ‘I’m thinking of you’ or ‘call me when you get home’. You decide. As your family grows or moves away, you can add as many Little Lamps as you want. “

“We partnered with technology company Eseye to connect your lamps to global mobile networks. You don’t need wifi at home but you need enough mobile coverage to receive text messages.  Plug your lamps in and they just work!”

“The Good Night Lamp is part of the permanent exhibition at the London Design Museum which is on the top floor and called Designer, Maker, User. We’ve also been featured in exhibitions at the Dublin Science Gallery, the National Science Museum of Vienna, the Stephen Lawrence Gallery in London and the National Science and Media museum in Bradford.”

The post House-Shaped IoT Good Night Lamp first appeared on Dornob.

Nook, a modern family brand, creates children’s play and learning spaces with a minimalist and refined feel that fits right into the adult world.

The brand recently opened Nook Ballston, “a curated, gallery-like experience” set in an indoor-outdoor retail center called Ballston Quarter in Arlington, Virginia. Representing Nook’s third installation to date, this play space offers imaginative structures made of carefully chosen materials in neutral tones to facilitate a calming, relaxing environment. Its custom-designed play spaces are made of natural birch wood, gray textiles, and white backdrops by San Francisco-based furniture design studio Mickus Projects.

The space features climbable structures and a ball pit for adventurous physical activity, paper-covered tables outfitted with drawing supplies, a reading area, quieter cubbies full of engaging age-appropriate toys, and areas specifically dedicated to interacting with other children and adults. Many of the play area elements are sensory-friendly, too, providing outlets for fidgeting, picking at things, hiding, and withdrawing — and it’s all designed to keep both kids and parents from feeling overwhelmed. The height keeps kids immersed in an environment that’s built to their scale, and it allows parents to keep an eye on everything that’s happening in the mean time.

“A child in the restaurant nook can turn around and be in the garage nook, and sidestep into the library, while a parent is able to see it all from any vantage point in the space. Visual connectivity extends to the changing area, where a low wall discreetly accommodates a changing table and leads to restrooms and storage in a niche directly adjacent to the main play space. Parents can step in to change an infant without losing sight of older siblings still playing.”

“Absent the overgeneralization and overstimulation of the typical ‘family-friendly’ scene, Nook’s play and learning experiences are centered around design and engagement. We created our play spaces, programs, and online resources in collaboration with a multi-talented team of designers (product, graphic, interior), early childhood development specialists, child psychologists, and parenting coaches. The result is a play and learning experience that all members of the family will not only find enjoyable and enriching, but also empowering.”

There’s certainly nothing wrong with colorful spaces for kids, but Nook’s solutions do offer an intriguing blueprint for modular, flexible components that can be changed or replaced as needed, as well as diverse programming, and the millwork is absolutely beautiful. Designed for kids aged zero through five, their play spaces make it easy for children to manage their own playtime and decide which activities they want to partake in. Parents can choose to either interact with them within these spaces or observe and offer encouragement from the sidelines.

These modern play areas demonstrate a visually pleasing way in which kids’ spaces can be integrated with adult ones, and they’re sensitive to kids who have different ways of learning and interacting with others. Seems like a pretty big win for every member of the family.

The post Nook: Well-Designed Play Spaces for the Modern Kid first appeared on Dornob.

As the Michael J. Fox Foundation notes, diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease “has a ripple effect, radiating from an individual to his or her family and friends.” Even the most attentive caregivers can’t give people with Parkinson’s disease their mobility back, but advances in medical technology can certainly help improve it. The high-tech Albert cane by Miiō Studio offers one intriguing example of that, offering assistance to patients, their families, and even their doctors.

“Taking care of a loved one with Parkinson’s every minute is an absorbing and incredibly tiring mission,” explain the smart cane’s creators. “That is why we have conceptualized an eco-system called Albert to support people in this situation on a daily basis. For both the patient and his family, Albert becomes the ideal companion.”

“A cane allows the patient to avoid a series of complications due to the loss of independence in his mobility. An application allows the family to keep a close eye on their loved ones and support them more effectively in their daily difficulties and progress.”

Among the primary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is “the freezing of gait,” also referred to by the acronym FOG. During FOG episodes, the patient’s brain perceives an inability to move, despite the fact that their bodies might actually still be capable of responding to commands. FOG episodes can increase the risk of falls and frequently occur in narrow spaces and stressful situations.

Recent studies have found that rhythmic stimulation — whether haptic, visual, or auditory —can help sufferers avoid such episodes. Neuroimaging shows that rhythm perception activates structures within key motor networks that are compromised to various degrees by Parkinson’s disease. Maintaining rhythm encourages automatic engagement of these areas.

The Albert cane provides haptic feedback via built-in vibrations, establishing the rhythm of the user’s walk and syncing it to a pulsating light for even further stimulation. The cane also incorporates a range of features that correspond with an app for the patient’s family, allowing them to actively monitor their loved one’s heartbeat and location. An emergency button in the center of the cane’s light alerts the family when the user needs assistance.

Thus far, the Albert appears to be in its prototype phase, and it’s unclear whether or not it will be available to the public anytime soon. But it’s still exciting to see designs like this pop up from time to time, giving us a look into the near future of life-changing medical advancements. Just imagine what else might be right around the corner!

The post Albert Smart Cane Improves Mobility for People with Parkinson’s first appeared on Dornob.

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The recently completed “Bright House” exemplifies the firm’s credo. Located in their home city, the residence has undergone an airy transformation to make it an ideal space for both the young parents who own it and their children. Rather than sacrifice adult design preferences and tastes to make way for the newest members of the family, HAO has simply inserted child-friendly elements into the space, allowing the home to retain its industrial vibe.

Instead of putting down garish mats in primary colors so the babies could safely learn to walk, they’ve added a layer of cork-like synthetic foam over the wooden flooring behind the couch so it can easily be removed when the children are older. Prior to its renovation, the home’s interiors were much more enclosed, which made it feel smaller than it actually was. HAO knocked down some of the walls, moved the kitchen closer to the plant-filled balcony, and encouraged an open-floor plan that  would make it easy to keep track of little ones as they moved through the space.

The architects add: “the balcony has a glass wall extending right down to floor level, which helps to bring more sunlight into the house, with an area for growing flowers and plants outside, so that the sight of father and son growing fruits and vegetables together can add an extra touch of happiness to the family’s daily life.”

A miniature door set within a standard adult-sized door allows the children to easily pass from their own bedroom straight into their parents’ room, and blackboard paint in the former enables them to explore their creativity. Still, the coolest element of the kids’ room is undoubtedly a custom-made bunk bed, which itself is full of storage space and its own hidden playroom.

Despite the remarkably small size of the bedroom, it contains everything a child could ever need, including closets, books, toys, dresser drawers, and built-in lighting fixtures. Child-friendly handles make the pull-out elements of the custom all-in-one kid’s bed easy for tiny hands to manipulate. A round hole offers access to the play area, a design feature every kid wishes they could have to nap, laugh, and daydream in.

“The aim is to encourage the child to develop good habits in terms of putting their own toys away and keeping their clothes neat and tidy,” says HAO. “The Seletti Monkey Lamp above the bed was specially chosen for a child whose Chinese Zodiac sign is the monkey. Thanks to careful spatial layout and furniture selection, every aspect of this house embodies a sense of mutual consideration between each family member and the others; every part of the house is able to retain the traces of their past life together, while also contributing to steady forward progress into a bright future.”

All images by Hey!Cheese Photography

The post Custom Bed in Renovated “Bright House” Allows Kids to Explore Their Creativity first appeared on Dornob.

Transforming, space-saving furniture is a lifesaver when it comes to living in a constrained home. If you need a single room to perform multiple functions but don’t want to sit on your bed while you cook, it’s pretty much required. We’ve featured dozens of all-in-one solutions here on Dornob, from modular and mobile designs to built-ins that take full advantage of every inch of vertical space. Portability is a plus if you move a lot, but furniture systems that are tailor-made for a particular space are definitely more effective. Too bad they tend to come with a price tag so high, they’re often out of reach for the people who need them the most.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uu1kLsEeWI

This genius setup by architect Angel Rico is the best of both worlds, using modest, budget-friendly materials to make an “impossibly” tiny apartment in Barcelona comfortable for a couple and their child. While it was designed specifically for this space and includes a bathroom renovation, it also provides some serious small-space inspiration for portable transforming furniture that could work in another rental, too.

Made primarily of wood, this built-in system allows the family to enjoy a full kitchen and enough space to host up to eight dinner guests. It also hides a child’s bed and includes a room divider to separate it from the pull-out couch in the living area. The couple could even accommodate two overnight guests in a small loft above the bathroom. The woman, who works at a hospital, says she uses it regularly for naps and to “chill out” after a long shift, sleeping on the pull-out couch only because her husband doesn’t like climbing stairs.

The wooden cabinet opens to reveal a sink, cooktop, microwave, and all of the family’s cookware and dinnerware, along with some cabinets for additional storage. Slide the dish rack over the sink, and you can pull down a child-sized Murphy bed with shelves and built-in lighting. The cabinet on the right swings out into the space to provide privacy and offer a bedside table. Small components on wheels pull out to become side tables.

If you didn’t know it was there, you might not even realize that the home has its own bathroom, since it’s hidden behind another furniture panel that contains a closet, linen shelves, and even a small washing machine. Have you ever seen an apartment of this size with its own laundry facilities? That in itself is impressive. It’s also pretty cool to watch the client pull extra dining chairs and dining table sections out of a hidden storage compartment above the balcony. All in all, this apartment’s design is a smart, well-organized, and fun way to adapt to the modern urban lifestyle.

The post Transforming Modular Furniture System Makes Micro-Apartment Livable for a Family first appeared on Dornob.

This plot is notable in its own right. The client’s parents purchased it and subdivided it into 60 lots for their descendants to share, so long as they abided by one stipulation: they would have to hire professional architects to design the houses that would be built there. With structures by Tadao Ando, Ricardo Legorreta, and Alberto Kalach already completed on the land, it’s safe to say that they’ve exceeded the expectations of that legacy. Bilbao herself is so in demand with the family that “Los Terrenos” (The Terrains) is the second house she’s built for them.

The mirrored section of the house is actually just one of the construction’s three total volumes. It contains an open living, dining, and kitchen space, while an adjacent L-shaped building made of clay brick and rammed earth contains the bedrooms and bathrooms. A third (as of yet unbuilt) wooden volume will be raised above the others for views of the forest’s canopies. Sensing a theme here? The materials echo aspects of the forest itself, including the soil, the trunks of trees, and the leaves fluttering in the wind.

Once inside, the home’s mirrors become entirely transparent, providing uninterrupted views of the surrounding woods. Plywood partitions and open chevron-shaped brickwork provide shade and help create a sense of privacy and enclosure within. In the earthen volume, the beds have been raised up on wooden platforms. The bricks’ warmth and coziness lend a sense of safety and solidity to this space.

The project represents a bit of an experiment for Bilbao, who typically uses just one material for each of her buildings due to stricter budgets. Of course, all of her work still fits within the overall aim of her practice, which is adaptability. She doesn’t have a particular style that she imposes upon her portfolio and instead chooses to respond to her clients’ individual needs. Bilbao insists on working with clients instead of for them, requiring them to show up for meetings every week and take an active part in their home’s design. “Every building is different for us,” she says. “We try to think on a human scale.”

“This house seeks to reevaluate the concept of living in nature. It poses that through the separation of a typical house program new dynamics of privacy, public gatherings, and harmony with the surrounding landscape can be achieved,” Bilbao’s firm explained in a piece published by Architectural Record.

“What about the birds?,” many will question upon seeing these photos. The answer to that inquiry isn’t addressed by the architect, but we’d like to think that some kind of consideration has been taken to make sure they aren’t accidental casualties of the design.

All images by London-based editorial and architectural photographer Rory Gardiner

The post Mirrored Retreat Disappears into the Forests of Mexico City first appeared on Dornob.

Wright explains the idea behind this concept online, stating: “In 1999 I began work on a life project THE HOUSE OF DREAMS MUSEUM in my home in East Dulwich, south London. With the help of collaborator Donald Jones, I wanted to transform my house and garden into a shrine to my own obsessions. I am fascinated with over-embellishment and intend to completely adorn and smother every available surface inside and outside the house.”

Sadly, Jones passed away just two years into the project, shortly followed by Stephen’s parents. For the greater part of the last two decades, Wright has continued to expand his House of Dreams, driven by the desire to leave a lasting work behind. In a way, Wright can be said to have created a new “family” in the house, the members of which are his own art pieces.

Much of Stephen’s artistic and spiritual inspiration comes from Haitian voodoo dolls. In fact, dolls of many kinds can be found throughout his house, some of them even hanging upside down from the ceiling. He finds beauty in things that have outlived their use, and, like a human magpie, he collects bright, shiny, and sometimes dirty items that he feels will add to his home. With so much stuff around, people are bound to consider at least a couple of Wright’s findings macabre. It’s easy to see how someone would think that about the “Dented Faced Doll,” for example, which was bought in a Deptford market and run over by a car. Nonetheless, it’s one of Wright’s favorite pieces in the entire house!

The artist claims to have never felt at home in the bustling city of London. He was born on a farm in the suburbs, and when he moved to England’s capital city for work he wanted to create a living, breathing artwork to serve as his comfort zone. He likens the creation of each piece, which makes up a part of his larger life “diary,” to giving birth. Wright has also incorporated some organic objects that were donated by visitors into the house, including ashes, hair, and teeth! To make things even quirkier, Wright has said that he doesn’t clean or throw away a single object upon receiving it: all items are worked into the House of Dreams “as is.”

Wright adds, “The museum is a journey of self-exploration, incorporating my passions, which include popular religious art from Mexico, South America, India, and Haiti. I am adorning my environment to create a shrine to my life using found and bought junk, toys, glitter, bottle tops, old pottery, and kitsch souvenir objects.”

On certain days, members of the public are allowed entrance into the House of Dreams. Currently, an “open day” ticket costs anywhere from five to ten British pounds. Alternatively, you can try scheduling an appointment to see the house with the artist himself. The House Of Dreams has already been bequeathed to the UK’s National Trust, so it will be looked after long after Wright dies.

“I sometimes don’t have a clue what I am doing and why,” Wright says. “I only know it’s the right thing for me to do.”

The post Stephen Wright’s House of Dreams first appeared on Dornob.

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“Equal-opportunity parenting” is the name of the game for the designers at Lalabu. Gone is the assumption that only mothers need and want to bond with their newborns. The company has developed baby-snuggling shirts for both new moms and new dads, encouraging everyone to participate in that all-important parent-baby bonding time in the first few months.

The Soothe Shirt, created for moms, actually looks stylish (no more frilly fronts and loud flowery “mother” prints these days, thankfully). The fabric is designed to expand as baby grows, and since it’s a tank, you can wear it under layers of clothes in the winter or by itself when spring and summer hit. However, even though they’re aiming for equality, Lalabu still knows moms and their needs.

The Soothe Shirt has a discreet nursing bra built right in, so you can feed your baby when you’re out and about. “The bra features two fabric layers for extra coverage and a soft elastic band for support,” the designers say. “It also keeps your stomach covered while nursing, so you have the modesty and coverage you desire to confidently nurse no matter where you are.” Perfect!

And of course the baby needs to be comfortable too, so there’s a head support that folds up to stop that wobbly head jiggling as you walk. Just push it back into the pouch when you’re not using it. The shirt keeps your child so close and comforted that she’ll probably doze off while you’re walking.

Worried that you’ll get too hot? They’ve got that covered as well: the US-made pouch has a mesh panel inside to keep both of you cool.

The New Dad Shirt is an ingenious way for new fathers to keep active and enjoy bonding with their baby at the same time as well. It looks like a regular slim-line fashion tee, but it actually serves as a kangaroo pouch! “There’s no wrapping, adjusting, or tying,” the company says to reassure the skeptics out there. Just pop the baby in the pouch and head out the door. We’re not surprised that the Atlanta, Georgia-based company’s slogan is “Simple Babywearing.”

As with the Soothe Shirt, the New Dad Shirt has an inner mesh lining to keep you both cool while you snuggle and the flip-up head support for the baby. The short-sleeve, V-neck T-shirt is offered in “calm blue” and “simple gray” right now, so it’ll match jeans or chinos if you’re out for a casual dinner with friends or just a walk around the neighborhood to catch some air.

Lalabu says the pouch in both shirts is designed to hold newborns weighing between 7 and 15 pounds. “The pouch does support much of your newborn’s weight; however, we still recommend that you always keep one hand on the baby while they are in the pouch,” they advise. “It’s not a ‘carrier’ to hold your baby while you do other things. Much the opposite, our desire is that it promotes mom-baby bonding and actively doing life together.”

We suspect these shirts will be snapped up by friends and family looking for new, creative spins on a baby shower gift—practical and thoughtful, all in one comfy package.

The post Baby-Cuddling Shirts for New Moms and Dads first appeared on Dornob.

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The appeal of a backyard getaway is almost universal. Put a treehouse in front of someone of any age and you’re likely to be greeted with wide eyes and a smile. This treehouse in Nashville, Tennessee was built as a fun getaway for a family’s kids, and it ended up being a wonderfully modern wooded retreat.

All of the work was done by blogger ModFruGAL and her family. They spent long weeks building the platform and ladder, hauling panels up, erecting walls and a ceiling, painting, decorating, and everything else that goes into the building of a house – only on a much smaller scale.

What came out of the effort is a small but comfortable treehouse that looks like a modern lounge. A sleeping bunk allows for cozy nights under the skylight, and diligent bug-proofing ensures that there will be no unwelcome guests on summer nights.

The small retreat isn’t what you might expect from a treehouse; it’s stylish, comfy, and decorated with a designer’s eye. At a small 64 square feet, it packs a lot of style into a tiny area.

The low-tech interior is perfect for a technology break. There is electricity, but no TV and no refrigerator. It’s a simple, sweet hangout in the trees for when you just need to get away for a while. This is the kind of treehouse every kid and every parent should have, if for no other reason than just to put down the electronic devices for a while and reconnect with nature.

“It is technically not a treehouse, but rather a house up in the trees given we did not use a tree as a support, BUT, we still call it the treehouse; one word. I know, we are annoying that way. The platform is 8 x 12 and the house part is 8 x 8 feet – We chose these dimensions to minimize waste by using standard, big box lumber lengths. While it would be nice to have it bigger (we plan to finish off the bottom for more sleepover room) it would change the whole approach..and budget.”

(via: Sweet Peach)

The post Charming Black Treehouse in Nashville first appeared on Dornob.

The thesis is simple yet compelling, and while we may be loathe to admit its accuracy, it has the ring of truth: in suburbs, one typically enters the home not through a front door but through the garage, and that is thus the real entryway worth addressing.

Typically, a garage is the least-finished space in a home (except maybe a basement in some cases) – so, what if it were one of the grander and most-finished spaces instead? In this design by KWK Promes in Poland (images by Juliusz Sokołowski).

Cobbled with stone, surrounded with clean white walls and ceiling and flanked by paintings, the processional driveway-to-garage experience is welcoming rather than anticlimactic.

More info from the architect

“We usually enter the house by a car, using the garage integrated in main solid. The main entrance is rarely used. Nowadays the cars are becoming cleaner and more eco-friendly, hence the idea emerged to include the garage into the representative entrance area. As a result, a new type of a family house emerged. In the Autofamily House the entrance area and the driveway get transformed into a unique multifunctional space and the moment of driving in the house become a pleasant experience.”

“The terrain is leveled in order to obtain two zones: the driveway space and the private garden. The driveway is left on the ground level and the house with intimate garden is lifted 3 meters above and separated by a retaining wall. As to comfort access to the building, in meaning of parking the car on the level of living room, a route connecting the two levels were designed. However, to avoid dividing the garden, the driveway is covered with a green roof and finished with walls serving as borderlines. The result is a tunnel emerging in the garden, becoming a house. The owner is an art collector so the tunnel is also used as a gallery of his paintings collection.”

The post Drive Your Car Right Through Your Luxurious Front Door first appeared on Dornob.

This former Victorian warehouse in South London had been home to an artist and his wife for several years, but when their first child came along the couple knew it was time to turn it into a proper living space. They called on London architect Dingle Price (now Pricegore) to create a comfortable living and working space.

The solution involved the use of an existing mezzanine to divide the home in half. On one side, a two-story home. On the other, a bright and open double-height studio.

Price’s concept was to more or less insert a home into the existing building by dividing the space in half. Since the mezzanine provided a natural separation of the vertical space, that side of the warehouse was naturally to become the living area.

The two halves aren’t completely separate, however. Small windows in the walls of the two upstairs bedrooms and two large doors on the ground floor allow the family an opportunity to connect with both sides of the home.

Looking from the house into the studio gives the feeling of looking over a private courtyard. The feeling is emphasized by the huge landscape paintings in the artist’s studio.

The internal landscape of the building offers a unique opportunity for the family to combine their personal and work spaces without forcing the two to intermingle. If they desire, the family can completely close off the studio half of the building by shutting the connecting doors and windows.

Sophisticated pine wood floors – some painted, some left natural – brilliantly offset the bright white walls and ceilings. Skylights allow ample natural light to flow in to both the house and the studio, highlighting the unusual space and its colorful contents.

“A two bedroom house installed inside the shell of a Victorian warehouse to provide accommodation for an artist’s family. The rest of the warehouse remains as the artist’s studio which, overlooked and animated by the facade of the house, attains the character of a small piazza or garden.”

“In the future, the artist is expected to move to a separate studio building, allowing the double height volume to be used as a living room, with the current living space becoming a more generous kitchen and dining room.”

The post Double-Duty London Home for a Painter first appeared on Dornob.