The finely detailed curved stair to one side of this impressive hall appears to just float in this space and is definitely calling out to be climbed.  The formal rooms are positioned to flank the entrance, with the main living- and dining areas of modern living catered for and enjoyed towards the rear of the property.

Bright and brilliant

The upper floors, which are also bright and airy, provide voluminous bedrooms, en-suites and generous storage space. And thanks to ingenious planning and fabulous designs, each and every room you enter provides an incredibly bright and delicately rich style.

First-class views

The main living- and dining areas overlook and open onto textured stone terraces, some offering shelter with lightly detailed glazed embellished steel structures. Allowing this visual link between the indoors and spacious outside definitely aids in allowing the interior areas of the house to feel even grander – not that it needs to, obviously.

Let’s have a look at few more images of this delightful design.

This article was featured on HOMIFY. Written by JOHANNES VAN GRAAN

The structure we’ll be checking out? A most elegant family home that combines a formal exterior with a more contemporary free-flowing interior, built on a restricted site. For many, the word classical is synonymous with Georgian design, yet the experts in charge wanted to get away from a traditional Georgian style on this site. In fact, the results are closer to that of the Italian master Palladio than to anything British.

Garden touches

We all know the importance of first impressions, which is why professional landscape architect, Beth Moore, implemented a scheme to soften the impact of the house on what is actually a relatively small plot.

At the front is a formal garden, planted with herbs and agapanthus, and hedging is being established to soften the boundary lines. The two mature trees on site have been retained and the semi-walled garden to the rear has climbers trained up it.

A glowing vision

The house’s unique design has been made so that there is very little circulation space; in fact, there are no long corridors anywhere, resulting in the usable living- and accommodation spaces being made the most of.

Here we get to stare in wonder at the circular atrium lit from above which forms central circulation space and lights up all three floors of this Italian-inspired mansion.

A visual break

The sloping site is reflected within the house by incorporating dramatic steps between rooms. In the kitchen area, these steps are used to create a visual break between the interlinked spaces such as cooking, dining, living etc.

Interior style

Although the structure itself flaunts a classic, elegant look, the furniture and décor pieces within the house speak of varied design styles, especially the open-plan kitchen and dining area, where country, classic and modern pieces can be glimpsed. And let’s not forget the delicate dose of colours and patterns which inject some striking character into the interiors!

Let’s scope out a few more images, shall we?

This article was featured on HOMIFY. Written by JOHANNES VAN GRAAN

For today’s homify 360° discovery, we want to shift our focus ever so slightly from adult-preferred style to child-friendly (and –favourite) designs. To find out exactly what we mean, you’ll just have to continue reading and scrolling…

London team Des Ewing Residential Architects deserve a world of praise for this 418 m² creation that has become home to a family with five young children. The house is designed to be practical, durable and fun, yet also brings more than its fair share when it comes to contemporary cuteness!

A clean design

Walking past this house (or seeing a photograph of it) provides no single clue as to the magic included in its design. Yes, from the outside we can definitely appreciate its clean lines, high ceilings and extensive aluminium-framed glazing facing the views of the sea.

We can also write heaps about its monochrome colour scheme, how its natural green slate roof tops the white rendered walls with an olive green base and how it reflects the roof colour.

But let’s get to the creative, child-friendly portion…

Downstairs in a jiffy

Even though teleportation devices don’t exist (yet), the designers of this house have developed another equally fast way to move the kiddies from their first-floor bedrooms straight to the kitchen table downstairs: this bespoke slide which definitely helps in ensuring everyone’s on time (and wearing great, big smiles) for school!

The kitchen

But seeing as this is homify, a certain amount of mature style is required, so let’s focus on the aforementioned kitchen for just a moment!

Flaunting sleek finishes, a linear design and a firm commitment to functionality, this two-in-one cooking- and dining space should be every modern-style lover’s dream design. And just check out the fabulous garden views and natural lighting seeping indoors.

But there’s more…

Right, back to the child-friendly designs that make this house one of our ultimate favourites! Although it can’t be seen here, a zip-wire through the wooded section of the garden continues the rapid transit theme (and is, of course, a bonus for keeping the kids entertained outdoors).

In addition, the zigzag, five-metre wide steps in the garden form a seated amphitheatre for the rear terrace, which also doubles as a basketball arena.

Shall we scope out a few more images of this house?

This article was featured on HOMIFY. Written by JOHANNES VAN GRAAN

London team Des Ewing Residential Architects bring us our newest homify 360° discovery: a new-build replica home set in a conservation area. But this project’s background story is as interesting as the end results are striking…

The planning process to achieve permission for this scale of replacement dwelling extended over two years and required two planning applications, given its sensitive location. The planning authority is generally against new development on this main avenue, as it is located within a Conservation Area. This resulted in the professionals in charge having to demonstrate that their proposed replacement dwelling was of greater quality than the building it would replace.

This was achieved by having discussions, presenting 3D models to show the new building fitting into its setting, and by ensuring that they detailed the external brickwork to match neighbouring properties as closely as possible.

Scope out the breathtaking results below…

The front façade

The pretty-as-a-picture dwelling, in all its classic-style glory, flaunts quite a number of eye-catching touches, including the pitched roofing, warm-hued walls, the fabulously textured façade and some bay windows for extra charm.

And let’s not forget the delightful garden touches adding even more visual appeal to the house’s front side.

Freshness seeping indoors

Things take a more modern turn (style-wise, at least) on the inside, especially here in the kitchen that becomes visually one with the beautifully crafted garden, thanks to generous glass sliding doors blending the two areas.

Expert landscaping

And speaking of gardens, how dream-like is this exterior space with its plants, stone flooring, bench designs and host of other equally impressive touches? The ideal spot to host a fabulous get-together with friends, or just enjoy a spot of tea by yourself.

Architects, gardeners, and many more – we have them all here on homify. See our professionals page for more info.

Style that never snoozes

We knew even from the outside that the rooms presenting those bay windows would be most charming indeed – and we are not disappointed at all by this bedroom! Flaunting a soft-grey colour palette, the bedroom’s charms are enhanced even further thanks to the abundance of plush fabrics adorning not only the bed, but also the window treatment!

Let’s enjoy a few more high-quality images, shall we?

This article was featured on HOMIFY. Written by JOHANNES VAN GRAAN

Our latest homify 360° gem comes to us from London team Des Ewing Residential Architects. The project that they’ve agreed to share with us? A new dwelling added to a row of fisherman’s cottages – something a little bit different than what we usually have here on homify, right?

This project was started because the existing end terrace of a row of fishermen’s cottages had been unsympathetically modified over the years and had fallen into poor repair. Planning permission was obtained for a single replacement dwelling which, on initial appearance, seems to be two cottages.

By continuing the rhythm of the original row, the enlarged dwelling blends with its original neighbours and is an improvement to this Area of Townscape Character.

The exterior façade

The dwelling’s exposed location necessitates clipped eaves, bush hammered granite cills, and aluminium-clad sliding sash windows. The front terrace and parking areas are finished in York stone and basalt cobbles. There is no exposed timber except for the heavy hardwood front door, which has been turned 90° to provide shelter from the prevailing winds.

The entryway

Upon entering we can immediately start appreciating the abundance of natural lighting that seeps indoors, not to mention the beautiful views.

The cottages overlook the boatyard and the sea beyond. And although the main kitchen/living/dining areas also have sea views, they are private from the coastal path that passes in front of the house.

Light-filled spaces

French doors open onto a sheltered patio at the rear that catches the sun until late in the day. And here we can see the freshness that filters indoors and spreads around the entire open-plan layout, including that delightfully styled kitchen around the corner.

Eye-catching touches

We just love the patterned carpet that not only adorns the staircase, but also adds a decent amount of colour and motif to the top floor areas – so much so that additional décor pieces aren’t even required!

Shall we scope out a few more images of this charming sea-facing home?

This article was featured on HOMIFY. Written by JOHANNES VAN GRAAN