Category: Home & Kitchen

For our latest lookbook, we have gathered eight examples of homes where tactile and practical lime plaster walls give the interiors a natural, calming feel.

Lime plaster is a traditional wall coating typically made from sand, water and lime. It is often used in heritage buildings, since it is a breathable material that can be a good choice for damp spaces.

It also has a natural look and feel that can help to create a more rustic and peaceful atmosphere in modern homes.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring clever wine storage solutions, space-efficient bedrooms and Mediterranean-style interiors.

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MA House, France, by Timothee Mercier

Architect Timothee Mercier turned a rural farmhouse building in southeast France into a home for his parents that aimed to respect both the site and the region’s architectural history.

Inside, he went for a pared-back, spartan interior, where some of the house’s stone exterior was left exposed. Walls were white-washed with chaux – a local lime plaster – to create a clean backdrop for the living room‘s wooden furniture.

Find out more about MA House ›

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Cork House, UK, by Polysmiths

Cork-clad living spaces feature in this east London home, which architecture studio Polysmiths’ director Charles Wu designed for himself and his partner.

Wu used locally sourced timber and lime plaster for the house. A lime-plastered wall divides the main bedroom from its en-suite bathroom, which is lit by a corner lightwell.

Find out more about Cork House ›

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Herne Hill House, UK, by TYPE

The Herne Hill House extension replaced an existing conservatory at a south London terrace house, creating a bigger kitchen and dining room.

A peaceful window nook gives views out of the garden from the open-plan kitchen, which features walls covered in lime plaster. Their pale beige hue contrasts the warm terracotta-coloured quarry-tile floor.

Find out more about Herne Hill House ›

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Québec home, Canada, by Ménard Dworkind

This home in Montréal centres around a lime-plastered, curved central block that sweeps around a staircase and forms a mezzanine level that overlooks the living room.

Here, the rounded wall holds a terracotta fireplace. A geometric steel table adds a more modernist and industrial feel to the organic interior.

Find out more about the Québec home ›

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Iceberg apartment, Israel, by Laila Architecture

Natural lime plaster covers the walls in this Israeli apartment, which gets its name from a large birch plywood storage volume resembling an iceberg.

In the kitchen, the plaster walls were complemented with birch plywood cabinetry and sunny pastel-hued chairs.

Find out more about the Iceberg apartment ›

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Low Energy House, UK, by Architecture for London

The minimalist interior of this energy-saving home in north London was designed using wood, stone and lime plaster by studio Architecture for London.

Designed as a home for its founder, Ben Ridley, it had some problems with dampness. To help solve this, walls were coated with lime plaster to form an airtight layer, mitigating any heat loss.

Find out more about Low Energy House ›

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Casa Soleto, Italy, by Studio Andrew Trotter and Marcelo Martínez

Studio Andrew Trotter and Marcelo Martínez renovated this 17th-century Puglia house, using natural materials and colours wherever possible.

Earth-coloured lime plaster decorates the walls, adding to the rustic feel of the space and matching the tactile and rough-hewn materials and furniture used for the interior.

Find out more about Casa Soleto ›

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North London home, UK, by Whittaker Parsons

A home in London’s Stoke Newington was given an additional storey made from copper, larch and structural insulated panels, which houses a bedroom suite.

Architecture studio Whittaker Parsons chose lime plaster for the walls of the space, which was designed to have a serene feel.

“Lime render is a calming tactile material, characterful and soft,” said Whittaker Parsons. “It is a low-carbon alternative to gypsum plaster. It’s also a hygroscopic material, so it naturally moderates the moisture level in the bedroom.”

Find out more about this North London home ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring clever wine storage solutions, space-efficient bedrooms and Mediterranean-style interiors.

As you step into your kitchen, the heart of your home, do you find yourself craving a change? You’re not alone. In fact, in a 2016 Houzz kitchen study, a staggering 76% of homeowners opted for a style revamp during their kitchen remodel. While the pendulum has somewhat swung towards transitional and contemporary designs, there’s still a significant charm held by traditional styles – they comfortably nestle in the third spot in the popularity contest. 

If you’re someone who revels in the classic allure of traditional designs, we have some exciting news for you! With a warm welcome, we introduce the latest addition to our custom-made kitchen cabinets collection – the timeless, the charming, the “Hamilton” style door. Buckle up as we delve into the exquisite details of this old-school marvel. (more…)

A world of color is out there for the taking. Are you willing to reach out for it? Often, homeowners find themselves avoiding the more daring options because they focus too much on resale instead the right mindset: recreating their space the way they want.  

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Toronto studio Giannone Petricone Associates has spent a decade restoring a dilapidated hotel in Ontario, linking the building’s past and present through regionally influenced design details.

Located in Picton, a town in Prince Edward County (PEC) that lies close to the shores of Lake Ontario, The Royal Hotel was in bad shape when the Sorbara family purchased it in 2013.

The new owners hired Giannone Petricone Associates (GPA) to save what they could of the existing building, which was first completed in 1879, and transform it into contemporary lodgings.

“Its central staircase was lined with a lush carpet of green moss, and early in the planning phase, the roof caved in,” said the hotel team.

“But the family vowed to restore the property and bring it back to life as a nexus for both locals and guests of PEC’s burgeoning food and wine region.”

The architects were able to salvage three of the original brick walls, and within them created a cafe, three bars, a fine-dining restaurant; and a spa, gym and sauna.

A landscaped terrace overlooks a fourth bar and a brick patio with lounge seating, while an outdoor swimming pool flanked by a row of cabana beds lies beyond.

A total of 33 guest rooms are available: 28 in the main three-storey hotel building, and a further five suites in a rebuilt stable named The Royal Annex.

For the interiors, GPA played on tropes of Victorian railway hotels, mixing formal elements of British tradition with PEC’s more laid-back rural sensibility.

“The Royal is designed to be a transporting experience while deeply rooted in the local context,” said GPA principal Pina Petricone. “The experience benefits from the charged contrast between ‘genteel’ and ‘real’ elements.”

In the lobby, the reception desk is wrapped in a floral pattern and a wooden shelving system forms a boutique displaying items for sale.

Tambour panelling lines the adjacent bar area, which flows into a lounge where softly undulated plasterwork frames a fireplace.

A variety of checkered and tartan patterns are found across hallway carpets, mosaic bathroom tiles and cross-stitched headboards. Ceiling rosettes throughout the spaces are designed to mimic mushrooms and water ripples.

“We wanted to have moments in the hotel that were a bit nonsensical,” Petricone said. “The Royal is about escapism, and our research into the hotel’s history demonstrated that it was always a pretty quirky place.”

Other recently opened hotels in Canada include the Ace Toronto, which boasts a suspended lobby and rooftop bar.

Last year, the 1 Hotel Toronto by Rockwell Group and The Drake Hotel Modern Wing by DesignAgency, also in the city, were longlisted in the Hotel and Short Stay Interiors category for the Dezeen Awards.

The photography is by Doublespace, unless stated otherwise. Main image is by Jeff McNeill.

For those who don’t want to keep their wine collection hidden away, our latest lookbook showcases some of the most inventive ways of showcasing wine bottles within a contemporary home interior.

Wine storage solutions can be created in homes of any size, by cleverly integrating shelving into wall niches or built-in furniture.

For those with enough space for a wine cellar, or even just a dedicated wine fridge, well-designed glazing and lighting can turn these spaces into focal points.

A more casual wine drinker could simply slot a small wine rack into a kitchen island or bookshelf.

Read on for 10 examples to suit homes of any size, including a wine cellar that doubles as a lightbox and a blue wine-rack wall.

This is the latest in Dezeen’s lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from our archive. Other recent editions showcase serene bedrooms and wood-panelled dining rooms.

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Maison du Parc, Canada, by La Shed Architecture

Visible from both the staircase and a grand basement bathroom, this wine room was designed to be a key feature in a three-storey home in Montreal.

With frosted glass walls and stark lighting, it makes the bottles visible but partially obscured. They appear as a grid of spots across the surfaces of the bright white volume.

Find out more about Maison du Parc ›

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AML Apartment, Brazil, by David Ito Arquitetura

Bright blue wine storage extends floor to ceiling in this apartment in São Paulo, lining up exactly with a doorway in front.

The wine rack sits alongside a utility area but it is also visible from the living and dining room, so it made sense to make it a feature. It offers space for 108 wine bottles.

Find out more about AML Apartment ›

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Gallery House, UK, by Neil Dusheiko

Wine bottles are not the primary focus in this kitchen extension in north London, which features an entire wall of treasured objects including ceramics, glassware and framed pictures.

Instead, they neatly slot into 10 circular cubby holes within the oak kitchen island. These holes extend through, creating room for two bottles in each opening.

Find out more about Gallery House ›

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Casa em Cotia, Brazil, by Una Arquitetos

The kitchen of this family home in São Paulo centres around a full-height glass-fronted pantry, offering plenty of storage space for food and crockery.

Wine storage is located within the front cupboard, slotted in underneath shelves for mugs and glasses. This places it within easy access of the adjacent dining room.

Find out more about Casa em Cotia ›

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City Beach Residence, Australia, by Design Theory

Hexagonal terracotta modules are stacked up to create storage space for 50 wine bottles in this renovated 1960s beach house in Perth.

The arrangement slots into a niche in the wall, with the clay-based material helping to keep the wine at a stable temperature.

Find out more about City Beach Residence ›

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Raft Loft, USA, by Dash Marshall

There is plenty of space for storing wine in this two-level home in New York‘s Tribeca, which was converted from two previously separate apartments.

In addition to the main kitchen, the residence has a kitchenette that features both a wine fridge and a wine rack that slots in above the wall-mounted high cupboards.

Find out more about Raft Loft ›

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Ski Slope Residence, USA, by LaRue Architects and Britt Design Group

The owners of this lakeside cabin in Austin, Texas, also own a vineyard in Argentina, so they were understandably keen to put their wine collection on full display.

A wine room takes pride of place near the main entrance. It is visible behind a glass door that extends from floor to ceiling, creating an unusual backdrop to a grand piano.

Find out more about Ski Slope Residence ›

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Charred House, UK, by Rider Stirland Architects

In this London home, wine storage forms part of a bespoke kitchen created by Plykea, a British brand that specialises in customising IKEA kitchens.

The bottles are held in place by simple supports that sit within a series of shelves, offering space for 30 bottles.

Find out more about Charred House ›

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Salva46, Spain, by Miel Arquitectos and Studio P10

Storage helps to organise the floor plan in this highly compact Barcelona apartment.

A very simple wood-framed wine rack slots alongside a set of drawers, which together create a soft divide between the entrance lobby and the kitchen.

Find out more about Salva46 ›

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Soho Loft, USA, by Julian King

This warehouse apartment in New York offers a highly simple wine storage solution.

The living space features a series of shelves that together form a sizeable bookcase. A wooden rack slots into the bottom shelf, allowing wine to sit alongside the literature.

Find out more about Soho Loft ›

This is the latest in Dezeen’s lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from our archive. Other recent editions showcase serene bedrooms and wood-panelled dining rooms.

Italian studio Marcante-Testa has turned an industrial building in Venice into the canal-side Ca’ Select bar, visitor centre and production facility.

Set alongside a small canal in the Cannareggio district of Venice, the bar and distillery belong to the company behind Select Aperitivo – the main ingredient of a Venetian Spritz.

“The history of Select is closely tied to that of Venice, where the brand was founded in 1920,” said Marcante-Testa.

“Starting from this awareness, the mother company Gruppo Montenegro commissioned the architects Andrea Marcante and Adelaide Testa to formulate a reinterpretation of the unique characteristics of Venetian identity, reviving one aspect of the city’s past.”

Marcante-Testa led the conversion of the former metal workshop into a bar and events space, spanning 690 square metres. Throughout the bar and production spaces, glass and ceramic details were chosen to highlight traditional Venetian crafts.

The elongated space was split linearly into three zones, with the bar placed at the front of the building so it can be accessed from the canal by a corridor clad in white and red Zellige tiles made by Mosaic Factory.

At the centre of the space is a freestanding bar wrapped in blue wavy glass “in the Murano tradition”, created by the Wonderglass company to recall the waves of the nearby lagoon.

The space features three handmade mosaics made from tiles fired in the historic Fornace Orsoni and informed by the sketches of Spanish designer Mariano Fortuny, who was a long-term resident of Venice.

Venetian seminato terrazzo flooring with red glass and blue sodalite marble inlays was used to unify the spaces, running from the entrance through the bar to the production area.

Separated from the bar by a large curtain is a seating area furnished with steel-framed sofas alongside armchairs upholstered in reds and pinks as a nod to the aperitivo’s colour. This area will also be used as an events space.

The event space has views through a red-tinted glass wall to the production facility at the rear of the building.

Here, the maceration of the herbs and spices used to make the distinctive aperitivo takes place.

The final space in Select Aperitivo’s building is nestled above the entrance corridor. Accessed by steps to the side of the entrance is a small visitor centre with exhibits curated by Turin-based Studio Fludd.

It contains seating and exhibits that aim to tell the story of the aperitivo brand, which was established in 1920.

Select Aperitivo hopes that the bar and visitor centre will continue to reinforce the brand’s historic links to the city.

“Ca’ Select represents a fundamental step in our multi-year plan to consolidate the brand and aims to strengthen the link with the city of origin,” said Marco Ferrari, CEO of Gruppo Montenegro, which owns the brand.

“It is no coincidence that we have decided to bring the heart of Select’s production here, to enhance the local culture starting with the valuable architectural elements that enrich the space.”

Other recently completed bars that have been featured on Dezeen include a brewery in a former Copenhagen slaughterhouse and a bar in Calgary topped with plywood barrel vaults.

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Project credits:

Architectural project: Marcante-Testa
Interior design project: Marcante-Testa
Project and content management: Mindthegap Studio
Plants and facilities design: Pgs Ingegneria – Studio Associato
Content of the exhibition design: Studio Fludd
Production coordination and executive production: Epica film
Visual identity project: Studio Fludd
Building works director: Valter Camagna, Andrea marcante
Local architect: Stefano Romagna
Project manager: Roberta Minici
Safety manager and coordinator: Sebastiano Cibien
Building construction: Steelwood Engineering
Plant engineering work: Gruppo Frassati, Vem Sistemi
Set-up arrangements: Steelwood Rngineering, Gruppo Frassati, Amap, Wonderglass
Light design: Marcante-Testa with Flos
Decorative lighting supplier: Fortuny
Technical lighting supplier: Flos
System integrator: Acuson, Red Group

Today we’re going to be talking about all things Western-influenced design and how you might bring some of those elements to your next remodel.  

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Shanghai-based interior designer Alex Mok has joined Dezeen Awards China 2023 as a judge. Here she selects five projects that best reflect her work.

Mok and Briar Hickling are the co-founders of architecture and interior design practice Linehouse. The female duo’s work has been recognised internationally and won a number of international design awards, including Emerging interior designers of the tear at Dezeen Awards 2019.

“Linehouse‘s approach is purposeful, creating poetic concepts through research of cultural, urban and historic contexts that respond to the program, site and function,” Mok told Dezeen.

“Each project has a strong narrative, a focus on craft and unique spatial experience with a dynamic intersection between disciplines,” she continued.

Currently, Mok is working on hotel projects in Hangzhou and Hong Kong, a food market in Shanghai, and a series of retail projects in Bangkok.

Alex Mok among Dezeen Awards China 2023 judges

Dezeen Awards China 2023 launched in June in partnership with Bentley Motors. It is the first regional edition of Dezeen Awards, celebrating the best architecture, interiors and design in China.

We have announced 10 out of the 15 Dezeen Awards China judges, including architects Ma Yansong and Rossana Hu, furniture designer Frank Chou and interior designer Andre Fu, who will be joining Mok on the interior design judging panel.

Entries close on Thursday 24 August. Submit your entry before midnight Beijing time on 24 August to avoid late entry fees.

Read on to find Mok’s views on the five projects that best represent her work.

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Wework Weihai Road, Shanghai, 2016

“Linehouse worked with Wework in 2016 to create their headquarters in a spectacular turn of the century brick building in Shanghai. Linehouse celebrated the grandeur of the former opium factory and artist residence, encapsulating the feeling of a grand hotel, transporting guests and members on an unexpected journey of whimsy, voyeurism and festivity.

“The heritage facade surrounds the central atrium. A curved terrazzo tray was inserted to define the space, and pastel diagonal strips in blue, green, pink and grey wrap the floor and wall, creating a hardscape carpet.

“A bespoke lighting installation is suspended in the triple-height space. A new sculptural staircase was inserted to connect all three levels of the main public areas.”

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Tingtai Teahouse, Shanghai, 2018

“Tingtai Teahouse was completed in 2018 in a former factory space and art gallery in Shanghai’s Moganshan Road art district. We stripped the space completely to reveal the beautiful patina of the original factory with concrete beams and columns as well as the brick walls.

“The teahouses are modern architectural responses to the raw factory interior. They read as singular insertions that contrast with the rough brick and concrete interior and reflect the surroundings. The upper rooms in particular have strong relationships with the existing building in the way they connect to the original clerestory windows.

“With each of these rooms bookended with full-height glazing, guests become spectators to the activities below. Each room has a different roofline, which forms modern architectural puzzle spaces where tea drinkers can enjoy this age old drink with a new perspective. “

Find out more about Tingtai Teahouse ›

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Coast, Shanghai, 2022

“The Coast restaurant in Shanghai recalls a deep connection with coastal elements and Mediterranean soul. Linehouse transformed a three-storey building into a vertical journey of refined rusticity.

“Colours and materials across the three floors change, telling different parts of the story. Green earthy tones on the ground floor link the garden to the open cafe space, while the red fire tones on the first floor reflect the dining room centred on the parrilla grill. On the second floor black yakisugi wood contrasts against the whitewashed flanked stone walls and the existing traditional timber trussed ceiling.”

Find out more about Coast ›

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Central World, Bangkok, 2023

“Central World is our largest architectural project to date; a renovation project of an existing shopping centre called Isetan in Bangkok. Linehouse was commissioned to design the exterior facade and seven floors of retail space including a food court.

“The project was located in an area once abundant in lily pads. Linehouse examined the stemming, radiating and circular profile of the lily pads, translating this into a spatial narrative of the exterior and interior condition.

“The exterior is a double-layered, arched facade. The front layer was defined by concrete form and the back layer rendered in black. The arches stem in various heights and widths shifting on the two planes, creating interesting intersections which operate as framed views through to the interior.

“Linehouse punctuated the arches to allow green terraces, providing a depth to an otherwise flat elevation, and blurring the exteriors and interiors.”

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Ying’n Flo, Hong Kong, 2023

“Aiming to break the traditional hotel narrative of serious spaces and strict boundaries, Ying’n Flo is a lifestyle guesthouse for modern day travellers in Hong Kong.

“The spaces were designed to have a warm, welcoming and familiar feel, emphasising functionality and quality. Against this backdrop of curated simplicity is an edge of youthful attitude and local context, with vibrant elements giving the hotel its own unique flavour.”

Find out more about Ying’n Flo ›

Dezeen Awards China 2023

Dezeen Awards China is the first regional edition of Dezeen Awards, to celebrate the best architecture, interiors and design in China. The annual awards are in partnership with Bentley Motors, as part of a wider collaboration that will see the brand work with Dezeen to support and inspire the next generation of design talent in China.

Kitchens are the heart of the home, and this is shown time and time again in some of our favorite sitcoms. If you’re a fan of the classics, Leave It to Beaver might come to mind. Although the show first aired more than 60 years ago, the portrayal of this cookie-cutter American family survives the test of time with themes of sibling rivalry, growing up, and navigating parenthood remaining ever-present today.

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The average cost of a butcher block counter in the United States is $3,500 for material and installation. Prices range from $50-$100 per square foot, depending on the thickness of the butcher block and the type of wood.

Types of Wood for Butcher Block Counters with Price

The most common type of butcher block counter is Hard Rock Maple. Maple has a light but neutral tone and, on average, costs $40 – $60 per square foot. The most expensive butcher block counters are teak or maple. On average, teak butcher block runs $100-$200 per square foot, and walnut costs $75 – $300 per square foot.

Here’s a look at the types of butcher block with their average costs per square foot.

Wood Species	Cost per Sq. Ft.	Traits
Red Oak	$15-$50	Straight grain, easy to work with, and accepts finishes well
Birch	$25-$75	Affordable and durable, offering a light, clean look
Acacia	$30-$100	Durable and resists stains and knife marks – provides a unique grain pattern
Beech	$40-$100	Adds warmth and is a dense material appropriate as a chopping block
Maple	$40-$60	Widely available, offers a neutral tone and a food-safe surface
Cherry	$50-$275	Provides a smooth wood grain and rich cherry color
Bamboo	$50-$125	Eco-friendly and offers extreme density making them an excellent countertop material
Walnut	$75-$300	Durable, offers some bacteria resistance, and a deep color
Teak	$100-$200	Easy to maintain, doesn’t trap germs or debris, and offers color contrast

How Much Does it Cost to Have Butcher Block Counters Installed?

Butcher block installation costs $10 to $100 per square foot or about $50-$100 per hour, depending on the complexity of the job and your location. Ask about installation costs when ordering butcher block countertops for an accurate estimate.

If you have some construction experience and help to lift the counters, you can install butcher block yourself.

Butcher Block Grain Type

There are two butcher block grain types: end grain and edge grain. Edge grain is the most common and features long strips of wood glued together. End grain is a more expensive type of butcher block featuring short strips of wood glued vertically to create a checkerboard pattern.

Cost of Butcher Block Countertops vs. Quartz Counters

The average price of butcher block counters is $3,500 for material and installation. The average cost of quartz countertops, including material and installation, is $2,850.

Whether butcher block or quartz will be cheaper depends on the product you choose. For example, a low-cost butcher block like maple or acacia will be less expensive than a high-end quartz counter.

Cost of Butcher Block Counters vs. Granite Countertops

The average cost of granite counters is $3,250, including material and installation. The average price of butcher block counters is higher at $3,500.

Costs will vary by location and the specific material you choose. Shop around to see if butcher block or granite is cheaper based on the varieties you like most.

Where to Buy Butcher Block Counters

You can find butcher block at local flooring and home improvement stores. A quick Google search for butcher block counters for sale will yield results in your area. You can also purchase butcher block counters from the following big box stores.

• Ikea – Ikea offers particle board countertops with a thick wood veneer. These are not authentic butcher block counters, but they can give you the look at a fraction of the cost.
• Lowes – Lowes offers a few different species of butcher block, including Acacia, Rubberwood, and Birch. They have several colors and a range of patterns, including straight and chevron.
• The Home Depot – The Home Depot offers a more extensive line of butcher block with many finished and unfinished counters available. Some of the wood species they carry include Walnut, Teak, Birch, Acacia, and Maple.
• Lumber Liquidators – Lumber Liquidators sells finished and unfinished butcher block slabs. They offer the following wood species: American Walnut, Maple, Acacia, White Oak, Teak, and Cherry.