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Best of the Week: 34 Designs That Break the Rules
Meet 34 homes that rebel against the design rules, inside and out
Some rules have a good reason for existing; others were made to be broken. Here are 34 design details in homes around the world that venture beyond the norm, with results that range from sleek and sophisticated to eclectic and zany.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
2. Location: Portland, USA
Feature: This fireplace makes the perfect place for a garden.
Feature: This fireplace makes the perfect place for a garden.
3. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Minosa
Feature: Not all kitchen benches need to meet at right angles.
Designer: Minosa
Feature: Not all kitchen benches need to meet at right angles.
4. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Corben Architects
Feature: According to convention, the kitchen bench should be above the floor… unless the two become one.
Designer: Corben Architects
Feature: According to convention, the kitchen bench should be above the floor… unless the two become one.
5. Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Feature: This photographic wall mural shuns advice to avoid creating optical illusions when decorating interiors – to great effect.
Feature: This photographic wall mural shuns advice to avoid creating optical illusions when decorating interiors – to great effect.
6. Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Feature: Who says wallpaper is just for walls? This ceiling wears it with pride.
Feature: Who says wallpaper is just for walls? This ceiling wears it with pride.
7. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: James Dawson Interior Design
Feature: It appears not all ceilings must be painted white.
Designer: James Dawson Interior Design
Feature: It appears not all ceilings must be painted white.
8. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Scott Weston Architecture Design
Feature: Out with standardised right angles, in with curves.
Designer: Scott Weston Architecture Design
Feature: Out with standardised right angles, in with curves.
9. Location: Tamarama, NSW
Designer: Decus Interiors
Feature: This home proves walls don’t have to be a straight, singular plane.
Houzz Tour: Beach Home Throws a Curve Ball at Typical Coast Style
Designer: Decus Interiors
Feature: This home proves walls don’t have to be a straight, singular plane.
Houzz Tour: Beach Home Throws a Curve Ball at Typical Coast Style
10. Location: California, USA
Feature: Who says ceilings must be flat? Not this curvaceous house.
Feature: Who says ceilings must be flat? Not this curvaceous house.
11. Location: The Netherlands
Feature: Angular windows make this space.
Feature: Angular windows make this space.
12. Location: USA
Feature: Books don’t always need to be arranged on a flat surface.
Feature: Books don’t always need to be arranged on a flat surface.
13. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors
Feature: Most designers recommend introducing tonal variations of a colour, but not here. The singular, saturated shade of blue sets the space awash with drama.
Designer: Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors
Feature: Most designers recommend introducing tonal variations of a colour, but not here. The singular, saturated shade of blue sets the space awash with drama.
14. Location: London, UK
Feature: Conventional grey walls and a typical white ceiling – but thanks to fluorescent wall mouldings, this powder room is anything but dull.
Feature: Conventional grey walls and a typical white ceiling – but thanks to fluorescent wall mouldings, this powder room is anything but dull.
15. Location: New York, USA
Feature: The golden design rule about never overwhelming a room has been kicked to the kerb in this inspired living area.
Feature: The golden design rule about never overwhelming a room has been kicked to the kerb in this inspired living area.
16. Location: Lyon, France
Feature: Always leave white space? Not in this home.
Lyon Houzz Tour: Striking Blue Apartment Packed With Personality
Feature: Always leave white space? Not in this home.
Lyon Houzz Tour: Striking Blue Apartment Packed With Personality
17. Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
Feature: Not all kitchen cabinetry needs to match.
Feature: Not all kitchen cabinetry needs to match.
19. Location: Surrey, UK
Feature: Who says you can only have one rug?
Feature: Who says you can only have one rug?
20. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Feature: It pays to break with convention if it means relaxing on a sanctuary-style suspended bed like this one.
Feature: It pays to break with convention if it means relaxing on a sanctuary-style suspended bed like this one.
21. Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Feature: Ombré paint effects take pride in departing from convention.
Feature: Ombré paint effects take pride in departing from convention.
22. Location: London, UK
Feature: Forget about choosing one hero piece and letting it shine. Here, every feature loves the limelight.
Feature: Forget about choosing one hero piece and letting it shine. Here, every feature loves the limelight.
23. Location: Madrid, Spain
Feature: We’re guessing this bedroom doesn’t care for the rule, ‘blue and green should never be seen’. Instead, it makes waves with both.
Feature: We’re guessing this bedroom doesn’t care for the rule, ‘blue and green should never be seen’. Instead, it makes waves with both.
24. Location: Cheshire, UK
Feature: Thou shalt never graffiti… unless you’re the owner of this bedroom.
Feature: Thou shalt never graffiti… unless you’re the owner of this bedroom.
25. Location: Brazil
Feature: This rebel interior breaks all the rules.
Feature: This rebel interior breaks all the rules.
26. Location: London, UK
Feature: Many designers recommend limiting your paint palette to just a few shades, but not this designer.
Feature: Many designers recommend limiting your paint palette to just a few shades, but not this designer.
27. Location: USA
Feature: Welcome to wonderland.
Feature: Welcome to wonderland.
28. Location: London, UK
Feature: Residential and religious architecture usually have different aesthetics, but this home combines two in one.
Feature: Residential and religious architecture usually have different aesthetics, but this home combines two in one.
29. Location: New York, USA
Feature: A former missile silo doth not make a home, but there are exceptions to the rule.
Feature: A former missile silo doth not make a home, but there are exceptions to the rule.
30. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Wolf Architects
Feature: When you love your wheels so much you decide to park inside.
Designer: Wolf Architects
Feature: When you love your wheels so much you decide to park inside.
31. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Austin Maynard Architects
Feature: Not all artificial turf belongs outside.
Designer: Austin Maynard Architects
Feature: Not all artificial turf belongs outside.
32. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Tim Stewart Architects
Feature: By tilting this wall instead of adhering to the vertical, the architect created a relaxing backrest in alfresco seating.
Designer: Tim Stewart Architects
Feature: By tilting this wall instead of adhering to the vertical, the architect created a relaxing backrest in alfresco seating.
33. Location: St Kilda, Victoria
Designer: MAKE Architecture
Feature: This facade may not appear to break the rules, until you realise this is the back, not the front. The rear was designed as a social space for neighbours to socialise…
Designer: MAKE Architecture
Feature: This facade may not appear to break the rules, until you realise this is the back, not the front. The rear was designed as a social space for neighbours to socialise…
…Here’s a view of the unconventional interior stairs.
Read about how this home’s design helped build friendships and revive a laneway
Read about how this home’s design helped build friendships and revive a laneway
34. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Smart Design Studio
Feature: Streetscapes usually dictate building facades, but this facade dictates the streetscape.
Tell us
Which home-design rules do you think should be broken? Tell us how you’d rebel in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Prefer to feast your eyes on more conventional spaces? Check out last week’s Best of the Week: 24 Small Outdoor Spaces That Work
Designer: Smart Design Studio
Feature: Streetscapes usually dictate building facades, but this facade dictates the streetscape.
Tell us
Which home-design rules do you think should be broken? Tell us how you’d rebel in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Prefer to feast your eyes on more conventional spaces? Check out last week’s Best of the Week: 24 Small Outdoor Spaces That Work
Feature: Luckily, the assumption that trees are only planted outside is falling out of fancy.