Studio Uno is an unexpected sanctuary for our client Naomi, a full-time carer and mother. Lying behind an established Brunswick terrace, it takes the shape of a meticulously designed Dependent Persons Unit. Naomi lives with her adult daughter, who has very high support needs. The nature of their circumstances means that living together under one roof isn’t always feasible. Naomi needed a certified DPU that met a simple brief: a dismantlable but quality retreat with warm, robust materials and a calming ambience. We’ve packed as much enduring quality and thoughtful design as possible into a compact footprint. Carefully engineered, the dwelling’s lightweight structure and internal linings enable it to be readily disassembled, transported and rebuilt elsewhere. It replaces the fence at the site’s rear, with its upper mass leaning into one corner to minimise impact on the neighbours’ skyscape. Inside, blackbutt timber and hoop pine plywood dominate the palette to create a warm, low-contrast and relaxing environment. The ground floor features dual sliding doors connecting to the courtyard and laneway, with a versatile living area between for retreat, Naomi’s art practice and above all, peacefulness. Lining the wall is a simple kitchenette, cabinetry, and a clever door concealing the bathroom. A staircase leads to the loft bedroom above, made deliberately cosy and secluded by the dwelling’s tapered form. It’s punctured only by a small window to the lane and a skylight above, offering light and ventilation without compromising privacy.

The dining area features a built-in bespoke bench seat under a Georgian window. With pops of colour on the cushions, a solid oak contemporary dining table and dark painted farmhouse style dining chairs.

Open plan kitchen living area in a log cabin on the outskirts of London. This is the designer's own home. All of the furniture has been sourced from high street retailers, car boot sales, ebay, handed down and upcycled. The dining table was free from a pub clearance (lovingly and sweatily sanded down through 10 layers of thick, black paint, and waxed). The benches are IKEA. The painting is by Pia. Design by Pia Pelkonen Photography by Richard Chivers

This is a small side return extension to a Victorian terraced house in the heart of Camden Town. With space at a premium, we designed an inside-out lightweight exposed timber frame construction that creates a working wall incorporating services, shelving and recesses between the structure in the clients new dining area. A large pivot door opens out into the garden, working alongside the glazed roof to provide a light and airy addition. We have worked closely with the clients to achieve a low-cost yet design-led scheme to improve their home. A stripped back approach and simple palette of materials create a contemporary space for the clients to enjoy. PUBLISHED This project was published in the June 2015 edition of Grand Designs Magazine in their Extensions Special. AWARDS Longlisted for the 2016 Don't Move, Improve! competition. Finalist in the Best Small Project category of the Camden Design Awards 2015 Photos - Troy Hodgson

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FRENCH + TYE
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Alex James
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Rachael Smith
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Photo: Francoise Baudet
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Plan bar Wildwood en chêne vieilli et meubles haut LAGO 36e8 avec façade en verre. Crédits photos : Stéphane Durieu
Design ideas for a small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Paris with white walls and no fireplace.

Casa Zen rappresenta al 100% quello che intendiamo quando parliamo di ristrutturazione completa. Abbiamo visto questo appartamento, in zona Porta Venezia a Milano, quando ancora era abitato dal precedente proprietario, un signore anziano che per vari motivi aveva trascurato questo bilocale. Nonostante lo stato originario però questa casa ha subito catturato la nostra attenzione. La pianta semplice e regolare, le finestre grandi e luminose con le balaustre decorate, ci hanno conquistate. Le richieste della cliente La cliente, una giovane donna interessata alla cultura orientale e della meditazione, desiderava uno spazio che la rispecchiasse pienamente. Poco amante della cucina, ci ha richiesto che questa occupasse il minor spazio possibile. Abbiamo quindi deciso di cambiare la posizione della zona cucina rispetto allo stato originario e di posizionare l’angolo cottura in una nicchia. Due moduli da 45cm ed uno da 60cm costituiscono la cucina di questo appartamento, il frigorifero non è a incasso ma è parte integrante dell’arredamento. Altra richiesta è stata quella di ricavare una cabina armadio, piccola ma funzionale. Siamo riuscite nell’impresa! Un porta rasomuso divide questo spazio di servizio dalla camera da letto, essenziale nei colori e nell’arredo. Il bagno, cieco, abbiamo deciso di rivoluzionarlo completamente cambiando la disposizione dei sanitari e dando molta importanza alla doccia, il posto sicuramente che contribuisce a rilassarci maggiormente dopo una giornata faticosa. Il protagonista dell’appartamento secondo noi rimane però il soggiorno dove la sensazione di confort e relax raggiunge livelli altissimi.

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Small mediterranean open plan dining in Barcelona with white walls and light hardwood floors.