Spa center, Dodler Hotel

A lavish design of ceramic mosaic tiles illustrates this picture where a great challenge seem to be met during planning and installation processes. Considering that an application of the design dimensions of the surfaces to be covered needs careful thought, these oval shaped walls show expert design and remarkable workmanship. Added, caution has been exercised to prevent the slippery surface of the tiles by avoiding coverage of the inappropriate surfaces. Furthermore the slightly changing hues and the soft sheen of the tiles contribute the users indulgence. This spa centre is great example how skilful and smart forethought when designing tiles can turn a place into an elegant and deluxe interior.

Luisa Via Roma Boutique in Florence, Italy

This three-story fashion store, has been restructured where new spaces and volumes have been created and defined by the use of raw materials such as concrete and glass. The women’s retail space is characterised by the thick glass ceiling. The racks are made from metal tubing and lacquered wood to ‘represent the principal innovation in the new Luisa Via Roma’, says Claudio Nardi. The overall look of the store is bold and somehow extraterrestrial because of the unnatural shades and colours that the glass gives to the interior. Moreover the combination of two raw materials (glass and concrete) gives the filling that the store is still unfinished that creates, in some point, the uninviting atmosphere of the interior.

“Chunky” glass

Tthree metre chandelier

A lavish example of “chunky” glass depicts picture 3 where a three meters hand-made chandelier is constructed of small pieces glass. The idea of the designers is to create a waterfall by putting together these glass pieces from the ceiling to the floor of shopping center. The most amazing part is the bottom where glass strews over a box representing a giant splash. Without any doubt the chunky pieces are used to their best advantage because of their extremely similar appearance to water drops. The internal light makes the final effect even more realistic and stunning. In comparison with the metal waterfall shown on the previous picture, it is really obvious how differently one idea can be achieved. Here the final look is more like fast stream whereas the stainless steel envisages a peaceful water flow.

Bubble-like glass

Guylian Belgian Chocolate Café, in Sydney

Another completely different look of glass is shown here, in particular the chandelier in the middle of the lounge area. It is made of hand-blown glass balls, which are attached to each other by fine strip. The outcome is almost ethereal appearance of the craftsmen’s custom-made work.  The interaction between glass and light is almost inevitable in nowadays design however that is not one of the common examples. The cause is the combination of almost immaterial look of the glass balls and the soft light above it. The chandelier creates one more airy and delicate display of the solid furniture and contrasting colour scheme in the café.

Mirrors

Grey Goose bar, Brussels

The design is a play of blue mirrors, which were cut in triangles before they were mounted three – dimensionally against the wall. This creates more depth in the small space and it gives a flamboyant look of the relevant interior. It is curious to note how the blue colour moderates the intrusive presence of reflected objects and it forms a cool glowing atmosphere for this exclusive bar. Additionally, the reflection of the lightening adds an out-of-space like image to the mirror wall. This is an impressive and powerful background to display the product on. Moreover, it creates matchless image to the place.

Stainless steel structure clad in waves creates a three-dimensional waterfall

One of those examples of metal appliance that reminds how powerful and intense is the material itself. The stainless steel structure clad is very creative and unique decoration and it is also used to its best advantage in this shopping centre. Not to ignore the clad structure of very thin leafs of steel, which reduces the use of material. Furthermore the purpose of this 3D stainless steel waterfall is really appropriate because it is more like a monumental work for the shopping centre than wall and ceiling finish. This creates more inviting environment for customers and standout image of the shopping centre.

Wood paneling

The Hugo Boss boutique in New York

A very classy and, in the same time, new look of wood paneling is shown on picture 4. I like the idea how the designers accentuate on trustfulness and warmth just around the counter by installing wood panels while giving the rest of the store dash of industrial and cooler look. It seems like this designers’ decision almost invites the clients to the pay area and it may work out as a good marketing policy. Besides, the structure of the paneling, e.g. the large particle boards covered with veneer, compensate the mostly importunate look of veneer paneling by giving the impression of solid wood boards. The plane paneling going all the way to the ceiling with its matte finish gives its best advantages to the Hugo Boss boutique interior.

Solid wood

A Lighted Interior from a Bygone Era West Palm Beach, Florida

Interior shown on picture 5 was luxury living for Henry Flagler. Today, this antique interior is part of the Flagler Museum of West Palm Beach Florida. The large cassone, or hope chest, incorporates a panel painting of the Adimari family wedding. This chest situated in the Grand Hall is nineteenth-century reproduction featuring a painting from an Italian Renaissance cassone panel in the collection of the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, Italy, and brought to the attention of Americans by art historian Bernard Berenson in the nineteenth century. It is amazing how lavishly the craftsmen from the bygone eras have used timber to create solid, grandiose and respect evoking pieces of furniture. Skilfully painted, gilded and ornamented this chest is an example how complicatedly the beauty can be achieved and how impressive is solid timber furniture.

Painted wood

Vila Sofa furniture shop

Nowadays timber resources diminish faster and its price gets also higher. Therefore the unique beauty of timber itself and its natural look are getting highly appreciated by many designers and it is rare to see painted solid wood in the contemporary interiors. However, the separators of showcases from the furniture shop on picture 6 are made of solid pieces timber painted in creamy colour. They result in a feature to the relevant interior by appearing everywhere and by giving that somewhat old-fashioned appearance of the store. In addition to this look are the banal shapes of the separators. To improve this overall claustrophobic feeling from this place, it is necessary to remake the heavy constructions lighter or more flexible and to replace the ceiling with much lighter one. Hence, the store will bocome a lot more  bright and inviting.

Louvered doors

Southern house

Louvered doors evoke in mind the idea of south and sea breeze and they are ideal for such places. Functional, with their own charm louvered doors were used with great success mostly in past centuries. Despite the fact that they are replaced with a lot more efficient and preferred air conditioning, they are still the least expensive cooling implements for tropical regions. Moreover they perfectly fit for nowadays sustainability requirements and more often can be seen as a solution for eco-friendly or fully sustainable houses. A pleasant example of louvered doors represents picture 7 where their functionality is outstanding. Even if the habitants like to have more privacy by closing the doors they still can profit from the ventilation through the louvers. It would be even more interesting if their basic mechanism for ventilation is implemented into more uniquely designed construction to escape their timeworn appearance.

Dolder Grand Hotel by Speirs and Major Associates

The relevant area named Aqua Zone depicts exceptional indoor stonework. The walls covered with ashlar patterns from sedimentary type of stone are in perfect synergy with the water basin in solid stone and the wooden floor. The massive area covered with stone evokes coolness, yet tranquility. Looking at the relevant design there is no way that it can be improved because it is grandiosely superb. Even the organic shapes of the pool and wall’s curves are in harmony with the natural materials. Being a zone for relaxation is its best purpose and its appropriate hotel location is even more profitable because of the numerous people that could experience its beauty.

Dolder Grand Hotel bathroom

The upper image shows a splendid combination of white and black marble. This complete coverage of stone makes the bathroom looks impressive, sophisticated and luxury. However, marble is delicate to clean and very easily stainable with alcohol (it looses its sheen) to be used largely in bathrooms. Moreover, it requires a professional polish treatment yearly, which makes it a very high maintenance, stone material. But the most important disagreement of mine is the quantity of marble used in this single bathroom. Considering the fact that marble is natural material and requires a complicated processing, a full coverage of walls and floor with it is far not sustainable. Either to be wasted for full wall coverage, marble itself is unique enough to be used as garnishment and/or decoration.

Club Lounge on Schiphol Airport, The Netherlands

A really good design for a public lounge area can be seen on the picture above. Creativeness is the word that come in mind when looking at the details and sustainability when looking at the materials. A closer look at the back wall shows that it is made of reconstitute stone which is cheaper and nature-friendly solution. Nevertheless, the overall appearance is stylish and chic. The gray stone melange wall creates a solidness as background to the light hanging chairs. Added, the stone facing and the bamboo sticks work so well together to create contrast with the futuristic furniture, as the contrast between old and new, past and future, so the result is balance. Last but not least, the floor lights with their gliding light accentuate the texture and reveal its presence on maximum.