7 traditional architectural elements that designers adore!
Whether you’re relocating the furniture in the living room or embarking on a major indoor upgrade, architectural details can have a major impact on your actions in one space.
After all, it’s usually a “hate” column, a gorgeous look, a Georgian mantelpiece or other quirky details that give the home a personality.
Below, seven famous interior designers reveal the secrets they use to decorate some of these architectural elements, which are sometimes cumbersome but often more fascinating.
Round window 01
The living room of the Glebe Place residence in London designed by Rafaelde Cárdenas.
When it comes to windows, RafaeldeCárdenas not only considers the proportion of the portal itself, but also considers other elements surrounding it.
For the eternal Glebe Square, London, a historic home, he put this idea into practice: “Symmetry is essential, so the seat feels very balanced around the room. We chose this art for special Add windows instead of surpassing it in terms of size or presence.”
Arch 02
The entrance hall of the London townhouse designed by Robert Curry.
For the French-born Robert Couturier, balance is also key. He said: “I started from the space itself, trying to make strong architectural details not the only important element, so the space will not feel unbalanced.”
Just like everything in design, even everything in life, comes down to balance! In a palatial townhouse in London, he used patterned tiles and textured wall coverings to offset the details, the coffered ceilings and the stunning arches.
Gorgeous ceiling 03
Living room in the Pacific Heights of San Francisco, home to Catherine Kwong.
Built in 1899 by the Ernest Coxhead, this Pacific Heights mansion in San Francisco offers a living room for interior designer Catherine Kwong. A great opportunity to compare modern décor with solemn, timeless elements.
As she said, “The original gold-plated ceiling of this room presents an interesting challenge: designing a room around such a classical and solemn element while still making the space feel fresh and modern.
To achieve this, I mixed the materials in unexpected ways – painted parchment and brass hardware, polished stones and silk taffeta. ”
However, perhaps this layer of eye-catching panels, inspired by the unfettered paintings of Cy Twombly, paints the original, traditionally decorated with the most obvious decadence.
Dome skylight 04
Designed by Philip Nimmo, the ladies’ washroom at Shasta Lake, California, USA.
For an interior design customer who wants to evoke the old Hollywood glamour, Philip Nimmo of Los Angeles begins with the elliptical shape of the space, which later becomes a ladies’ bathroom with a dome skylight.
“After designing an oval room, I customized an oval skylight that filters natural light to create the perfect atmosphere for applying beauty products.” To further enhance the elegance of the room, he finished with antique silver and 22k gold. The frame of the skylight.
French gate 05
Nicolas Schuybroek’s Paris apartment living room.
Architect and interior designer Nicolas Schuybroek designed the apartment for a young Parisian couple. Rebuilding the modern circulation space proved to be a daunting task while maintaining the original architectural decoration.
But the designer found the perfect solution in the form of French doors, and its transparency added a lightness to the original low-key interior design.
When it comes to decorating space, Schuybroek contrasts history with modernity: “In this Parisian apartment, the traditional Hausmannian architectural details are offset by modern, clean lines, including Pierre Jeanneret’s rattan armchairs and Serge Mouille. Slim floor lamp.”
Parquet floor 06
The living room of the Upper East Duplex apartment designed by Timothy Whealon Inc.
Repetitive geometric patterns on the wooden floor can dock a room while blending contemporary art into a historic setting, just as the Upper East Side complex is full of antiques and modern art.
Regarding the custom design, Timothy Whealon said, “I want to lay the floor of the room so that I can print the pattern on the floor, both modern and reminiscent of the Renaissance.
Candida Hofer created an illusion outside the room for the photos taken by the Trinity Library, further expanding the otherwise narrow space. ”
Fireplace 07
The master bedroom of the Doheny home in Los Angeles was restored by Jean-Louis Deniot.
The fireplace does not have much advantage in fixing a room and defining an aesthetic. Deciding to incorporate a fireplace into an era, rather than commissioning a stylish, modern fireplace, can create or break a space.
This master bedroom of the 1930s Los Angeles property was restored by Paris-Jean-Louis Deniot, illustrating this. The designer talked about his approach. “I always organize the room around the fireplace, so finding the right fit, the right size, and the right size of the fireplace is critical.”