INT2 Apartment

This incredible apartment by Russian architecture firm INT2 is so cleverly thought out, everything flows, and there is a beautiful sense of cohesiveness.




A three sided built-in bookshelf provides a wall divider between the entrance and home office (you can see more of this further on in this tour).




When the TV is not turned on, the wallpaper behind becomes the feature. This leads your eye down to the rug, which also acts as an anchor for the living area in the large open space.




It's a toss up whether my favourite space is the kitchen or dining area. Even though they're both part of the large open plan, they have clever features which help to define their zone.




The kitchen has a striking batten ceiling to claim it's space. The dark wood on the front of the island bench is a gorgeous contrast to the stark white, and marks the end of the kitchen.




The dining room, with it's raised floor and lowered ceiling, is like a room within a room - a room with no walls - I love it!




Each space has very different, but equally stunning lighting. The light wood on the back of the island bench adds a link to the dining room.




A small alcove between the dining area and home office is the perfect spot for the piano. The grey wall is what defines this space, and this continues along one wall of the office beyond.






I love the half blue wall in the bedroom. It's a beautiful backdrop to the simple white bedding, and the mirror is a genius way of linking the two.




The wall behind the TV in the bedroom is reminiscent of the kitchen ceiling, and (like the wallpaper panel behind the TV in the living area) it takes some of the emphasis away from the TV. TVs are often a necessary part of a home, but I love seeing clever ways of making them not the main focus of a room.




More beautiful batten ceilings in the bathroom, and the tiles remind you of the wallpaper and rugs in the main living areas - there's that cohesiveness!





Everything has been thought of in this apartment - even the wardrobe and laundry are beautiful in the same simple, clean-lined style. If you look carefully you'll notice the mirror at the end of the wardrobe reflects the perfectly placed chair in the entrance (first pic). I've got lots of inspiration from this apartment, I hope you have to.



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Simone Haag & Armelle Habib

In my post yesterday on Fenton & Fenton, I featured some photographs taken by Armelle Habib. I popped over to Armelle's website to see more of her work and was blown away. She works as a lifestyle and interiors photographer for some of the leading Australian and international publications, as well as lots of other fab, well known clients. I was going to select some of my favourite photos of Armelle's, but after seeing the beautiful home of Simone Haag, I knew I had to share it with you.




Simone works as a hunter gatherer/stylist/communications manager for interior design studio Hecker Guthrie, and is also a monthly contributor to The Design Files. Her talent is obvious in the home she shares with her husband, Rhys, and their Irish wolfhound, Tank.




Simone has chosen to decorate her home in my favourite quiet colour palette, which consists of lots of white, wood, and shades of blue. I love how the large freestanding oven has it's own recessed nook. And, of course, the beautiful Armadillo Marigold rug.
















Such a beautiful home, don't you think?! Pure class! And amazing photography.

Stylizimo's Wardrobe Inspiration

I can't tell you how happy I am with our recently completed bathroom renovation, but that doesn't stop me dreaming of the day Mark & I can have our own en-suite and walk-in wardrobe. It won't be happening anytime soon as a new kitchen will definitely come first. But in anticipation of that day I have been gathering inspiration and I was suitably impressed with this gorgeous walk-in wardrobe created on a budget.




The beautiful Nina, interior decorator and owner of Stylizimo blog, created her wardrobe using inexpensive Ikea products and a lot of creative thinking. She took simple metal towel rails and transformed them with gold spray paint, turning them into a clever way to her high heels, belts and sunglasses.





Shelves were made from wood bought from the local hardware store. Nina had them cut to the exact size she needed, and braced them to the walls. The mirror and lights, also from Ikea, are perfect for makeup application.




Even Nina's perfume ties in with her Scandinavian colour palette of white, black and gold. A tray is a great way to house and display all your 'pretties', keeping them neat and tidy.




Ikea's Malm dressers provide more clothes storage and the simple, clean lines complete the beautifully organised space.




Are you as inspired as I am? My favourite is the accessories storage made from the gold rails. For more information about exactly how Nina created her wardrobe, pop over to her blog.