Emmaroz, a uniquely beautiful tailor's abode, by Kissmiklos

Designer and Visual Artist Kissmiklos (Miklos Kiss) is the imaginative and creative mind behind this unique and quirky project completed in 2014. Emmaroz, a women's tailor and clothes store in Szeged, Hungary, is named after the owner's daughter. Inspired by femininity, purity and the traditional atmosphere from salons of another era, this space represents a completely redesigned world where, once inside, every aspect is true to the concept at hand.

The space is simple yet beautiful. It is bathed in two key colours, white and yellow, but then uses bursts of small colour pockets to wow the visitor and break the visual rhythm. Clusters of colourful yarns are used to decorate the small and cozy coffee corner. They purposefully resemble macaroons, further playing to that concept of traditional femininity of high tea and softly spoken conversations...

However, the space is not only reserved for nods to traditional femininity. Further to the use of the bright modern colours, Kissmiklos has used props, such as a swing for kids, to add a sense of play and quirkiness throughout the journey. While the space isn't big, it is perfectly planned out. The entry is incredibly welcoming and forthcoming, the user knows immediately that there is a space awaiting them above, and curiosity is created instantaneously, as the bright yellow staircase attracts the gaze. The structure surrounding the staircase is similar to a weaving loom, another nod to the simple, yet clever, concept behind the design. Emmaroz also produces clothing items for fashion designers, so the tailor store has a little shop where these pieces are displayed and sold. 

The perfection and craftsmanship with which this space is designed is both inspiring and breathtaking. And I love that it's in Szeged, in Hungary. I love finding amazing gems like this, speckled all over the world...

Source - kissmiklos.com

Images - kissmiklos.com

Photography - balintjaksa.com

An Ancient Spanish Stable Becomes A Magnificent Country Home, by Abaton

Located in the province of Cáceres, in Spain, the key objective of this renovation, undertaken by Abaton Architecture Studio, was to transform an abandoned stable into a family home, by completely rethinking and redesigning the space in a way that would, nevertheless, still be consistent with and respectful to the surrounding environment.

High on a hill and far from city water or an electrical grid, Abaton quickly implemented the addition of photovoltaic and hydro power to the house, and worked to ensure the home wouldn't use much energy. The building's original orientation also helped with this sustainable approach, as southern exposure allowed for the sun to be the main source of heat during the winter. In terms of the design, a generous eave prevents much sun from entering the home during summer, thus keeping it cool. Large wooden shutters that slide closed, like a second skin, cover the large windows at night to trap in most of the home's daily solar heat gain.

As the building is located far from city water but perfectly located below two streams that flow all year round, the water is pure and can be used for both drinking and bathing, and the swimming pool acts as a holding tank for use in irrigation. Within the interior of the refurbished home, Abaton has worked to capture nature in just about every room in the house; bathrooms sport views of the interior patio with its stone water fountain, and bedrooms with huge picture windows welcome breathtaking views of the countryside...

The façade is composed of a mix of cement and local stone, renewed yet still capturing the essence of what was once the crumbling envelope of the stable. Inside the home, supporting walls have been replaced by light metal pillars, the haylofts in the upper area converted into bedrooms, and the enormous central lounge is a flexible space that can serve different purposes. In short, a mix of modern cement and iron beams coexist with well-worn stone, weather-beaten wood and local stone, to create a warm home that is completely enriched with nature.

Source - abaton.es/en via pinterest.com

Images - abaton.es/en

Miniature 'Postcards for Ants', by Lorraine Loots

I find this project so cute, and so original.... Cape Town artist Lorraine Loots has embarked on creating miniature paintings, at the rate of one a day across the length of a year. She calls this project 'Postcards for Ants'. Isn't it just the cutest name you've ever heard?! But besides being quite a heart-warming approach, it is above all, very artistic. 

Loots uses traditional tools such as brushes and pencils, which are of course of human size, alongside with her eagle sharp eyes and steady hands, to create these intricately detailed illustrations. Superbly executed, these mini paintings are no larger than a small coin.

In these photographs, where props such as pencils and pencil-shadings are used to show the mere petiteness of the illustrations, there is an incredible play of detail brought to life. There is something quite magical about the beautiful surface of the paper, and how we can clearly see where the medium was thirstily absorbed by the texture of the canvas. And whereby the illustrations are clearly the stars of the shots, the close-up presence of the sharpener shadings, and the paint palette where colours weave one into another, is also quite captivating...

Source - thisiscolossal.com

Images via - thisiscolossal.com

Light and Rain Create Dancing Walls, by Simon Astridge

This timidly beautiful Victorian house renovation is situated in Balhan, south London. Designed by architect Simon Astridge, this canvas of strikingly sophisticated materials is brought to life through the client's key desire to fully refurbish the interior of the home and increase the livable area, all while keeping the street-facing facade more-or-less undisturbed.

The use of materials is exquisite. These photos alone depict how the choices work well together. There has been no shortage of thought given to the colours, the tones of warmth versus cool, the textures of each surface and, most importantly, an element of light. While the palette of plywood, concrete, brick and organic stone gave the architect the means to create very comfortable, human and livable spaces, what I think is the crux of this palette is the use of sky... yes 'sky'.

Adorning the ceiling are frameless skylights allowing views of the London sky from inside numerous rooms within the house. It being London, quite often these skylights are pelted with rain, rain that mixed with the slightest ray of sunshine creates a motion of pattern on the walls beneath. These wall surfaces then become animated canvases, where no one artwork is really the same. Furthermore, once it's stops raining and the sun really comes out, it pierces through the rain puddles left on the glass, shimmering and reflecting on the plywood wall finishes. Astridge claims that this extend of animation on the walls "wasn't planned for, but it is magical".

Source - dezeen.com

Images via - dezeen.com
Photography by - nicholasworley.com