Downtown LA Proper
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight hotel interiors characterised by eclectic designs

From guest rooms filled with fashion designer Christian Louboutin’s personal antique collection to Ibiza’s oldest hotel where handmade masks are mounted on the walls, our latest lookbook features eight eclectic hotel interiors.

Eclectic design brings together objects and styles from a range of sources – often mixing contemporary and vintage pieces.

While many hotels are characterised by uniform luxury, others celebrate unlikely combinations of furniture, colours and patterns.

Here are eight eclectic hotel interiors from around the world defined by contrasts and clashes.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring residential mezzanines, Mexican holiday homes and minimalist bathrooms.


Downtown LA ProperDowntown LA Proper
Photo courtesy of Kelly Wearstler

Downtown LA Proper, USA, by Kelly Wearstler

American designer Kelly Wearstler has created the interiors for all four of the Proper Hotel Group’s branches across North America.

The Downtown LA Proper is anchored by “bold and eclectic choices”, including a chunky graphite reception desk and a hand-painted archway flanked by leaning column-like cacti in rustic pots.

Find out more about Downtown LA Proper ›


Montesol Experimental hotel in Ibiza by Dorothée MeilichzonMontesol Experimental hotel in Ibiza by Dorothée Meilichzon
Photo by Karel Balas

Montesol Experimental, Ibiza, by Dorothée Meilichzon

Dorothée Meilichzon of French interior design studio Chzon renovated Montesol – the oldest hotel in Ibiza, originally built in the 1930s.

Meilichzon transformed the renamed Montesol Experimental with “a bohemian overtone” that draws on the hotel’s rich history. Among its interior elements are lumpy Playdough Stools by artist Diego Faivre, hand-crafted masks and an abundance of tassels.

Find out more about Montesol Experimental ›


Monkey side table in Vermelho Hotel bedroomMonkey side table in Vermelho Hotel bedroom
Photo by Ambroise Tézenas

Vermelho, Portugal, by Christian Louboutin and Madalena Caiado

Louboutin filled his first hospitality project with furniture and materials from his personal antique collection.

The fashion designer worked with architect Madalena Caiado to create the Vermelho boutique hotel in the Portuguese village of Melides. The guest rooms feature unexpected elements such as a rattan monkey-shaped side table and striking hand-painted frescoes.

Find out more about Vermelho ›


Palm Heights Grand Cayman by Gabriella KhalilPalm Heights Grand Cayman by Gabriella Khalil
Photo by Brooke Shanesy

Palm Heights, Grand Cayman, by Gabriella Khalil

Collectible design pieces characterise Palm Heights in Grand Cayman, the island’s first boutique hotel.

Creative director Gabriella Khalil sought to style the project like a 1970s Caribbean mansion, selecting sandy yellows and bold blue hues to complement the many original artworks that adorn the walls.

Find out more about Palm Heights ›


Kelly Wearstler-designed hotel in AustinKelly Wearstler-designed hotel in Austin
Photo by The Ingalls

Austin Proper Hotel and Residences, USA, by Kelly Wearstler

Among the Proper Hotel Group’s other locations is an Austin branch. Wearstler inserted a sculptural oak staircase into the lobby that doubles as a plinth for a varied collection of glazed earthenware pots and vases.

Locally sourced art and textiles characterise the hotel, which has cypress wood walls that were charred using the traditional Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban to create a tiger-striped effect.

Find out more about Austin Proper Hotel ›


Bedroom with patterned headboardBedroom with patterned headboard
Photo by Simon Brown

Hôtel de la Boétie, France, by Beata Heuman

Swedish designer Beata Heuman created the Hôtel de la Boétie in Paris to be “a bit like a stage set”.

Heuman chose contrasting elements for the colour-drenched interiors. Bedrooms feature a mixture of dark-hued woven headboards and pale pink sheets, while downstairs, the reception area’s jumbo flower lamps balance the steely silver of the lounge walls.

Find out more about Hôtel de la Boétie ›


Château Royal hotel in Berlin by Irina Kromayer, Etienne Descloux and Katariina MinitsChâteau Royal hotel in Berlin by Irina Kromayer, Etienne Descloux and Katariina Minits
Photo by Felix Brueggemann

Château Royal, Germany, by Irina Kromayer

A series of eclectic spaces make up the Château Royal in Berlin, which references the heyday of the German capital at the turn of the 20th century.

Interior architect Irina Kromayer designed the hotel to be “authentic” rather than retro, choosing art noveau tiles and brass and nickel hardware in a nod to the finishes commonly found in Berlin’s historic buildings.

Find out more about Château Royal ›


A green hotel barA green hotel bar
Photo by Christian Harder

Esme Hotel, USA, by Jessica Schuster Design

Plush velvet flooring, textural tassels and plants in wicker pots come together at the Esme Hotel in Miami, renovated by New York studio Jessica Schuster Design.

The interiors draw on the “bohemian grandeur” of the hotel’s 1920s history, with decadent alcoves clad with contrasting patterns.

Find out more about Esme Hotel ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring residential mezzanines, Mexican holiday homes and minimalist bathrooms.

Reference

saint of athens converts 1920s apartment into the eclectic 'upper house' in kypseli
CategoriesArchitecture

saint of athens converts 1920s flat into eclectic ‘upper house’

step inside saint of athens’ renovated upper house in kypseli

 

Located in the heart of Kypseli, one of Athens’s most historic urban areas, the floor-through Upper House apartment occupies the first level of an iconic building designed and constructed in the 1920s following the architectural style of eclecticism. Saint of Athens founder Nikos Palaiologos teamed up with A&O Architects to renovate his understatedly luxurious 220 sqm property, devising an interior space reminiscent of New York’s Upper East Side apartment houses of the aristocratic flats on the 7th arrondissement of Paris. The house was originally built for the family of a wealthy Greek industrialist of the previous century, which explains many of its rare and inherent features, such as the five-meter high ceilings, the intricate plaster motifs, and the genius overall layout offering easy access to all spaces and a soothing, flowing sense of comfort.

saint of athens converts 1920s apartment into the eclectic 'upper house' in kypseli
all images © Giagkos Papadopoulos

 

 

combining retro aesthetics and modern convenience.

 

The Upper House apartment’s recent renovation by Saint of Athens (see more here) and A&O Architects (more here) joins together a selection of premium materials and appliances — chevron wood flooring, Greek marbles, Internet of Things (IoT), state-of-the-art heating and cooling technology — resulting in a sui generis combination of retro aesthetics and modern convenience. ‘A perfectly preserved one century-old wooden staircase, two reception rooms (living rooms), a dining area, a master bedroom with a walk-in bathroom, a guestroom and a guest bathroom, a library, a kitchen, and a pantry constitute parts of a functional home synthesis that blends practicality with fine craftsmanship and unique taste,’ writes Nikos Palaiologos. 

saint of athens converts 1920s apartment into the eclectic 'upper house' in kypseli
first reception room of the eclectic Upper House in Kypseli

 

 

Furthermore, the design team introduced upscale custom-made creations like the one-of-a-kind closet, the Japanese wallpaper, and the boiseries gracing the walls give the house an eye-pleasing added value, while lavish bits and pieces — from designer furniture and light fixtures to hip ceiling fans and memorabilia/works of art — bless every single space with a careful touch of arty elegance. ‘The Upper House is the epitome of a modern house experience grounded in the finest aesthetic principles of a glorious past,’ concludes Nikos Palaiologos. 

saint of athens converts 1920s apartment into the eclectic 'upper house' in kypseli
Saint of Athens teamed up with A&O Architects to renovate the 220 sqm property

saint of athens converts 1920s apartment into the eclectic 'upper house' in kypseli
preserving the historic aesthetic

saint of athens converts 1920s apartment into the eclectic 'upper house' in kypseli
preserved one century-old wooden staircase



Reference

Interior of apartment renovation by Mistovia
CategoriesInterior Design

Mistovia designs eclectic Warsaw apartment as “elaborate puzzle”

Walnut burl and terrazzo accents are combined with chunky statement furniture in this apartment in Warsaw, which Polish studio Mistovia has renovated for an art director and her pet dachshund.

Located in the city’s Praga Północ neighbourhood, the 45-square-metre flat is set within a 1950s estate designed by Polish architects Jerzy Gieysztor and Jerzy Kumelowski.

Interior of apartment renovation by Mistovia
The Warsaw apartment was renovated by Mistovia

Mistovia devised an eclectic material and colour palette when updating the interior, which the studio describes as an “elaborate puzzle” of contrasting patterns.

“The apartment is based on several dominant ‘cubes’,” said Mistovia founder Marcin Czopek. “Each of them has a different function, accentuated by various patterns through the use of veneer or colour.”

Swirly grey wood panels in the living space
Panels of swirly grey wood veneer feature in the living space

The living room is defined by a wall panelled in swirly grey wood veneer– originally designed by Memphis Group founder Ettore Sottsass for Alpi in the 1980s – while the bathroom is obscured behind a wall of glass blocks.

The kitchen is now connected to the lounge to create one open-plan space, filled with statement pieces including a misshapen vase and the molten-looking Plopp stool by Polish designer Oskar Zieta, set against the backdrop of floor-to-ceiling walnut-burl cabinets.

Tortoiseshell cabinet with cobalt legs in the bathroom
A tortoiseshell cabinet defines the bathroom

Terrazzo was used to form chunky black-and-white legs for the kitchen’s window-side breakfast bar as well as an entire burnt-orange table in the dining area.

“A muted base – bright, uniform micro cement flooring and walls with a delicate texture – allowed for the use of geometric forms, rich in interesting structures and bold patterns,” Czopek said.

Designed for an art director and her dog, the apartment features a similarly striking bathroom.

Here, gridded monochrome tiles and glass-brick walls are paired with a statement standalone sink, featuring squat cobalt-blue legs that support a tortoiseshell cabinet crowned by a triptych mirror.

Purple and marble accents designed by Mistovia
The single bedroom includes purple and marble accents

A purple wardrobe complements the rectilinear marble headboard in the apartment’s singular bedroom, adding to the boxy geometry of the home.

Also in Warsaw, Polish studio Projekt Praga incorporated mid-century elements and pops of colour into a dumpling restaurant while local firm Noke Architects referenced the high waters of Venice in a bar complete with sea-green floors and skirting tiles.

The photography is by Oni Studio



Reference

Heat 360 House in Ukraine
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight eclectic interiors enhanced by striking accent walls

Blotchy slate tiles, playfully patterned murals and a single oversized circle form these eye-catching interior accent walls that we have collected for our latest lookbook.

An accent or feature wall is one that differs in colour, material or texture from the other walls that surround it. Accent walls can feature in both interior and exterior locations.

Architects and designers often use these statement walls to delineate different spaces in a room, or simply to create striking and joyful interior details.

From a New York apartment to a Helsinki teahouse, here are eight eclectic interiors defined by eye-catching accent walls.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring offbeat bakeries, inviting entrance halls and homes with split-level living areas.


Heat 360 House in Ukraine
Photo is by A Avdeenko

Heat 360, Ukraine, by Azovskiy & Pahomova Architects

This house in the Dnepropetrovsk region of Ukraine features a bedroom with a dark slate-tile wall defined by dramatic rust blotches.

Azovskiy & Pahomova Architects made the adjacent wall from floor-to-ceiling glazing that illuminates the room’s earthy-hued interiors.

Find out more about Heat 360 ›


Interiors of Polychrome House, designed by Amber Road
Photo is by Prue Ruscoe

Polychrome House, Australia, by Amber Road and Lymesmith

An abstract mural packed with colourful geometric shapes covers one of the walls in the living space at Polychrome House in Sydney.

The bold interiors are enhanced by graphic paved floors and a mismatch of bright furniture in hues ranging from burnt orange to sea green.

Find out more about Polychrome House ›


Harry Nuriev and Tyler Billinger Residence
Photo is by Dylan Chandler

New York apartment, USA, by Harry Nuriev and Tyler Billinger

Designer Harry Nuriev and partner Tyler Billinger – both of Crosby Studios – renovated their New York home with Nuriev’s “signature boldness”.

A white-tiled accent wall features in the otherwise colourful bedroom, which features a plush gold-lame headboard and ultraviolet elements including a hand-shaped bedside lamp.

Find out more about this New York apartment ›


Minimal interiors of Teemaa teahouse in Helsinki, designed by Yatofu
Photo is by Aleksi Tikkala

Teemaa, Finland, by Yatofu

A combination of traditional flat bricks and grooved bricks comes together in the tasting room of Helsinki’s Teemaa teahouse to create an eclectic accent wall.

Design studio Yatofu aimed to reference the raw tactility of tea leaves when creating the interiors, which are also characterised by elements of oak and oxidised steel.

Find out more about Teemaa ›


Bedroom of Casa A12 in Madrid
Photo is by José Hevia

Casa A12, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil

The white floors and sheets in the bedroom suite at Casa A12 form a neutral backdrop for a large cobalt blue dot circle that creates a playful feature wall.

Local studio Lucas y Hernández-Gil added various other space-delineating accents to the Madrid apartment, including swathes of silvery curtains and corrugated metal partitions.

Find out more about Casa A12 ›


Shkrub by Sergey Makhno Architects
Photo is by Serhii Kadulin

Shkrub, Ukraine, by Sergey Makhno

Built by architect Sergey Makhno for him and his family, the Shkrub house includes a feature wall made up of rows of rounded ceramic tiles that resemble jumbo fish scales.

These were made from several types of clay finish that were usually mixed with flax seeds, rye and wheat in accordance with Ukrainian traditions.

Find out more about Shkrub ›


Chelsea Pied-à-Terre by STADT Architecture
Photo is by David Mitchell

Chelsea Pied-à-Terre, USA, by Stadt Architecture

Decadence takes centre stage at this renovated New York apartment in the form of a green bedroom mural that is “dripping” with globules of gold paint.

Covering an entire wall and moving up into the ceiling, the design was created by Brooklyn-based Calico Wallpaper and references the lush nature of Vancouver’s Stanley Park – a location that is meaningful to the dwelling’s Canadian occupants.

Find out more about Chelsea Pied-à-Terre ›


Leaf-patterned wall in white bedroom
Photo is by Alexandria Hall

582 Rydon Street, London, by Moxon Architects

British studio Moxon Architects renovated a Victorian townhouse in north London’s Islington area by adding a sunken garden and minimalist interiors.

Throughout the home, subtle reminders of its early 19th-century history were inserted into the design. These include a floral gridded feature wall in the primary bedroom.

Find out more about 582 Rydon Street ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring offbeat bakeries, inviting entrance halls and homes with split-level living areas.

Reference

Yurikago House by Mas-aqui
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten Spanish apartment renovations characterised by eclectic tiles

For our latest lookbook, we have collected 10 apartments in Spain that have been brought to life using decorative tiles, from preserved 20th-century features to speckled contemporary terrazzo grout.

Known for its abundance of colourful tiles, Spain has many period apartments with original details including ornate archways and eclectic tiling.

The following architecture and interior design studios have made the most of these traditions when renovating homes, which often involved refreshing the homes’ interiors while maintaining their history, or adding contemporary elements that nod to the past.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring statement carpets, pop-up shops and homes with sliding doors.


Yurikago House by Mas-aqui
Photo is by José Hevia

Yurikago House, Barcelona, by Mas-aqui

Architecture studio Mas-aqui opened up an apartment in Barcelona by creating multiple levels lined with slabs of exposed concrete, slatted wood and reddish ceramic tiles.

The dwelling was named  Yurikago House after the Japanese word for a cradle, which references the shape of the timber structure that supports part of a new mezzanine that was created in the renovation.

Find out more about Yurikago House ›


Conde Duque apartment by Sierra + De La Higuera
Photo is by German Sáiz

Madrid apartment by Sierra + De La Higuera

Set within a 1940s building, interior spaces in this Madrid apartment were delineated with vibrantly hued Moroccan zellige tiles, from bold yellow accents in the living room to an emerald green kitchen.

The tiles are defined by imperfect hand-moulded surfaces and feature throughout the home in the form of decorative skirting as well as flooring and cabinetry.

Find out more about this Madrid apartment ›


Casa Cas 8 by DG Arquitecto
Photo is by Mariela Apollonio

Valencia apartment by DG Arquitecto

During the minimalist renovation of a 1920s apartment in Valencia, local studio DG Arquitecto preserved the original mosaic elements – flooring that the firm called “typical” of the city.

The studio paired mid-century rattan dining chairs and delicate timber elements with the colourful tiles while original mouldings and decorative arched doorways were also maintained.

Find out more about this Valencia apartment ›


Tiled bathroom in curved bathroom within apartment in the Torres Blancas building
Photo is by José Hevia

1040 Unit, Madrid, by Studio Noju

Working within Madrid’s iconic brutalist Torres Blancas tower, emerging practice Studio Noju created an apartment that balances contemporary details with the building’s brutalist history.

Each of the dwelling’s three bathrooms were individually colour-coded with small geometric mosaics that nod to the green ceramic tiles that clad the apartment’s terraces.

“The [mosaic] material allowed us to solve all the elements of the bathroom such as shower areas, vanities, walls and floors, referencing a similar material strategy used in the original design,” studio co-founder Antonio Mora told Dezeen.

Find out more about 1040 Unit ›


Tiled floors and bookcases within Barcelona apartment by Narch
Image is courtesy of Narch

Barcelona apartment by Narch

Eclectically arranged decorative floors dating back to the early 20th century take centre stage in this Barcelona apartment that was renovated by Narch architecture office.

Known as encaustic tiling, which is common in the city, each tile is created by pouring pigmented ceramics into moulds and pressing them to create a pattern.

Elsewhere in the apartment, doors made from laminated glass screen off its bedrooms. This material was chosen for its neutrality in order to emphasise the space’s ornate flooring.

Find out more about this Barcelona apartment ›


Casa Olivar in Madrid by Matteo Ferrari and Carlota Gallo
Photo is by Asier Rua

Casa Olivar, Madrid, by Matteo Ferrari and Carlota Gallo

Casa Olivar is a two-storey apartment by designers Matteo Ferrari and Carlota Gallo, which is characterised by handmade terracotta floor tiles that complement the home’s muted colour palette.

Created as a “sensorial refuge”, the dwelling includes two large windows in the living room that flood the space with natural light. Earthy-toned, simple materials feature throughout, including textured plaster finishes.

Find out more about Casa Olivar ›


Tiled kitchen within Barcelona apartment by Parramon + Tahull
Photo is by Judith Casas Sayós

Barcelona apartment by Parramon + Tahull

Barcelona studio Parramon + Tahull added bespoke birch plywood joinery and continuous tiled flooring to an apartment in the city’s Gracia neighbourhood, in order to blend with the building’s original features.

Created by Spanish manufacturer Wow, the terracotta tiles feature a mismatched geometric design that covers the entire apartment, including the kitchen and the bathroom.

Find out more about this Barcelona apartment ›


Terrazzo grout made from crushed tiles
Photo is by José Hevia

Laia and Biel’s House, Barcelona, by TEd’A

Architecture office TEd’A used crushed tiles to create playful terrazzo grout in a renovated apartment that belongs to the owners of the Mallorcan tile brand Huguet.

The grout was made from the original terracotta tiles that lined the home before its revamp, which were crushed into tiny pieces to form a reddish-hued aggregate that was mixed with existing white tile grout.

“Our idea was to keep the best parts of the old flat we bought,” Biel told Dezeen, citing sustainability and honouring the apartment’s original design.

Find out more about Laia and Biel’s House ›


End the Roc by Nook Architects
Photo is by Yago Partal

End of the Roc, Barcelona, by Nook Architects

Nook Architects redesigned another apartment in Barcelona while maintaining its distinctive historical details, including a striking mural-style wall that is over 40 years old, timber beams and intricately patterned floor tiles.

“Our approach to End of the Roc revolved around the restoration and consolidation of the building’s original character,” said the architecture studio.

Find out more about End of the Roc ›


Casa Burés by Vilablanch
Photo is by Jordi Folch

Casa Burés, Barcelona, by Vilablanch and TDB Arquitectura

Interior design studio Vilablanch collaborated with TBD Arquitectura to refurbish all 26 apartments within Case Burés – a 20th-century building constructed by the late architect Francesc Berenguer i Mestres.

The team selected “silent” contemporary furnishings to complement Case Burés’ original decorative features, such as stainless steel geometric cabinetry that was chosen so as not to “compete with” or “imitate” the colourful tiled flooring.

Find out more about Casa Burés ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring statement carpets, pop-up shops and homes with sliding doors. 

Reference

Rosie Tillie cafe bar
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten eclectic eateries that showcase the potential of terrazzo

From a pink-hued Ottolenghi restaurant in London to a muted pizzeria in Beijing, our latest lookbook rounds up 10 eateries from around the world that feature terrazzo elements.

Terrazzo is a flooring material that consists of uneven pieces of marble or granite set in concrete, which is then polished to give it a smooth finish.

Architects and interior designers often use the sturdy material in their projects to create practical floors, but also to give walls or other surfaces a speckled and decorative appearance.

We have collected 10 eateries that use terrazzo, such as on the tabletops of a fish and chip shop in Australia and to make up the floors of a Chinese teahouse.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing steely kitchens, green bedrooms and gardens with swimming pools.


Rosie Tillie cafe bar
Photo is by Niveditaa Gupta

Rosie and Tillie, India, by Renesa

Local architecture studio Renesa set terracotta tiles against smooth terrazzo surfaces at Rosie and Tillie, an all-day cafe in New Delhi.

Squat curved booths create sculptural seating throughout the eatery, which is located within a former Indian restaurant at a shopping mall in the Indian capital’s Saket neighbourhood.

Find out more about Rosie and Tillie ›


Smallfry Seafood restaurant by Sans-Arc Studio
Photo is by David Sievers

Smallfry Seafood, Australia, by Sans-Arc Studio

Smallfry Seafood is a chip shop in Adelaide, Australia, that takes cues from the aesthetics of Japanese seafood markets.

Sans-Arc Studio created a communal bar and curved tables from narrow slabs of light blue terrazzo. For the rest of the interiors, the studio chose mottled grey travertine and stained wood accents that are illuminated by globular pendant lights.

Find out more about Smallfry Seafood ›


Drop Coffee by Roar Studio
Photo is by Oculis Project

Drop Coffee, UAE, by Roar Studio

A decorative terrazzo floor mirrors a mural created from broken ceramic tiles at this Dubai cafe that was designed by Roar Studio at the city’s Dar Al Wasl Mall.

Drop Coffee has a colour palette of greys and whites, chosen to maintain focus on the cafe’s mix of industrial materials such as stainless steel and concrete.

“We aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel by using broken tiles – our idea was to form a counterpoint to the terrazzo effect porcelain flooring as though the chips of the broken tiles were used in the flooring,” Roar Studio founder Pallavi Dean told Dezeen.

Find out more about Drop Coffee ›


Universal Design Studio
Photo is by Jovian Lim

Odette, Singapore, by Universal Design Studio 

Mosaic-like terrazzo floors formed from pale pink and white take centre stage at Odette, a restaurant in Singapore created by British practice Universal Design Studio.

A range of soft and smooth materials make up the interiors, from plush grey velvet benches and chairs to sleek nickel fixtures and statement planters.

Find out more about Odette ›


Entrance and waiting area in Ottolenghi Chelsea
Photo is courtesy of Alex Meitlis

Ottolenghi Chelsea, UK, by Alex Meitlis

London deli and restaurant chain Ottolenghi has opened a branch in Chelsea that features interior styling by designer Alex Meitlis, who created exposed plaster walls interspersed with pink terrazzo tiles.

The eatery includes slinky banquettes in red upholstery and low-slung rattan chairs, which are arranged around sculptural white tables.

Find out more about Ottolenghi Chelsea ›


Penta by Ritz&Ghougassian
Photo is by Tom Blachford

Penta, Australia, by Ritz&Ghougassian 

Terrazzo was used to create subtle geometric seating at Penta, a minimal cafe in Melbourne designed by local architecture studio Ritz&Ghougassian.

Jet black cushions and chairs contrast the grey speckled benches, while delicate native ferns add a touch of greenery to the otherwise monochrome interiors.

Find out more about Penta ›


Lievito gourmet pizza restaurant by MDDM Studio
Photo is by Jonathan Leijonhufvud

Lievito Gourmet Pizza, China, by MDDM Studio

Another eatery with a muted atmosphere, Lievito Gourmet Pizza by MDDM Studio features blocky custom-made tables and a central bar formed from powdery grey terrazzo.

The Beijing restaurant was designed with this layout in order to incorporate both open and more intimate dining spaces, which are arranged across three subtle levels.

Find out more about Lievito Gourmet Pizza ›


Interiors of Tingai Teahouse in Shanghai
Photo is by Dirk Weiblen

Tingtai Teahouse, China, by Linehouse

Situated inside an old factory space in Shanghai, Tingtai Teahouse is characterised by its intimate seating areas contained in elevated boxes positioned above a multi-level landscape of green terrazzo.

“We paired smoked oak and brushed darkened stainless steel with the green terrazzo to bring warmth into the space,” explained Linehouse founder Alex Mok.

Find out more about Tingtai Teahouse ›


B Natural Kitchen
Photo is by Samara Vise

B-Natural Kitchen, USA, by Atelier Cho Thompson 

A rounded bar and service counter with a multi-coloured terrazzo top and tamboured wood siding features in B-Natural Kitchen, a pastel-hued restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut.

Atelier Cho Thompson juxtaposed soft and bold finishes for the interiors, which include plant-themed graphic wallpaper that nods to the eatery’s menu of fresh ingredients.

Find out more about project B-Natural Kitchen ›


Design studio Biasol designs Middle Eastern-inspired Melbourne restaurant.
Photo is by Tom Blachford

Middle South East, Australia, by Biasol

Design studio Biasol took cues from Middle Eastern architecture for this Melbourne restaurant that juxtaposes deep blue and terracotta tones.

A tiled water station with terrazzo shelving features in the centre of the room, while clusters of dining tables and a bar are topped with the same speckled material.

Find out more about Middle South East ›

This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing white bathrooms, light-filled extensions and homes with statement windows.

Reference