Home Decor Ideas

Beijing-based Evolution Design took on the challenge of rehabilitating two decrepit buildings located in a scenic village in Zhoushan, China. The houses, which had been unoccupied for 70 years, are oriented toward the sea and offer panoramic views.

The architects combined the existing structures into a continuous space with a modern layout. “The new residence is composed of bedrooms renovated from the two old houses plus a studio converted from an old kitchen with collapsed roof that is now replaced by a glass ceiling,” the developing team explained.

One of the design highlights is a reinforced concrete “box” facing the sea, which serves as an open space living and dining area. This architectural element is also a link between the upstairs master bedroom and the two guestrooms below.

“The new house is built with reinforced concrete and is a perfect match in terms of both structure and space while remaining free of excessive decoration,” the designers said. “Concrete was specifically chosen to help the house withstand erosion stemming from the harsh sea climate.”

The interior design is a hypnotizing merger between old and new. Wood, concrete, stone and glass have been tastefully put on display to celebrate this distinction. Do you find this rural house renovation as captivating as we do? Photography by JianPing Yang & Yong Zhang.

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Coco Chanel, famous for her black-and-white signature fashion and accessories, may be long gone but she would love the latest venture in her name: the Coco Club. The private, invitation-only club is the first for the brand and opened in the Soho neighborhood in New York City.

The invitation to the Coco Club opening in New York City. Image: Eventbrite

Coco was always a feminist. She embraced men’s clothing and used men’s tailoring in her designs. So a private women’s club inspired by a gentlemen’s club would be a natural progression for her brand. And the club’s design is inspired by one of her most iconic watches — the Boy-Friend. The colors of the interiors are graphic black and white with cream and gold accents everywhere.

The entrance to the Coco Club. Image: Chanel

Lucky members receive a gold card for access. There’s all sorts of fun and unusual services at the Coco Club to keep the ladies who have it all intrigued, such as an on-site numerologist (Chanel was obsessed with numbers) ready to offer personalized readings. There’s a beauty room to glam up in, with Chanel makeup artists ready to give you the perfect red pout. A ping-pong table, pool table and photo booth keep things fun. Check out the interiors of the Coco Club:

Chanel Coco Club lockers

The lockers feature the signature look and typeface of Chanel. Image: Chanel

The game room

The bright and cheery game room features Chanel’s signature logo on the game tables. Image: Chanel

The cafe

Minimalist but polished, the understated cafe offers anything a club member may be craving. Image: Chanel

Pool table

A black pool table is a hotspot at the club. Image: Chanel

A sitting area at the private club

The design is inspired by the typical, masculine smoking room of a private gentlemen’s club. Image: Chanel

Hallway

Some of Chanel’s most famous sayings are featured throughout the club. Image: Chanel

The Boy-Friend Bar

Named after the iconic Chanel watch that inspired the design of the club, the Boy-Friend Bar serves up drinks — and watches.

The library

The library displays vintage objects on the long table that anchors the room. Image: Chanel

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This historic chapel in Belgium was recently converted by Studio klaarchitectuur into an unconventional office space. Dubbed Waterdog, the project aims to transform architecture work into an almost spiritual experience.

“Due to the chapel’s status as a listed building, the renovation project was bound by several limitations,” the architects said. “For instance, it was vital the historical character of the building remained intact. This was achieved by erecting a brand-new construction from scratch, completely separate from the historic building, in sharp contrast with the old walls.”

A large, sumptuous space was maintained at the heart of the building, with work areas located at the rear of the chapel. Ceiling vaults add to the grandeur of the space.

“By stacking the different offices and spreading out the various departments across different floors, a constant sense of dynamism is created in the workspace,” the architects added. “No more dull and unimaginative offices; be inspired by a challenging working environment where past, present and future are inextricably linked.”

Even though the building is primarily an office space for the architecture studio, some of its areas are open to the public and various events are expected to take place here. Photography by Marc Scheepers, Flos&Beeldpunt, Toon Grobet.

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One of the first things about a house that a guest or home buyer notices is the front door. If you want to make a statement, upgrading or revamping your front door is a smart move that isn’t all that expensive. According to Realtor.com, it’s the second best return-on-your-investment renovation.

Ready to get inspired? Here’s a collection of the latest front door ideas and trends you may want to steal to improve your home’s curb appeal.

1. Front door paint color ideas

Red will forever be one of the most popular front door colors, regardless of architectural style. Image: Faust Construction

One of the quickest fixes to upgrade your front door is to simply paint it. Choose an exterior paint designed for the door type; there are paints and primers for steel, fiberglass and wood door surfaces. About one quart of paint should do for an average door.

Gloss or semigloss are the most durable; the sheen holds up better against nicks and scratches and tends to show bolder colors better. It’s easy:

• Although you can paint your mounted door, removing the door and all of the hardware will give you a better finish.
• Sand the door lightly to get rid of old paint drips, nicks and dents.
• Apply a primer; wait for it to dry.
• Protect your door while it dries so dirt particles don’t stick to it.

When it comes to color options, nearly anything goes. According to Benjamin Moore, contrast is key. Choose a bold paint color that stands out from the rest of the home, like these door paint color ideas:

A vintage aqua front door color is perfect for a mid-century modern house. Image: Levitt Architects

Give a two-tone paint color a try when mulling over front door ideas. The turquoise and white add pop to the home’s charcoal gray exterior color. Image: Stephanie Wiley

When in doubt, a classic red front door will freshen up the look of just about any entrance. Image: Benjamin Moore

Orange is a great door paint color choice to highlight contemporary architecture. Image: Mak Design and Build

A bright lime green door color works with both wood and concrete home surroundings. Image: Dotter Sofjeld Architects

2. Metal front door ideas

For an artisanal look that’s both warm and contemporary, consider a metal front door. With the industrial trend going strong, black steel is popular although copper and stainless steel front doors will always be fashionable.

Distressed black steel adds a custom look. The bronze door pull highlights the mixed metals trend that’s popular in interior design. Image: JPR Architects

Copper and stainless steel metal front door ideas. Images from left: Michael Fullen Design, Hartman Baldwin and Rocky Mountain Hardware.

Wood and steel can work with nearly any home style, ranging from rustic to country to modern to craftsman to contemporary. Image: AppWood Doors

3. Glass front doors featuring glass side panels

One of the freshest door trends takes the existing double door design and converts it into a standard front door size with a glass side panel. This modern front door idea allows more light into the entryway and saves you money on having to purchase a larger or double front door.

A simple glass front door is surrounded by glass on the sides and top. Image: Marvin

A mirrored glass side panel next to the modern wood door adds privacy and convenience. The homeowner can see out but passersby can’t see inside. Image: b.Confer Architecture

The entrance of this home appears larger thanks to the door and matching side panels. Frosted glass was used to diffuse light while obscuring what goes on outside and inside. Image: Friehauf Architects

4. Steel atrium doors

Looking for an industrial-chic door that’s less run of the mill? The steel atrium door is one of the latest trends. The black steel grid and glass works to update nearly any style.

For the ultimate flexibility, install a steel atrium pivot door that can glide back and forth on a track. Image: PPDS Design

Go with a custom curved atrium front door that offsets the sharp, angular lines of a contemporary home. Image: Ryan Street and Associates

To create a grand entrance, enhance the scale of your front door by surrounding it with glass panels on the sides and top. Image: Green Belt Construction

5. Pivot doors

One of the best door trends is the modern pivot door. The look features a large-scale, floor-to-ceiling door that pivots on an axis instead of opening and closing from a wall-mounted hinge. The pivot front door is perfect in a location where a door jamb may not be possible or if the door is very heavy. Or simply because it’s so cool.

A frosted glass and steel frame pivot door takes the latest front door ideas and combines them beautifully. Image: Seven Custom Homes

A walnut wood, steel and glass pivot front door opens effortlessly in this Austin home. Image: Leicht USA

The designer of this wood pivot door frosted the glass side panel windows but left a clear strip of glass on the pivot door for better viewing. Image: Aleck Wilson Architects

6. Wood and glass panel front doors

For a contemporary look that enhances your home’s architecture and lets plenty of light into the interior, look for a modern wood and glass panel front door. Worried about privacy? Choose a glass that’s frosted, etched or has some type of design that obscures what’s going on inside.

The glass panels in this darkly stained front door allow plenty of light to illuminate the interior. Image: Jodie Rosen Design

A custom glass pattern adds privacy and beautiful texture to this custom wood door. Image: Bramco Builders

Like the latest trends and front door ideas? Share yours with us here or on Facebook with the hashtag #frontdoorideas

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