Best of the Week: 24 Envelope-Pushing Designs From All Over
From the sublime to the exquisite, here is a compendium of great ideas, well executed, the world over
Vanessa Walker
17 October 2018
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
Do you want to make a mark with your home? Dive into these abodes, each of which pushed the envelope in some way that might make you think outside the square.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
1. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Mirabuild
Features: Striking simplicity in an outdoor kitchen.
Designer: Mirabuild
Features: Striking simplicity in an outdoor kitchen.
3. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Folk Architects
Features: Stairs in on-trend millennial pink.
Designer: Folk Architects
Features: Stairs in on-trend millennial pink.
4. Location: London, UK
Features: Nougat-inspired terrazzo makes for a delicious island bench, not to mention the convenience of having it on wheels.
Features: Nougat-inspired terrazzo makes for a delicious island bench, not to mention the convenience of having it on wheels.
5. Location: Austin, USA
Features: Knotted charcoal wool-upholstered panels with satin-brass inlays. Not to mention those LED strip lights.
Features: Knotted charcoal wool-upholstered panels with satin-brass inlays. Not to mention those LED strip lights.
6. Location: Moscow, Russia
Features: Metallic and matt surfaces paired like you’ve never seen before.
Features: Metallic and matt surfaces paired like you’ve never seen before.
7. Location: Toronto, Canada
Features: Sensational attention to detail using a splashback of marble tiles.
Features: Sensational attention to detail using a splashback of marble tiles.
8. Location: Vancouver, Canada
Features: An ordinary wall turned into a climbing wall.
Features: An ordinary wall turned into a climbing wall.
9. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Jillian Dinkel Designs
Features: Fantastic use of a small, long courtyard.
Designer: Jillian Dinkel Designs
Features: Fantastic use of a small, long courtyard.
…and inside the home is this bespoke open-fronted wardrobe in black and white.
10. Location: London, UK
Features: The wall treatments. The shelving. The ceiling. This space has it all.
Features: The wall treatments. The shelving. The ceiling. This space has it all.
11. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Studio Tom
Features: A deliberate approach to external materials that is as good as you’d expect in an indoor kitchen.
Designer: Studio Tom
Features: A deliberate approach to external materials that is as good as you’d expect in an indoor kitchen.
![Modern Staircase by sanzpont [arquitectura]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/0dc17eea0b61f8f6_2843-w400-h560-b0-p0--modern-staircase.jpg)
12. Location: Mexico
Features: Heroic stairs constitute a sculptural feat.
Features: Heroic stairs constitute a sculptural feat.
13. Location: Milan, Italy
Features: Cubist-inspired stairs make a splash.
Features: Cubist-inspired stairs make a splash.
14. Location: Christchurch, NZ
Designer: Cymon Allfrey Architects
Features: A bold and eye-catching approach to roofing.
Designer: Cymon Allfrey Architects
Features: A bold and eye-catching approach to roofing.
15. Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Designer: Justin Humphrey Architect
Features: One of the cleverest hide-away studies we have seen.
Designer: Justin Humphrey Architect
Features: One of the cleverest hide-away studies we have seen.
…and here’s what it looks like when the door’s closed.
There are ideas aplenty in this house…
16. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Arcke
Features: Sensational use of space and light in a renovation of an old worker’s cottage.
Designer: Arcke
Features: Sensational use of space and light in a renovation of an old worker’s cottage.
17. Location: Italy
Features: Curves, angles, materials – this place has it all.
Features: Curves, angles, materials – this place has it all.
19. Location: Paris, France
Features: The shapes are a sight to behold.
Features: The shapes are a sight to behold.
20. Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Features: A bookcase wrapped around a daybed. Two favourite activities, resting and reading, intertwined.
Features: A bookcase wrapped around a daybed. Two favourite activities, resting and reading, intertwined.
21. Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Features: Mirror tiles are cleverly used to ramp up the greenery effect.
Features: Mirror tiles are cleverly used to ramp up the greenery effect.
22. Location: Japan
Features: Shingle cladding paired with the simplest of structures – not a combination you see every day.
Features: Shingle cladding paired with the simplest of structures – not a combination you see every day.
23. Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Features: Super-sized wallpaper creates a dramatic effect.
Features: Super-sized wallpaper creates a dramatic effect.
24. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: D’Cruz Design Group
Features: The door joinery to end all door joinery.
Tell us
Which fabulous, edgy idea is your favourite? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite photos, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up here with 30 Savvy and Stylish Built-In Joinery Ideas
Designer: D’Cruz Design Group
Features: The door joinery to end all door joinery.
Tell us
Which fabulous, edgy idea is your favourite? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite photos, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up here with 30 Savvy and Stylish Built-In Joinery Ideas
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Hi Kat, Thanks for your kind word. The exterior back of the house is actually west facing, so in Brisbane that means it's really unpleasant in the summer afternoon sun. That's why the deck is orientated along the side of the house and the big window has timber slatted screens and the overhang extends over the mastersuite above.
Hi Arcke, thanks for explaning. Yes a Qlder also, so understand the need for protection from that western sun. You have also perfectly captured in your design the relaxed way of living "up here"
Numbers 2 and 9...beautifully clean and inviting.