Warm and Inviting Kitchen

This is a lovely and functional open kitchen within a residence in Seattle over looking the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains.

Two massive masonry hearths interrupt the timbers and define areas for dining, kitchen and family. The cool masonry gives such a great balance to the warm timber. Exposed steel T's run across the timbers and support an exposed and low-slope metal roof. These black steel T's also highlight linearity of the design.

I particularly love the dining chairs with weaving patterns formed by black fabrics. These patterns echo the linear structure of the steel columns and beans, and bring interest to the otherwise monotonous timber dining area.

     Photos from Miller Hull

Wood Log Feature Wall

I have seen a similar wall arrangement with wood logs outside of "ThreeSixty" store at Elements, HK. The wood logs bring warmth and nature to this entertainment room in contemporary but rustic design.

I am not sure whether it is difficult to maintain these logs and what kind of treatment needs to be done on them before they are stacked up. Yet this is for sure a very beautiful feature wall that appeals to anyone who appreciates nature!

     Photos by Benjamin Ben Schnicder

Bring Four Seasons into the House

This is a slender house which has a 12m frontage and a mere 3.6m depth. Located right in front of a maple forest in Kyoto, glass panels have been use as the back side wall of the house so as to bring the superb view of the forest into the house.

Though the floor area of the house is only 13sqm, the outside landscape has become an integrated part of the house and hence the interior space looks much more spacious than its original size.

I would really love to go there in autumn, when the room is stained by bright red autumn leaves!

                                                         Photo by MBS

                       Photo by Expansion

                        Photo by Expansion

                                     Photo by Expansion