Fresh and modern, the interior of this apartment located in the historical city of Bojnice, Slovakia surprises you with both, its warmth and a clean design line. Designed by RULES Architekti and defined by comfort and spaciousness, the place is, in fact, the result of a merger between two smaller apartments. With a wide living room and a terrace overlooking the city, the apartment was designed to fit the tastes of the owner, who wanted a place that breathes, uncluttered and at the same time, with minimal requests for maintenance. The day-zone (comprising the living room, the dining area and the kitchen) is envisioned as one unitary space.

Wood is quite present and it adds a sense of warmth. The living room area boasts two black fabric sofas adorned with white detailing. The coffee tables completing the décor contrast with the dark couches. This entire “section” is placed on a rectangular-shaped wooden surface. The interior simply opens to the outdoor environment through a wide terrace with a matching wooden “carpet”. Long dark curtains add a sense of privacy when needed. In terms of colours, black, white, silver and wood-like nuances are dominant. The strange mix of wood, lacquered surfaces and stainless steel confer to this place that modern feel. This is definitely one of the best interiors discovered so far in Slovakia!

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Ask any homeowner what the top amenity that they love about their home and their response is usually the views and the location. In fact, many homeowners can stand to live in a smaller home if it means they will have a great view, and the windows that deliver this view is essential. Every room in your home can benefit from beautiful windows and there is countless number of design styles to choose from. If you have been looking for ways to brighten your interiors, look to your windows. Here are 10 ways your home’s window design can influence your interiors.

1. Natural light is a source of healthy living: 
Humans are no different than green plants. When placed in a natural lit room they grow beautifully and when kept in the dark they wilt and will eventually die. Natural light is the source for our body, mind, spirit and connectivity to the outdoors and is a primary source for healthy living. Regardless of how your window looks, ensure your home has a source of natural light in every room, when possible.

2. Choosing windows that compliment the room:
If you are fortunate enough to plan out the design of your home with an architect or contractor, consider the space the window will be placed in. Tall ceilings and voluminous rooms could benefit from clearstory windows high above the ground or multistory windows that are typical in atriums and multistory foyers. Smaller rooms can still take advantage of plentiful sunlight and views with windows that have a lower sill height to the floor. Choose a style that takes into account your room’s best features.

3. Framing the perfect view outside your home:
There is nothing quite like waking up to a picturesque view of the ocean through floor to ceiling glass windows or enjoying the city lights below through your curtain wall windows of your urban loft. Windows are more than just openings in the wall, they help you capture the outdoors and bring them into your home. If designing your home from the beginning, determine what perfect views you want to capture first and then choose a window that will enhance it.

4. Opening your ceiling view with skylights:
Another wonderful way to take advantage of natural light is through skylights. Your ceiling or “5th wall” has always been a surface that many homeowners forget about when designing their interiors. Skylights offer privacy and a source of natural light to rooms that normally couldn’t because of lack of space for windows on exterior walls. Skylights also serve as a design feature and come in fixed and operable varieties and you can install window treatments over them for light control.

5. Consider a variety of opacities for your privacy needs:
Do you have that room in your home where you would love to have natural light pour in but you need privacy too? Bathrooms are a prime example of where privacy is priority but bringing in light is as well. Consider a variety of opacity levels for your window style. Transparent glass you can see straight through, while translucent glass is common in glass block windows in bathrooms. The view is obscured but natural light can still enter. There are many window manufacturers that offer a variety of windows for your privacy and design specifications.

6. Clerestory windows let in light but leave valuable wall space free
In many homes wall space is at a premium. Whether you are an art collector and like to display wall artwork or you prefer privacy on certain exteriors walls, clerestory windows are the perfect solution. Clerestory windows are located high off the finish floor level, usually close to the roofline to still enable natural light to pour in but frees up valuable wall space. They also are used as a design feature by architects to give the appearance of the roofline as floating above the structure and can be used in a variety of applications.

7. Design your windows around the orientation of your property
If you are in the planning stages of your home consider the geographic location of your home and how your house will be situated on your property in accordance with the sun. Architects and contractors alike will tell you to “walk the property” when choosing design features of your home. You may not want to put a window wall of glass in a bedroom where the early sun wakes you if you’re a late riser! Similarly look at climatic changes and seasonal changes for your area to maximize hot and cold temperature changes when choosing the right window.

8. Use a variety of shapes and sizes of windows for visual interest
There are no specific design rules when it comes to choosing window shapes and sizes and therefore let your design side come out when choosing the perfect ones! Many architects like to play with voids and solid space on walls and place windows in interesting configurations that are appealing to the eye as well as takes advantages of gorgeous views. From rectilinear and curvilinear varieties to custom shaped windows look to window manufacturers to see all of the options available to you.

9. Look to solar glazing to save energy and your furnishings
Another consideration when choosing windows is how much heat gain and loss through your glazing or windows is transmitted. Several window manufacturers sell solar glazing or windows that keep more harmful Ultraviolet or UV light from penetrating into your home. We already know the potential harmful affects of UV light when outdoors but the light can also fade your furniture and finishes as well.

10. Use your window wall as the “artwork” for your interiors
There isn’t any better piece of wall art than nature. When choosing colors and finishes for your rooms look outside to the view to get inspiration. A kitchen that overlooks a gorgeous garden through picture frame windows may not need a lot of color to compete with the beautiful view. Windows can help you reinvent your interiors by using the view as inspiration!
architectday readers we’d love to hear how your windows inspire your home’s design.

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Discovered on Flodeau, Agorà is an elegant collection of harmoniously shaped aluminum radiators that miraculously can change the décor of any room. Designed by the talented Nicola De Ponti for TUBES,  these unusual items evoke a classic sophistication and complement the meandering architecture of the ancient Greeks. The beguiling design of these  heaters blends seamlessly with different types of environments, from very traditional to minimalist interiors. “The two distinctive features of Agorà are the three-dimensional modularity and plasticity of shape, which confirm a design approach strongly focused on innovation. The sinuous lines speak the language of contemporary design yet proceed through memory recall.”

Aiming to become the focal point of contemporary living, the Agorà radiators are all about precision and harmony. They come in different sizes and colours, but there’s one thing that unites and groups them under the same collection: the authentic Greek sophistication brilliantly exposed through details: shapes, curves, lines. Playing an aesthetic role as well as a functional one, these sleek sources of heat are an excellent choice for an uplifting contemporary lifestyle.

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ISLA DEL SOL, BOLIVIA

Photograph by LOUIS BIRKS

 

If you look closely, you’ll notice a tiny fishing hut at the bottom right. The hut is located on Isla Del Sol on Lake Titicaca in Bolivia.

Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) is an island in the southern part of Lake Titicaca. Geographically, the terrain is harsh; it is a rocky, hilly island with many eucalyptus trees. There are no motor vehicles or paved roads on the island. The main economic activity of the approximately 800 families on the island is farming, with fishing and tourism augmenting the subsistence economy.

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Slovakia is one of the east block’s countries recently coming alive in terms of quality architecture & design. Rado Rick Designers sent us an inspiring project consisting of rooms for a 6 years old Star Wars fan and a 2 years old princess. The main wish of the parents was to create living spaces which would keep the kids attracted even through puberty. Moreover, the father is a big gamer and Star Wars fan too, so he wanted his son to have this superb room to spend time and play PC games with him together.

All the furniture is custom designed; the picture on the wall in the boy’s room is real handwritten graffiti. The library was also tailored to fit into a fully furnished space, as the customer wanted to divide their kitchen from the living room area, while keeping the ability to watch over their kids. [Photos and information provided via e-mail by Rado Rick Designers]

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