The Baleia House, São Paulo

Located in São Paulo, this beautiful house by Studio Arthur Casas has a central patio which transforms into an interior garden and has two sections connected by a corridor. The ground floor consists of various paths that lead to the local beach. Public areas such as the kitchen and dining room are also located on the ground floor and have low ceilings which enable the high ceiling of the living room to be revealed through a glass sliding door. A glass staircase leads to the second floor and while the ground level is made of stone, the second floor is finished with wood - this is where the bedrooms are located. The cantilevered en suite master bedroom on the upper floor shelters the front outdoor cooking area where a swimming pool and sauna are located.

I love how the open plan layout blurs the boundaries between the interior and exterior. It is beautifully spacious, enabling plenty of natural light whilst being private due to surrounding walls.

Source: Design Boom

Cuvée Lounge Bar, Brisbane

I absolutely love the interior design for the Cuvée Lounge Bar located in the hotel, Sofitel Central Brisbane. The eclectic purple vibe partnered with the sophistication of the brown-themed furniture is stunning. Chic meets modern. Class meets cool. More bars and lounges should add a touch of 'nature' to their decor in unique ways - it adds an air of fantasy and quirkiness. It's always nice when a design can transport your mind and feelings to a completely different place, especially in a bar where relaxation is key.

Source: Flickr

Benevento Project, Italy

Located in the residential area of Benevento, Italy, the interior of this house was designed by Ernesto Fusco. The neutral tones add an element of softness and sophistication whilst remaining homely and relaxing. The main entrance of the home overlooks the living area and a grand staircase leads up to the bedrooms.

"In the lounge area ​​the walls become libraries made of masonry, the elements contain wenge wood, marking a classic elegance and rigor to the conversation area. Everything is designed to make the environment clean and free of additional furniture. On the wall, the square form is taken up in the artwork of the duo Perino & Vele.

The clean lines, symmetry and shapes in contrasting volumes continues in the dining area, where the big table in palissandro wood of Cassina in contrasted with smooth curves of the  black glass chandelier of Artemis,  create an elegant contrast of shapes.

All materials and colors are a reminder to the warm tones of nature: cappuccino-colored walls, leathers and woods live together in a continuous game of overlapping tone on tone. The result is reassuring and enveloping with atmosphere of refined taste." - Ernesto Fusco

Sycamore House by Kovac Architects

Although this 3,400 square-foot building looks a lot like a residential project, it is in fact a research laboratory for environmental solutions with a focus on sustainable architecture. The Sycamore House, based in California, blends in with its surrounding environment and nature. The name of the house was inspired by the three large trees that also accomodate the building site.

"The geometry of the house is driven by the sharply descending slope. In keeping with the modest scale of its neighbors, the house presents a single-story elevation to the street, while the view from below reveals a series of sculpted volumes cascading down toward Rivas Canyon."

The house's power needs are supplied by installed photovoltaic panels while the green roof insulates the home. In keeping with the research firm's values, numerous other sustainable and green materials have been employed in the modern house including recycled glass tiles, non-VOC paints, low-flow plumbing fixtures, reclaimed wood flooring and high fly ash content concrete.

Source: Kovac Architects

Holland Park Penthouse, London

London homes tend to look quite average on the outside, but this penthouse in Holland Park proves that the inside can often tell a completely different story. With gorgeous views over West London, the 8072 square-foot apartment accommodates six bedrooms and four bathrooms. The modern interior boasts beautifully bright neon light colours with black accents from furniture items such as pillows and chairs. There is a contemporary fireplace in the living room, numerous pieces of art, an elevator and floor-to-ceiling windows which make the home amazing.

Source: Nimvo

Euryalus Street, 2010

This is a lovely private project by Luigi Rosselli Architects in Mosman, a suburb in Sydney, Australia. The house has two distinct wings and a narrow section that connects the two parts. Within the narrow section is a circulation system which provides an abundance of light to the area. The larger wing of the house has a regular shape and structure to it whereas the smaller wing on the west has an irregularity to it with its curves. 

Inside, a transparent and stainless steel staircase is suspended above a pond that is both inside and outside. Without air conditioning, the house is designed to keep cool in the heat with shutter-controlled natural lighting and ventilation. The installation of rainwater tanks also enables residents to reduce their water usage and related costs.

Source: Luigi Rosselli Architects / Photograph: Justin Alexander

Bacopari House, São Paulo

Another gorgeous project in São Paulo, Brazil! The Bacopari House showcases an abundant amount of greenery and afforestation and builds upon existing vegetation - the landscape and house have been built in fluidity with the preexisting tall trees. Concrete, metallic support beams, wood and glass all make up the structure of the 504 sqm house, giving it definition and plenty of support.

The idea when building the house was to add transparency for its residence and to enable the ability to observe distant views. The garden and reflecting pool lead way to the first patio which opens into the double height living room, the dining room and the terrace. The second garden leads to a swimming pool and a playroom, which has an open plan. 

There are stairs that connect the wine cellar in the basement to the upper floor which is at treetop level. This level accommodates a library which opens onto a patio and the living room. There are bedrooms on the second floor which have the best insolation in the house. Overall, the house was designed to blur the boundaries between the inside and outside whilst maintaing sectioned opened and closed spaces.

Source: Arch Daily

MZ House by CHK Arquitectura

This house, engulfed by nature, appears to be a lost treasure, nestled away in the hilly landscape of Vale de Bravo Lake, Mexico. The depth of greenery and vegetation can be seen from the gorgeous surrounding environment and it gives a sense of tranquility to the immense home. Boasting beautiful views of the lake and forest, the MZ House (designed by CHK Arquitectura) has a horizontal arrangement that works well with the irregular levels of terrain and gives volume to the structure. Built with concrete and stone walls, brick dividers, glass panelling and steel and wooden beams, the house is a complex interplay of weight and levity.

Source: plusMOOD