The Zen Barn – a contemporary residence in Ottawa

The design of this residence also allows a strong indoor-outdoor connection to be established. The large windows and the glass walls feature panoramic views of the surroundings although it also exposed the inhabitants to everyone passing by. Of course, the huge windows are strategically placed and don’t expose the private zones but only transition areas such as the staircase or portions of the living area.




The façade and the whole exterior of the residence have a very interesting look. They are covered with reclaimed oak boards and this gives the house a nice worn look while also creating a strong contrast with the minimalist modern lines.






The interior of the Zen Barn is also very simple and modern. The color palette is not very complex and mostly includes shades of white and grey. Red was used as an accent color and it’s featured in a series of accent pieces such as the pendant lamps which are also visible through the windows. The concrete floors emphasize the contemporary décor and also match well the color palette.

How to Bring Bright Colours into the Kitchen

There is no place better for bright colours and inspirational interior design than the kitchen. This is a place for creativity and culinary delights. However, very few people take advantage of this. Instead they opt for conservative colours, such as grey and white. If your kitchen is looking uninspiring and dreary then an injection of colour can help you to completely transform the space into a place that is fun and exciting to be in. You will find yourself wanting to cook and create new dishes more frequently than ever before.
Kitchen accessories



If you are looking for a cheap and quick way of bring brightness into your home then all you need to do is purchase a few kitchen accessories. This is also a fantastic option for thus looking to emulate a retro feel in their home.
Paint.


If you like a spot of painting then take out your paint brush and get to work! The use of block colours in these pictures works brilliantly. This adds another dimension and brings fun to the kitchen space. It is a lot more effective than an accent wall for example. When picking your colours of choice blue and green are next to one and other on the colour wheel and thus they complement each other well.  Other great colour combinations include; red and orange, yellow and orange, red and purple, and green and yellow.
Light fixture.


Lights tend to go unnoticed in the kitchen. Most people have spotlights or a small chrome fixture. But if you take a look online you will see a wealth of fantastic brightly coloured light fixtures. Why not go for one of these instead?
Table decor.


If you have an area to dine in your kitchen then table decoration should play a big role when it comes to making the room look bright and colourful. This is an easy way of bringing colour into your kitchen and what is so great about it is the fact that the possibilities are vast. From napkins to table centre pieces to cutlery to table cloths; you have so much to play around with.
Wall art.


This is another easy way of adding fun, colour and excitement to your kitchen space. Wall art offers you the opportunity to express your personality and bring lots of character into a room. When it comes to the kitchen, wall art based on food is the most obvious choice and there is no denying the fact that it works really well. You can even get creative and do your own wall art with cutlery pieces. Nothing says original, fun, and exciting better than a bit of DIY decor!
Picture sources: 1&2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Limited Ultra-Modern, Concrete Home Measuring 13 ft. Wide by 115 ft. Deep

Narrow lots definitely make building very difficult, impossible even. But Japanese people are experts in making the most out of every little space.Narrow sites are not exactly a problem for them. This house, for example, sits on a lot that’s 13 feet wide and 115 feet deep. FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects found the perfect design for it: a long and sleek silhouette with a modern allure.

The residence has a minimalist look and it’s surrounded by more conventional buildings which makes it stand out from the rest. It has concrete walls and an upper bridge which is a rather unusual feature. The windows have been strategically placed so that all areas are bright.





The concrete façade goes beyond the residence’s roof and makes the building look taller. The concrete exterior maintains a minimalist look. The entrance features a frosted glass door.





Inside, the layout had to be adapted to the shape of the site. There’s a long hallway that leads through the main floor. On this level there are several living spaces.





The interior also features exposed concrete walls and this detail gives the house a modern industrial appearance. The tall ceilings further emphasize this influence. To minimalize the waste of space, the architects used few walls inside and designed the house like a gallery. It feels very open and spacious.

New Century-old Barcelona Residence With Lots Of Personality

Modern residance design in Barcelona.This is Casa Jes, a house located in Barcelona, Spain which has been restored and partially redesigned. It’s a century-old building with lots of character and personality. Designed by Nook Architects, the house still features most of its original architecture which has been preserved intact during the restoration. The building has a double façade. One is facing the street while the other is oriented towards the interior courtyard.

Everything except the kitchen and the bathroom was kept intact. These two spaces have been updated to the 90’s, so the styles are not that different. The layout of the house had to be reorganized a little.





The original distribution of the rooms was very compartmentalized and the different zones were not functionally organized. Now the residence has an open kitchen which shares an open plan with the living room. The master bedroom has lots of storage space. There’s also a second bedroom and a guest washroom.








Originally, the house also had a guest bedroom which was quite small and it has been turned into a studio. Other changes include the fact that the second bathroom and the guest washroom along with the master bedroom are now over an elevated wooden platform. Under the platform the owners can hide the bed and thus liberate the room, making it feel more spacious.

Sectional Glass Garage Doors Used In Modern Designs

A sectional garage door is a type where the door panel is split into sections horizontally. The door opens by rising vertically and it’s sliding in tracks which curve and then go horizontally into the room. There are several benefits for using this type of garage door. One of them has to do with space-saving.

A glass garage door that separates the kitchen from the courtyard
Given the fact that the door opens vertically and is suspended under the ceiling, this allows you to use the space inside and in front of the garage. Sectional garage doors are also flexible, weather resistant and they keep out the wind, rain and dust.


Modern living room with two glass garage doors meeting in the corner

A bright garage with glass door transformed into a home studio

Sectional glass garage door used in an eclectic living room with adjacent outdoor spaces

A glass garage door that opens the living room onto the water
It’s why this type of doors is so versatile and popular. One of the great things about it is that you can use it not only for the garage but also for other spaces. There are several types of sectional garage doors. One of them is the glass door which is wonderful because it allows visibility and it also has a more chic and elegant look.

Modern kitchen and dining area with a sectional door that connects I to the deck

Beautiful patio that gets extended thanks to the glass garage doors

This type of garage doors is very versatile and can be used for a variety of projects

Because it’s very space-efficient, such a door can be used in small areas

A very chic and modern home office featuring a sectional garage door

Glass garage doors are perfect for areas with beautiful views
It thus allows us to include it in more sophisticated designs. For example, you could have such a door to separate the living room from the deck or the kitchen from the patio. Moreover, sectional doors fit anywhere so the shape and design are not important.
Picture sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.