Decor and Design Week #291
A house in France, a Haussmannian apartment in Paris, a farmhouse in Puglia: ten interiors spotted this week in the best decorating magazines
Every Sunday, this column returns with a simple idea: to save those who love design or contemporary decor the hours wasted browsing from site to site. Planète Déco reads, sifts through, and selects and what ends up here has passed a filter, one of genuine interest, not an algorithm. An apartment that dares to do something different. An interior that solves a problem with intelligence. A renovation that proves you can do better with less. We invite you to discover ten new spots spotted this week, in ten locations, with ten very different atmospheres.
Renting a villa with a pool an hour from Paris, that’s an idea that grows more appealing with every heat wave. AD Magazine has selected five properties available on Airbnb, all nestled in lush greenery just outside the capital. What they have in common: spacious architecture, tree-lined gardens, and a tranquility that Paris doesn't always offer. It's ideal for those who want to get away without flying or spending hours in a car.
View the 5 villas on AD Magazine
A dimly lit apartment, and the solution chosen to overcome this problem is not white. Interior designer Marie Le Magueresse, of the firm Murs & Merveilles, rebuilt the entire space around a panoramic wallpaper from 1861, then deployed a palette of light, vibrant hues to let light flow through the rooms. The result, featured in Marie Claire Maison, debunks the common misconception that color equals darkness. An example to keep in mind for anyone still hesitating to paint their walls.
View the apartment on Marie Claire Maison
Late 19th-century architecture, 144m2 on a 130m2 lot, and a superb view of the sea. La Casa Calada, featured by Archik in Marseille, belongs to designer Axel Chay and his wife Melissa, an interior designer, and it's for sale. The central architectural feature: a large white cube that serves as a showcase for a collection of carefully selected design pieces. The whole successfully blends vernacular heritage with contemporary design without one overshadowing the other. L'Estaque neighborhood, with its unique light and colorful facades, adds a final touch of charm to this unexpected design aesthetic.
See Casa Calada on Archik
House & Garden presents this new build in Hampshire as a model of sustainable architecture. The river runs alongside the property, and every opening has been designed so that the landscape becomes an integral part of the project. Carrie Dunlop has created a timeless home that celebrates its setting. It is a rare harmony between a location and a building. This type of discreet architecture, which almost disappears into its surroundings, remains one of the most difficult things to achieve.
See the house on House & Garden
Warm wood, natural light, materials soft to the touch, and a generous opening to the outdoors for an authentic place. This small Catalan house, spotted on Arquitectura y Diseño, fulfills a program that is both simple and demanding: to make life easier, and calmer. Every design choice supports this goal, from floor to ceiling.
View the home on Arquitectura y Diseño
A spectacular staircase, preserved authentic features, and a view of the harbor for this renovated building. Kim and Richard bought this monumental place, over three centuries old, precisely because it required a complete renovation. VT Wonen tells us about this transformation: the rear facade now opens to the outside via a glass wall, creating a dialogue full of contrast between the historic architecture and a successful designer decor.
See the project on VT Wonen
This 37sqm apartment tucked away in a narrow street in Antibes is anything but ordinary. Its owners are transforming it into a rental property, and Côté Maison is following the renovation process by sharing before-and-after photos. The challenge: preserving the charm of a small old house while making the space comfortable and welcoming for guests. A delicate balancing act, and a rather successful one at that. On the French Riviera, where small spaces command high rents, focusing on authenticity rather than standardized renovation is always a winning choice.
View the apartment on Côté Maison
American designer Nate Berkus oversaw the renovation of this quintessentially New York townhouse by drawing on the DNA of his own home. House Beautiful offers a full tour: timeless elements sit alongside contemporary pieces. The result is a New York address with character without being over the top, which, in the U.S., isn’t all that common.
View the townhouse on House Beautiful
Centuries-old olive trees, fig trees, dry-stone walls, and preserved rural architecture, that’s what Nuevo Estilo has in store for us. The magazine spotted this vacation home in Puglia, on the Ionian coast, calling it the most beautiful beach house in the world. This renovation respects the original elements with local materials and authentic volumes. For lovers of vernacular Mediterranean architecture, this is a must-see.
See the house on Nuevo Estilo
Decorated in a minimalist style to let the ocean take center stage, this house is featured by Elle Decor. It was renovated to embrace light and panoramic views as integral decorative elements. Natural wood and white tones adorn the interior with understated elegance. It sits as if perched at the bow of a ship. The views really give that feeling. Its designer decor discreetly takes a back seat to the magnificent view.
See the house on Elle Decor
A trend is emerging in this edition, even though the ten properties come from different countries. It is respect for what existed before construction or renovation. The house in Hampshire takes advantage of the river view. Casa Calada in Marseille retains its 19th-century exterior. The farmhouse in Puglia is still built of dry stone. A Catalan house has retained its simplicity.
The other common thread: color is used as an architectural tool. The Parisian Haussmann-style apartment illustrates this particularly convincingly. Choosing bold colors in a dark apartment is a gamble that many hesitate to take. Here, interior designer Marie Le Magueresse clearly pulls it off, starting with a panoramic wallpaper.
Trends shift, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. Some ideas take years to find their way into our interiors after first being photographed in avant-garde apartments. Following this column each week means keeping an eye on these trends without needing a subscription to a dozen international magazines. It’s also, quite simply, the pleasure of looking at beautiful interiors and paying tribute to these publications which deserve to be discovered.
Discover this week’s 10 interiors: decoration and design
1. Five villas in Île-de-France to escape the heat
Renting a villa with a pool an hour from Paris, that’s an idea that grows more appealing with every heat wave. AD Magazine has selected five properties available on Airbnb, all nestled in lush greenery just outside the capital. What they have in common: spacious architecture, tree-lined gardens, and a tranquility that Paris doesn't always offer. It's ideal for those who want to get away without flying or spending hours in a car.
View the 5 villas on AD Magazine
2. A dark Haussmann-style apartment near Parc Monceau finds new light through color
A dimly lit apartment, and the solution chosen to overcome this problem is not white. Interior designer Marie Le Magueresse, of the firm Murs & Merveilles, rebuilt the entire space around a panoramic wallpaper from 1861, then deployed a palette of light, vibrant hues to let light flow through the rooms. The result, featured in Marie Claire Maison, debunks the common misconception that color equals darkness. An example to keep in mind for anyone still hesitating to paint their walls.
View the apartment on Marie Claire Maison
3. In Marseille l'Estaque, designer Axel Chay’s seaside home is for sale
Late 19th-century architecture, 144m2 on a 130m2 lot, and a superb view of the sea. La Casa Calada, featured by Archik in Marseille, belongs to designer Axel Chay and his wife Melissa, an interior designer, and it's for sale. The central architectural feature: a large white cube that serves as a showcase for a collection of carefully selected design pieces. The whole successfully blends vernacular heritage with contemporary design without one overshadowing the other. L'Estaque neighborhood, with its unique light and colorful facades, adds a final touch of charm to this unexpected design aesthetic.
See Casa Calada on Archik
4. A wooden house in Hampshire, on the banks of a crystal-clear river
House & Garden presents this new build in Hampshire as a model of sustainable architecture. The river runs alongside the property, and every opening has been designed so that the landscape becomes an integral part of the project. Carrie Dunlop has created a timeless home that celebrates its setting. It is a rare harmony between a location and a building. This type of discreet architecture, which almost disappears into its surroundings, remains one of the most difficult things to achieve.
See the house on House & Garden
5. In a fishing village in Catalonia, a simple house with designer decor
Warm wood, natural light, materials soft to the touch, and a generous opening to the outdoors for an authentic place. This small Catalan house, spotted on Arquitectura y Diseño, fulfills a program that is both simple and demanding: to make life easier, and calmer. Every design choice supports this goal, from floor to ceiling.
View the home on Arquitectura y Diseño
6. In the Netherlands, a historic monument with a reinvented glass facade
A spectacular staircase, preserved authentic features, and a view of the harbor for this renovated building. Kim and Richard bought this monumental place, over three centuries old, precisely because it required a complete renovation. VT Wonen tells us about this transformation: the rear facade now opens to the outside via a glass wall, creating a dialogue full of contrast between the historic architecture and a successful designer decor.
See the project on VT Wonen
7. In Antibes, 37m2 in the village house style
This 37sqm apartment tucked away in a narrow street in Antibes is anything but ordinary. Its owners are transforming it into a rental property, and Côté Maison is following the renovation process by sharing before-and-after photos. The challenge: preserving the charm of a small old house while making the space comfortable and welcoming for guests. A delicate balancing act, and a rather successful one at that. On the French Riviera, where small spaces command high rents, focusing on authenticity rather than standardized renovation is always a winning choice.
View the apartment on Côté Maison
8. Nate Berkus renovates an Upper East Side townhouse inspired by his own home
American designer Nate Berkus oversaw the renovation of this quintessentially New York townhouse by drawing on the DNA of his own home. House Beautiful offers a full tour: timeless elements sit alongside contemporary pieces. The result is a New York address with character without being over the top, which, in the U.S., isn’t all that common.
View the townhouse on House Beautiful
9. In Puglia, a century-old farmhouse on the Ionian coast
Centuries-old olive trees, fig trees, dry-stone walls, and preserved rural architecture, that’s what Nuevo Estilo has in store for us. The magazine spotted this vacation home in Puglia, on the Ionian coast, calling it the most beautiful beach house in the world. This renovation respects the original elements with local materials and authentic volumes. For lovers of vernacular Mediterranean architecture, this is a must-see.
See the house on Nuevo Estilo
10. In Brazil, a renovated beach house with breathtaking views
Decorated in a minimalist style to let the ocean take center stage, this house is featured by Elle Decor. It was renovated to embrace light and panoramic views as integral decorative elements. Natural wood and white tones adorn the interior with understated elegance. It sits as if perched at the bow of a ship. The views really give that feeling. Its designer decor discreetly takes a back seat to the magnificent view.
See the house on Elle Decor
What this selection says about current design trends
A trend is emerging in this edition, even though the ten properties come from different countries. It is respect for what existed before construction or renovation. The house in Hampshire takes advantage of the river view. Casa Calada in Marseille retains its 19th-century exterior. The farmhouse in Puglia is still built of dry stone. A Catalan house has retained its simplicity.
The other common thread: color is used as an architectural tool. The Parisian Haussmann-style apartment illustrates this particularly convincingly. Choosing bold colors in a dark apartment is a gamble that many hesitate to take. Here, interior designer Marie Le Magueresse clearly pulls it off, starting with a panoramic wallpaper.
Trends shift, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. Some ideas take years to find their way into our interiors after first being photographed in avant-garde apartments. Following this column each week means keeping an eye on these trends without needing a subscription to a dozen international magazines. It’s also, quite simply, the pleasure of looking at beautiful interiors and paying tribute to these publications which deserve to be discovered.
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