The prospect of retirement doesn’t just signal the end of a career; it offers the chance to recalibrate and re-prioritize in life.
Making Order From Chaos: 8 Beautifully Busy Homes
August 10, 2013
These eight homes turn clutter into decoration through the careful arrangement of eclectic belongings.
The pots, pans, and utensils of a colorful Los Angeles home are hung up when they aren't needed as kitchenware. Photo by Bryce Duffy.
Photo by
Originally appeared in Sun Mun Way Cool
A snug office below the stairs of a duplex just outside Sydeny, Australia, doubles as a storage area; dark wooden shelves showcase books and food items that might otherwise be stowed out of view. Photo by Nick Bowers.
Photo by
Originally appeared in Twice as Nice
One might expect the competing colors, textures, and patterns of this brightly furnished Belgium home to clash unpleasantly, but instead they play off of one another to provide multiple layers of visual interest. Photo by Chris Tubbs.
Photo by
Originally appeared in A Neoclassical Gallery Home in Belgium
An eco-friendly London home rendered in clean white lines is up to the challenge of keeping two young boys in check. Built-in shelves and cabinets turn piles stray books and toys into artful exhibitions of household items. Photo by Charlie Crane.
Photo by
Originally appeared in A Slender Geothermal Cottage in London
When he renovated his Bratislava flat, Lukáš Kordík juxtaposed modern appliances—a flat screen TV and a metal fridge—with the old-world charm of original materials—whitewashed brick walls and an exposed ceiling. In harnessing the disparity between his home and his belongings, Kordik made contrast his aesthetic.
Originally appeared in A Little Apartment Gets a Solid Renovation
Any home can be considered a backdrop for its contents, but the Town House takes that principle to the extreme. With white walls, a white counter, and an off-white floor, this Swedish abode makes the colors of fruit, photos, and book covers pop, providing a new focal point at every turn. Photo by Mark Seelen.
Photo by
Originally appeared in Contemporary Nordic Town House
Weight machines mingle with modern art and well-worn couches in the lofted, open-plan living-and-gym area of a converted stable in London. A subtle balance emerges from the seemingly random mixture of equipment, art, and furniture; every item seems perfectly at home despite the lack of obvious organization. Photo by Andrea Bakacs.
Photo by
Originally appeared in A Wheelchair-Accessible Adaptive Reuse Project in London
The crowded shelves of designer Omer Arbel's Vancouver home are a far cry from the minimalist furnishings that define so many contemporary homes. Arbel prefers to show off possessions that he's "collected along the way," like the salvaged wooden counter in the middle of his kitchen. Photo by José Mandojana.
Photo by
Originally appeared in Love Animals? This House is for You
The pots, pans, and utensils of a colorful Los Angeles home are hung up when they aren't needed as kitchenware. Photo by Bryce Duffy.
Photo by Bryce Duffy.
Latest Articles
You don’t have to choose between sustainable energy and curb appeal.
July 19, 2016
Each week, we tap into Dwell's Instagram community to bring you the most captivating design and architecture shots of the week.
July 06, 2016
Each week, we tap into Dwell's Instagram community to bring you the most captivating design and architecture shots of the week.
June 29, 2016
Docomomo US announces the winners of this year's Modernism in America Awards. Each project showcases exemplary modern restoration techniques, practices, and ideas.
June 27, 2016
After last year’s collaboration, we were excited to team up with Monogram again for the 2016 Monogram Modern Home Tour.
June 27, 2016
A strategic rewire enhances a spec house’s gut renovation.
June 26, 2016
Coralie Gourguechon's paper objects will make you see technology in a whole new way.
June 26, 2016
Smart technology helps a house in Aspen, Colorado, stay on its sustainable course.
June 25, 2016
The aesthetic appeal of personal electronics has long fueled consumer interest. A new industrial design book celebrates devices that broke the mold.
June 25, 2016
An angled deck transforms a backyard in Menlo Park, California, into a welcoming gathering spot.
June 24, 2016
Today, we kicked off this year’s annual Dwell on Design at the LA Convention Center, which will continue through Sunday, June 26th. Though we’ve been hosting this extensive event for years, this time around is particularly special.
June 24, 2016
Two designers restore a low-slung midcentury gem in Napa, California, by an unsung Bay Area modernist.
June 24, 2016
San Francisco–based designer Maca Huneeus created her family’s weekend retreat near Lake Tahoe with a relaxed, sophisticated sensibility.
June 24, 2016
A Toronto couple remodel their home with a special emphasis on a spacious kitchen and a material-rich bathroom.
June 24, 2016
In Kansas City, an architecture studio designs an adaptable house for a musician on a budget.
June 23, 2016
By straightening angles, installing windows, and adding vertical accents, architect Aaron Ritenour brought light and order to an irregularly shaped apartment in the heart of Athens, Greece.
June 23, 2016
A modest kitchen addition to a couple’s cottage outside of Brisbane proves that one 376-square-foot room can revive an entire home.
June 23, 2016
Each week, we tap into Dwell's Instagram community to bring you the most captivating design and architecture shots of the week.
June 22, 2016
A modern dwelling replaces a fallen farmhouse.
June 22, 2016
Seeking an escape from bustling city life, a Manhattan couple embarks on a renovation in the verdant Hudson Valley.
June 22, 2016
Atelier Moderno renovated an old industrial building to create a luminous, modern home.
June 21, 2016
Anchored in a small San Francisco canal, this floating home takes its cues from a classic city habitat.
June 21, 2016
From the bones of a neglected farmstead in rural Scotland emerges a low-impact, solar-powered home that’s all about working with what was already there.
June 21, 2016
An architect with a taste for unconventional living spaces creates a small house at lofty heights with a starring view.
June 21, 2016
Marjan Van Aubel makes technology a little more natural.
June 21, 2016
Building on the site of a former one-car garage, an architect creates his family’s home in an evolving neighborhood of Brooklyn.
June 20, 2016
In a Brooklyn backyard, an off-duty architect builds a structure that tests his attention to the little things.
June 20, 2016
In the suburbs of Paris, an architect with an eco-friendly practice doesn’t let tradition stand in the way of innovation.
June 20, 2016
Join the Discussion