Architecture & Interiors – Stylishly Zen

The Mit Chit House

Published on January 10, 2022January 10, 2022 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

Since the pandemic started and we were forced to stay indoors more often than not, I have become more aware of open spaces, green space and natural light. In Montreal we are now back in lockdown, so naturally today’s featured project has many areas that I am currently missing in my life right now. It also checks off all of the boxes of projects that I am currently loving!

Located in Bangkok Thailand, The Mid Chit house by Looklen Architects features four different courtyards that extend beyond the double height interiors of the home.

The Mid Chit house is a new residence the is connected to an existing family home that is connected by an upped level enclosed bridge. Mid Chit means “close together” and it a beautiful example on the balance between private spaces and more public ones that invite the outdoors inside via courtyards.

Strategically placed skylights and windows allow daylight into the heart of the home, while natural materials and light colours give the home a natural airy feel.

The home is three levels entered around an open living and dining area that encourages interaction and openness within this family home.

The private level on the third floor houses the bedrooms that allow the residents privacy within their own personal space.

Light, airy and open while still allowing it’s residents privacy, Looklen Architects has done a wonderful job renovating a preexisting home to suit modern day. What are your thoughts on this stunning home? Let me know in the comments below.

Thank you for stopping by Stylishly Zen today, I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

All images via http://www.dwell.com

The Stratford London by Space Copenhagen

Published on October 5, 2020October 5, 2020 by soreiyaLeave a comment

There are many things that I love about travelling. Like many people bitten by the travel bug, I relish the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture, attempt to communicate in a new language, meet new people, try new food and learn more about this beautiful and diverse planet we call home. Another thing that I love about travelling is staying in a hotel. Now I realize that not everyone who travels enjoys this part of it (or even does it given the growing popularity of AirBnB), but I love it and spend an enormous amount of time researching hotels while making my travel plans. This may seem odd to some but I love the luxury of a good hotel, the thought that has gone into the design and the effort that is made for the guest to have an enjoyable experience. I have such great memories of my hotels throughout my travels: crawling into a dreamy bed with a pastel de nata and watching Chicago PD after a long day of sightseeing in Lisbon, trying my first Nepresso coffee thanks to the courtesy machine in my room in Barcelona or unwinding with a chilled glass of wine on my hotel room balcony in Madrid are just some of my favourites. So while travel has been put on hold for me at the moment I am still dreaming of the day that I will get back to enjoying my hotel experiences. The most recent hotel that I am dreaming about is The Stratford in London. This room was designed by the multi talented design team Space Copenhagen.

Like all of Space Copenhagen’s projects this room is elevated elegance while staying true to their Scandinavian roots. The colour palette is both welcoming and relaxing and the various textures and materials used add just the perfect amount of interest without being overwhelming.

The bathroom is a marble oasis with a lust worthy tub to relax in after a busy day. The veining in marble adds interest and helps the eye to softly move throughout the space. Black fixtures and natural accents elevate this space to dreamy.

The countertop sink further elevates the slight Eastern influence, and coupled with the balance of fixtures successfully gives guests a subtle zen vibe throughout the space.

The colour palette and textures in the bedroom is my favourite thing about this space. From the natural wood floors to the softly coloured walls elegantly contrasting and elevating the hardware and colour of the furniture throughout the room. The gorgeous green of the bench and headboard of the bed has completely grabbed my attention and I will be looking of ways to incorporate it into my own space. Love it!

Overall, this dreamy refuge by Space Copenhagen has captured my attention and has me looking forward to dreamy future hotel visits.

Thank you for visiting Stylishly Zen today, I hope that you have a safe and beautiful day! XXS

All images via http://www.spacecph.dk

Inspiring Design

Published on May 25, 2020May 24, 2020 by soreiya2 Comments

Hi Everyone!

Today’s Inspiring Design is a gorgeous Victorian home located in San Francisco. Victorian homes have always had a special place in my heart since I saw Mrs. Doubtfire when I was younger. When I first saw pictures of this house, I was expecting beautiful and classic design, but with each picture that I saw my jaw dropped further to the floor. It is widely billed as the former home of actress Meg Ryan but the home has undergone quite the transformation since. When the current owners purchased the home in 2014, they hired local architect Tim Murphy to update the home which included a new kitchen, master suite, family room and upstairs lounge. Murphy was able to retain a lot of the original magic of the space by keeping the gorgeous crown molding and millwork throughout the home. Interior design firm Nicole Hollis was also hired early in remodel process to consult on interior finishes, hardware and custom cabinetry along with the furnishings and the majority of the decorative lighting among other things. The front living room is particular favourite (first image). I love the contrast of the marble accents with the chevron walnut flooring against the navy, grey and white colour palette. The house is 7050 square feet with five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms. The blend of classic and modern throughout the home is stunning, but the incredible bay views is what really made this Victorian home stand out to me. Sliding doors in the kitchen which open onto a terrace offer breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay. The kitchen itself is a dream with a waterfall marble island, exquisite custom cabinetry and top of the line appliances. Adjacent to the kitchen is the family room and the dining room, both of which offer beautiful views of the bay as well. Aside from the beautiful view, I am completely in love with the sculptural smoked glass lighting fixture hanging above the dining room table. Gorgeous!The most incredible room in this house though is on the top floor. The upstairs lounge offers panoramic views of the city and the bay, including offering unobstructed views of Angel Islands and Alcatraz. The lounge opens to a stunning terrace which houses a fire pit to help create a cozy atmosphere. The views from there both day and night are fantastic and it looks like the most incredible spot to unwind with a glass of wine after a long week. All information and images are from http://www.dwell.com and you can find more images for this gorgeous home here.

Thank you for stopping by Stylishly Zen today and I hope that you are safe and have a beautiful day! XXS

Inspiring Design

Published on April 16, 2020April 15, 2020 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

I’m sure that it comes as no surprise, but all of this extra time at home has me deep diving into the world of architecture and interiors. So far I have completed Kelly Wearstler’s Master Class, read Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone from cover to cover, and I am now over halfway thru Kelly Wearstler’s Evocative Style. I am also slowing catching up on the pile of design magazines I have stacked up and I am loving all of the interior inspiration that Instagram is currently providing. Aside from other activities that are keeping me busy while isolating, I am very happy in my design education bubble.

The gorgeous kitchen in today’s Inspiring Design is what first caught my attention. While I had never before dreamt of a dark kitchen, with a stunning black marble island, floor to ceiling steel windows and chevron wood floor this may well be the kitchen of my dreams. The Dutch Gable House by Austin Design Associates is the design firm behind the dreamy and contemporary renovation of this historic Melbourne home. The renovation seamlessly melds the existing Edwardian and Federation details with an elegant colour and material palette and modern design. The result is a timeless and sophisticated home that is a design lovers dream. The combination of stunning materials such as Cote D’Azur marble, oak herringbone floors and titanium granite along with the steel floor to celling windows which invite an abundance of natural light, and details such as freestanding tubs and restrained decor make this home bright, inviting and chic. The outdoor space is equally restrained yet inviting. It looks like the perfect spot to enjoy a sunny afternoon with a great book and glass of rose. The proverbial icing on this beautiful home are the furnishings that elevate the materials used throughout the home. From the deep green dining chairs paired with a statement wood dining table, cool and varied lighting choices and the mix of furniture using both natural textures and sleek design, I can’t think of anything that I would change in this home. Love it!

You can see more of this gorgeous home here. Photo credit http://www.thelocalproject.com.au

I hope that you are all staying safe and well while social distancing, and that you have great day! XXS

Five Faves While Social Distancing

Published on March 31, 2020March 30, 2020 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

It feels really weird to be writing this post today. Regardless of where you are in the world right now, you have been touched in one way or another by the global pandemic that we are currently experiencing. While the situation is frightening and anxiety inducing, it has also really given me some perspective and allowed me some time and space for some much needed clarity in my life. I wanted to share my five faves at the moment that are helping me to stay sane, keep my anxiety at bay and smile a little bit brighter as we take the steps necessary to flatten the curve of cases of COVID-19. Here are my Five Faves while practicing social distancing and self isolation:

Working out with Melissa Wood Health

Like most people I have been forced to modify my workouts. I am a bit of cardio junkie so not being able to hop on the treadmill or elliptical trainer at the gym has been a huge change. I decided to embrace this as an opportunity to switch up my work outs and I purchased a subscription to the fitness app Melissa Wood Health. The moves are low impact and seem so simple but it is so hard! It is a great way to challenge my body and keep me active while I practice social distancing. If you are looking for less expensive ways to work out then hop onto Youtube, there are a ton of videos there that will help you to get moving and relieve some stress.

Cooking with Jennifer Fisher Kitchen

I have always been a fan of Jennifer Fisher. If you are unfamiliar with her, she is a very talented NYC jewelry designer who is also a really good cook. I have been loving all of the recipes that she posts on her website and she walks thru a lot of her recipes on Instagram Stories which really helps to keep me motivated to try new things. Over the past week and a half she has been posting more recipes and videos and everything looks so good! Since I began self isolation I have made her banana bread recipe twice, sautéed artichokes and her recipe for twice baked potatoes. Whole roasted cauliflower, pantry soup and more banana bread will be a part of my meal planning for this next week. If you are looking for some delicious and easy recipe inspiration check out her recipes on here Instagram page @jenniferfisherkitchen or on her website here

Jennifer Fisher’s My Mom’s Da Bomb Banana Bread – it is sooooo good and addictive!!!!!

Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone

If you have been following this blog for a while then you know that I am a total design junkie. Athena Calderone is the creator of the gorgeous blog Eye Swoon (www.eye-swoon.com) and she just released her second book Live Beautiful in early March. Within this book, Athena goes into the homes of incredible designers around the world and shows us their spaces and their design choices. The homes are gorgeous and endlessly inspiring. If you are searching for a gorgeous design book to get lost into for a few hours or if you are searching for some fresh inspiration this book is for you.

Breathing App

My job in manufacturing has issued temporary layoffs during this uncertain time and I live alone so there have been moments that I feel a little uneasy and anxious. I think that it’s important to acknowledge these feelings rather then suppress them, sit with them and unpack them to really understand why I am feeling the way that I do in that moment, so that I can move forward in a healthy manner. A part of this process is learning to take moments to focus on my breathing. Some people are trying meditation during this challenging time but I have had better luck with consistently taking moments to focus on my breath so this is the method that I am sticking with right now. The Breathing app is something that I heard about last year and immediately downloaded it. Developed by Eddie Stern and is inspired by resonance which is “the scientific name that describes what happens when our heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure and brainwave function come into coherent frequency.”(via http://www.eddiestern.com). It helps to regulate your breathing so that you instantly feel calmer and more relaxed. You basically follow a ball – as it expands for a count of 4 you inhale and as it contracts you inhale for a count of 6 for a total of one minute. You can adjust the breath counts to what you feels what works best for you. The app is free and I have been using it at least twice a day (morning and night) and I cannot recommend it enough. If you feel that you need some help taking a moment to help regulate your breathing and feel calmer in the moment then this app is worth trying.

Ugly Delicious Season 2 on Netflix

I love food shows and Ugly Delicious is no exception. Season 2 dropped on Netflix earlier this month and it is soooo good! This time off has allowed me to catch up on a ton of shows that I have been meaning to watch but this series really stands out. I especially loved the episode about Indian food which featured the supremely talented chef Floyd Cardoz who sadly passed away last week after being diagnosed with COVID-19. I love learning about cultures thru food and Ugly Delicious does a great job showcasing both the similarities and subtle nuances between cultures. If you are searching for a cool, fun and interesting show to binge on then Ugly Delicious should definitely be on your list.

Thank you for stopping by Stylishly Zen today. Please feel free to share in the comments things that you are currently loving, and tips that you are using to stay sane during this crazy time in the world. Please stay safe and take care and I look forward to hearing from you! XXS