minimalism design – Stylishly Zen

Dream Design – Dexamenes, Kourouta Greece

Published on April 23, 2019April 23, 2019 by soreiya1 Comment

I have always been a believer in love at first sight, and while I have yet to experience the type of happily ever after that we often see in the movies, the design projects that have stolen my heart in an instant remain there for many many years. Today’s Dream Design is one such design project. The first picture that I saw of it grabbed my attention and my love continued to grow with every further picture of it that I saw, and every story that I read about it – needless to say, it is a architectural love story for the modern age.

Dexamenes is located on Kourouta Beach which is a beautiful stretch of coastline in the western Peloponnese. Its history dates back to the “Era of Currents”, although it was left relatively untouched since the 1920’s. Athen’s based K-Studio created a design that successfully respected its strong history and beauty of the site while breathing new life into the space. The result is a modern, elegant and minimalist hotel with a raw, brutal and industrial aesthetic. Respecting the existing buildings by leaving them relatively untouched, K-Studio updated the site using concrete, steel, timber and glass.

The hotel rooms were built within two concrete blocks that are divided length wise into two rows of ten storage tanks. The rooms are identical with the openings facing towards the beach. Everything is connected by a raised promenade walkway that leads towards the water. Each room has a double bed, an open wardrobe and a large double shower which adds to the sense of luxury within the minimal aesthetic. The bathroom is separated by the rest of the room by a wall of textured glass which allows the light from the large sliding windows at the front to reach the back of the tank.

The entry to the hotel is from behind the tanks. Concrete, glass partitions and a louvered plywood canopy provide a warm welcome along with the guests first view of the sea.

Phase two which will see further extensions and a garden are planned along with the addition of extra amenities such as a taverna, boutique selling local wares and a history room are planned for 2019.

The design of Dexamenes is both thoughtful and intelligent. With a strong minimalistic design aesthetic, this hotel is a study in respecting history, restraint and brutal beauty that is often difficult to achieve.

All images via http://www.k-studi.gr

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Inspiring Interior

Published on September 28, 2017September 27, 2017 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Judging from the amount of Inspiring Interiors blog posts that I have done on Swedish designs lately, it would be safe to say that I have a deep love for Swedish interiors. Today’s post is no exception.

Located in Stockholm, this stylish one bedroom flat is a minimalist interior designer’s dream. The wood furniture highlights the beauty of the herringbone wood floor and the bright white kitchen is chic yet unfussy. The dining nook is an ideal spot to host friends while the little balcony is the perfect spot to enjoy the weather. Overall, what this apartment lacks in size more then makes up for it in design.

All images from http://www.noter.se

I hope that you have a beautiful day! ❤️XXS

Inspiring Interior

Published on May 12, 2017May 11, 2017 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Today’s inspiring interior is located in Stockholm. The bright white walls and many windows allow the natural beauty of this gorgeous apartment to shine. While a wood table and natural fibre chairs are not styles of furniture that I normally gravitate towards, I am loving how they contrast against it’s bright environment and the beautiful marble kitchen. Whimsical touches like the lounge chairs, super cool light fixtures and eclectic art work give this fabulous space personality, while the grey furniture and plants tie everything together. This apartment really showcases the beauty of Swedish interior design. Love it!

All images from http://www.nuter.se

I hope that you have a fabulous day! ❤️XXS

Inspiring Interiors

Published on October 18, 2016October 17, 2016 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Interior design and architecture have been a life long passion of mine. I love how some fresh paint and light can completely transform a room. One of my favourite interior designers is Barcelona based designer Katty Schiebeck. Katty is a design forced to be reckoned with. Her show stopping interiors are a lesson in simplicity and minimalism, and her use of colours and contrasting materials is absolutely breathtaking. To say that I am obsessed with her work would be an understatement, so it made sense that one of her projects would be the first in the Inspiring Interiors series here on Stylishly Zen.

This project located on the Passeig de Concepcio in Barcelona is part of a conversion project that Katty worked on. The use of natural light and marble contrasting with dark wood and pops of colour makes this aparthotel a showstopper. The herringbone pattern on the floor elevates the level of design in the entire space. Simple and elegant, this apartment is straight out of my dreams.