Concrete Building Blocks

Images of the Pentimento House by architects David Barragán and Jose María Sáez.  This house is built out of standardized concrete building blocks that can be adapted to fit together and be used in a variety of ways to suit different functions.  You can read more about the building block system over at Dwell.

Images from Dwell December/January 2012.  Photos by João Canziani.

Open-Yet-Divided Living Area

What I really love about this feature (Lines in the Sand, Architectural Digest November 2012, Photos by Pieter Estersohn, design by Olson Kundig Architects) is that it allows you to see the overall view of this amazing, open living space, and then also to see a ground level view of each of the zones.

There's the living/sitting zone with that great fireplace:

Then there's the game table/library zone:

And finally that great outdoor, beachside seating area, which can be separated from the indoor zones by glass doors:

Overall a beautiful project.  Great natural palette and good division of space that still maintains a very open feeling.  I love the use of that horizontal wood "canopy" that creates the feeling of a hallway and breaks up the vertical space.

Instant Attraction: House Beautiful - Naturally Modern

Love the color and materials palette of this project.  Lots of texture, pattern and natural materials.  And I LOVE the groundcover in the deck area.  It is called Baby's Tears, and I want some.

Images from House Beautiful, July/August 2012.  Interior design by Mark Egerstrom.  Photos by Lisa Romerein.  More photos of this project after the jump...

Architectural Digest: Home of Jenni Kayne and Richard Ehrlich

From Architectural Digest, October 2012: Comfort Zone.  The home of Jenni Kayne and Richard Ehrlich.  I love the simple and relaxed palette and the overall vibe of this project.  Looks very beautiful but still comfy and livable for a family.  Speaking of which, even the children's rooms are amazing.  Project by Standard.

All photos from www.architecturaldigest.com or scanned from the magazine.  Photos by Roger Davies.

More photos of this amazing home after the jump...

Instant Attraction: Home of Alfredo Paredes and Brad Goldfarb

I love everything about this apartment.  It's in the East Village, has a KILLER terrace, the architecture is so lovely, and the design that was implemented is gorgeous.  I want it all.  The materials palette, those windows!, the fireplaces, fixtures, millwork, furnitures, fabrics, the floor-to-ceiling wraparound draperies in the master bedroom.  And that dog is a muffin too.  What a retreat it must be to come home to this place. 

All images by Miguel Flores-Vianna, from www.architecturaldigest.com.  Featured in Architectural Digest April 2012, "Partners in Style".

Instant Attraction: West Village Garden of Julianne Moore

I am mega-crushing on Julianne Moore's West Village garden.  I might truly consider killing for a garden like this, especially in the WV.  I am oving everything about it.  The greenery (no flowers!), the wild look or it all, the walls of ivy, and I LOVE the way the aptly named staghorn ferns are potted in wall-mounted planters so that they look like game trophies.

Above photo by Christopher Baker from Architectural Digest.  Definitely go have a look at the rest of the photos of this lovely secret garden.