Clever ideas from homes around the world 2
Storage has been built in all over the house – under stairs, in corners, and at high and low heights inside and outside. “Storage is part of the architecture and not an afterthought,” Montgomery says. The stairs, for example, are designed to be part of the kitchen on one side and part of the lounge on the other. While the kitchen side of the stairs houses a ‘step-in’ pantry in the corner and wine store under the lower end, the lounge side has a series of doors under every two steps, plus two large drawers at the base. As well as containing the usual living room clutter, the joinery conceals the home entertainment and serves as a tech hub for the TV, and a built-in wireless audio system installed throughout the house. At the very end of the stairs is an ‘invisible’ pivot door designed to look like joinery. It opens to a small airlock that leads to the powder room located behind the kitchen. “This was a way of adding privacy to the bathroom as well as removing the thought that the bathroom opens up onto a living room,” Montgomery says. “In a footprint this small every space gets used, so the airlock houses a linen cupboard as well as the switchboard and PV cell inverter.”
14. Location: Toronto, Canada Why we love it: The architect tasked with redesigning this 100-year-old home came up with an ingenious solution for how to add a laundry to the bathroom. So as not to lose the bathroom’s relaxed, sanctuary-like vibe, he installed the practical laundry zone inside a self-contained timber box, which can be hidden away behind folding doors.
Here, recycled tallowwood has been used as a window covering that doubles as a privacy screen, albeit one that allows in dappled light.
Besser blocks as a decorative and structural element in an island bench; such a beautiful – and affordable – expression of Australian vernacular design.
A half ladder as a magazine rack. An oldie but a goodie.
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