The Aesthete Issue 7, By Home Designing: Desert Dreams
Shai-Hulud, Cranes and Concorde
Welcome to this week's edition of The Aesthete — your exclusive e-pilgrimage to the sanctum of style and the vanguard of visual virtuosity! As the sands of March whisk us forward, we're riding the dunes straight to the door of 'The Dune House,' a habitation so harmoniously woven into the tapestry of its environment, you'd swear it's set for a cameo in 'Dune 2'. We then warm up by a fireplace donning a corten steel ensemble and explore the zen-like tranquility of a credenza, exuding the poised elegance of a bonsai tree—each curve and line a testament to design that whispers serenity. Buckle up; your senses are in for a treat!
As the eagerly anticipated "Dune 2" graces screens in early March, we look at an architectural gem that encapsulates the spirit of the saga — The Dune House visualized by Architect Reflects. Constructed to endure the extreme winds and scorching heat of its desert locale, this architectural masterpiece is a tribute to the robust legacy of Dune. It stands as a transparent glass bunker—ancient yet futuristic, monumental yet inviting. Its structure is a dance of heavy angular forms and expansive glazing, balanced to withstand the harsh environment while offering unobstructed views of the majestic landscape. It's a confluence of the strength of stone and the delicacy of glass, a shelter that's fiercely protective and serenely open.
Inside, the space is a stage set by a magnificent bronze mural of Shai-Hulud, a nod to the film's mythos, grounding the house in its Dune heritage. The layout is a masterpiece of flow and function, with open-plan living spaces that encourage movement and interaction, yet offer sanctuary. The open floor concept is articulated into distinct zones—each offering a seamless flow and a unique perspective on the desert's beauty. Bedrooms, buffered by walk-in closets and bathrooms, provide intimate retreats, each crowned with a balancing stone, adding a tactile sense of the architecture’s weight. This house is a dialogue between the need for fortress-like security and the desire to reside in harmony with a planet's natural grandeur, making it a testament to both human ingenuity and the raw power of nature.
Video, plans and more perspectives here.
Spatially Pleasing
This living room is where modern minimalism shakes hands with a touch of rustic charm. The fireplace is dressed in a rustic corten steel tuxedo, towering with an air of industrial sophistication, while the wooden ceiling panels above whisper sweet nothings about cozy mountain retreats. The sofa, in a hue reminiscent of a well-loved leather journal, offers a promise of comfort without the clutter, flanked by chairs that could double as modern art pieces—if you squint a bit. The area rug and cushions, patterned with zeal, add just the right amount of pizzazz to keep the eye dancing.
Behold the dining room where furniture takes a monastic vow of simplicity, with chairs that resemble sophisticated chess pieces, ready for a game where style is king. The wooden curves of the seats hint at a Scandinavian sauna rendezvous, each piece carved by a craftsman who dreams in soft arches and creamy oak. The table serves as a gently whispered centerpiece, a zen garden of dining where stress and clutter are left at the door. Hovering above, the light fixture is like a series of modernist brass trombones, silently serenading the room with a soft, golden glow.
In this bathroom, the decor has a fling with geometry, and it's a full-blown love affair. The sink dares to wear a coat of lipstick red, turning mundane morning routines into scenes from a vibrant pop art piece. The cabinet, a playful nod to Mondrian’s palette, decides that storing toiletries should be an exercise in abstract art. The mirror arches with the confidence of a catwalk model, framed by a light that could double as a star from an old Hollywood marquee. And those walls – they didn’t just want to be a backdrop; they wanted to be the main event, throwing patterns that dance and spin you around the room. It's the kind of space that might just make you late for work because you're too busy living in a work of art.
Step into a slumber chamber where sophistication snoozes and style doesn’t sleep a wink! This bedroom is where the term "modern luxury" comes to kick up its feet. The plush green pillows whisper of forest dreams amidst the urban chic, offering a crisp pop of color to an otherwise creamy palette. The headboard's wider than my weekend plans and those vertical lines are doing their best impression of a barcode—except this one says, "You've hit the jackpot of comfort." Then there's the rug, throwing some serious zebra vibes minus the safari trip. It's like a little round stage for the bed, which, by the way, looks so comfy it's almost offensive.
Behold the kitchen where wood reigns supreme, and the trees from outside seem to have snuck in to fashion themselves into cabinets and floors. This culinary stage is so seamlessly integrated with nature, you'd half expect a squirrel to be your sous chef. The island is a monolith of function and style, a place where salads are tossed and decisions are weighed, all under the watchful gaze of pendant lights that hang like pendants of illumination, simple yet effective. The plant is the wild card in this deck of polished oak, a dash of verdant spontaneity in a room that's all about straight lines and right angles. In this kitchen, every meal is a woodland retreat, a chance to dine amidst the trees without ever stepping outside.
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Landscape Love
In a garden where avant-garde meets the watering hole, this fountain is less "splashy backyard feature" and more "if Vogue did waterfalls." The stone wall is a runway of rugged textures that would make any geologist weak at the knees, while the water cascades down like the latest trend that's just hit the shelves – effortlessly cool. The metallic cranes, poised like they are about to steal the spotlight at an art deco gala, adds a splash of whimsy. And let's not forget the botanical audience, a mix of shrubs and trees that stand around like chic party-goers at a gallery opening. It’s nature, but make it fashion.
Objects Of Desire
Designed by the Jejo Jose & Vyshak Mohandas, it's as if a bonsai tree dreamed of becoming furniture and voilà – this piece is what sprouted overnight. It's the kind of credenza that whispers, "I'm not just a storage space, I'm a sanctuary." With lines so clean you could eat your sushi off them, it's the perfect stage for your most contemplative bonsai or, let's be real, that collection of remote controls.
Take to the skies of history with the LEGO Icons Concorde, a model that transcends time and sound barriers. This set is not just a building experience; it's a dive into the golden era of travel. Every brick adds to the authenticity, from the tiltable nose, mimicking the Concorde's aerodynamic design, to the minutely detailed seating area within. With digital instructions at your fingertips, assembly is a flight of fancy. Deploy the functioning landing gear and prepare for display; choose from flight, takeoff, or landing modes on the elegant stands.
Imagine if Cinderella's fairy godmother went into interior design and had a flair for the dramatics. Voila, you'd get the Surrealist Sustainable Figurative Titi Club Chair by Marjorie Skouras. This isn't just a chair; it's the throne for the queen of quirky chic. Dipped in a pot of liquid gold with a finish so bright it needs sunglasses, this hand-carved beauty is giving us full 'lady of the manor' vibes – if the manor was in a fashionable corner of Wonderland. With pumps that are sensible enough for a power walk yet chic enough for a gala, it's where your backside meets art.
Art Radar
One For The Classics
On Our Coffee Table
Dive into Bittersweet: Noma Bar where graphic eloquence meets piercing insight. This book is a visual feast, showcasing Bar's masterful use of positive and negative space to create images that tell a story with a twist. His minimalist approach packs a punch, reflecting on themes both whimsical and profound. Every page invites the viewer to look, then look again, discovering layers of meaning in simple, elegant lines. The book is a conversation in contrasts, a clever dance of color and contour that delights and disarms in equal measure. A must-have for art enthusiasts and visual thinkers alike.
Wallpaper Drop
Palette Power
This palette is like a throwback Thursday on your walls, isn't it? The lineup starts with a 'Mysterious Grape' that's as deep as your secrets from the '80s. Moving on, we've got 'Flirty Fuchsia,' bold enough to ask your high school crush out... again. Then there's 'Tangy Tangerine,' so zesty it could out-dance you at a disco. Next up is 'Mellow Mustard,' which is as comforting as that old corduroy couch you can't seem to part with. And lastly, 'Vintage Vanilla,' as classic as the mixtape you made but never gave away. Use this palette to turn your space into a nostalgic haven that even your teen self would brag about. Just add some vinyl records and you’ve got a groove that even bell-bottoms can’t beat!
Wordly Pleasures
The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see. — Mary Davis