A warehouse conversion in London

Warehouse conversions always excite me, especially when one of my favourite designers has had some part of it. This one-bedroom conversion on the third floor of a renovated Victorian warehouse was the home (and could still be?) of Ilse Crawford as seen way back in Jo's post from 2007, and is currently for sale. It was a collaboration between Ilse, Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen and 6a Architects. The long wall of storage hides the front door and a washroom. The bookcases along the opposite wall make me giddy - to have so much open storage for displaying books and trinkets! (Although the current state of clutter on the shelving is making me have a slight coronary). It is so bright with all those large windows, and OMG those Zellige tiles will forever be a favourite of mine. You can find details of this fabulous home on The Modern House. 

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Old school conversion

It is hard to believe this was once a school. This modern, bright and airy loft in Amsterdam is now home to a family of five. The teacher’s lounge became bedrooms and the classroom became the living space. The kitchen is fantastic! I especially love the wall of open storage over the sink cabinet section. Such a fun place to raise kids in. No worries about the floors getting scratched up (it's concrete) or one of the kids hiding somewhere and wrecking havoc (their toys are stashed in the play area under the stairs). By Standard Studio.

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A church conversion in London

Yes folks, it is another church conversion here on DTI, because Jo and I love a good conversion and churches have such incredible, dramatic architecture. This church is 19th century with a gothic vibe, and features 4 bedrooms each with their own bathrooms, a specially commissioned kitchen, hand painted columns, gloriously huge arched windows, blackened oak herringbone floor (dying over this!!) and a small courtyard. This is by far one of my favourite church conversions we have featured. A new location on the Shoot Factory roster. 

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Inner House

Kim and I just can't say no to a church renovation. Such a tricky thing to pull off though. Often the domestic overwhelms its ecclesiastical shell. Weird rooms, cut off windows, the twee of everyday life competing with the gravity of a former place of worship. A desire to leave the existing building untouched drove the design of the Inner House by Bates Smart.

"The Inner House is a single dwelling constructed in the 1926 First Church of Christ Scientist in East Sydney. The House is erected on a platform built over the raking floor with a pair of two storey cubes flanking the volume. These spaces contain sleeping accommodation and ancillary facilities whilst the central space provides living and dining areas. The concept is derived from the formal geometry of the volume, its austerity and the temporary nature of the new structure."

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Another church conversion

Yes, it is another church conversion here on DTI, one of our favourite types of transformations. I think what really gets me with church conversions these days is my new appreciation for stained glass windows, as my current home has several and they're just such beautiful architectural elements. The windows of this home are really stunning - the yellow is so pretty. Chicago-based interior architect Linc Thelen has turned this church into a modern home with a sleek kitchen (I love how it is centered around the massive stained glass grouping) a massive 2-sided fireplace focal point and lots of white and blond wood. Everything is kept bright and fairly simple which keeps your attention where it should be - on those glorious windows.

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