Archives 2023

Assisted living bathrooms are becoming more and more popular. Especially with an increase in the elderly population, allowing people to stay longer in their own homes. These bathrooms provide a few different features, both for safety and accessibility, such as grabrails and overheight toilets.

These overheight toilets can be installed with sensor flush buttons, for example, which are touchless and therefore more hygienic. Electronic bidets are also useful when talking about hygiene. Some brands of bidets can be coupled with existing toilets, depending on the size and shape of the pan. They offer an additional level of comfort for the user, with heated seats and different jets of water.

For wheelchair users, mixers with extended levers are essential, as well as wall-mounted basins and walk-in showers. For low-vision users, matte black tapware offers good contrast with white tiles, making it easy to locate the handles. On the floor, a slip-resistant tile is a great option to prevent accidents. This feature is useful not only for the elderly but for anyone who wants a safer bathroom.

Overheight toilet: Kado Lux (Reece)
Flush button: Hideaway Sensor (Reece)
Wall-mounted basin: Petra 800 (Fienza)
Tapware: Hustle Care (Fienza)
Grabrails: Mizu Assisted Living (Reece)
Mirror: Arch Mirror 450×1175 (Fienza)
Floor tiles: Concrete Fusion Anthracite (National Tiles)
Wall tiles: 3D Wave Gloss (National Tiles)

Are you thinking of adapting your bathroom as well? It’s not all about a nice look: you also need to take into account the standards and regulations.

Instant Design has the skills to assist you in this matter. Get in touch today to book a consultation!

A few years ago we were engaged to work on a corporate project for a multinational company: their new educational facilities in Curitiba, Brazil. This company is from Germany, but its South American headquarters are located in Curitiba. The production site spreads around 20,000 sqm of built area, where they manufacture machines for the textile industry. Besides Germany and Brazil, they have units in China, India, Mexico, and the USA, among other countries.

The corporate project for this multinational company involved the renovation of an existing ground-floor building. The educational facilities would have a training room and a videoconference room, as well as toilets and a cafeteria. As per the clients’ request. we used state-of-the-art features. As an example, we specified double glass partitions with blinds operated by remote control for the training room.

Aiming to allow multiple uses of the space, we chose a flexible range of office desks. This furniture allowed for different configurations, such as meeting rooms, classrooms, or team groups. For the coffee bar, we proposed a small kitchenette and tall tables with stools, aiming to create engagement among the attendees. Regarding finishes and materials, we opted for light oak partitions, suggesting neutral greys for both the carpet and floor tiles. For the office chairs, we chose tan leather, the same finish as the stools in the cafeteria.

This was not the only corporate project designed by us. At Instant Design we have plenty of experience in designing commercial spaces, as you may see here or here.

Are you thinking about uplifting your office? Or maybe setting up a new business and in need of some ideas? Let’s have a chat!

The warm tones of corten steel in this minimalist bathroom are a perfect scenario for the wash plane and bathtub with straight lines. And we are so glad that we could find in Australia the same steel corten tiles from Portobello that we used in one of our past projects. You may check more info on this project here, where the corten steel look-like tile was used as a feature on the external facade.

Going back to our minimalist bathroom, the rust-like appearance of the steel after being exposed to the elements is one of our favourite patterns. Especially when combined with light grey cement and mosaic tiles in off-white, it’s a very nice combination. And talking about mosaic tiles, we love them as much as corten steel! You may see other mood boards where we used mosaic tiles here and here.

The minimalist look is complete with a vertical ceiling shower and a wall basin spout with a progressive mixer, all in chrome. In addition, you may have a frameless mirror with an irregular shape or a simple round one. One or two robe hooks as accessories and that is it. After all, less is more!

Washplane: Geo (Omvivo)
Bath tub: Latis 1600 (Omvivo)
Corten steel tile: Steel corten 60×120 (Portobello, available in Australia at Tile Mega Mart)
Vertical shower: Circa (Sussex Tapware)
Wall basin mixer: Mili Pure Progressive (Reece)
Robe hook: Empire (Temple & Webster)
Mirror: Erwyn Organic Wall Mirror (Temple & Webster)

Did you like this look? At Instant Design we can assist you in selecting the right finishes and materials for your new house or renovation.

In this sustainable building for a community centre, our goal was to explore renewable solutions and use local materials. As part of an architectural competition that comprised two other buildings, we opted for eucalyptus poles as the structural system, with all other buildings sharing the same approach. For the external cladding, we chose certified timber, ensuring the material is from sustainable forests. Regarding the floor, we suggested demolition timber planks.

Aiming for passive cooling, we proposed raked ceilings with cross ventilation and an internal yard. The yard not only assists in cooling off the temperature but also brings natural light to the internal corridors. The same solution was used in another building that was part of the same complex, as you may see here. Regarding accessibility, we proposed two ramps on each side of the building, making it easier for people with disabilities to access the community centre.

Taking advantage of the site’s location, in a coastal area in the Northeast of Brazil, we allocated low-noise compact wind turbines on the roof. They would assist with electricity generation and also create an interesting feature, with its axis anchored in the eucalyptus poles. Furthermore, we proposed solar panels for the hot water system, as the region where the building sits has plenty of sun all year round.

Design competitions are a great way for architects to drive innovation and boost creativity. Are you after innovative and creative solutions for your house? Do you want to know more about passive cooling and sustainable design?

Let’s have a chat! Send us an email or give us a call and we will be happy to assist you!

There is no way one can have seasickness in this nautical bathroom surrounded by tones of blue. Followed by accessories made of natural materials, such as the mirror with a rope frame or the ceramic pot with dry flowers, this bathroom is perfect for a beach house. Encaustic tiles in navy blue complement the look, matching the vanity with shaker panels from Timberline.

On the wall, either wallpaper with a marine theme or the tongue and groove panel in satin white. Aiming to add some glamour? The wall sconce and the tapware in gold are the perfect choice. For other colour schemes where we used golden taps or accessories, click here or here. For basins and baths, you may have either contemporary pieces or more antique ones in gloss white.

Vanity: Farmhouse from Sutherland House Collection (Timberline)
Encaustic tiles: Majorca Motif Navy Matt (Beaumont Tiles)
VJ panel: Hardie Groove Lining (James Hardie)
Tapware: Posh Canterbury Brass Gold (Reece)
Wall light: Ashland Bay Wall Light (Lighterior)

Do you live by the beach or simply after some beachy vibes for your house? Give us a call or send us an email and we will be happy to help you achieve this look!

This project was meant to be the dream home for a big family, with 4 bedrooms and plenty of space for entertainment. However, due to unfortunate events, the owners had to sell the land. Even though the owners didn’t build the house, this is one of our favourite concept designs!

Still up-to-date, it combines contemporary elements, such as open plans and straight lines, with classic ones, such as raked roofs and window trims. For another one of our projects, where we combined a contemporary floorplan with a classic facade, click here.

At the main entry, you have a hallway that leads to the living area, which also gives access to a home office and a powder room. The living area is spacious, comprising a media room, a bar, and a dining area. The dining has views of the pool, with a double-height ceiling above it.

From the dining room, you can access either the second floor or the kitchen. An island benchtop separates the kitchen from the dining room. Being a central piece of the kitchen, the cooktop with an island rangehood allows the owners to cook while enjoying the pool views. Between the kitchen and the 3-car garage, a walk-in pantry makes it easy to store the groceries.

On the second floor, a TV room gathers all the family around their favourite movie. From this central room, we can the four bedrooms, two of which are ensuites. The master one, however, has a walk-in robe, spa bath, and a balcony facing the pool.

PS 1. Out of curiosity, most 2-storey houses in Brazil are made of brick and mortar, hence the thick internal walls. Even though drywall is becoming more and more popular, masonry is still the most prevalent system for the house envelope.

Are you after a dream home for your family as well? At Instant Design we have experience either with residential or commercial projects. Send us a message and let’s have a chat!

Not all terrazzo tiles are the same. Especially when made with a unique combination of tones that tie together other elements of the project. In this case, we opted for a terrazzo tile in sandy colours from Fibonacci, showcasing a combination of warm greys and notes of caramel. However, terrazzo tiles allow for many other combinations. You may find another project where we used terrazzo with grey tones here and here for example.

On the walls, we chose off-white 3D tiles in a gloss finish. They contrast with the tapware in brushed nickel, adding a touch of contemporaneity. Aiming to bring a warm atmosphere, we suggest light oak timber for the cabinetry and other objects, such as stools and shaving mirror cabinets. Shaving mirror cabinets, by the way, are excellent ways to maximize storage and add sophistication to your bathroom.

To complement the look, opt for objects made of clay ceramic in sandy tones, such as the vessel basin and the wall sconce from Robert Gordon. Also, allow for plant pots and other decorative elements in ceramic or terrazzo, which will add to the look.

Vanity: Waverley (ADP)
Shaving mirror cabinet: Issy Halo (Reece)
Basin: Clay 350 (Robert Gordon)
Terrazzo tiles: Moon Garden (Fibonacci)
Mosaic tiles: Spatial Hex Gloss (Beaumont Tiles)
Tapware: Teel (Phoenix Tapware)
Accessories: Nuage (Phoenix Tapware)
Wall light: Oyster (Robert Gordon)

Are you also in love with terrazzo tiles? Do you need help to search for the perfect combination of colours and materials for your bathroom? We can help!

In 2013, one of our clients engaged our practice to develop this commercial project in a very privileged street. While the upper level has 6 offices, the ground floor has 2 spacious shops. However, these shops could be either subdivided into 4 units or grouped into a bigger one.

The project occupies the whole lot frontage, taking advantage of the existing zoning parameters. We allocated one shop on each side of the building, with an entryway to the upper level in the middle. The access to the second floor consists of a stairway and a lift, which form an outstanding volume in the facade.

The local legislation permits mezzanines up to 50% of the shop floor, so we suggested a double-height ceiling. Therefore, the shop tenants would be able to maximize their space. We discussed this idea in advance with the structural engineers, who then considered the mezzanine when doing their calculations.

To visually reduce the double height of the first floor, which has wide shop windows, an aluminium awning runs through the main facade. Large steel corten porcelain tiles from Portobello complement the look, along with textured render in neutral colours.

Both the stairway and lift also connect the two floors with the basement, where the parking lot is. Aiming to reduce costs with excavation, we followed the natural profile of the lot. Considering that the ground floor sits 1.6m above the street level, we proposed a curved accessible ramp aiming for accessibility.

On the second floor, a hall gives access to the six offices. While two of them face the front of the lot, the other four are facing back. Having an open-plan room, each office suite has a small kitchenette and an accessible toilet, as per the local regulations.

The owners wanted to provide infrastructure for the air conditioning system in all offices but, at the same time, give the tenants the option to customize the internal floor plan. Therefore, we simulated a few possible layouts, so the engineers could set the best location for the air conditioning equipment.

Soon after the construction, all units were leased. The location on a privileged street was certainly important for this outcome. However, the well-planned spaces, the good-quality materials, and the elegant facade definitely had a positive impact.

At Instant Design, we have plenty of experience planning commercial spaces. And we are ready to assist you with your next job. For other examples of commercial projects we have done in the past, you may click here and here.

Aiming for a contemporary farmhouse look for your bathroom? Choose gloss white subway wall tiles and tapware in brushed gunmetal. If you combine them with cement-look like tiles on the floor, you can’t go wrong. Cement-look tiles, by the way, go well with many other different styles, as you may see in one of our other mood boards here.

For the vanity, we suggest cabinetry in warm timber tones, which may also be present on the floor of the adjacent rooms. For the countertop, Cloudburst Concrete from Caesarstone to match the floor. Regarding sanitaryware, prefer appliances with fewer details, such as the Kado Lux freestanding bath with an oval shape or a rectangular basin with soft corners.

Aiming to boost the vintage look? Mix and match objects in black or antique silver, such as wall lights, robe hooks, and mirrors. Bric-a-brac markets and op-shops are great places to find antique objects full of character and charm. Finally, don’t forget to add plant pots, bringing nature to inside your bathroom!

Bath: Kado Lux Petite 1500mm White (Reece)
Basin: Max Gloss White Ceramic (ADP)
Floor tile: Windsor Matte Grey Concrete Look 600×600 (Tile Cloud)
Tapware: Mizu Drift (Reece)
Wall light: Arti (Nook Collections)
Robe hook: Nostalgic Farmhouse Antique Pewter (Restoration Online)

Thinking about renovating your bathroom? Did you like our contemporary farmhouse bathroom? Get in touch for more details!

Back in 2012, we had the opportunity to assist one of our corporate clients with this renovation project. The building renovation included not only a facade uplift but also a new internal layout. At the upper level, we proposed curved panels in aluminium to hide the existing individual balconies, bringing movement and unity to the building.

Curves were also present in other elements of this renovation, such as the textured concrete wall which hides a generator, to the right side of the stairway. Or the accessible ramp, which performs a smooth curve that leads to the entry door. Indeed, curved ramps are a clever idea when we need to reach a different level within a small space. We used a similar approach in some of our architectural projects, as you may see here and here.

We developed this building renovation project for a company that manipulates enteral nutrition and chemotherapy medication. Our role comprised not only designing a facade uplift and the internal layout for the administrative areas but also coordinating other professionals. Among the external consultants, there was the team in charge of the laboratory equipment and the air conditioning system, for example.

The first floor, located below street level, lodges storage and the logistics department. On the other hand, the second one has the laboratories and the main entry. The original project had two wide stairways leading to the entry, which posed an obstacle for people with disabilities. So we reduced the width of the stairs, proposing an accessible curved ramp instead.

The third floor lodges the administrative staff, a meeting room and the director’s office. On that floor, we took advantage of the existing walls to minimize costs. To complete the project, we designed the landscaping and a totem with the company logo, which was installed in the front garden.

Are you after a building renovation or a facade uplift for your home or office? Maybe colour consulting services? We can assist you!