Hot Curves, Sharp Edges and Glassbeaded Handrails
I fell down a rabbit hole of research and started crafting the research for my imaginary house, drawing inspiration from Prouvé, Gray, and Niemeyer
Hi my dear Internet Friends,
I hope you are doing well! I've been back at work for a week now, and I feel very motivated. There’s something really nice about returning in the second half of the year from the holidays, just before (almost) Autumn, though I’m not quite sure what it is. I love the weather between summer and autumn; it’s like the perfect Indian Summer where you can wear bare legs and a jacket.
I’m excited to introduce you to some seriously stylish women in the coming months on this newsletter, plus share really good interior finds (I made a looooong research into different platforms) and deeply researched travel guides. I’d love to hear what you think about the things you read, so feel free to drop me a message here or dm me on Instagram!
Today’s topic was inspired by someone very close to me who recently bought a house and is currently in the process of deciding on the entire interior. She finds it quite annoying at times, having to make thousands of decisions on all the details. After our conversations, I started thinking a lot about how I would approach that task! So, I began with some initial research that would eventually become a briefing for my imaginary house - it’s all about the vision, guys! Generally, owning property hasn’t been at the top of my list as an investment. My investment strategy has focused more on the stock market rather than real estate. However, the more I look into it, the more I want to buy a place—not so much for investment purposes, but more for the inspiration it brings. In fact, it would probably be the opposite of a typical investment, because what I’d like to do in a house won’t be cheap, haha.
Anyhow, if I’m ever able to buy a house, this is step one: the initial research to get in the mood. I’ve been looking at some of the most iconic houses by architects like Eileen Gray, Oscar Niemeyer, and others. What colors are used together? How are the walls shaped? What space dividers were chosen, and what furniture is featured? I google-lensed the rooms as much as I could, so you’ll find references and links to specific furniture pieces.
Before we get into it - below I want to introduce my to the rabbit hole, I fell into…
Floors, walls, room separators, murals, windows…I could go down this rabbit hole for days and months. I’m a research nerd like that—I love diving deep into a topic, learning everything I can about it, and then moving on to something else. Guess that’s why I’m freelance :)
I am so ready to brief the designer & architect - I just need a house, for god’s sake!
Villa E.1027 by Eileen Gray, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Côte d’Azur
This incredible villa was designed by designer and architect Eileen Gray back in 1929, and honestly, I can’t get over it. I am obsessed with that open-air hallway with the shelves connecting the kitchen with a sea view to each side... But here’s the real kicker: the mono-painted walls in bold blues and reds, some with a glossy finish, all paired with crisp white. It’s such a power move to limit the palette to just these shades. I’m already imagining how this could translate to a Berlin flat - or am I delulu?
The murals which Corbusier, who was a friend of Gray, painted in this house are just incredible. I also like how only one wall is painted in all the colors, the others are only red. The whole house is a vibrant dream, with all those primary colors, especially that rich blue. And let’s not forget about the brown wood—it pairs so perfectly with those bold hues. Brown wood generally looks fantastico with primary colors.
Her interior design is absolutely stunning! And: the name of the E-1027 House is actually an anagram of their initials. E is for Eileen, J is the tenth letter in the alphabet, B is the second, and G is the seventh. It’s such a clever little nod to the architects behind this masterpiece.
Interior: All Eileen Gray: Bibendum Chair, Transat Chair, Rivoli Classic Sidetable
Casa das Canoas by Oscar Niemeyer, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro
When I see this house, I get so motivated to roam through the internet searching for that one hidden gem - a community space, a left school or studio or something similar that’s just sitting there, waiting to be transformed into something extraordinary. Which is exactly what everyone else wants as well lol.
Let’s talk about the standout features of this house: the round shapes everywhere. They’re not just for show—they were designed to balance out the uneven ground. There are curvy windows, a rounded roof, and even a pool that echoes those smooth lines. I’m also obsessed with the rounded elements in the kitchen and that curved bookshelf (honestly, curved bookshelves are a great vibe). And if you look closely at the living room image, you’ll spot a hole in the wall that gives off a bit of a nautical feel. It opens up the space and might even be another small shelf—though it’s hard to tell from the photo. So cool!
I’m very taken with how Niemeyer wove nature into the interior, using lush green plants and a massive stone that is both inside and outside. His choice of a color palette—black, grey, white, green, beige, and brown—creates such a stunning backdrop, especially when paired with the turquoise of the pool.
Interior: Le Corbusier chairs by Thonet for Ligna, Chaiselonge by Oscar Niemeyer, sculptures by Brazilian sculptur Alfredo Ceschiatti