There’s something to be said for the simplicity of a minimalist interior. The clean lines, lack of clutter, and abundance of negative space create a feeling of tranquility, and the quietness of the decor somehow allows you to focus your thoughts and take a break from your busy schedule.

A form of minimalism, zen interior design also takes inspiration from Asian culture. The use of natural materials, such as smooth pebbles, water features, and bamboo give these spaces the feeling of being an extension of the outdoors. Accent furniture and tables tend to be low and flat, and upholstery follows suit, with a lower seat height. This allows the ceilings to feel even higher, creating even more negative space. Cherry blossom motifs and paper shoji doors have become trademarks of this style.

Take a look at these beautiful zen interiors and contact us if you’d like some help creating your own spa-like oasis!

Sources: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14

This is the final post in our Design Styles Defined series! We hope you’ve enjoyed following along and learning about twelve of our favorite styles. Need a recap? Head over to this blog post!

Xoxo,

As the weather gets warmer, we’re itching to hop on a plane and see the world! It’s true what they say: once you’ve been bitten by the travel bug, you’re incurable for life. This summer, we’re drawn to architectural destinations – cities and places with beautiful buildings, ancient ruins, and all-around irresistible atmospheres. Keep scrolling to see which places have made our top 5 list (click the photos for sources)!

#5 Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne’s juxtaposition of experimental, modern buildings and classic, Victorian buildings creates a compelling and eclectic vibe that we’ve been dying to experience firsthand. It’s rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination, and looking at photos alone is enough to tell us why. Walking down a busy street lined with skyscrapers, you might just run into a Gothic cathedral! And don’t even get us started on the food – one glance at a restaurant website is enough to get our mouths watering!

#4 Florence, Italy

While this city isn’t unfamiliar to the RWD team, lately we’ve been missing the streets of Florence – you could call it a form of homesickness. Florence (or Firenze, if you’re Italian), is one of the most cultured and vibrant cities we’ve come across in our travels. The Duomo alone is intricate enough to occupy several hours at least, not to mention the museums packed to the brim with paintings and sculptures created by well-known classical artists. The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), pictured here, would also be a great stop on an architectural tour – it’s an outdoor shopping mall built over the river!

#3 Machu Picchu, Peru

Although this one sits in stark contrast to the other, more polished destinations on this list, we can’t help but be drawn in by these ancient Incan ruins. How cool would it be to witness the organization and creativity of a civilization that came way before our modern methods of design and construction?? Machu Picchu is definitely a destination for the more adventurous traveler, since it involves some scary bus rides and a bit of hiking, but we think it’d be worth it to get a glimpse of such an amazing, ancient site.

#2 Tokyo, Japan

With more Michelin star restaurants than any other city in the world, we’d be lying if we said architecture was our only reason for adding Tokyo to the bucket list. But the architecture certainly holds its own as well. With odd angles and experimental shapes around every corner, pushing boundaries seems to be the theme for many of the architects and designers in this city. We’re particularly interested in seeing Kenzo Tange’s ultramodern St. Mary’s Cathedral and, of course, Tokyo Tower.

#1 Barcelona, Spain

We’re particularly excited about this one, because one of RWD’s designers is headed here at the end of the month! Barcelona has been on the list for quite a while for many reasons, not the least of which being the gorgeous and bizarre architecture by Antoni Gaudí on display here. La Sagrada Familia boasts some of the most ornate stained glass we’ve ever seen, and we can’t complain about the ocean views we’re bound to see while there. Stay tuned on Instagram for some swoon-worthy pictures on our account!

Bon voyage!

Xoxo,

What do Tahoe cabins, an old barn, and Joanna Gaines’ house have in common? All of these spaces embrace the look of worn, unfinished wood – one of the key characteristics of country style interior design.

Similar to industrial style in its use of rustic materials, country style typically has a cozier feel due to the addition of gingham and plaid patterned upholstery. Painted finishes and stains are distressed to give hints of what’s underneath, and repurposed objects give the spaces a homemade feel.

Variations of this style include: Americana (all things red white & blue), French country (think tufted cushions and roll top sofas), Shabby Chic (a more delicate and girly take on country), and cabin style (like that wood-walled cabin in Tahoe we mentioned earlier). Check out the photos below for some inspiration!

Sources: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16

If country style isn’t quite the vibe you’re looking for, check here for some more style inspiration!

Xoxo,

It’s no secret that marble can add a sense of elegance to just about any interior. And while white marbles (especially Carrara and Calacatta) have come back in style with a vengeance over the last several years, colored marbles have also been starting to pop up again within the last year or two.

This isn’t the first time that the colored marble trend has come about, of course. In one of our design classes back in school, the professor made a comment that “all designs are inspired by something that has come before.” We couldn’t agree more. Just look through these photos from the floors of European cathedrals from the 19th and 20th centuries, and try to tell us that the colored marble trend wasn’t inspired by the past. (*insert heart eyes emoji here*)

And here are some present-day marble interiors we’ve been drooling over, just to get your obsession started too (click on the photos for sources)!

If you’re feeling inspired by these photos and want help creating your own marble oasis, we’d love to talk to you! You can contact us here to set up a consultation. And for those of you who just want a few ideas to bring a small touch of luxury to your space, here’s a small roundup of some of our favorite marble products on the market right now:

Sources: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7

Happy designing!

Xoxo,