There are spaces that captivate you at first sight. When you enter such a space, you sense that something more is happening here than just interior design – this space thinks, engaging in a dialogue with itself. This living room is exactly that: a bold design statement where the pulse of urban life and refined luxury not only coexist, but actively enhance one another.
Continue reading Metropolitan Modern Living Room: Where Industrial Rigour Meets Exclusive Elegance
Have you ever wondered why some interiors are instantly recognisable—sometimes almost unmistakably so—while others unfold in a subtle, layered way, only truly revealing themselves upon a second glance? The difference often lies in whether the designer chooses a literal or an abstract approach.
Both approaches are presented below. Although these are clearly distinct and opposing categories, remember that an interior cannot be classified as belonging solely to one or the other; rather, certain details may belong to one category and others to the other. Your personal preferences will determine how you mix them and how you want to achieve the look and feel you desire.
Continue reading The art of literal and abstract interior design
These days, Certified Energy Saving (HEM) programmes* are booming: dozens of adverts promise that our loft floors will be fully insulated for free. At first glance, this sounds fantastic—and in theory, it is, since the best way to reduce utility bills is to lower heating demand. Nevertheless, as more experiences come to light, it is becoming increasingly evident that, during implementation, the functioning of the entire house is often overlooked. However, insulation is not a standalone measure – if it does not harmonise with the other elements of the house, it can cause more harm than good.
It is often said that the Holy Grail for rock gardeners is the authentic stone trough. However, these are heavy, prohibitively expensive, and difficult to source. This is where hypertufa comes into play: a man-made ‘stone’ that not only closely resembles volcanic tuff, but sometimes even surpasses it in its properties.
There are interiors that are not simply beautiful, but also tell a story. As you step into this kitchen, you immediately sense that unique tranquillity and timeless elegance which are hallmarks of American mid-century modernism. It’s as if, for a moment, we step back into the optimistic, forward-looking world of the 1950s – where functionality, a closeness to nature, and clean forms created a harmonious, human-centred living space. This space does not boast, yet it is full of character; it does not dominate, yet it remains memorable. A kitchen and dining ensemble that invites you to cook, converse, and unwind – truly making everyday life feel like home.
The Androsace genus (rock jasmine), particularly the Douglasia group, occupies a special place within the primrose family, as its members hail not from the high mountains of Europe or Asia, but from the alpine regions of the north-western United States—the Rocky Mountains and the Cascade Range. This group was formerly regarded as a separate genus (Douglasia) in botanical literature, but today it is classified under the genus Androsace. The best-known representative of the group is Androsace laevigata (formerly Douglasia laevigata), which, with its beautiful pink blooms and glossy, dark green leaves, is one of the most attractive figures among rock garden plants.
Continue reading Androsace – (Primulaceae) Douglasia group – Pink flowers from the New World
The Aretia group of the Androsace genus is the true aristocracy among rock garden plants. While species in the Chamaejasme group spread by runners and are comparatively easier to grow, members of the Aretia group are densely cushion-forming, extremely slow-growing, and rank among nature’s most perfect masterpieces. These plants are found in the highest regions of the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Himalayas, at altitudes of 1,300–4,500 metres, growing in rock crevices with almost no humus. Within the group, two main subtypes can be distinguished: the rosette forms and the cushion forms.
The Androsace genus is one of the most enchanting rock garden groups in the primrose family (Primulaceae). Botanists have divided the genus into six main groups, with the species of the Chamaejasme group being especially favoured by rock gardeners. This group is characterised by plants that produce new leaf rosettes on longer or shorter runners, with flowers that typically appear in umbels. The group includes Androsace sarmentosa, A. chamaejasme, A. lanuginosa, and A. sempervivoides – each of unique beauty, but each with differing requirements.
In late spring, when golden-yellow clouds of flowers emerge among the stones of the rock garden and the air is filled with a pleasant, sweet fragrance, one knows: it is the time of the Alyssum. Alyssums – members of the Brassicaceae (mustard family – still referred to as Cruciferae in older literature and by many nurseries) are tiny, yet exceptionally striking plants. The contrast between their grey or greyish-green foliage and golden-yellow blossoms, their fragrant blooms, and drought-tolerant character make them a truly unique group within the world of the rock garden.
Continue reading Alyssum – (Brassicaceae): A golden-yellow abundance of flowers on grey cushions
There is something magical about a plant whose blue-green foliage is covered by a cascade of pink blossoms, all accompanied by a lovely fragrance. The members of the Aethionema genus – Stonecress – offer exactly this: combining Mediterranean elegance, xerophytic resilience, and vibrant springtime flowering in a single small plant. These semi-woody shrubs from the mountains of Asia Minor are the distinctive jewels of the rock garden.
