A Finnish log house with a Californian flair

A house with warm Californian vibes in Finland’s cold winter. A strange combination? Not really: the combination of these two very different and far apart decorative styles is called Scandifornian, and reinterprets neutral Scandinavian interiors by adding touches of the American South in the form of ethnic patterns, animal prints, handicrafts, vintage pieces and dry climate plants such as cacti.

In this house, however, the influence between the two worlds is genuine, to the extent that it is also reflected in the floor plan: the house features many windows, a clear layout, functional rooms, good views and a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, just like on the west coast.

It was designed by Olavi Kujanen, architect and creative leader of the world’s foremost log house manufacturer, Kontio. Kujanen, who is also the owner of the house, travels a lot and drew inspiration for his design from his favourite area of Palm Springs, California.

Luxurious and timeless materials for the kitchen: the choice of Dekton

Dekton Entzo, a realistic and natural colour

A Silestone washbasin to finish off a luxury home

Located in Bukit Batok, a residential area in Singapore, this house conveys pure nature thanks to a project by Mesh Werk Studio that emphasises the relationship with nature in accordance with the owner’s wishes. Earthy tones and materials such as Silestone were some of the key elements that brought this project to life.

According to the studio, the biggest challenge was “the large number of plants the customer wanted to incorporate, so we had to choose worktops with a colour palette that would match neutral and easy to maintain materials.”

In keeping with the strong open concept, the kitchen is connected to the living and dining areas, with wood and white providing the link between the spaces. Designed as a living and functional space, the kitchen revolves around two work areas and an island that are separated from each other to allow natural light to enter through the windows.

And it was precisely the brightness and white colour that were key in choosing the worktops for the three volumes of the kitchen. “We chose Silestone White North because it is a white shade reminiscent of the beauty and power of nature, it fits perfectly the natural theme of the project, and it has the durability to meet the customers’ daily needs. We all fell in love with this colour. It suited our design perfectly.”

The bathrooms also feature Silestone, but this time the colour chosen was White Storm, a white shade that, like the softest calm after a storm, brings clarity and light to the rooms. In both bathrooms, White Storm was used for the vanity countertops and is complemented by tiles in shades very close to nature, such as green and beige. Wooden base units and mirrors, with a different design in each bathroom, complete the look.

“The high quality of Cosentino products has given us the peace of mind that comes from knowing that our customer’s home is equipped with the best worktops. We’re confident that the product will meet the high quality demands of our designs and even improve our work. I would recommend it to all our customers, especially if they’re looking for beautiful and high quality materials,” concludes the studio.

Línea 3 Cocinas couldn’t miss the new edition of Casa Decor 2024. This year they have enlisted the help of designer Steven Littlehales to create their space, ‘A kitchen to contemplate’. According to Littlehales, this name is full of intention: “The name of the project has a double meaning. This space is a kitchen to look at and appreciate on an aesthetic level, a space where you can find inspiration for your own project, but also a kitchen that aims to be a space where you can relax, read, meditate and contemplate life.”

“This is perfectly reflected in the Palacio de la Trinidad, where Casa Decor 2024 is being held, and even more so in the Pavilion and balconies of the room where we are now, which for me represent an oasis in the hectic life of the city. We want to show that it is possible to have a kitchen that opens onto a space other than the living or dining room, such as the entrance to the house or a corner that can be used as a reading, breakfast or snack area,” he further says.

Línea 3 Cocinas is characterised by its versatility, which at all times seeks to convey the personality of its customers. And in the case of Casa Decor 2024, the inspiration came from the designer himself. Steven Littlehales is British but has been living in Spain for the past 20 years, and it is precisely this duality that they wanted to capture in the space ‘A kitchen to contemplate’. How did they do it? His British side is conveyed through the use of marquetry, straight lines, symmetry, oak and other woods, while his Spanish side is defined by the use of colour and the warmth of the envelope.

The space is divided into three areas: a living area where you can have a cup of tea – he is English, after all –, a kitchen area with a peninsula, and finally an area that includes two spaces, a laundry room and a booth that serves as a cocktail bar and is therefore a bit dark and nocturnal.

Dekton Awake is the star of the living area. Its golden veins blend perfectly with the blue and white tones that dominate the room, a tribute to the Mediterranean, its sun, its light and its sunsets. In fact, this colour reinterprets the iconic features of precious paonazzo marble thanks to a thick veining with gradients of light grey and cream that blend with luscious rusty terracotta shades and subtle hints of inky blue.

Meanwhile, the colour chosen for the laundry area was Silestone Posidonia Green, a serene, full of light shade of green that elegantly illuminates and brings harmony to any space. Specifically, it was used to clad the splashback behind a sink recessed in a white and wood cabinet.

Finally, Dekton Umber, a subtle terracotta colour inspired by umber – a natural pigment with a reddish hue – and a textured, warm to the touch surface perfect for adding a touch of personality, was used for the cocktail bar, an area designed to be slightly darker for the night.

Casa Decor, the most eagerly awaited interior design event of the year held in Madrid for professionals and amateurs alike, is back. And, as every year, the talent of interior designer Erico Navazo is not to be missed. On this occasion, the designer presents the ‘Metallic Harmony’ space, a bathroom proposal created in collaboration with the Strohm Teka brand, which redefines elegance and resistance to the passage of time through the masterful integration of elements from different eras.

Renowned for his ability to create spaces that tell stories, Navazo has designed a bathroom that captures the essence of a 1928 palace, giving it a natural, contemporary and avant-garde spirit. This space goes beyond the usual functional area to become a sanctuary that invites reflection and appreciation of detail. According to Navazo, it is “a place that resists the passage of time while maintaining its elegance. To reinforce this concept, beautiful metallic taps were used, complemented by textures, colours and materials within a balanced and unique design. An eclectic space that aims to be timeless.”

To create this eclectic and timeless space, Navazo also used two Cosentino materials. On the one hand, he chose Silestone Parisien Bleu for the bathtub and the washbasin countertop. On the other, he used Sensa Platino on a quartzite table specially made for the project. These surfaces enhance the space thanks to their unique aesthetics and offer advanced technology with easy maintenance and high resistance, which are key features for Navazo, who always looks for materials “capable of generating emotions, with a beautiful design and durability.”

According to Navazo, the process of selecting these materials was the result of an exhaustive search to find those that “best suited what we had in mind”. The decision was based on a combination of factors including the technical properties, colour, texture and design of the slab, which together captured the vision of the project.

In addition, Navazo highlights the ease of use of Cosentino materials, stating that their “high resistance and ease of handling” facilitated the execution of the design, which was a decisive advantage given the high pressure of execution and assembly times typical of events such as Casa Decor.

The challenge of meeting these tight deadlines was partly mitigated by the logistical support of Cosentino, which delivered the materials “with alacrity”, allowing Navazo and his team to focus on carrying out a perfect assembly and remaining faithful to the original concept. His proposal for this year’s edition will also remain in the memory of all those attending Casa Decor.

Trish Knight and Nicole Varga are the dynamic duo behind Knight Varga Interiors, a multi-award-winning design studio based in Vancouver specializing in bespoke residentials. For this special project, they helped a family of five create their dream legacy home to live in forever.

The designers led the project from start to finish, bringing together a team of experts and creating a full interior design construction package as well as the furnishings and styling of both the interior and exterior living spaces. For Trish and Nicole, it was important to design with longevity in mind, selecting quality materials and furnishing that would stand up to daily use and the busy life of a family complete with three teenagers and two dogs. The result is an architectural style that leans contemporary with warm elements to create a timeless family home that balances the style and wishes of both partners.

When selecting surfaces, Silestone and Dekton were an easy choice for the designers. The materials offer versatility and are used extensively throughout the home. The open concept was designed to soak in natural light and views from every room, so the finishes needed to flow naturally and seamlessly.

For the open kitchen, the designers selected Dekton Uyuni counters, a pure white shade that stands up to daily wear and tear while remaining pristine. To balance the design, full slabs of Silestone Et. Noir were used to clad the range wall. Additionally, Et. Noir was the perfect way to tie the kitchen in with the black fireplace on the adjacent wall and ground the room in evening light.

Silestone Et. Noir was also used in the powder room, where the designers ordered a counter with an integrated sink directly from Cosentino’s factory in Spain. The floor of the powder room as well as the adjacent lounge and office is Dekton Kovik, a natural gray base with subtle veining. Knight Varga Interiors incorporated Dekton Rem for the primary ensuite walls and benches, “we love Rem’s subtle tones and textures,” they shared.

Knight Varga Interiors and their talented team created a dream home for a busy family, designed with Cosentino materials that will serve as a catalyst for timeless memories.

You can actually find inspiration for your home decor anywhere. Hotels often showcase the latest color trends and materials that later appear in the interior design industry. We also love to apply the comfort of hotels in our own homes. That's why we take a look at the newest trend hotel of the Van der Valk family, where interior expert Alice van der Valk tells us everything about the process, color combinations, and material choices for this beautiful hotel.

For each child, their own business. That's how Martinus van der Valk initially envisioned it. This idea has led to the creation of more than a hundred Valk hotels, each with a family member at the helm. This is also the case in the newly opened Valk Hotel Best, just a stone's throw away from Eindhoven Airport.

The hotel has luxurious rooms and suites, a lush wellness center, an exclusive sky bar, various restaurants, and a Brabant pub. In addition, it also has multifunctional rooms and boardrooms. An ideal base for both holidaymakers and business visitors. "For the table in the boardroom, we chose Dekton by Cosentino. The large surface is custom-made from a single plate, which makes it an imposing impression."

Alice van der Valk, one of the driving forces behind this special hotel project, tells us everything about the design. "I am currently busy finishing the decoration and styling of the hotel," says Alice. "There are still quite a few details to be worked out, but it is an exciting process. My daughter Daimy and I have been involved in this project for about 6 years, and during that time, we worked with the architect on the layout of the building and the spaces, as well as determining the facilities.

“We worked with Teunissen architectural firm from Voorschoten for the design of the building. Later, we worked with our interior builder Nijboer to translate the ideas and atmosphere into drawings and the final end product. I also did the procurement of materials, furniture, and lighting together with my daughter."

Can you tell us more about the atmosphere and style you have created in the hotel? Alice van der Valk: "Certainly! Daimy and I wanted to create a timeless atmosphere, with a touch of the seventies and a touch of vintage. Many of the shapes, colors, and materials have a nod to that time. Think of travertine, walnut wood, vintage marble, and round shapes, together with design items from that period, such as the Togo chair and the lamps from Artimide and Louis Poulsen."

You have also used the material Dekton from Cosentino in the interior design. Can you tell us more about that choice? Alice van der Valk: "We have indeed used Dekton surfaces, both as surfaces in furniture and for table tops. The color and material fit perfectly with the atmosphere we wanted to create. Moreover, Dekton is less porous than natural stone, which is very practical in a hospitality environment."

In the hotel, many different colors and patterns have been mixed together. The overall result is beautiful. Alice van der Valk: "I love to mix patterns and colors and am certainly not a proponent of a 'boring' interior. My style is rather eclectic. Terra, powder tones, and off-white form the basis, supplemented with accent colors such as ochre yellow in the lobby and cobalt blue in the buffet restaurant. On the twelfth floor, overlooking greenery and forests, we brought in green tones. We chose Terra in particular to create a warm atmosphere. Due to the many windows, the spaces are very light, and we opted for a light floor. Warm wood tones and colors were a logical choice for us to add atmosphere. So we balanced all the color combinations in each room as well as in the overall design. You can also find Dekton in the surfaces of the bathroom furniture in the luxurious bathrooms."

The focus on guest experience is a clear starting point when furnishing a large hotel. We ask Alice what the challenges and opportunities in the hospitality industry are today? "Alice van der Valk: Definitely. "The bar is set higher and higher, and guests expect more and more," explains Alice.

"A swimming pool and wellness center have almost become a requirement. Our goal is to find a perfect balance between business and leisure guests. Both the business and leisure guest want to be completely taken care of, experience comfort, and expect service that is taken for granted. We continue to innovate in terms of service and facilities, and that is one of the most challenging aspects of hospitality."

The new Access Systems, Inc. headquarters sits along a well-traveled road and is a landmark in the city of Waukee, Iowa. Surrounded by several newly built offices, Access Systems was looking for a structure that stood out, and they did just that by incorporating high-end finishes into the design.

Downing Construction, a design/build firm, contacted CKF about this new project, and after several collaboration meetings, the final design and layout were complete and the project was ready to go from blueprint to reality. To give the building a true ‘wow’ factor, Dekton was named the surfacing solution of choice. The versatile material is available in dozens of stunning designs and was used in several interior and exterior applications throughout the complex.

The marble-inspired Dekton Portum color can be seen on the facade which is fixed to the building’s exterior using the Rainscreen Undercut Anchor System, which allows for a seamless look. Access Systems also needed a strong and resistant facade to stand up to the inclement Iowa weather with minimal maintenance and without fading, degrading, or losing its technical properties.

In the middle of the building sits a massive atrium with two walls finished in Dekton Portum from floor to ceiling. The same color is used vertically in the exterior and interior to create visual harmony and seamless indoor/outdoor flow. The striking Portum wall is accompanied by a stair platform wrapped in Dekton Zenith, a durable solution for areas with high foot traffic.

On the interior of the building, you will find additional Cosentino surfaces that add value and design. Silestone countertops and backsplashes in the shades Et. Noir and Et. Bella can be seen in the employee break rooms and reception desk, adding luxurious finishes that will stand the test of time.

Cosentino’s partner, CKF, provided and installed the finishes, which complemented each other to create a beautiful and seamless design from the inside out.