Built in 2010, this modern barn in Iceland may embrace the rugged North Atlantic Ocean more than it does a traditional Icelandic Design, but its owners have blunted the elements with a simple and thoughtfully curated interior.

Icelandic Interior Designer Rut Káradóttir is a dreamer. For five years, she collected items from her favourite Scandinavian homeware brands and treasures from her travels, storing them in her garage. She’s patient, too: for years, Rut and her husband, marketing consultant Kristinn Arnarson, had been taking the 45-minute drive from Reykjavik to Stokkseyri whenever they wanted to indulge in a bucket of fresh lobster tails at their favourite restaurant, Fjörubordid. On one of their visits to this sleepy village on the Great Thjórsá Lava shoreline in the southwest of Iceland, the couple spotted a new barn being built. They fell in love with it, and it might be no coincidence that Rut began her beach-house collection around the same time as they first saw the barn. Suddenly, each visit to Stokkseyri not only meant a great dinner, but also a chance to check on “their” barn.

Fast-forward five years to a leisurely Sunday morning, and Rut was browsing the real-estate section of the local newspaper, “more out of habit than a desire to find a new property”, when she stumbled upon “their” barn. “We had just finished renovating a property in the west of Iceland and I knew we couldn’t afford another one just yet – but at least I’d finally get a glimpse inside,” she recalls.

They immediately arranged a viewing and, two days later, were the proud owners of their getaway by the sea. “There was a lot of interest, but the owners were incredibly taken by our enthusiasm,” says Rut, who promptly set to work. Over the next six months, she stamped her unique Nordic style with a touch of Japanese simplicity on the house, all while keeping their latest addition to the property family a secret.

Rut and Kristinn’s barn stands out among the more traditional cottages in the village of Stokkseyri. The previous owners had a strong connection to the sea – the husband was a ship engineer and had spent most of his life on or around ships. In their late 60s, they commissioned their architect son to devise a house for them, reminiscent of the husband’s maritime past. “It is no surprise that the former owner chose this spot for their barn ship,” says Kristinn. “With the North Atlantic on the doorstep, you feel out at sea; even more so when standing on the Bridge (balcony), with the Icelandic wind ruffling your hair.”

Inside, the seafaring theme continues, and Rut and Kristinn still fondly call the two floors Upper Deck and Lower Deck – they’re connected by a staircase that wouldn’t be out of place on an elegant yacht. The couple were conscious that they wanted to work with the building’s past, embracing nautical details such as the porcelain cabin lights, and even adding some of their own, like a porthole mirror in the hallway.

Just like a ship, the barn has adapted perfectly to its surroundings. The Siberian larch that makes up the exterior cladding has weathered to a soft, cloudy grey, blending perfectly into the volcanic landscape. Rut believes that “when the architecture of a building is very strong, you have to ensure that the interior and exterior are working in unison”. And through her unique style that is so firmly rooted in her native countryside, she has ensured just that. She selected a neutral colour scheme, drawing on natural elements that surrounded the barn – the moss-covered lava stones, the beach behind the house. As a result, she managed to bring some of Iceland’s untamed landscape inside, adding a touch of luxurious elegance to the barn without losing any of its authenticity.

Now that the garage is empty, what’s next for the enthusiastic duo? “We’re still too young to just sit back and live the dream,” says Rut, “so we’ll go on dreaming for a while.” For now, her interior design studio is keeping her busy, and when she’s not collecting chairs for her future house, she’s transforming the properties of her international clients with her uniquely Icelandic-chic aesthetic.

Rut and Kristinn are delighted that they get to share all this with the ever-increasing influx of visitors to Iceland. “At some point in the future, we plan to be here more regularly, but in the meantime, we are very happy to rent it out so others get to enjoy this unique spot, too.” Their visitors certainly have a lot to look forward to, from the possibility of spotting the Northern Lights during the winter months to the opportunity to observe the starry night sky through the window above the bed in the master bedroom – and, of course, fresh lobster tails at Fjörubordid.

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Basalt Architects and Design Group Italia are behind the design of an exciting new hotel and spa, located on the geothermal waters of Iceland’s renowned Blue Lagoon.

Connecting the existing lagoon with a new one, The Retreat incorporates the area’s natural lava formations into the interiors of the suites and the spa, all of which make use of a mixture of raw concrete and wood. Made up of 62 suites, furnished by B&B Italia, and a restaurant that overlooks the Blue Lagoon’s beautiful surroundings, the extension aims to fulfill founder Grímur Sæmundsen’s vision for a wellbeing-first Blue Lagoon.

Blending the new buildings with the landscape needed to remain as natural a process as possible. “The surrounding environment was held in high regard and great emphasis was placed on the balance between buildings and nature,” says the design team on the Basalt Architects website.

For more information and to see more of Basalt Architects’ projects, visit basalt.is.

(h/t) dezeen.com

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Icelandic designer Thórunn Árnadóttir and product developer Dan Koval are behind the creation of PyroPet candles, a collection of seven animal-shaped candles – with a difference.

Not an ordinary collection of candles, the PyroPet range comes complete with a hidden surprise. As the candle burns, a tiny metal skeleton starts to appear. The idea was launched with Kisa, a cat-shaped candle, on Kickstarter, which saw the brand almost triple their funding goal.

“Cats have always had a split personality,” explains Thórunn. “One minute purring contentedly the next hissing and temperamental. Kisa was created to capture this duality. Kisa performs a slowly unfolding transformation from cute kitty to brooding skeleton.”

The candles, made from a combination of aluminium and paraffin wax, burn for approximately 20 hours.

Apart from Kisa, PyroPet candles now include Einer (a unicorn), Hoppa (a rabbit), Dreki (a dragon), Bíbí (a bird), Ugla (an owl) and Dýri (a reindeer).

Shop online here.

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From the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Morocco to colourful chairs, mini furniture pieces for cats and a 3D zebra crossing, these are the VISI team’s top picks of the week.

1. Striped House by Davide Macullo Architects

“Swiss architect Davide Macullo worked together with French conceptual artist Daniel Buren to create a house that blends both art and design,” says Managing Editor Samantha Charles. “The stripes are more than decorative – they are in actual fact slats that are integral to the structure of the building.”

Image credit: dezeen.com

2. 3D Zebra Crossing

“This pedestrian crossing in Ísafjörður, Iceland is a stunning 3D optical illusion that stops speeding drivers in their tracks,” says Social Media Manager Ashraf Booley. “So clever!”

Image credit: boredpanda.com

3. Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) Museum in Morocco

“Once a home bought by Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980, Studio KO has now transformed the space into the YSL Museum in Marrakech, Morocco,” says Content Producer Mary Garner. “The museum consists of an auditorium, an archive library, bookstore, spaces for exhibitions and a café.”

Image credit: archdaily.com

4. Colourful Chair by Kevin Hviid X GANNI

“Copenhagen-based cabinetmaker Kevin Hviid has created a colourful, three-metre-high hanging couch to sit in squares in the middle of cities and public parks,” says Features Editor Amelia Brown. “The structures are intended to promote interaction between people and are made of iron and 600 multi-coloured nylon bands.” Add more accessories in your home, and live with art.

Image credit: designboom.com

5. Tiny Furniture For Cats

“Okawa Kagu in Japan recently released this video of cats lazing about on mini furniture pieces to promote the traditional crafts and furniture manufacturing associated with the area of Fukuoka,” says Online Editor Lindi Brownell Meiring. “The tiny couch at the end of the campaign clip is just too much!”

Image credit: boredpanda.com

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