At work last Friday, I stumbled on a catalog from Canadian-based company Steptoe & Wife. Aren’t these stairs dreamy? They are based on antique designs and sold as a kit of parts.

{Albany}

{Barclay}

As beautiful as they are, the spiral staircase options wouldn’t be appropriate as a primary stair . A formal review of local building codes would be needed to make sure they are used appropriately in a space (a designer or architect should be versed in building codes). I would think about them for accessing an open loft area in a space, rather than use between floors. Wouldn’t they give a fabulous architectural elegance and interest to a space?

In addition to these offerings, Steptoe & Wife can do customized staircase kits as well. However, I think my heart is sold on the Barclay.

I stumbled across photographer Iwan Baan’s photos of the Ahmed Baba Center in Timbuktu, Mali. A collaborative design effort by South African-based DHK Architects and Two Think Architecture,  The interior architecture is simply stunning. Take a look at this beauty for yourself.

Ahmed Baba Center, a library and research center was founded by the The Timbuktu Manuscripts Trust to collect thousands of manuscripts from as early as the 12th Century. Today’s Bright Star inspiration came from this interior, but I also love the beautiful vertical elements like the  lovely panels above.

Can someone watch my obsession with vertical pivot doors? I think it’s becoming a serious problem. If feel like if I could have any door in the world, it would be this one.

{image via the selby}

See how happy they look? I’m pretty sure it’s because of the sunshine yellow pivot door.

Today’s Theme : I must get back to Paris…soon

The other day, while wandering the the interwebs, I discovered the most gorgeous thing— The Kenzo Concept Store and a stunning video to go with it called Le Renouveau Kenzo (I think renouveau means renewal or revival, please excuse my rusty French and please correct me). Take a peak at the some of loveliness I witnessed.

The video is a beautiful showcase of the store’s unique displays combined with Kenzo’s lovely way with  mixing details and patterns in clothing and furnishings as well as poetic interior design details. See why I must go back (stuff clothes in bag)? If you get minute, check out the video in it’’s entirety and the fabulously worldly bohemian clothes. I guarantee you will be as enthralled (or rather, seduced) as I am.

Happy Monday!! I hope you had a lovely weekend! This week will be a short one, as I will be off on Thursday & Friday to take care of a few matters. But I’ve got some fun things for you to look at in the meantime! Let’s get started shall we…

It all started with the pivot doors in Mara Brock Akil’s home, as featured in Domino magazine {Pause. Her home is gorgeous. If you haven’t seen it,  please click the link}. Since then I have been kind of obsessed with their architectural elegance.

{via canadian architect}

{via archiexpo}

{dwell magazine}

{via remodelista}

See what I mean? Pivot doors can add keen sense of architectural drama and beauty  to the most simple spaces and and they work in a variety of homes whether the style be modern, eclectic or even traditional.  It’s all in the excecution of the design. I love the doors as a transitions between rooms as well as to the outdoors. I’m also not partial to whether they pivot on a offset axis (see second and third image) or a central axis (see the first and fourth image), because both types lend a gorgeous effect to a room. I’m so ready to put one in a space right now!