Lakefront Retreat: A Blend of Wilderness and Understated Luxury

Founded in 2014, Daniel Joseph Chenin is an architecture and interiors studio specialising in fully conceptualised residential spaces. With a belief that design should engage the senses, the firm treats each project as an opportunity to craft an experience—one with a story arc and a distinct visual language that establishes a strong sense of place. Known for seamlessly blending architecture and interiors to create captivating environments, Daniel Joseph Chenin was commissioned by a repeat client to bring their vision for a new lakefront residence to life on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene in Harrison, Idaho.

In collaboration with renowned New York architect Hart Howerton, the studio led the comprehensive interior design, from custom detailing and furnishings to artwork curation, lighting, and accessories. The result is a cohesive, sophisticated lake retreat that reflects the studio’s signature approach to creating immersive and thoughtfully curated spaces.

On a scouting trip to the proposed site, Chenin was immediately struck by the natural beauty of the location—a majestic hillside framed by evergreen trees, with a tranquil lake embraced by the surrounding wilderness. However, the rugged terrain posed logistical and design challenges, particularly with the seasonal elements that characterize the area as a summer destination.

“The home is clad in reclaimed wood, with knobby imperfections that give it a rough and ready exterior that blends into the natural context,” explains Chenin. “It also responds to the harsh off-season climate by being fitted with a metal roof and Corten steel garage doors for much-needed protection against ice and heavy snow.”

Having collaborated with the couple on multiple residences since 2016, Chenin built on a relationship of trust and understanding. This foundation allowed the design process to focus on unraveling the client’s vision of a mountain retreat—one that felt true to its natural surroundings yet infused with understated luxury. They wanted a home that was warm and welcoming, with a soft, refined atmosphere, but also durable enough to withstand the demands of its environment.

The rugged exterior gives way to a more refined interior, softened by thoughtful detailing and carefully selected furnishings. The colour palette and materials, including leather, iron, steel, marble, and a variety of woods, were inspired by the natural environment. Custom-designed furniture adds texture and interest, anchored by area rugs that echo the surroundings, such as fallen leaves on the forest floor.

The home’s layout is simple and functional, with the main level featuring a kitchen and expansive pantry, living and dining rooms, an entry foyer, a mudroom, and a secluded primary bedroom. The second level comprises a second primary bedroom suite with a kitchenette, while the below-grade first floor, embedded into the hillside, and featuring a walkout terrace, houses three additional guest bedrooms centered around a large living area that connects them.

A diverse range of materials are thoughtfully integrated across the home—a large, hand-carved cabinet with bronze doors, subtle yet effective light fixtures, and barstools with durable leather finishes. Rich materials like Calacatta marble in the kitchen and bathrooms, oak flooring, and unlacquered bronze hardware introduce warmth, providing a counterbalance to the home’s more utilitarian elements.

“The bronze hardware will patina and weather over time through touch and exposure to the air,” explains Chenin. “Numerous finishes and details of this project are reflections of elements present in the surrounding natural environment, and we succeeded in replicating their shapes and textures.”

Tactile experiences are woven throughout from exposed wooden ceiling beams to nature-inspired artwork that lines the walls. Organic patterns in the furnishings further ground the design in its environment, as do the carved wooden legs of custom-built furniture and a steel tabletop that replicates the rings of a tree trunk. A live-edge desk in the upstairs suite adds another natural touch, echoing the connection to the outdoors.

One of the more challenging aspects of the design was the unusually long room on the main level. To address this, Chenin custom-designed a massive credenza to anchor the space. Steel-plated with simple handles and raw wood showcasing grainy patterns, the credenza balances rusticity with a polished finish. Throughout the home, Chenin’s positioning of custom pieces provides balance, versatility, and functionality. Each design draws inspiration from the surrounding environment, with live-edge wood kept from splitting by metal bowties, and steel reinforcement wraps binding wooden legs and bases together.

“There is an overall visual to the design, and then there’s abundant discovery of nuance as the materials and the finishes come together,” notes Chenin. “It’s utilitarian in its simplicity, yet very smart in its subtlety, with proportions and forms that are highly refined.”

A harmonious blend of natural elements and considered details, the home offers a tactile, grounded experience that feels deeply connected to its environment while providing comfort and warmth—a space where every detail tells a story and invites discovery.

Credits

Interior Design: Daniel Joseph Chenin, Ltd

Architecture: Hart Howerton

Contractors: Tekton

Photographer credits: David Mitchell

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Space Copenhagen Unveils Interiors for Apothéose

In the bustling Toranomon Hills Tower in Tokyo, a new 40-seat restaurant and bar has been brought to life through the creative vision of Space Copenhagen, the celebrated Danish design studio. Named Apothéose, this culinary haven is the brainchild of the celebrated Michelin Chef Keita Kitamura, who returned to Japan after a successful 15-year tenure in Paris. Blending the rich tapestry of Japanese culinary traditions with the sophisticated influences of French culture, the restaurant's interior seamlessly weaves together elements designed by Space Copenhagen to craft an environment that is not only inviting but also serves as the perfect backdrop for patrons to indulge in Chef Kitamura's extraordinary cuisine.

Upon entering Apothéose, guests are greeted by a bespoke sculptural host station in a spacious hallway, which flows effortlessly into a welcoming lounge area. Here, sturdy oak tables and moss-green Loafer Chairs by &Tradition, upholstered in neo-classical-inspired Kvadrat Sacho fabric, invite guests to relax in an atmosphere that feels at once contemporary yet grounded in timeless design.​ The floor and walls are adorned with earthy, warm, light-burnt terracotta tiles, with some wall surfaces covered in a lighter, semi-transparent textile in a natural tone. The space maintains a seamless connection to the outdoor terrace with lush greenery in the form of trees and plants, creating an invitingly organic atmosphere in the restaurant.

As guests leave the open lounge area, they enter a warmly lit passageway lined with built-in wine cabinets. The walls and door frames are covered in refined darkened brass panels, and at the end of the passage is a beautifully crafted double door that marks the entrance to the restaurant. The door, which opens automatically when approached, features an intricate scalloped decorative motif and handles made of darkened brass. As guests enter the restaurant, they are greeted by a vibrant open kitchen with stunning views of the Tokyo Skyline.

The restaurant space has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, offering a noticeable change of pace from the busy urban landscape at the bottom of the Tower. The stunning view of Tokyo feels almost otherworldly and meditative. Light filters through the space from day to night through transparent sheer fabric framing the façade, while the simple and minimal spatial features and surfaces, rich textures, and carefully selected materials are highlighted in different lights. The darkened brass wall panels that wrap around the open kitchen are complemented by walls in chalky plaster, alongside wall panels and floors in light wood. Further use of wooden panelled walls defines a separate, intimate private dining space next to the kitchen.

To enhance the overall design, Space Copenhagen has carefully selected a palette of natural materials for the restaurant’s furnishings including fabrics from Dedar and grey Nuance leather from Sorensen. Gleda dining chairs in solid white oak, designed by Space Copenhagen for British furniture brand Benchmark, are complemented by solid white oak tables custom-made by Benchmark for the restaurant. In the lounge area, artist Hideaki Yamanobe’s painting, fittingly entitled Through the Clouds, adds a poetic layer to the space. A stone waiter’s station serves as a functional and decorative element, housing ceramics, glassware, and sculptural objects, while strengthening the connection between the kitchen and the guests.

Lighting plays a crucial role in creating a warm and inviting atmosphere at Apothéose, with portable Como Lamps by &Tradition providing table illumination, and modern, playful light fixtures from Michael Anastassiades punctuating the wider space. Subtle yet impactful, the lighting reinforces Space Copenhagen’s emphasis on craftsmanship, beauty, honest materiality, quality, curiosity, and balance.

Commenting on the design strategy of the restaurant and bar, Space Copenhagen founders Peter Bundaard Rützou and Signe Bindslev Henriksen say “We wanted Apothéose to be a refined space of crafted elegance with its own distinctiveness, we hope guests enjoy spending time in its considered and intimate dining and culinary experience.”

Toranomon Hills encapsulates the concept of transformation. What was once primarily known as a business district is now evolving into a multifaceted place that combines work and life with cultural discovery and hospitality. Earlier this year, Space Copenhagen designed Hotel Toranomon Hills, which occupies the ground and 11th to 14th floors of the Toranomon Hills Station Tower. The hotel includes Le Pristine Tokyo, a restaurant by Sergio Herman, also designed by Space Copenhagen, following their celebrated design of the original Le Pristine in Antwerp in 2020.

Photography by Joachim Wichmann

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Ashley Botten Design Crafts a Tailored Lake House Retreat

Inspired by high fashion’s attention to detail and fine tailoring, Ashley Botten Design (abd) takes pride in collaborating closely with clients who share a similar reverence for meticulous craftsmanship. This shared vision is beautifully realised in the renovation of a family lake house in Muskoka, Ontario, where abd seamlessly blends refined elegance with the casual ease of spending summers near the water. Tasked with updating the six-bedroom cottage, the studio’s approach honours both the home’s natural surroundings and its architectural heritage, creating a harmonious retreat that exudes quiet sophistication.

While the exterior bones of the cottage have remained intact, abd reimagined the interiors by removing select structural walls, enhancing the flow between spaces and carving out quieter, more intimate areas. Core features, such as the classic sash windows and the majestic flagstone hearth—a hallmark of the Muskoka region—were preserved. The studio’s distinctive touch is evident throughout, with custom-designed furniture thoughtfully tailored to each room, offering a personalised expression of the home’s unique character.

Ashley Botten Design excels in creating experiential interiors that resonate on a sensory level, and this project was no exception. The studio’s modern sophistication shines through in their meticulous attention to detail and calming sense of balance and proportion—principles that echo their broader design philosophy.

Upon entering the cottage, guests are greeted by a striking curved sofa that draws the eye toward the stunning lake views. Designed to comfortably seat up to six, the sofa is rich in micro-detailing, such as seamlessly railroaded fabric that wraps around the back without visible seams. This careful craftsmanship creates a subtle yet powerful visual impact, allowing the sofa’s expansive contour to flow uninterrupted.

Nearby, a custom curved bench in white oak hugs the sofa, transforming previously unusable space into a functional area for a small sculpture or a seat to remove shoes. The area is anchored by a sculpted carpet with three-dimensional patterns that cast blush shadows, creating moments of quiet luxury.

On the ground level, a bold interplay of materials creates a sense of dynamism. Wide-plank Douglas fir flooring contrasts with the straight-grained larch that encases the half-turn staircase, leading up to a catwalk hallway. The kitchen cabinetry, also in larch, pairs beautifully with slabs of honed charcoal bedrock on the countertops, backsplash, and range hood. This rich palette is further enhanced with an open aluminum shelf for displaying dishware and an island kitchen surrounded by nubuck leather counter stools.

The primary bedroom and ensuite adopt a softer, more subdued tone, with walls painted in a textured sea salt hue and woven linen window coverings that diffuse dappled light. The bed frame, tightly upholstered in wool suiting, along with strategically placed millwork, offers an alternative passageway to the ensuite, enhancing the room’s functionality and flow.

Throughout the house, abd’s attention to sensory experiences elevates everyday living. In the ensuite, the studio designed an extended metal towel rack that doubles as a resting tray for burning incense, infusing the space with a serene ambiance. Privacy is thoughtfully considered with glass pocket doors in the bar lounge to buffer television noise, while an upholstered pod near the living room serves as a cosy nook for children.

Ashley Botten and her team at abd are known for their curated approach, where every detail is intentional and fits naturally within the dimensions of a room. From the selection of nuanced materials to the positioning of furniture, abd’s work reflects a deeply refined appreciation of quality and artistry. This family retreat, with its timeless style and careful attention to refinement, is designed to evolve beautifully with use and memories, becoming a layered and beloved home for generations.

Credits

Design: Ashley Botten Design

Builder: Tamarack North

Photography: Patrick Biller

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