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Collection by Diana Budds

Detail We Love: Porthole Windows

Nautical influences run deep in modern design, from the blue-and-white color palette to spatial organization. One maritime element that's cropped up on occasion is the porthole—a creative alternative to boxy windows that seem square in comparison. We're on board with this architectural detail.

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Even in ever-gray and gloomy Seattle, the 24-by-10-foot front window lets in enough light that the couple rarely needs to turn on any lamps inside the house.
Even in ever-gray and gloomy Seattle, the 24-by-10-foot front window lets in enough light that the couple rarely needs to turn on any lamps inside the house.
For a family in Lima, a team from local firm 51-1 Arquitectos built Casa Serpiente, which meanders around 25 existing trees. Husband Irzio’s study is among the few ground-level rooms in the 4,300-square-foot house.
For a family in Lima, a team from local firm 51-1 Arquitectos built Casa Serpiente, which meanders around 25 existing trees. Husband Irzio’s study is among the few ground-level rooms in the 4,300-square-foot house.
A screened-in porch was a must-have for the residents (they love to sit outside but hate mosquitoes) and influenced the building's asymmetrical shape. "The question became how can we integrate this into the design of a modern house," says architect Staffan Svenson. "Can it be a screen porch without looking like one?" He devised a plan to hang a horizontal louver system from the structure to give the illusion that the powder-coated steel fins hover in place. He used the same material for the guard rail on the second story.
A screened-in porch was a must-have for the residents (they love to sit outside but hate mosquitoes) and influenced the building's asymmetrical shape. "The question became how can we integrate this into the design of a modern house," says architect Staffan Svenson. "Can it be a screen porch without looking like one?" He devised a plan to hang a horizontal louver system from the structure to give the illusion that the powder-coated steel fins hover in place. He used the same material for the guard rail on the second story.
It took more than a year for the Marcovitz-Geiger family just to navigate the tangle of renovation red tape to get the needed building permits for their Tribeca loft.
It took more than a year for the Marcovitz-Geiger family just to navigate the tangle of renovation red tape to get the needed building permits for their Tribeca loft.
Eight-year-old Emily peeks out from a sliding panel door with matte marine hardware that will age gracefully in the salty air.
Eight-year-old Emily peeks out from a sliding panel door with matte marine hardware that will age gracefully in the salty air.