The dining room features 1970s leather-and-brass dining chairs and a table concocted from a brass-and-silver base and a custom lacquered top. The cheerful blue paint enlivening the doorway is from Emery & Cie.

Brothers Nima and Soheil relax in the family room on an Eames lounge chair and a custom sofa they designed. “Mid-century architecture draws the outdoor environment indoors,” says Soheil. “There’s a lot of natural light, a lot of ventilation.”

The copper-colored leather pouffe is one of 48 DIY projects featured in Fehrentz’s book, Made by Yourself. The English edition will be published in 2014.

The master bedroom’s massive leather headboard was Thompson’s idea and design.

When you live in a small space it's important to make sure that as many pieces of furniture as possible serve multiple purposes. Look for an ottoman that can double as a foot stool, extra seat, or storage container. In addition, some ottomans have a lid that can be flipped around to serve as a hard surface on which to serve drinks or food.

The Steelcase desk in the living room was a lucky streetside freebie discovered outside their old Oakland apartment.

The living area contains a Poul Kjærholm PK 31 sofa and PK22 chairs. The table is custom.

CAPTAIN’S MIRROR There is no denying the style and quality of this distressed leather framed mirror lined with wood and a cast bronze hanging pull.

Classic leather carrier is the perfect size to hold a Pendleton twin size blanket. Carrier features convenient handle and shoulder strap.

The simple Continental Duffle bag by Minnesota-based J. W. Hulme is masterfully crafted using American leather selected from small tanneries.

The original leather sofa introduces an additional texture to the living room, and loud wallpaper brings a splash of visual interest. JAC also incorporated a new loft railing and ladder to climb to the next level.

Savino leather sofa in Bison Marigold by American Leather $5,550 From its home base outside of Dallas, Texas, American Leather promises delivery on its pebble leather–upholstered seating in less than 30 days.

The Cedric Desk is crafted from European walnut wood and features a leather top and leather-lined drawers.

The Cedric Desk from SCP was designed by Kay + Stemmer as a part of the SCP 2009 collection. The desk is at once simple and detailed, and is defined by refined lines and master craftsmanship. From a distance, the Cedric Desk appears angular, but an up close inspection shows rounded edges in the corners and lines of the desk, softening the look of the piece and giving it an overall sense of subtlety. The desk is crafted from European walnut wood and features a leather top and leather-lined drawers.

Though the house is only 925 square feet, Moffitt argues that it feels much larger, for which she credits three factors: its visual connections to the outdoors, its open spaces, and its simple interior-design language.

In her workshop, which features a Mercedes table, an Otto lamp, and a wood-and-leather bar stool, all by NET, she creates a line of uncomplicated wood toys called Sarmiento.

LEATHER MIRROR You can really add some drama to a room with the size of this distressed leather framed mirror lined with wood. 72" diameter.

The company sells a range of different furnishings, from beds to sofas to smaller pieces like these American-made leather pouffes, which come in three hues and work great as either an ottoman or coffee table.

In addition to a desk that doubles as a game table, the front upstairs loft houses a weathered leather Corbusier daybed.

Eames Demetrios, head of the Eames office, joins Dwell on Design for a presentation on authenticity in the design world, addressing questions such as why consumers should buy original design, every time. Vitra Miniature Collection - Eames Lounge + Ottoman

These geometric leather theorem coasters from Anthropologie are designed by Molly McGrath, whom finds inspiration from both urban and natural elements.

Coffee Talk While some resign themselves to the coffee shop, the resourceful caffeine lover knows better. A cup of coffee sipped at home from your favorite mug is a much better way to launch into your day than a barrage of goateed baristas, surcharges for “hot,” and a tragic display case of objectionable croissants. (Drip, machine, espresso, or even in the form of a table, we all love coffee. Read here for more great products.)

Shinola has expanded its space in Detroit's Argonaut Building to include leather manufactuirng. The company sources most of its raw materials from tanneries in Chicago, Maine, and Pennsylvania. Photo courtesy of Shinola.

The BeoPlay H2 Headphones are streamlined, modern, and offer superior sound quality. Featuring a flexible on-ear profile, the BeoPlay H2 Headphones include a microphone and hassle-free remote. Available in distinct colors—sleek silver, vivid green, and deep blue—the headphones are meant to give character and personality while maintaining a minimalist, urban style.

Producing a watch band is a multi-step process. Leather is brought into the factory, slimmed down in a process called skiving, then layered together, cut into shape, heat-pressed together, then stitched. The last piece is attaching the watch face to the band.

Italian company Galli S.P.A. custom made the machinery in the 12,000-square-foot workshop based on specifications needed to produce Shinola's designs. Photo courtesy of Shinola.

"A lot of good things happen when you can develop products right where you produce them," says Jen Guarino, VP of Leather at Shinola. Photo courtesy of Shinola.

The Larrea lounge combines a latigo leather sling seat with a powder-coated steel frame.

"In doing somethng like [leather manufactuirng], money doesn't buy everything," says Guarino. "You need people who know how to do the job." Shinola predicts it will have a workforce of 60 people in the leather studio by the end of 2014.

A pair of black leather butterfly chairs face off with Corbusier ottomans in front of the concrete-edged fireplace.

The Melbourne Home of Suzy Tuxen and Shane Loorham via the Design Files.

In the living room are a sectional by American Leather for Room & Board, an Eames lounge chair and ottoman, and a custom floor lamp and coffee table by Jeremy Clark and Ed Haynes.

Morrison claims the padding of his girlfriend’s Prada loafers inspired the design of this chair, which is now in the Tate Modern. The tubular steel base supports an upholstered polyurethane foam back that can covered in a variety of fabrics and colors.

Topo Designs Duffle Bag, $129 at the Dwell Store Topo Design’s classic duffle is at once outdoorsy and streamlined. The bag is made in Colorado and can be used for a range of purposes from weekend camping trips to urban commuting.

The custom leather platform bed was designed by Shikany’s firm, PS Studios.