The United Nations Security Council Chamber, designed by the Norwegian architect Arnstein Arneberg and originally a gift of the Norwegian government, was painstakingly restored as part of a larger $2.1 billion overhaul of the U.N.'s New York campus.

The Damask wallpaper, originally designed by the Norwegian textile artist Else Poulsson, was beyond repair, so it was carefully reproduced on Norway's west coast and shipped to New York.

The wooden doors, fashioned from pale ash, have distinctive pewter-inlay patterns and large, square wooden handles.

Careful analysis of layers of paint on the ceiling revealed that its original color was an off-white and not the white that had been used in recent decades. The original shade was reproduced as part of the restoration effort.

"Architecturally, it's a fabulous room," says Michael Adlerstein, an architect and the assistant secretery general in charge of the renovation. "When you walk in, it's awe-inspiring. It is a very powerful room of dignity and discipline, and the things that are needed in order to have a coherent discussion."

New floor vents offer a subtle hint at the extensive work that was done to modernize the heating and air-conditioning systems, which were moved beneath the floorboards. The blue chairs, which are reserved for ambassadors' aides, and the red chairs—all of which are original—were outfitted with fresh Naugahyde upholstery.

The mural by Per Krohg, a Norwegian artist who studied under Matisse, was carefully restored. It shows a phoenix rising from the ashes of war.

Jongerius also touched upon the importance of a designer having an aesthetic signature. She used the dots that appear throughout her creations as an example. “It’s a magnificent moment to see an object have an independent life.” Here we see the massive Knots & Beads Curtain, created with hand-knotted yarn and 30,000 porcelain beds made from Dutch clay by Royal Tichelaar Makkum, that appears in the new interior for the United Nations North Delegates’ Lounge in New York, 2013. Jongerius worked alongside Rem Koolhaas, Irma Boom, Gabriel Lester and Louise Schouwenberg on various aspects of the space.

The planks inside the house blend into those on the small porch just outside. It's a nice touch that helps marry the outdoors with the home's interior.

By burnishing historic details and adjusting the floor plan, multidisciplinary studio Loft Szczecin restored and transformed a loft in a warehouse that dates from before World War II. The living room rug is a Polish textile from the 1930s.

Cedar slats help this Ontario lake house float soundly atop still waters. Photo by: Raimund Koch

Glass walls divide up the spaces throughout the home.

By merging typical Saigon architectural and stylistic details, architect Toan Nghiem of a21 Studio created a space that brings family together. Stacking roof layers, open flowering balconies, and an alleyway that serves as a living room, dining room, and outdoor playground are all filled with colorful, rich materials. Inside Saigon House, reclaimed and second-hand furniture lend history and spirit to the home. With so many small interior rooms and divisions between spaces, the addition of a net ceiling brings openness to the back alleyway, where the family often gathers to eat dinner. Not only does the net allow for ventilation and light, but it offers a place to play for the children, who love to climb and lounge above their parents.

Inside, a large planting feature designed by Michael Hellgreen of Vertical Garden Design clads the kitchen block. "The idea behind the vertical garden was to bring a natural element to the space, since the overall look was very minimal," architect Duarte Caldas says.

A Nelson Saucer Pendant Lamp by George Nelson hangs over the dining table with Eames Molded Plastic armchairs to compliment the surrounding set of chairs.

Founded in 2005, Myfox benefits from years of consumer insight that newer smart home security startups lack. Studying user feedback from across Europe, the French company found 30 percent of users were unplugging their cameras when home to protect themselves from hackers' prying eyes.

This is a 1951 sketch by Swedish textile artist Marianne Richter of tapestry that eventually hung in the United Nations Economic and Social Council Chamber.

The United States of Shame.

Dropcam cameras with motion detectors are installed throughout the property. Willson also uses them to manage beer and wine fermentation remotely.

Inside the studio

Espadrilles by Industry of All Nations.

At the time of the opening of United Artists Theatre in New York, its owners proclaimed this building "the most beautiful, comfortable and up-to-date theatre in the world." As part of a United Artists Theatre series of buildings in Detroit, L.A., and New York, the idea was based a ‘movie palace’—a huge, all-encompassing destination where movies, recording studios, theater, and symphony performances, could all intermingle inside dazzling interiors.

Dojo is available for pre-order via Amazon for $99 with 12 months of service (the usual suggested retail price is $199 for the same service). It will begin shipping early 2016.

Sick of asking someone at the coffee shop to watch your laptop every time you need to step away? John Cochran's Scroll Top Lock Box security system addresses that common annoyance by safely locking your electronics.

Canary cameras detect motion and send Willson alerts with a video clip of the activity. From the app, he can summon law enforcement if desired.

"A lot of people were skeptical about the idea, even though it wasn't the first time I pulled off something crazy," Cadena says. "I just trusted my intuition and the philosophy of the chef."

Products can be tested in the anechoic chamber, made of sound-absorbing fiberglass panels.

The term “Internet of Things” was first documented by British visionary Kevin Ashton in 1999. The first Internet appliance was a Coke machine at Carnegie Melon University in the early 1980s. The programmers could connect to the machine over the Internet, check the status of the machine and determine whether or not there would be a cold drink awaiting them, should they decide to make the trip down to the machine.

Once installed, Dojo's software adds all the devices—cellphones, printers, tablets, security cameras, etc.—that use your home's wireless network. It then begins to track with whom they communicate: for instance, if one device begins sending data to an unusual server abroad, it raises a red flag. Dojo itself comes with two pieces of hardware: a palm-sized pebble and its dock. The latter connects directly to your router. The former, which glows red when there's unexpected or alarming network activity, is mobile and can be placed in easily-accessed or visible parts of your home.

Home security system by Canary, $249 at canary.is This all-in-one security system "learns" the rhythms of your home and monitors activity and noise levels, air quality and temperature, notifying you by text (with an accompanying high-definition video) when anything seems out of sorts.

RUG DESIGNER NANI MARQUINA'S SERENE HOME IN IBIZA Jamaica barstools by Pepe Cortès for Knoll and two Ikea pendants pair nicely with the plaster walls, restored wooden beam ceilings, and polished cement floors in the kitchen. Photo by Albert Font.

An aluminum-framed door leading to the terrace provides an added sense of depth, integrating outside with inside. Here, the metal contrasts sharply with the natural birch flooring.