Paola Navone, Fungo stools, 2008.

Halo-Halo tiles by Paola Navone for Bisazza. The Italian designer, who worked alongside Sottsass and other avant-garde Alchimia and Memphis group members, has designed a series of nine graphic mosaic tiles that can be arranged at will.

Ultra-tactile upholstery on the Nest sofa by Paola Navone for Ercol.

Big Bug by Paola Navone for Poliform.

Paola Navone, Otto dining chairs, 1998.

Memphis rears its head again in the form of the Panda series by Paola Navone for Cappellini.

“One of the goals of Zenkaya was to create employment in a country crippled by [an unemployment rate of over 25 percent],” explains the architect, who likes to call himself a social entrepreneur.

Hidden Storage The Murphy bed in the guest bedroom sits behind Montague’s desk, allowing the compact room to function comfortably for working and sleeping at different times. It’s made with customized millwork, Häfele bed hardware, and an Ikea mattress. When it’s open, it reveals hidden shelving. hafele.com ikea.com

Visitors pass by a sentry wall of lamps from Design House Stockholm on their way to the airy living-dining room with its 52 windows.

These gold plated steel cheese knives from Anthropologie will add a modern Midas touch to any cheese board.

This sleek oak attaché bookcase and shelving unit by Philadelphia-based designers Lostine makes a subtle statement with clasped studded leather straps.

Riviera Large Red Pendant ($199) and Riviera Small Grey Pendant ($129) by Paola Navone Only at Crate & Barrel. These attenuated wire frames are just right for 2013, and the gray and red colorways add a subtle amount of color to a dining room.

Riviera woven bowl by Paola Navone Only at Crate & Barrel ($79.95)

Choosing not to make a big to-do of itself, this cottage blends in with its surroundings. A wall of glass on one end allows a merger of the outdoors with the interiors, while white trim leaves the appearance of a snow-kissed façade year-round. Berlin, Germany. By Atelier st Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH from the book Rock the Shack, Copyright Gestalten 2013.

Transformer or beach hut? Positioned in a coastal erosion zone, this holiday retreat for a family of five is completely capable of being relocated. An oversized shutter allows for protection from the elements when not in use and opens to allow sun in during the winter or provide shade on hot summer days. Waikato, New Zealand. By Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects, from the book Rock the Shack, Copyright Gestalten 2013.

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

Birchwood Wreath from Anthropologie The Birchwood Wreath from Anthropologie makes for a rustic modern Christmas at it's best.

Working with project architect Todd Aranaz, Fougeron moved the living room to the ground floor and combined it with the dining area and kitchen. The Stoccolma sofa and ottoman are by Paola Navone for Baxter.

A 200-year-old factory in Umbria is transformed into an inviting home by designer Paola Navone. In the seating area, a trolley found at a flea market functions as the coffee table alongside an expansive Navone-designed sofa for Linteloo. Custom pendants by photographer Mark Eden Schooley hang above the dining table. Photo by Wichmann + Bendtsen.

Como espresso cup ($11.95) and saucer ($9.95) by Paola Navone Only at Crate & Barrel.

Riviera Windsor chairs shown in black and white in the low-backed version ($299) by Paola Navone Only at Crate & Barrel. The high-backed version is $399.

Mallorca Flatware Collection by Paola Navone Only at Crate & Barrel includes a three-piece place setting ($49.95), a tea spoon ($9.95), coffee spoon ($8.95), and servers ($69.95 for two pieces).

Designer Paola Navone transformed a 200-year-old factory in Umbria into an inviting home for Andrea Falkner-Campi and her husband. Once a tobacco-drying plant, and before that a silkworm farm, the home sits 90 miles north of Rome.

The veranda looks out onto the harbor.

Stuth and Shelton's bedroom.

The office looks out on the spacious deck.

Como barware by Paola Navone Only at Crate & Barrel: Choose from the 16-ounce highball glass ($11.95), the 7-ounce double glass ($9.95), and 10-ounce tumbler ($10.95).

What's that? You love copper so much you want to ride it? You're in luck. Van Heesch's copper bike is now for sale via Anthropologie. It even includes a copper chain lock and copper bell (plus handling gloves, naturally).

We were smitted with the emerald hue of a new rug by Paola Lenti.

Homeowners Luciano Bedoya and Liya Moya worked with interior designer Augusta Pastor on the furnishings. The Ghost sofa is by Paola Navone for Gervasoni, the Beni Ourain rug is from Mascarpone Originale, the About A Lounge 92 chair is by Hay, and the coffee table is by Primas.

The architects added a small circular skylight to serve as a vertical focal point in the center of the fifth floor. The quarter-sawn white oak risers produce a beautiful rippled grain highlighted by the abundant natural light.

Johan Bouwmeester built a library out of oak.

Ando, a Shiba Inu, was in the first Puppy Cam litter.

Librii (David Dewane: 2014) In a bid to leap-frog past analog ideas of what a learning center should be, the Librii concept, a shipping-container based digital library designed by architect David Dewane and funded on Kickstarter, may serve as an educational franchise for Africa. Currently in development, a test version is being constructed in Washington, D.C.

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.

Updating the A-frame of yore, this home’s liberal use of windows makes the most of panoramic views spanning two valleys. Catalonia, Spain. Cadaval & Sola-Morales from the book Rock the Shack, Copyright Gestalten 2013.