Molly and Jake watch TV with the balcony door ajar.

"Beauty," Olafur Eliasson, 1993. In this work, a spotlight shines through a layer of mist to create a rainbow that's only visible from certain angles.

The Cyclops watch.

The designers of the CST-01 call it the "thinnest watch in the world." It's often tricky to trade in absolutes, but anyone who handled a prototype on the CES show floor this week would be hard-pressed to prove them wrong. Dave Vondle and Jerry O'Leary, who call their Chicago-based company Central Standard Timing, say the watch's paper-thin battery charges in 10 minutes and powers the device for a month before it needs to be plugged in again. The watch display is rendered in E Ink, commonly used in e-readers. Photo courtesy of Central Standard Timing.

1993, Pierluigi Cerri.

Axel, Anna, and a friend watch television in the living room.

A photo of Verner Panton from 1993. © Panton Design, Basel

The Watch Me Wall Clock is an unmistakably vibrant addition to any room. Designed by Rasmus Gottliebsen for Normann Copenhagen, its powder-coated aluminum pieces feature rich saturated colors in bold rectangles along with black and white hands.

Are watching the sky, Máze, 2005

BareBands is an innovative watch that is designed for a variety of occasions. Featuring a digital face and typical sport functions like a timer and illuminating light, the watch can be used for athletic activities like running, biking, and—with twenty meters of waterproofing—swimming. The octagon-shaped face gives the watch a geometric, modern look that will communicate with daily wear.

Vitra Fire Station, Weil am Rhein, Germany, 1993

The Stop2Go Watch from Swiss Company Mondaine takes the classic Swiss Railway Clock and reimagines it as a sophisticated wristwatch. Modeled after the Swiss Railway Clock designed by Hans Hilfiker in 1944, the watch captures the clock’s classic red second hand, along with its subtle twist. The red hand sweeps a full circle in 58 seconds—instead of the typical 60 seconds—and pauses for two seconds at 12 o’clock so the black minute hand can advance.

Braun Analog Watch, $200 from store.dwell.comDieter Rams and Dietrich Lubs designed the piece in the 1970s and it remains popular today. Analog watches might seem like a thing of the past, but as any well-mannered gent will attest, it's much easier and more polite to use one to mind the time instead of stealing glances at an smartphone.

"Ice Watch," Olafur Eliasson, 2014. Twelve large blocks of ice, transported from Greenland, were displayed in a clock formation and left to melt. This work was first staged in Copenhagen, and later in Paris, both times in conjunction with UN meetings about climate change.

The Plicate Analog Watch from Nava Design is an inspired wristwatch, modeled after the pleats found in folder paper fans. A monochrome design, the watch strap is modeled after the watch case not only in color, but also in the pleated design. This thoughtful detail in the watch strap allows air to flow between the band and the arm of the wearer, which keeps the watch comfortable and prevents dirt from building up.

Ellen watching through the window, Máze, 2005

The AJ Banker’s Watch from Rosendahl follows in the tradition of Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Banker’s Wall Clock, which was originally designed for the Danish National Bank in 1971. This wristwatch expertly captures the wall clock’s distinctive markers, simple hands, and striking red center. As with Arne Jacobsen’s wall clocks, the dial and curved crystal of the case comprise a single unit, with movement located at the back of the watch.

The TIC15 watch by Piero Lissoni for Alessi comes in a handful of colors, but we're partial to the sporty green band.

BareBands Digital Watch, $40 at the Dwell Store BareBands is an innovative watch that is designed for a variety of occasions. Featuring a digital face and typical sport functions like a timer and illuminating light, the watch can be used for athletic activities like running, biking, and—with twenty meters of waterproofing—swimming.

The Waterloo International Terminal, 1993, in London. Image courtesy Jo Reid/John Peck.

Simon Ailo watching his herd, Máze, 2005

The Stop2Go Watch from Swiss Company Mondaine takes the classic Swiss Railway Clock and reimagines it as a sophisticated wristwatch, complete with the iconic Mondaine red second hand. The red hand sweeps a full circle in 58 seconds—instead of the typical 60 seconds—and pauses for two seconds at 12 o’clock so the black minute hand can advance. The sweeping red hand then resumes its rotation, repeating this distinctive stop and go process. Originally conceived to ensure prompt departures for the Swiss trains, this effect also gives the illusion of an extra two seconds, where time momentarily stands still.

A new product in 2014, the BN-171 Watch from Braun is an innovative addition to Braun’s fleet of watches and clocks. Prior to its launch, a fully ceramic watch only existed as a concept product. Through careful design and engineering, the BN-171 Watch is completely comprised of ceramic, including the bracelet-style band. The result is a timepiece with a luxurious look and feel, complete with a weighty presence and a smooth finish.

The Picto Watch is a distinctive timepiece that is at once minimalist and graphic. Comprised of a monochrome case and band, the Picto is the first watch that was created based on a rotating disk principle. Designed by Steen Georg Christensen and Erling Andersen, the watch is meant to be a “picture” of time. As such, the watch communicates time not by the traditional movement of hands, but instead by a rotating watch face. This watch is also available in all black, red, and black with stainless steel.

Aluminum W1 watch with a leather strap.

Kellogg spent five years working on the house, and the structure was completed in 1993.

Known for their streamlined, minimalist watches, Uniform Wares creates timepieces that blend tradition, modern advances, and accessibility. Its 203 Series Watch is an elegant dress watch that can be worn every day, from a formal event to weekend errands. The unisex watch is a thoughtful gift that will become a wardrobe staple for the busiest design fans on your list.

“Watching the sunrise and moonrise from the living room is gobsmacking,” says James.

People-watching at the casual hang-out L’Autre Café.

The three attached structures house an office, guest suite, and game room, used by the family to watch football games.

A second story loft offers a cozy place to lounge and watch movies. The stairwell wall is the "guest book

Sitting in their living room, Jennifer and Mattias can watch Moa traverse obstacle courses of hula hoops and basketballs in the atrium when it rains.

Rineke Dijkstra, Long Island, N. Y., USA, July 1, 1993, 1993; chromogenic print; 66 1/8 in. x 55 11/16 in.; Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, New York & Paris; © Rineke Dijkstra

The loft is on the third floor, and the windows look out onto a parking lot and church, so they offer unobstructed light and views. "In the summer, I could just sit here and watch the fireworks," he says.

The couple’s cat, Pinot, keeps watch on Craig’s desk, which faces the sleeping alcove. A heavy custom curtain from Rose Brand curves around the bed to give sleepers more quiet and privacy.