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Located in the historic English village of Bentworth, Friends Lab is a contemporary take on the local agricultural typology.
Located in the historic English village of Bentworth, Friends Lab is a contemporary take on the local agricultural typology.
There’s no deck or patio at the back of the house—nature begins directly at the doorstep. "Our home steals as little space as possible from the setting. It is almost traversed by the forest,” adds David.
There’s no deck or patio at the back of the house—nature begins directly at the doorstep. "Our home steals as little space as possible from the setting. It is almost traversed by the forest,” adds David.
David and Annemie's daughter swings in the living room. A door provides access to the lush backyard and surrounding area. “The kids have a lot of freedom. They have a big area where they can go and play without needing supervision,” says Annemie.
David and Annemie's daughter swings in the living room. A door provides access to the lush backyard and surrounding area. “The kids have a lot of freedom. They have a big area where they can go and play without needing supervision,” says Annemie.
Concrete from the exterior continues indoors as a fireplace surround. For the couch, Annemie found the wooden base and cushion covers in a secondhand store and used baby mattresses as inserts. David made the oak back.
Concrete from the exterior continues indoors as a fireplace surround. For the couch, Annemie found the wooden base and cushion covers in a secondhand store and used baby mattresses as inserts. David made the oak back.
Nine-year-old Stan reads on the platform bed his father built for him. A trio of birch branches helps to bring the outdoors in. The pendant and bed linens are custom.
Nine-year-old Stan reads on the platform bed his father built for him. A trio of birch branches helps to bring the outdoors in. The pendant and bed linens are custom.
The view down from the bathroom window provides a closer look at the white and green pendants that Annemie made from glass found at a flea market. The doors and windows were crafted by carpenter Peeters Schrijnwerkerij, the side tables are custom, and the chair is a vintage find.
The view down from the bathroom window provides a closer look at the white and green pendants that Annemie made from glass found at a flea market. The doors and windows were crafted by carpenter Peeters Schrijnwerkerij, the side tables are custom, and the chair is a vintage find.
A look at the bathroom. “The window also gives a view out to the front garden and lets the morning sun in,” says David.
A look at the bathroom. “The window also gives a view out to the front garden and lets the morning sun in,” says David.
Annemie Lathouwers grew up in a forested enclave on the outskirts of Antwerp, Belgium. A nature preserve filled with stately pines, the area lured her back when she and her husband, David D’Hulst, began thinking about trading their house in the city for greener surroundings.
Annemie Lathouwers grew up in a forested enclave on the outskirts of Antwerp, Belgium. A nature preserve filled with stately pines, the area lured her back when she and her husband, David D’Hulst, began thinking about trading their house in the city for greener surroundings.
Board-formed concrete encloses a walled garden at the entrance to David D’Hulst and Annemie Lathouwers’s house in Antwerp province, Belgium.
Board-formed concrete encloses a walled garden at the entrance to David D’Hulst and Annemie Lathouwers’s house in Antwerp province, Belgium.
Amy Plank and Richard Vaughn linked three 20-foot shipping containers to create a striking and sustainable home in Victoria, Australia. The house is clad with interlocking Colorbond steel panels, accented by windows and doors framed with silvertop ash.
Amy Plank and Richard Vaughn linked three 20-foot shipping containers to create a striking and sustainable home in Victoria, Australia. The house is clad with interlocking Colorbond steel panels, accented by windows and doors framed with silvertop ash.
Just off the ground-floor living room is the second bedroom, which can be easily tucked away behind sliding wood doors.
Just off the ground-floor living room is the second bedroom, which can be easily tucked away behind sliding wood doors.
On the ground floor, the couple installed a concrete overlay over the slab and uses a sectional and area rugs to help define zones in the open space. A Malm ZIRCON 38 fireplace sits in the corner, and clerestory windows and skylights establish a strong indoor/outdoor connection.
On the ground floor, the couple installed a concrete overlay over the slab and uses a sectional and area rugs to help define zones in the open space. A Malm ZIRCON 38 fireplace sits in the corner, and clerestory windows and skylights establish a strong indoor/outdoor connection.
The home wraps around the main bedroom so that it also has direct access to the deck off the living room.
The home wraps around the main bedroom so that it also has direct access to the deck off the living room.
The open-plan layout features a kitchen and dining nook just off the living room. “We debated taking out the wall that separates the kitchen from the living room and replacing it with an island,” says Christa. “But after living in the house for a year, hosting parties and cooking holiday dinners for 18 people, we realized that having the partial separation was necessary for our sanity.”
The open-plan layout features a kitchen and dining nook just off the living room. “We debated taking out the wall that separates the kitchen from the living room and replacing it with an island,” says Christa. “But after living in the house for a year, hosting parties and cooking holiday dinners for 18 people, we realized that having the partial separation was necessary for our sanity.”
The open-plan living space features soaring wood-paneled ceilings and expanses of glass. Christa did a deep dive into the architecture of Roger Lee and Bay Area modernism to keep the original design as intact as possible while modernizing it.
The open-plan living space features soaring wood-paneled ceilings and expanses of glass. Christa did a deep dive into the architecture of Roger Lee and Bay Area modernism to keep the original design as intact as possible while modernizing it.
Before moving, the couple made some quick fixes to make the house livable. “We refinished the existing hardwood floors and installed new matching oak to replace linoleum in the kitchen. I took a chisel to the tile around the Malm fireplace [which is original to the home] in the living room and discovered the original stained concrete hearth below,” explains Christa. She also accented the bookcases with black paint.
Before moving, the couple made some quick fixes to make the house livable. “We refinished the existing hardwood floors and installed new matching oak to replace linoleum in the kitchen. I took a chisel to the tile around the Malm fireplace [which is original to the home] in the living room and discovered the original stained concrete hearth below,” explains Christa. She also accented the bookcases with black paint.
The living room opens to a deck that features sweeping bay views.
The living room opens to a deck that features sweeping bay views.
On the main floor of the second-story apartment, rustic oak flooring is paired with fir cladding, which unfolds into the staircase and walls of the “wood box” that contains the mezzanine level.
On the main floor of the second-story apartment, rustic oak flooring is paired with fir cladding, which unfolds into the staircase and walls of the “wood box” that contains the mezzanine level.
Walk Street House by Ras-A Studio
Walk Street House by Ras-A Studio
Rich colors, textiles, and playful artwork decorate the simple architectural palette.
Rich colors, textiles, and playful artwork decorate the simple architectural palette.
Sackett Street residence by Frederick Tang Architecture
Sackett Street residence by Frederick Tang Architecture
Off-Grid Guesthouse by Anacapa Architecture
Off-Grid Guesthouse by Anacapa Architecture
Ground floor plan of The Barn by Paul Uhlmann Architects
Ground floor plan of The Barn by Paul Uhlmann Architects
The design team made extensive use of Australian hardwood—both internally and externally— to reference the rural setting.
The design team made extensive use of Australian hardwood—both internally and externally— to reference the rural setting.
Skylights in the roof allow natural light and ventilation into the guest bedrooms, which don't have windows.
Skylights in the roof allow natural light and ventilation into the guest bedrooms, which don't have windows.
The timber-framed bunk beds are built into the soaring space.
The timber-framed bunk beds are built into the soaring space.
The weekend retreat is designed to accommodate large family and friend groups, with two guest bedrooms and a bunk room that sleeps 12.
The weekend retreat is designed to accommodate large family and friend groups, with two guest bedrooms and a bunk room that sleeps 12.
The antler chandeliers above the kitchen table are from local lighting store Milton Lighting.
The antler chandeliers above the kitchen table are from local lighting store Milton Lighting.
Norske Mikrohus offers customizable baths, letting customers choose flooring and wall finishes.
Norske Mikrohus offers customizable baths, letting customers choose flooring and wall finishes.
White-painted walls and cabinetry are offset by pale wood kitchen counters, stair treads, and flooring to maintain Scandinavian design aesthetics as well as a light and airy feeling for the interior.
White-painted walls and cabinetry are offset by pale wood kitchen counters, stair treads, and flooring to maintain Scandinavian design aesthetics as well as a light and airy feeling for the interior.
Vilde features plenty of windows so as to flood the interior with sunlight and connect the home to the natural landscape.
Vilde features plenty of windows so as to flood the interior with sunlight and connect the home to the natural landscape.
In contrast to the dark exterior, the interior of the main residence is dressed in a stark shade of white, complementing the original hardwoods lining the floor throughout. Various sized windows line the walls, inviting an abundance of natural light inside.
In contrast to the dark exterior, the interior of the main residence is dressed in a stark shade of white, complementing the original hardwoods lining the floor throughout. Various sized windows line the walls, inviting an abundance of natural light inside.
A vintage stove awaits in the kitchen, along with stone countertops and ample cabinetry. Windows above the sink overlook the backyard.
A vintage stove awaits in the kitchen, along with stone countertops and ample cabinetry. Windows above the sink overlook the backyard.
An offset gable roof also follows the slope of the land.
An offset gable roof also follows the slope of the land.
The outdoor shower is located right off the main balcony and living room.
The outdoor shower is located right off the main balcony and living room.
A piece of millwork in one of the master suites doesn't reach the ceiling, allowing light to spill into the mater bath.
A piece of millwork in one of the master suites doesn't reach the ceiling, allowing light to spill into the mater bath.

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