Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon, who has been writing for Dwell since 2017. Read more of her work about design and architecture at melissadalton.net.

A Dynamic Home in Australia Angles for Epic Views
Perched on Mount Martha in Victoria, Three Angle House captures impressive vistas.
A Sydney Architect Deftly Revamps a 1920s Cottage to Embrace the Garden
Jeffrey Bokey-Grant gives his family’s traditional cottage an award-winning remodel that adheres to the original footprint.
Before & After: A Riverside Cabin in Oregon Gets a Blindingly Bright Renovation
Armed with white primer and an eye for stylish accessories, a Portland-based creative couple revitalize a midcentury retreat on...
Before & After: A Classic NYC Loft Ditches Its ’90s Look for Refined Minimalism
This West Chelsea loft shines with a pared-back palette of bleached walnut and exposed brick.
A Radiant Sydney Home Appears to Float Above a Sandstone Ridge
A dramatic cantilever isn’t the only striking aspect of this Sydney home—carefully framed views and an incredible outdoor shower...
Before & After: Thoughtful Tweaks Rescue an L.A. Villa From Builder Blandness
Interior designer Sarah Zachary brings charm to every room of a 1937 home with carefully selected wallpaper, vintage finds, and...
A Soulful Home in China Highlights the Owner’s Vintage Furniture Collection
For his longtime friend, designer Bob Chen creates a tranquil residence wherein every piece tells a story.
Before & After: Big Color and Pattern Give a Drab L.A. Midcentury a Major Glow Up
A multiphased makeover revived this 1963 Los Angeles home with effusive color and playful pattern—and it just hit the market for...
An Adventurous Couple Build an A-Frame Cabin in the Mountains of Quebec
Available on Airbnb, La Cabin Ride & Sleep is a 256-square-foot base camp for mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and more.
Budget Breakdown: A DIY Couple Painstakingly Revive an Italianate Manse in the Berkshires for $343K
For their first-ever renovation, Nick Spain and Michael Bolognino overhaul a 4,500-square-foot former rectory—and celebrate with...
Before & After: A Buenos Aires Architect Transforms a Disjointed 1930s Home
Architect Martin Huberman returns to his childhood neighborhood to create a flexible home for his young family.
Before & After: A Disjointed Cape Cod Home Is Streamlined and Synced to Its Site
Monte French Design Studio brings much-needed sleeping space to a vacation getaway with a tower addition bridged by an elevated...
Before & After: A Faded Eichler in San Mateo Gets a Glow Up
A remodel opens up the floor plan and preserves the key characteristics of a tired Eichler.
A Home in a Former Shoe Factory Gets an Overhaul Inspired by a Vintage Cookbook
WOWOWA Architecture combines a retro palette of blush, brick red, and copper with a swirl of curving forms to ease awkward angles...
Before & After: A Chicago Queen Anne Recovers From a Misguided 1960s Remodel
A talented team balances historic and modern elements in an 1885 home that had been sabotaged in the ’60s.
Before & After: A Vibrant Remodel Tunes Up an Australian Bungalow for a Family and Their Pets
A laid-back palette of wood and concrete—with energizing pops of red—defines a well-loved home for a family of three.
An Elegant Backyard Pavilion Lets an Australian Home Soak Up the Sun
Moloney Architects fashions a brick-and-wood pavilion to bring light into a historic home in Victoria.
A Soaring Atrium With a Perforated Roof Fills This Chinese Home With Dappled Light
Patterned light falls into the open heart of this alluring Jinhua City residence.
Before & After: A Thoughtful Kitchen Remodel Balances Flourish and Function in a Portland Victorian
Dyer Studio reshapes a kitchen and mudroom in a 1902 Victorian home in Portland while keeping its pedigreed character intact.
Before & After: A Humdrum Midcentury in Vancouver Gets an Origami-Like Addition
Measured Architecture opens up a ’50s split-level to spectacular views.
Before & After: A Mixed-Up Montauk Beach House Gets a Sleek New Look
Brooklyn-based Descience Lab converts a “shabby-chic” beach house in the Hamptons into a timeless retreat.
7 Airstream Renovation Companies That’ll Take Your Vintage Cruiser to the Next Level
These design-build outfits across the U.S. know their way around the iconic silver trailer.
Before & After: A Gut Reno Restores Gatsby Glamour to This Art Deco Brooklyn Loft
FIG Interior Design and JAM Architecture team up to fill a lackluster unit with sweeping curves and luxe finishes that honor the...
Before & After: A Pitch-Perfect Remodel Strikes Harmony in a Home Atop a Violin Shop
Tsai Design fine tunes a convoluted Melbourne apartment in order to let the light in.
Before & After: A Key Layout Swap Smooths Out the Kinks of This Victorian Flat in London
An effortless mix of modern updates and historic details makes this 665-square-foot apartment feel sleek and tidy.
Before & After: A Drab Midcentury Outside Seattle Gets Infused With California Surfer Vibes
A fashion designer asks Wittman Estes to revamp a 1969 Mercer Island home with her Southern California roots in mind.
This Pristine Portland Midcentury Will Let You Live Among the Trees for $1.35M
The 1955 stunner boasts forest views from every room.
A Crafty Remodel Recasts a Dreary Kitchen as an Inviting Jewel Box
A revised layout, smart sight lines, and an earthy palette turn the back of this Australian home into a relaxing hangout spot.
Before & After: A Dim, Cookie-Cutter Craftsman in Portland Now Basks in Natural Light
Local firm Beebe Skidmore was enlisted to spearhead “Operation Sunlight.”
Before & After: A Tucson Midcentury Gets a Surgically Precise Revamp
Paring back to just the essentials, Hazelbaker Rush’s treatment of this 1941 dwelling is a lesson in restraint.
A Vintage Los Angeles Home Is Beautifully Revived Into an Airy Oasis
Dubbed the “Monster House” for its previously unruly condition, this renovated 1905 home just hit the market for $1.2M.
Before & After: A Brooklyn Townhouse Is Adeptly Reorganized for its Extroverted-Introvert Owner
A thoughtful new floor plan fluidly accommodates a wide range of activities, from the super social to the need to nest, in a...
Before & After: An Atrium-Like Staircase Fills This Minimalist Chicago Duplex With Light
Carefully placed windows steep this crisp Chicago apartment in the texture of the city.
Before & After: A Family of Five Thrives in This Ingenious, 366-Square-Foot Apartment in Shanghai
Three generations live harmoniously in this teensy pad thanks to hardworking storage, flexible furniture, and a zigzagging layout.
A Mint-Green Addition Freshens Up a Brick House in China
Wonder Architects fuse a crisp addition to a traditional brick home in Hou Heilongmiao Village.
Before & After: A French Norman–Style Home Ditches a Clumsy Addition
In Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, a stately home with storybook appeal trades a clunky addition for one that’s open and...