Dwell’s editor-in-chief William Hanley
The mural in Kim's kitchen, painted to resemble a wallpaper, is replicated again in the painting on top. Kim says she was going for a trompe l'oeil effect, "like a painting on a painting on a painting." The furnishings were sourced secondhand from thrift stores and flea markets.
Kim in her guest bedroom, on a daybed she fashioned out of a queen-sized bed and a plywood headboard she painted. The walls are cloaked in Farrow & Ball Inchyra Blue.
The backsplash is composed of the Kappa range from 41Zero42, paired with quartz "Minnesota Snow
Now, tall storage cabinets surround a niche with Kappa tile from 41Zero42, this time in a brighter hue, combined with a plainsawn white oak frame and Rosso Verona marble counter.
The house is contained between two brick walls.
Sugarhouse reworked the living room storage and reoriented the room to better occupy the available space. An Ellison Studio sofa, recovered in Dedar Patchwork Fabric, fits the whole family for movie nights. The coffee table is from Etsy and the rug is Nordic Knots. The overhead light is a vintage Poul Henningsen via 1st Dibs.
Concrete floors were polished a few extra times to reveal the pebbles and stones for a terrazzo-esque effect.
The wallpaper was one of the first interior details, a limited edition print featuring trans icons and significant moments in queer history.
Wood panelling brings a warmth to the concrete-and-white space.
Staircase with rift-sawn white oak handrails and pour-in-place terrazzo in green.
The Cotage
When architect Olivier Lekien redesigned a Paris apartment in the 11th arrondissement, he discovered a system of wood columns and beams that separated the kitchen-and-dining area from the living room.
The one element the couple wanted to emulate from their time living in California was the ability to add in more opportunities for indoor/outdoor living. “Living in Manhattan Beach, we would be obsessed about some of the houses on the strand near the beach that would just have these massive rooftop decks,” says Derek. “Since this lot offers beautiful mountain views, the rooftop deck is a great way to be outside and maximize those views.”
In order to achieve ample daylighting, artful windows were imperative—but all that light can also come with lots of heat. Thick glass and overhanging arches were key to the design scheme so that the home was insulated from the harsh Arizona climate. The main living area also features a 20-foot tongue-and-groove ceiling that extends to both patios.
The tiles that can be glimpsed in the hallway are by Patricia Urquiola for Mutina, and have been used to clad the bathroom. They extend out into the hallway to mark the entrance.
The custom dining table—which was made by a local artisan—is located in front of west-facing windows that frame the sunset in the evenings. The table can be easily moved inside or out depending on the weather.
The rough-hewn stone stairs that lead to the cottage were made by a local stone worker.
A wooden entrance opens to the lush lot filled with native vegetation and soaring trees.
When the bathroom light is on, a circle of light is reflected on the apartment ceiling through an oculus in the bathroom ceiling.
In the remote mountains of Palmichal de Acosta, Costa Rica, local architect María de la Paz Alice, founder of Mazpazz Arquitectura, designed a 100 percent autonomous and self-sustaining home that frames its lush surroundings with a series of geometric openings. The home’s entrance, which the architect refers to as “the vortex,” takes the form of a poured-concrete cube with two prominent circular cutouts. Crystals encrusted in the floor capture and reflect light that passes from the sun and moon through the overhead oculus.
Located on the outskirts of Morelia, Mexico, the 5,920-square-foot UC House by architectural designer Daniela Bucio Sistos is grounded by a foyer with a raised, circular ceiling, which houses a tree that grows out from a hole in the floor at the center.
The bathroom, adjacent to the kitchen, features a pale blue exterior wall that ties it to the kitchen area. A mirrored panel on the inside of the door reflects space and light, creating a feeling of spaciousness.
A red Womb chair from Knoll adds a bright touch to the otherwise neutral palette.
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