Here’s What It Cost to Build 10 of Our Favorite Homes of the Year

"The goal was to open it up as much as possible," says architect Olivier Leiken, who renovated this Parisian cottage for his own family. "We changed almost everything." They added windows, an extension with a living/dining area, and insulation. They removed walls, replaced flooring, and implemented a palette of bright white and soft green punctuated with loads of texture and as many plants as possible. The 1930 house in Montreuil welcomes in sunshine, and it has a soothing palette. "Plants, sun, and coffee—what else does one need," says Leiken.