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The custom-made terrazzo floor with its striking red pigment was made by “Nicos”, a local artisan. He and his team throw the cement, then throw the pebbles, then sand the whole floor five times.

Streamlined trim, brass closet handles by BB Sweden, and a "gradation

New triple-glazed window units in the bay window conform with energy-efficiency requirements in Vancouver, "which is the most stringent in all of Canada,

Katsura trees, climbing hydrangeas, and basalt stepping stones create a pleasing passageway between the lower back deck and the new garage. “What could have been leftover space, I wanted to be a promenade,” says Andrea.

The architect and owners were in sync on every aspect of the design, including the desire for shou sugi ban siding. “I had been interested in shou sugi ban for a long time,” Herrmann says. “These Japanese cypress boards have been charred, wire-brushed, stained, and oiled. We did a lot of testing to come up with the right dark grey color; it changes in the light.”

It took Selin + Selin Architecture approximately nine months to build Kim Smith’s modest new home, which he originally envisioned sited on the property’s old granary.

Even as the square footage of this cottage in Fayston, Vermont, shrank in response to budget constraints, architect Elizabeth Herrmann remained focused on making the space feel warm and functional for a family of four and their dog and cat. "I think the trick to making small spaces feel much larger is to design the experience of being there,