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Floor plan of Garden Studio by a-works

This award-winning home by New York–based West Chin Architects is situated on a narrow corner lot in a Long Island neighborhood. The cedar-clad residence features a garage-style glass door that opens to welcome the salty sea breeze from the neighboring beach.

Homeowner and co-designer Christopher Hansen heads for the beach from the home’s double-height entry hallway, where a glass stairway with parota wood treads maintains sight lines.

Designer Sohei Nakanishi created a seaside family getaway in Japan’s Chiba prefecture as a retreat from urban life. The facade integrates a mix of natural materials that reference the home’s surroundings, in addition to a courtyard that sports a bright-citrus accent shade.

The kitchen’s large island is the heart of the home, bringing guests and family together. “The kids love prepping food, coloring, and just chatting with us,” says Leah. “At all times in the day, if someone is in the kitchen, the little ones will gather at the island and get involved in whatever we are doing. It’s sweet that they love being with us in these moments.”

The original wood columns and beams create a more open feel and flood the spaces with natural light. "The kitchen looks out over the courtyard, which acts as a light well and provides ventilation,

An arched doorway between one of the bedrooms and a bathroom lends a soft, modern quality.

The muted palette of the Mesa Nook rug echoes the color of the stone wall outside Dinnigan’s countryside home. “There are four defined seasons in the year, which makes each stay at the Black Barn Bowral very different,” says Dinnigan. “In spring the property is surrounded by blossoming trees and then by Christmas all the stonefruit is starting to ripen. Autumn brings with it the change of colors and loss of leaves, and winter is bleak but there’s something beautiful about the bleakness.”

The new Nook Collection campaign was shot at the home of Australian fashion designer Collette Dinnigan. “I’ve always had a passion for interior design, starting with my own boutique stores and houses,” shares Dinnigan. “For me, there is an overlap because my starting point is always with color and I’m passionate about textiles, proportion, and scale in both fashion and interiors.” In the bedroom, a Malawi Nook rug in Oatmeal offers a tactile underfoot experience that elevates the simple act of going to bed or getting up in the morning.

The concrete slabs in the garden were made out of the left-over polished concrete flooring inside the home, which otherwise would have been thrown away.

Christian and Faye considered lots of different timbers for the interior finish, but finally chose Douglas Fir. ‘Oak would have been too yellow, and we loved the pinkish tones of Douglas Fir which we felt would complement the red and yellow brick of the existing Edwardian house.

The c-shaped kitchen is built from Ikea carcasses which were strengthen by the couple’s joiner to withstand the weight of the polished concrete worktops and clad in Douglas Fir plywood.

The Douglas Fir was sourced from Canada due to its tighter grain, stability, and potential long lengths, compared to a faster grown Scottish alternative.

The bathroom has been decorated in neutral colours to help create a clutter-free sanctuary. Hidden storage is built into the ceiling above.

The entire thermal envelope has been upgraded with high performance double glazing and natural wood fibre insulation, chosen for its breathability, acoustic and thermal properties. MVHR provides fresh air throughout.

The owners opted to make the dining area smaller to accommodate a wider entryway on the opposite wall. They kept the tongue-in-groove ceiling throughout the home.