Favorites

Antique teak cabinetry in the kitchen and dining area brings a warm atmosphere.

The raw edges of the antique teak wood shelves bring an organic touch to the the living area.

The master bathroom features terrazzo and marble.

Floor Plan of Bangkok Apartment by Suphasidh Architects

In Hanna Bui’s Sausalito houseboat, designed by architect Craig Steely, sea creatures seen through an enormous back window animate bay views.

Hanna’s bedroom loft floats above the kitchen’s Caesarstone countertop. Serge Mouille sconces complement linear Pure Edge Lighting pendants. Next to the kitchen, and not visible, are the pantry, laundry, and two spare bedrooms and bathrooms arranged around the front garden.

An aluminum-and-ipe gangplank rises from the dock (right), leading to the recycled redwood-clad moon gate and the front door landing. Below are spare bedrooms and a garden.

At night, the moon-shaped back window (opposite) is a beacon for neighbors paddling by.

A little coffee station was built right in.

To most eyes, Ezequiel Farca’s 1970s-style concrete home in Mexico City looked like a teardown. Even the lot itself—shallow and crammed against a steep hillside—wasn’t particularly alluring. But Farca saw through all the restraints to create a spa-like refuge in one of the world’s most energetic cities. "It’s is such a hectic place. You’re bombarded by so much information the moment you step into the streets," says Farca, who first gained prominence as a furniture and interior designer. "So we envisioned this house as a retreat, a kind of a temple." The rooftop courtyard is lined with a verdant mix of indigenous plants, including banana trees, palm trees, lion’s claw, Mexican breadfruit, and native vines. The chaise longues were designed for Farca’s EF Collection.

The cozy, 323-square-foot cabin is a cozy retreat amidst the vast landscape it inhabits.

FLO is a floating, off-grid cabin located on the Halden Canal in Norway, an area with deep roots in the logging industry. The design pulls from these influences to create a cabin that is steeped in local history and intimately connected to place.

#Vanlifers can convert their vans into tiny homes on wheels in as little one to two days with VanLab USA's DIY conversion kits.

Though he rents his Williamsburg, Brooklyn, apartment, Taylor Dow had enough room to install an above-ground pool. His advice for would-be bathers: Work with the space you have. For example, consider whether your outdoor oasis is better suited to an aboveground pool or a bathtub-like stock tank.

The kitchen bench seating was a popular perch for Ivy, Maple, and Violet, who liked to cook alongside their Mom.

"Anthony and Sherry love to entertain, so they wanted something that felt a little more austere from the street and then became warm and cozy on the interio,” says architect Eric Hughes.

The kitchen is outfitted with Henrybuilt cabinetry and Heath Ceramics tile on the backsplash. Modern matte black can lights by Cedar & Moss illuminate the bar.

Pros: Laminate is at the low end of the price range for countertops, is scratch- and stain-resistant, and comes in a tremendous range of colors. It’s also easy to install, making it a viable DIY option for the handy crowd. Cons: Because laminate countertops are created by layering pieces of plywood and plastic, edges can chip off easily, and the surface can even melt if too much heat is applied directly.

Pros: Marble is elegant, heat resistant, and comes in a range of colors. Cons: Its high price, especially for more unusual types like Calacatta marble (known for its purer white and bolder veining compared to more common marble like Carrara), means that it isn’t an option for everyone. It is also quite high maintenance, requiring regular resealing.