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A new pilot program by the city to add housing has yet to catch on—but that could soon change. Here, a rendering by Via Chicago Architects presents a series of coach houses on an undeveloped city lot.

Built-in shoe cubbies provide necessary storage in the new walk-through laundry space.

The custom storage behind the bed has cut-out finger pulls that mimic the cabinetry downstairs. "Hardware can almost end up being like a piece of jewelry," says Fowler, who likes the minimalist approach here. "It’s almost in the negative, flush with the face of the cabinet. Just shadow," she says.

Pine wood shelves that match the flooring with a painted back wall add contrast to the other end of the bedroom.

A shelf wall in the sleeping area.

Long Cabin entry storage.

Lime-washed brickwork matches the cool gray tones that define the Vipp Chimney House.

Private areas (including bedrooms and bathrooms) are located in the shipping container “wings” of the home. The large, open great room features a kitchen and space for living and dining. The layout carefully balances secluded space with open common areas.

The Sparrow 208 has a bump-out on one side that measures 16’ x 3’. The extra square footage goes a long way, allowing for additional storage, a seating area, a washer/dryer, and an air conditioning unit.

The shipping container guest house has three distinct spaces: a living area with glass doors that open to a front porch, a bathroom with a composting toilet, and an air-conditioned garden shed with a separate entrance.

Designed for an artist and entrepreneur client, this guest house features lots of light, access to the outdoors, and an industrial vibe.

The 32’ x 24’ H4 is made of four separate shipping containers. The open-plan living/dining/kitchen area has a 29-foot-long glass wall that opens to the exterior.

The H4 is HONOMOBO’s most efficient shipping container home. At just over 700 square feet, the home has two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a full kitchen, and one bathroom.

The Model 6 features an offset layout. The main entrance is recessed, and a small hallway leads to the bathroom and two bedrooms. The kitchen is open to the living and dining space.

Made of two 40-foot-long shipping containers that are offset from one another, the Model 6 by IndieDwell offers 640 square feet of living space.

“It’s the biggest one you can get,” says Patrick Powers of the shipping container he revamped and moved to Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. Steel frames hold ample glazing, including a pair of custom 2,000-pound sliding doors.

Named the Quarry House, this striking, bluestone-clad dwelling has been designed by creative architecture studio Finnis Architects in collaboration with interior designer Carmel Iudica. The kitchen of Quarry House is tucked under the living spaces above and wrapped in a warm wood finish.

Choosing a kitchen or bathroom countertop can be nerve-wracking, and we understand why—they can be one of the most expensive aspects of a renovation, with the added responsibility of impacting the aesthetics of a space. Read on as we work our way through the pros and cons of seven of the most common countertop materials.