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Designed by Dratler Duthoit, this apartment greets visitors with an illuminated central living space.

For this Seattle, Washington, home designer Charlie Hellstern selected concrete countertops. "Inherently durable, made sustainably, and it fit with the modern aesthetic of the home," she says.

The architects removed the shutters and swapped in casement windows. Benjamin Moore Gray now coats the brick, and a metal roof protects the porch.

Before: The "blocky, brick home" was built in the 1930s in a spate of new development. "This is something you see a lot of in D.C.," says VW. This one was small, but had a floor plan the architects knew would be malleable. "It was like the smallest house in the neighborhood, but we knew that we’d be able to build efficiently out the back without sacrificing a room in the process," he continues.

After searching in vain for an empty lot to build on, architect Brian White settled for a nondescript 1960s ranch that nobody else wanted—and proved that building from the ground up doesn’t always start on the ground.

We receive thousands of Add a Home submissions each year—and these inspiring residences racked up the most views.

The archways progress throughout the interior, leading residents from one room to the next. A second courtyard is situated between the kitchen/dining area and a staircase that leads to the loft. Teak flooring in the kitchen/dining area contrasts with the lime plaster walls, adding warmth to the space.

Office of Things design for Glendale, Queens row house renovation, view of living room and back of house from foyer. After.

To accommodate a young family leaving New York City, design firm Stewart-Schafer revamped the kitchen and living areas of an outdated upstate home in just three months.

"It’s a total smorgasbord of stuff," says Nicole of the home’s furnishings. The angular ceiling light was snagged from Blair’s old office, the sofa was bought off the home’s original owner, and the rugs are from a friend who runs an online shop specializing in vintage carpeting: @shopmienshop on Instagram.

Pavilion Haus floor plan

Architect Eric Olsen imagined a space that employs contrasting colors, textures, and shapes to create a warm and inviting interior. One of many such details includes a custom light fixture above the island, which he designed in collaboration with Buzzell Studios.

The kitchen features oak cabinets stained in a dark grey and navy tile from Heath Ceramics. These darker elements are balanced by the tongue-and-groove wood ceiling and floors, as well as ample sunlight entering through the steel-framed glass doors.

"I always knew there had to be a sight line from the living room to the kitchen, all the way to the back of the house," says Alex. "That really opened up everything [like], ‘Oh, yeah, this is the way it's supposed to be.’"

The couple's home features a living space that opens out to a terrace overlooking a leafy street in Waterloo. It's filled with a carefully curated collection of furniture, objects, and artwork by local brands and designers that celebrate Australian creativity.

Atwater Hideaway floor plan