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Black-rimmed steel clerestory windows add illumination in this diminutive white kitchen where black accents abound. A black Aggregato Saliscendi Suspension light, designed by Enzo Mari and Giancarlo Fassina for Artemide, accents against the white Calacatta marble countertops and MAP's oak Milky Stools.

This remodeled and extended ranch house in Del Mar is a modern farmhouse-meets-beach shack. The 2,800-square-foot ranch house from the 1950s was renovated by San Francisco-based architect Nick Noyes, with interiors designed by Raili Clasen, founder of Newport Beach studio railiCAdesign. Sited on an oversized lot, the Southern California house has an intimately scaled exterior structure that follows a clean farmhouse aesthetic.

Just because your kitchen is on the smaller side doesn’t mean you can’t make it as efficient and effective as possible.

Renovating your kitchen? We used and abused seven eco-friendly countertops to investigate if they could stand the heat of Dwell's kitchen.

This colorful terrazzo makes a bold statement against the all-white cabinetry.

A circular skylight positioned above the master ensuite shower introduces natural light into the space, allowing the residents to connect with the outside world in every part of the home.

Once an inaccessible attic (and essentially “dead space”), soaring ceilings and striking angular lines are now a focal point, geometrically integrated through vertical protrusions and light-funneling skylights.

Jagoda installed two Velux skylights in the kitchen and one apiece in the kids’ bathroom and the parents’. “Ideally, every room in the house has enough natural light that you don’t have to turn on the lights during the day,” says the architect. The frost bathroom tile is from Heath Ceramics, while the faucet is from Vola

Adam and Karyn Bechtel tasked architect Emily Jagoda with renovating the 1960 home they share with their two daughters in the hills of Woodside, California. A curvilinear, built-in sofa with integrated storage sits below a lofted art studio and angular clerestory windows that frame views of the surrounding trees.

Sliding glass doors from Marvin lead to the patio, which features a trio of tiered concrete planters that double as bleacher-style seating. “When we have friends over, they like to gather on the steps or planters,” says Rebecca, “and then it all flows naturally up to the yard, where they can find places to sit and eat.” On the patio, a grill from Fisher & Paykel stands ready for serious barbecuing. The chair is from CB2.

Rebecca removed the wall in the entrance hallway to open up the living area and added storage units under the staircase.

As part of the renovation, an informal roof terrace was replaced with a structurally safe roof terrace accessed via new aluminium sliding doors from the master bedroom.

The entryway had to be reconfigured to accommodate the new lower level and its deck, while the existing upper deck was given shade from the sun.

The new staircase to the bunk room also has a privacy screen made of a bookcase with storage.

The new lower level makes space for guests and the owners' two children to have privacy.

The entire home is wrapped in pine tongue-and-groove, which matches the original finish on the ceiling.

The living room's built-in sectional is positioned toward the view.