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Jawed Umerani, who did the structural engineering on the house himself, likes to work on blueprints in the front room.

Inside, a suspended staircase rises up past the couple’s bookcase over a well-lit seating nook. Aalto stools by Artek join Eames molded plywood dining chairs by Herman Miller to give an especially modern touch to the kitchen.

The entryway features a family heirloom in the form of an antique dresser, which sits beneath a West Elm chandelier.

The living room features a Malibu sofa from Kasala, and it sits above a Moroccan wool carpet the owner inherited.

“My favorite thing about this home is how there are a number of complexions to the design, with each side of the home responding to a different set of conditions,” says architect Brett Farrow.

Architect Brett Farrow creates a wood-wrapped family home that celebrates coastal living.

Another color-infused space, the new second floor office of Abbie’s husband Malik, includes a rich green accent wall — a later decision. “I felt good about knowing we had green downstairs already selected,” Abbie says of the bold choice. “I think where I chose color, I knew there would be some repetition.”

The home office in Tree House by Deforest Architects offers a striking view of the surrounding trees.

The room benefits from much more natural light, thanks to the open plan and new windows.

Although the property is mostly wooded, the homeowners lease part of the land to a neighbor who grows soy beans and corn. This allows the homeowners to see firsthand rural Wisconsin life.

Dining Room

Exterior

A new office is wreathed in custom cabinetry, as well as a sitting and standing desk, and relishes the views. A pocket door fashioned after a Shoji screen enables privacy.

A cedar-clad ceiling emphasizes the dramatic volumes of the combined living spaces, and the windows bring in the “dappled light” from the trees, says Rogers. The new plan makes entertaining much easier for the couple, with easy flow from the interiors to the roof deck and yard.

Black-and-white tiles infuse an otherwise minimalist bathroom with style.

One of the couple’s major budgeting tips is to complete the renovation in stages, saving certain updates—and costs—for later.

A modern addition to an old London home offers ample space for a growing family, as well as a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf situated under a skylight.

Scala Studio refinished the exterior of the bedroom structure with concrete.