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The living area retains the home's original fireplace and masonry wall, with new sliding doors next to the kitchen that connect to the side yard. The sofa and side chair are from Ariake, the ottoman table from Hem, and the rug is from Hay.

Architect Hank Butitta and artist Nell Nordlie sit on the custom sofa in the Seattle condo that they renovated themselves.

More than 6,000 pounds of green Moroccan tiles from Design Fliesen were used in their primary bathroom, which has two Falper faucets. There's a second full bathroom and two powder rooms.

Lutron Sivoia automatic roller shades in a custom valance were mounted to the window mullions, which were also painted Benjamin Moore “Wrought Iron.” The sofa is the Kasala Venice five-piece modular sofa tucked up against bespoke cabinetry by Beechtree Woodworks.

Powder room

Front facade from across the street

The 4,843-square-foot Three Generation House by BETA Office for Architecture and the City is located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The new doors to the backyard are nineteen feet wide. The Neolith Beton counters in the kitchen are a surface material made to look like concrete.

Factory built in just four days, this three-bedroom home minimizes its environmental footprint with rooftop solar panels, rainwater collection, edible landscaping, double-pane windows, and Energy Star–rated appliances.

Cheng kept the dining room chandelier and the original fireplace, and gutted most everything else, careful to keep changes in the spirit of the home’s quiet character. "It's an unassuming structure with jaw-dropping, 180-degree views once you walk in the door," says the designer.

The two new buildings create a courtyard-like feel in the small urban backyard.

The flooring in the main room and bedroom is Worthwood Solid End Grain from Oregon Lumber.

Now, an eight-foot sliding door brings light into the kitchen and enables fluid movement between inside and out. The wider steps can serve as seats during a party, and they make for a graceful transition to the yard.

Entertainment area

Exterior portrait of owners Michael and Amiee

Peter Braithwaite Studio crafted this peaceful retreat for a couple in Seabright, Nova Scotia.

Acting as their own general contractors, the homeowners respectfully update architect Doug Rucker’s redwood-clad Hogan Residence.