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“I like that you can feel the old shapes of the house,” says Lanigan, who intentionally let the trim and fireplace “run into” the green box. Dark wood detailing on the floor reveals the outlines of the former rooms of the home.

The elevated modular home is clad in locally sourced radiata pine treated with a stone-gray oil stabilizer.

A vast terrace overlooks a nearby park, while the ground floor patio (connected to Vanbesien’s office) opens up to a garden.

Barcelona-based Slow Studio builds a bioclimatic home for a couple who work with the United Nations.

When architects Thomas Karsten and Alexandra Erhard toured the raw industrial space, they were struck by how much light streamed in, a gift bestowed by large windows and the rare presence of a private patio.

In Melbourne, Australia, a smart addition transforms a backyard shed into a guest suite for visiting parents, while wrapping the two living volumes around a central courtyard. The minimalist kitchen, although decidedly modern, offers a subtle reference to the "retro suburbia

To complement the white-washed custom cabinetry in her kitchen, architect Julie Salles Schaffer has designed a tile backsplash to resemble "melting butter in a white pan." Daltile arranged her two-color AutoCAD design—white and off-white—onto a mesh backing for a small fee. To soften the edges of the cabinets’ drawers and doors, Schaffer requested radial edging.

David and Annemie's daughter swings in the living room. A door provides access to the lush backyard and surrounding area. “The kids have a lot of freedom. They have a big area where they can go and play without needing supervision,” says Annemie.