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“This is where we had a little fun with the carpentry work,” says Yektajo, referring to the slatted-wood inserts covering the openings in the villa’s primary suite, as well as ones in the guest suite and loft. “You can’t add more windows in the facade of historic buildings, so that was the only way to get ventilation,” he adds. Ellen designed the bed frames with built-in nightstands for every room.

For the primary bath and the one in the guest room, Yektajo made wood boxes for the showers that rise partially up the wall. “We liked the idea of having a different height for everything that’s new,” he says.

"The design intent was to calm down the geometry of the house," says Blue Truck Studio’s Peter Liang of the renovation.

The primary bathroom is future-proofed for future grab bars and rails and has a non-slip, curbless shower.

The children’s bedroom opens to the aquaponics pond. The custom upholstery is from South Pacific Fabrics and the blue pillow is from MissoniHome. On the floor is a Moroccan Boucherouite rug.

There, a kitchen and dining area bleed into indoor and outdoor living spaces that have unobstructed views of the city skyline.

A spiral staircase runs through the center of the house, serving as a chimney that pulls cool air up from the ground floor as hot air exits through windows on the top level.

The field of neuroaesthetics teaches us about our biological responses to beautiful design. The thoughtful homes below showcase how lighting, colors, textures, and shapes can coalesce to become bona fide sanctuaries. Whether it be a focus on outdoor connection, aging-in-place, or accessibility, these projects are designed to promote wellness in mind and body.

The single-level modular space consists of two houses and a single common area.

The designers relied heavily on the use of reforestation wood, which is used throughout the interior along with glass and concrete.

Taking cues from nautical casework, Osmose Design crafted an undulating, white oak kitchen in an irresistibly quirky Tudor home in Portland, Oregon.

Hess filled the niche with upholstered seating, a green onyx table with a custom powder-coated base, and tiered millwork at the ceiling. The hand-knotted, silk-blend carpet pillows are from Christiane Millinger, and light fixture is a blush-colored Gae Aulenti.

The existing home's master bedroom, with its marbled tile floors, inludes a vintage rattan chair and a view through the new addition to the outside.

Homeowner Hallie Ferguson chose a variety of vintage furniture for the home, including this mohair Theo Ruth chair by Artifort.