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The tight, orange hallway upstairs is packed with art, including Meg’s grandmother’s drawings of the Chicago skyline. A zigzagging light that Meg assembled with components from a commercial office supply company leads the way to the primary bedroom and library.

Both renovated bathrooms are outfitted with new Heath Cermics tile.

The kitchen has Landslide pendants from Twenty One Tonnes and a curved concrete island.

The new stairs replace a narrow set that was only 30 inches wide. The couple packed storage underneath.

Each of the two bathrooms feature original colored tile, fixtures, and frosted glass detailing.

Sandy Chilewich and architect Joe Sultan, proprietors of textiles firm Chilewich|Sultan designed their own vacation home together in Columbia County, in upstate New York. On a simple wooded lot, they developed a contemporary loft-style home with furnishings from B&B Italia, Feel Good side chairs by Flexform, and a suspended, contemporary Ergofocus fireplace from Focus.

Architect Thor Olav Solbjør of SAAHA uses wood to communicate with the surroundings. When building out a 750-square-foot addition to a country home in Jar, Norway, set amid pine forests, his team used charred cedar, a traditional Japanese building material created with charcoal to develop a simple black box that adds space without taking away from the surroundings.

In Highton Australia, this bright home exudes classic contemporary style. Split into two levels, each space has been designed for the many facets of family life with an entry and rumpus room, living area, deck, and sleeping area.

A custom white oak cabinet is topped with Grigio Versilla Marble. The floors are terrazzo by Cle Tile, and the sconce is Allied Maker.

The home’s upper level includes the guest rooms and master bedroom, which features an expansive ensuite master bath with a soaking tub and glass-enclosed shower lined in marble with Cle tile accents.

The group continued the weathered steel elements throughout the landscape, designed by friend Catherine Howell, such as in the planter beds at the “afternoon” patio, which faces West.

Though the homeowners liked the look of concrete countertops, they were honest with themselves that the upkeep wouldn’t be a good fit for their lifestyle. So, Loader tracked down an experimental micro-cement, a waterproof plaster common in restaurant applications: It’s got the industrial look Pete and Daisy love, but doesn’t require sealing and maintenance.

The designers specified an integrated sink and vanity out honed Calacatta Monet marble, set against a wall of dimensional Cyclone tile from Fireclay, with an Aalto A330S Golden Bell Savoy Pendant for contrast. The walls are Roman Clay ‘Nitty Gritty’ from Portola Paints.

White sanitaryware was chosen for a clean, crisp finish and works perfectly with the raw concrete and wood finishes