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Cedar Grove House by HUNTERoffice bunk room

Hunter clad the front facade of the lower box which includes the garage in Swisspearl cement panels. Pattison used basalt pavers for the auto court and pigment-dyed, board-formed concrete with a smooth trowel finish for the stairs. The top one also incorporates teak decking.

An existing, tall Douglas fir stands sentinel at the left corner of the property outside the concrete wall. Pattison planted Colorado blue spruces in front of the Corten steel infills.

The team squeezed a 150-square foot cabana with a murphy bed and a full bath at the back end of the property. "It does a lot for that corner by providing little in-between spaces.,

The floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and windows were the most expensive line item in the renovation. “The house would simply not be the same without them,” says architect Miguel Rivera. “When you are in the living area with the doors open, it creates one large indoor/outdoor space that is simply stunning.” Just beyond the kitchen, a bookcase in the hallway is painted to appear red from one side and gray from the other.

The fence surrounding the property consists of wire mesh that will become a visual screen as it is overtaken by ivy, and gabion walls that contrast with the sleek materiality of the architecture.

Site fence with Mexican Fence Post cacti

Requirements for licensed contractors depend on the scope of work and the location of the project.

To most eyes, Ezequiel Farca’s 1970s-style concrete home in Mexico City looked like a teardown. Even the lot itself—shallow and crammed against a steep hillside—wasn’t particularly alluring. But Farca saw through all the restraints to create a spa-like refuge in one of the world’s most energetic cities. "It’s is such a hectic place. You’re bombarded by so much information the moment you step into the streets," says Farca, who first gained prominence as a furniture and interior designer. "So we envisioned this house as a retreat, a kind of a temple." The rooftop courtyard is lined with a verdant mix of indigenous plants, including banana trees, palm trees, lion’s claw, Mexican breadfruit, and native vines. The chaise longues were designed for Farca’s EF Collection.

They installed water-saving artificial grass on their patio for pup Moxy to enjoy.

A perfectly groomed backyard lawn with a paver patio.

The family spends much more time together in the rear yard since the renovation.

"I like that my daughter can come down here to play, and we can also entertain easily,

This revamped two-bedroom flat has warm, minimalist interiors and a 753-square-foot terrace for soaking up Lisbon’s sunny weather.