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The couple spent about $11,000 on exterior and interior paint.

"I optimized every inch of space in the bathroom," says Petillaut, who employed a black-and-white palette and geometric lines that make the room feel more voluminous.

Petillaut designed a large closet on the other side of the partition wall, which also acts as a headboard for the bed, in one of the master bedrooms.

"Both of the bedrooms are master bedrooms," Petillault says. "The partition wall was an opportunity to do a beautifully colored, space-saving headboard and face the bed toward the window."

In the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area, oak flooring laid in a chevron pattern and idiosyncratic wood ceiling beams add texture and a graphic quality.

In the kitchen, an oak counter warms white lacquered cabinetry and a marble backsplash. "The kitchen was one of the trickiest parts of the flat to design," Petillault says. "[It was located] in the center of the floor plan, one room away from the windows, [so] we decided to blend it into the living room."

The remodeled kitchen offers a whole corner of glass, and continues as a backsplash beneath the new cabinetry.

Relocating the kitchen to the southeast corner and removing a wall helped not only connect it to the rest of the house, but created a more cinematic view of the nearby wetlands.

This Murphy bunk bed, the Lollipop IN model from Resource Furniture, stows away flush to the wall when not in use.

"We wanted to keep the exterior walls uncluttered, so you can focus on the views, the light, and the air," says Rosa Garneau, the owner of a 650-square-foot co-op in New York's Chelsea neighborhood. To achieve a clean look, everything gets tucked away, including the mattress and bedding. When looking for the best Murphy bed, look for one that can accommodate basic bedding without having to remove and store it daily.

Modern Murphy beds cleverly marry form and function. This Murphy bed with couch also features a shelf at the foot of the bed that doubles as decor and handy storage. Here's the bed transitioned from day mode to sleep mode.

murphy bed horizontal dimensions

Here, the cleverly planned living area may look small, but can sleep as many as four guests on two sleep sofas and a double Murphy bed on the other side of the partition.

Natural materials were selected as much for tactile delight as for health and environmental benefits.

“I knew it would be good,” says Trey of the primary bath, where sunlight washes the Tadelakt plaster in the tub and shower area. “I didn't know it would be this good.”

Built-in benches provide plenty of storage and reduce the need for free-floating furniture.

The living room once had low ceilings, but moving the insulation to the roof plane allowed for dramatic plays of volume and light.