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Dwellings Winner: Casa Ter by Mesura Mesura designed a retreat for a family of five in the Catalonian countryside, utilizing regional and artisanal building techniques and local materials for a sustainable home that blends with the landscape.

The new kitchen is more colorful, with a long, thin island that's ergonomically better suited to preparing meels and bringing seating closer to the cooking.

A large, partially covered rear deck overlooks the fenced-in backyard.

A linear window with its sill dropped to the floor creates connection to the side yard. “We incorporated all these new windows in order to stream a lot more light into the house,” says Bassett.

New concrete pathways, all built by Jake and Antony, are arranged around an artful tool shed, which has a weathered steel wall punched with a pattern from the Faroe Islands in Denmark, where Sigrid is from. “That was a nod to Sigrid’s heritage,” says Bassett. The shed also acts as a privacy screen for the patio below it.

The garage was converted into the primary suite, and a modern landscaping treatment added, with staggered pavers intertwined with ground cover.

“We definitely wanted to preserve the character of the home and make sure that it always fits the neighborhood,” says designer Jenny Bassett. To that end, the team kept the front façade intact, only repainting and adding new landscaping. The fireplace in the living room was also retained, so wood is stored in the front yard for easy access.

After: The renovation, led by Fowlkes Studio, rebuilt the house from the inside out. When the team presented the plans to the neighborhood historical society for approval, "everyone was thrilled,

Mystery novels line the shelves that conceal the hidden door, hinting that there's more than meets the eye.

After: The marble-clad primary bath evokes Zeke's childhood. "I grew up in a house that had been owned by a prizefighter, and I distinctly remember the shower being slabs of marble, floor-to-ceiling,

The bunk beds were made to be as wide as possible. Hollenbeck has three kids and two dogs.

A custom desk in the primary bedroom is tucked beside a closet.