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Architect Maurice McKenzie was inspired by symmetrical design, and the resulting linear and stark-white architecture makes a statement against the dry desert terrain. Photo by: JUCO

Jorge Pliego and Cony Mier built a home outside Mexico City with polished black concrete floors that have been rid of their top-most layer of gravel to reveal the terrazzo-like texture of the mixture. “The pigment is made from natural colorants and different types of earth,” says Agustín Pereyra, an architect who collaborated with Michel Rojkind on the house.

Custom cabinets in a mix of white oak and lacquered paint join Miele appliances and a honed quartz countertop.

Focusing primarily on the view, the residents decorated the master bedroom with succulents, books, ceramics, and little else. A blanket from The Citizenry lies across an Onto bed by Bensen.

The fireplace is covered in Norman brick from Mutual Materials, in an era-appropriate stacked pattern.

Custom Russian Birch Plywood cabinets in charcoal have quartz counters, with concrete detailing at one corner, and at the windowsill. The globe lights are from Dutton Brown. Fay kept the original ceiling-mounted stove hood extractor as a nod to the home’s past.

The couple introduced a skylight and refinished the ceiling throughout the home to a paler hue. The original beams were covered in Sherwin Williams Resilience exterior paint, in Tricorn.

Favoring natural and low-maintenance materials, the dwelling’s exterior is clad in Corten steel, Shou Sugi Ban charred siding from Nakamoto Forestry in Portland, and stucco. A natural-edge wood garden bench draws attention to the angled glass windows of the facade.

Tiffany swapped out the dated vinyl for matte white tile from Home Depot on the floor. The backsplash is matte white subway tile from Tilezz, and the plywood cabinets are topped with white quartz counters. The Ready Stacking Barstool from Blu Dot are tucked under the island counter.

Tiffany's friend Pedro Motta built the entry bench, which was topped with pads from Ikea.

The house had been built in 1983 by a structural engineer for his family and Tiffany loved the diagonal cedar siding, so she cleaned it up and refinished the exterior in Benjamin Moore “Black” Arborcoat stain.

SHED replaced the windows with new wood units of the same style. Note how the shelving at the half-wall aligns perfectly with the window mullions.

Hallway, Maison JJ Joubert

Previously, the long volume of the main living area was chopped in half by a wall that enclosed the kitchen on one side. The division was a jarring way to separate the kitchen and dining room from the main living space, so the designers removed it to improve the connection between the main living areas. Removing the wall helps to expose the home’s beautiful post and beam structure throughout and unify the living spaces. To emphasize the structure, the team repainted the ceiling beams a dark color to contrast with the natural wood that was preserved.

Thick Calacatta marble counters wrap streamlined sage green flat-front cabinetry, painted in Farrow & Ball's "Mizzle." The island pendants are Cedar & Moss, and the Alfi Low-Back counter stools are by Jasper Morrison for Emeco.

Portland-based pastry chef Andrea Nicholas purchased a 1953 midcentury ranch whose 2,500 square feet needed "a lot of TLC." Nicholas hired architect Risa Boyer to design the renovation, which involved opening up the kitchen to the dining room and creating a contemporary open-plan living space.

Pros: Laminate is at the low end of the price range for countertops, is scratch- and stain-resistant, and comes in a tremendous range of colors. It’s also easy to install, making it a viable DIY option for the handy crowd. Cons: Because laminate countertops are created by layering pieces of plywood and plastic, edges can chip off easily, and the surface can even melt if too much heat is applied directly.

Painting the wood paneling behind the fireplace (in Benjamin Moore ‘White Dove’), laying new sugar pine floors, and adding new windows and doors completely transformed the living room space. A deep clean of the knotty pine tongue and groove ceilings was enough to bring them back to life, while the trusses’ new black-brown paint brings sharp contrast.