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From the office, a high window frames a view of the Moumings’ fields.

In Dwell on Design's Design for Humankind series of onstage conversations and educational sessions, designers will share how they address the needs of diverse populations. Designers from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and certified aging-in-place specialists Kerrie Kelly and Michael A. Thomas will hone in on creating interiors that optimize independent living. Photo courtesy of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab.

Throughout the house, "Walls become windows and windows become walls," explains architect Makoto Tanijiri of the luminescent home he designed outside of Hiroshima with his firm Suppose Design Office.

Dan Garness used paint and well-placed windows to keep Duane’s office bright and airy.

The office nook, which was created out of a coat area, is the perfect setting to complete work assignments. “The residents have a bench that they can put things in and sit atop when taking shoes off and on,” Miller says.

Bright, light-filled rooms around the edge of the building offer comfortable spaces to view artifacts.

The Eagle E-Series windows from the Andersen Architectural Collection are aluminum on the exterior and mixed fir grain on the interior. The white wall paint is Snowbound by Sherwin-Williams.

Located off of the kitchen, Vivi’s office disappears behind sliding walls covered in black chalkboard paint from Behr. This is one of the best home office setup ideas if you're short on space or if you're going for a minimalist look.

French doors line one wall that extends from the library to the first-floor sitting room and office.

Kate and Gerald enjoy the view up there most nights. The chair was salvaged from the original bach on site and reupholstered.

The picture wall is adorned with images collected from family, colleagues, and estate sales. ”I kill plants, so cacti are our friends,” Peter says of the succulents along the low table behind the Design Within Reach sofa, just over which an Established & Sons Font clock keeps time.

Views from the main living area focus on the surrounding vegetation. "Instead of placing the house on the spot with the best view, it is situated in a way that is tailored to the specific terrain, and gives prominence to the views from the outdoor room," write Lung Hagem Arkitekter.

In the entryway, a Tati lamp by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell sits on a shelf Christopher made from kitchen cabinetry scraps.

Seeking to add a third level to his home in China’s Fujian Province, a sea captain was deterred due to the toll his property had taken from the coastal climate. The ocean and rain had caused erosion and water seepage, dooming the building’s structural integrity. Beijing-based Vector Architects stepped in with a solution—a 4.72 inch-thick layer of concrete wall that would be added to the home’s existing brick masonry. This allowed for a reconfiguration of the interior spaces, so living areas and the master bedroom would be situated on the sea-facing side for an abundance of natural light, the best views, and better ventilation.

Vignettes show off what Aumas does best. In this one, he takes advantage of the apartment’s tall windows.