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Stylist and design consultant Oliver Schmid bought an abandoned, century-old house and transformed it into El Patio del Charco, a two-level vacation rental in Arrecife, on the eastern coast.

Situated near Lanzarote’s northern end, Famara is a seaside town famous for its remote beach, which draws surfers and their vans. Following the coastline, you’ll see El Risco—desolate, rocky cliffs that slope from the island’s elevated interior like a rugged mountainside.

Floor Plan of Campus House ADU by Holdstead Design

Simple oak furnishings from Habitat blend with the birch millwork and bamboo floor. The cabinetry, benches, and doors were built by Olivier, who studied design before becoming a filmmaker.

The materials of the facade

García used Behr paints throughout the house, including Turmeric for the bedroom ceiling. The black Sol chair from Chuch Estudio was inspired by a popular Mexican cookie.

Architect Aranza García of Chuch Estudio refurbished a 19th-century house for short-term rental in the popular Mexican tourist town of Mérida. The home’s unassuming glass facade is similar to others on the street and belies the burst of color within.

Though Ana Fortin bought a plot in Lisbon’s historic Belém district in 2014, she only moved into the home she now shares with her 10-year-old daughter, Madalena, last year. The city’s red tape slowed design and construction way down. But patience pays off: “I prefer to wait until everything’s perfect,” she says.

Blue cabinetry in the kitchen was custom matched to the handmade backsplash tiles by Kreativ Qeramika. Against the apartment’s effusion of color, herringbone hardwood floors throughout are a warm, unifying element.