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The wildflowers on the roof can be seen through the skylights throughout the day. A duo of sliders allows for a clear connection to the garden.

Poured polished concrete floors, plaster walls, and the pine ceiling with hemlock beams infuse subtle interest and warmth. The bend in the gathering pavilion follows the site’s topography.

Shaw and the clients talked a lot about materials and how they would weather. “As Cor-Ten ages, it darkens to the color of the pine needs on the forest floor so the building will recede into the site,” Shaw says.

Floor plan of Book Nook by Spot Lab

Design-build firm Spot Lab re-imagined a 980-square-foot apartment in a Brooklyn cooperative building for programmer Eric Tsai, research collection manager Audrey Christensen-Tsai, and their eight-year-old son, August.

The downstairs bathroom was also dramatically redone for a total of $18,121.

Inspired by intimate dinners with friends in Japan, the curved dining nook mimics the Japanese ‘chabudai’ tables that seat people close together.

Fuller/Overby Architecture removed a portion of the floor between the second and third levels to create a light-filled, open-air hall. “Our approach to the project was to unearth the original hidden timbers and organize a new open plan around the spatial matrix that they define,” says Overby.

The texture of the reclaimed timber door contrasts with the industrial corrugated steel facade. “We rebuilt the exterior with dark grey corrugated steel and a tall front door to distinguish it a bit on the street from its neighbors,” says architect Aniket Shahane.

Bay windows are common in this kind of terraced house and add visual interest to both the house and the street, as well as a small amount of additional interior space. “We kept the original bay windows and designed the rooms around them in a manner that would frame the table in the dining room downstairs, and the bed in the main bedroom upstairs,” explains architect Aniket Shahane.

The front door and the timber flooring throughout are made from knotty Eastern White Pine that was reclaimed from the joists of a demolished building in Brooklyn.

The dining table sits in an alcove created by one of the bay windows at the front of the home. Sheer curtains allow the natural light to filter into the interior while maintaining privacy. An original fireplace and brick wall has also been retained.

“The large, centrally located island in the middle of the parlor floor is not only a favorite space but also the heart of the house,” says resident Fei Zhong.

A large pyramidal skylight illuminates the common hallway, allowing natural light to reach the heart of the home.

“I love how the natural light works with the tall curved ceiling of the front bedroom upstairs,” says architect Aniket Shahane. “On a cloudy day, it lights the entire room softly and evenly; on a sunny day, a ray of light adds some drama. It makes the room feel much bigger than it is.”

A sink and mirror in the hallway cleverly creates the extra utility needed in a family home without the expense or spatial requirements of adding an extra bathroom.

The main bathroom uses slabs of travertine contrasted against white subway tiles. “The master bathroom, which is cream and white with brass fixtures, is a favorite space,” says resident Fei Zhong. “We spent a lot of time scouting the right tiles and stone and decided on travertine. It creates a really peaceful space in a house with two small children.”

In the kitchen, affordable IKEA cabinetry is elevated through the use of Carrara marble benchtops.