FLJ1

Architect Carles Oliver rehabbed an old, empty building in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, over the course of three years for just over $21,000. While the majority of the budget went towards improving energy efficiency, such as installing roof insulation, the rest was spent on removing layers of architecture to reveal the original construction, including the stone-clad walls and wooden ceilings.

As if undertaking an archaeological dig, architect Carles Oliver peels back layers of his home over the course of three years.

For their A. Quincy Jones house in Los Angeles, architect Bruce Norelius and his partner, Landis Green, retained and restored core elements, such as the living room’s redwood paneling and concrete-block wall.

Food blogger and commercial director Claire Thomas honors this Brentwood home’s heartwarming history. Jack and Marilyn Zuber lived in the Brentwood home for 65 years without altering anything but the wallpaper. Thomas even has photos of them digging on the site when construction first began. Out of respect for the home, Thomas tread carefully with her updates, even keeping the old drapes and using the original paint colors as a jumping-off point in researching color palettes of the era. Her approach was to "celebrate and preserve, rather than rip out and change."

The white backdrop lets the black accents and wood grain in the pale, white-washed flooring stand out. A frameless glass railing melds with the surroundings.

Whitewashed spruce rafters in the bedroom express the grain of the wood and serve as a canvas for light play.

The brick-clad rooftop apartment on Mile End Road in East London features a vibrant yellow spiral staircase that links the upper and the lower terrace.

Palma Hideaway floor plan

The original limestone walls were cleaned up, and the new design bookends the apartment with courtyard spaces.

The firm continued the concrete flooring outside, as well as the green tile on the built-in planter.

In the dining area, an opaque interior window belongs to the bathroom in the master suite and the door leads to the second bedroom and bathroom suite.

Built-in seating maximizes space in the living room, and old pin-up calendars that were found on site have been framed as decor.

The punchy-colored base of the kitchen work table is a note of contrast against the predominant green accents. The table was custom-designed by Mariana de Delás & 2Monos Studio.

The firm enlarged the opening to the courtyard to create better flow between inside and out.

Located in Merida’s historic downtown district, this 1560-square-foot house is an oasis in the city. Indoor/outdoor living serves as the foundation of the project’s design, and regional materials and textures provide a sense of identity.