Green

The relationship between interior and exterior becomes crucial in the articulation of the residence.

Benjamin Moore's Vintage Vogue paint coats the exterior.

The couple initially painted partition walls between the children's room and their own with black metallic paint creating both a writing surface for the children and a magnetic bulletin board for notes. However, "the black looked too oppressive," Astrakhan says. So they applied several coats of lively lime green paint to brighten up that section of the house.

"This is the Beauvoir House, located in Las Flores Canyon in Malibu," says Bruce Bolander. "The color was influenced by the color of the new growth on the chaparral that surrounds the house. The house and kitchen are both very small; the house is about 1600 square feet."

Rainwater is collected from the rooftop of the Permanent Camping! Mudgee abode by Casey Brown, NSW, Australia. Photo by Penny Clay

Stick with a classic red, black, or mint green Smeg (pictured) $1,999

A group of Woolly Pocket planters can be put up in an afternoon. Each planter's hook requires one screw to hang.

Covered with wire mesh, the green roof will continue to vegetate over time.