House

The wedge permeates the roof as well, creating a skylight right above the metal stairway that leads down to the living room, kitchen and dining room

“This is a creative space—with the connection to the land and air, I actually don’t feel like I’m inside at all.”—Austin Lowrey

Opaque, white masonry walls alternate with large glass expanses throughout to create a visual palette of shadow and light.

Glass-and-steel corridors link each of Austin and Lida’s studios to the main pavilion, where they share the kitchen and a central living and dining space.

A palette of stone, concrete, and greenery greets guests at the home’s front entrance.

The back, however, is a different story. The shape of the roof eave is designed to allow winter sun into the house while cutting out the hot summer sun.

Though the front of this 1880s home in Adelaide, Australia, maintains a traditional facade due to strict heritage laws, the rear is modern eye candy at its best. See more of the home.

Floors are concrete on the lower level and exposed wood car decking is used on the upper floor.

“The owners envisioned a place that engaged with the outdoors while providing accommodating spaces for their off-season training for triathlons,” Flato notes. A 75-foot-long lap pool on the west end of the home comes in handy during practice.

“Exposing the craft and detail of the materials was a key part of the design,” Flato notes. The texture of the house, he says, can be observed in the concrete retaining wall for the lap pool.

Porches and rolling glass doors draw in the river breeze to keep the home cool.

The owners’ main living area has two stories with a master bedroom, which can be accessed by a rolling door, and porches on either end of the structure. “This large, barn-like building, with its moveable bedroom wall and office, allows the house to be both intimate and social, effortlessly accommodating guests or individuals alike,” Flato says.

We love this sleek home office design layout, where steel details contrast mesquite flooring throughout the home, including at the pathway to the "crow’s nest" office. It's also a great option if you're looking for home office ideas for small spaces.

“We wanted to bring the outside in with the warmth of the materials,” Flato says. “A custom dining table and shelving were designed and built from a pecan tree that had fallen on the site.” Vertical grain Western red cedar, the same material used for the exterior siding, was also used to create custom kitchen cabinets.

“The unique site-plan includes the main house, a two-story dog run, and a guest cabin,” Flato says. “All are seamlessly stitched together by a grand boardwalk, making an arrival by boat or by car an equally engaging experience.” Vertical grain Western red cedar acts as the exterior siding.

“Consistent with the lakefront cabin charm, the owners liked the idea of accessing much of the house from outdoor porches and walkways,” says architect Ted Flato. Supplies from Dynamic Architectural Windows and Doors bring light in to the home’s covered spaces.