Ideas

Windows are deeply recessed into the home's original masonry walls, which are thick and solid. Martins | Afonso Atelier de Design opted to clad the frames of the windows with wood and create sitting nooks that take advantage of this depth.

The open kitchen faces a wall of above-counter windows that let in plenty of light. The dining table maintains the material palette of wood and black.

The smooth, raven-hued island in this kitchen is made of oak with a thin stone countertop. A Foscarini Gregg Pendant hangs overhead.

At sunrise, light bounces off the rammed earth wall, imbuing the kitchen with a warm, orange glow at breakfast.

"To me, good design is about the ‘less is more’ approach," says O’Reilly.

The only new furniture items were a pair of couches that a were a gift from O’Reilly’s grandmother when they moved in.

Set on a family cattle farm in a Western Australia coastal town on the Margaret River, Bush House, by Archterra founder Paul O'Reilly, marries a single-plane roof with a prefabricated steel frame support structure. A rammed-earth wall carries through O'Reilly's house into the outdoors, melding with oiled plywood, anodized aluminum, and recycled furniture.

Rear Elevation

"The bold concrete forms [in DS House] create a blank backdrop for the reinstatement of the indigenous landscape after bushfires...triggered a requirement for the majority of the vegetation to be removed,

SHED Architecture & Design does not believe in blindly following trends, preferring to allow light and space, economical and sustainable materials, and well-considered details guide their work. For the remodel of this loft-style apartment in the award-winning, industrial-style 1310 East Union Building on Capitol Hill, SHED worked with contractor Dolan Built LCC. They used an industrial-influenced material palette to complement the development’s edgy facade.

View of the living area

By removing walls, inserting new windows, and utilizing a lighter color palette, this historic home has been treated to a modern new look.

A walnut-clad studio is tucked behind the wall in the living room.

While the exterior "faithfully interprets the typical formal themes of this Italian region," says the architects, the inside is much more modern and minimalist. Reinforced concrete walls and ceilings meet a red concrete floor, which blends with the courtyard outside.

The green roof is accessible via ladder. "This type of insertion on the plot demanded care and attention with the design of the rooftop, which is the fifth facade of the building," adds the architects.

Prefab house in Muskö, Sweden

A new metallic, profiled backslash was added.

A Taiwanese expat couple purchased a 1,352-square-foot apartment near the river in the Taiwan’s New Taipei City, and reached out to interior design firm KC Design Studio to help them turn it into a stylish, modern home. Industrial elements like steel, brick, and exposed concrete harmonize with vintage accents: in the open kitchen, wood-paneled sliding doors conceal dark cabinetry. These combine with a sleek, dark counter and a shiny, bronze-clad island for a luxe effect.

At a 1954 midcentury home in the West hills of Portland, Penny Black Interiors deftly updated the residence with standout cabinetry, carefully-selected tile, and wallpaper galore. The renovation balanced preserving the home's innate character and updating its function for modern life.