Landscape

The living space opens out to a large, plant-filled terrace where the couple often eat breakfast. "My balcony is the perfect sanctuary,

High-level windows in the north gable, and on either side of the fireplace allow the sun to reach deep into the living room to be absorbed by the thermal mass of the polished concrete floor,

Floor Plan of Fishtown Row House by Marina Barnes & Thomas Pittlik

Numerous skylights dot the exterior, allowing each room to be thoughtfully illuminated.

A poured concrete patio sits between the two buildings. “I wanted to include those expressed 'joint' lines as part of the design, so our very clever landscaper put a shallow cut along the concrete once it had cured,” says Murphy.

A second building serves as Murphy’s office, and it’s connected to the main residence by a custom metal trellis.

In Willunga, South Australia, husband-and-wife duo Adam and Sarah Hall tastefully renovated an 1870 church with a reverence for its historic elements.

Near the house, Cooper clustered lush, big-leafed plants philodendron, purple heart, and flowering canna. Farther out, vegetable gardens sprout in raised beds, and thyme and mint thrive beneath citrus trees. Native California silver wild rye and matilija poppies bind the slope, bordering the low “snake wall” that winds around the yard, narrowly ducking beneath a big ficus tree with just enough clearance for a sprinting kid. Wide stadium steps connect the garden levels, turning the steep hillside into amphitheater seating.

Stepstone's narrow concrete pavers add a graphic touch to the garden.