My Favorite Places

The kitchen features a 10-foot marble island and large windows to frame picturesque views of the waterfront landscape in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Also adding to the bright and airy feeling are two large picture windows, which the homeowners selected instead of upper cabinetry.

A slatted walnut screen is a centerpiece of the home’s new design. Accentuating the height of the space, the vertical slats come together with metal rods and a sleek handrail, creating a graphic manipulation of positive and negative space. In addition to allowing light to permeate the interior, the screen is visible from most vantage points in the home, providing an anchor of visual interest.

Beyond the living room is an inviting library. Tasteful built-ins flank the gas fireplace, while a long, plush sofa provides ample seating for gathering.

Boasting a generous amount of custom cabinetry, the kitchen is also decked out with premium stainless-steel appliances, including a six-burner Wolf cooktop, two ovens, a 55''-wide SubZero fridge with double doors, and two Bosch dishwashers.

Clad in limestone, the top-of-the-line chef's kitchen is located on the garden level. Also on this level is a convenient mudroom and dining area.

Kitchen: bright airy garden level kitchen has several seating areas

The parlor floor features an open floor plan that maximizes the interplay of light and space. A wall of casement windows frames the area, drenching the entire floor with warm natural light.

Huge header beams and thickened walls allow for a generous opening between the living room and deck, with doors that recess into the wall cavity and a seamless meeting between the indoor floor and the exterior decking.

The Stewart-Schafer team hand-selected each slab of Calacatta Vagli marble to be book-matched. "We love the beautiful natural veining and imperfections of marble against the clean lines of the kitchen design," noted Stucker. To protect the marble, they used a trade secret sealing product that comes with a lifetime guarantee, which, according to Stucker "helps alleviate the hesitations some clients have with marble."

Not only was extra living space necessary for the growing family of four, but the existing house also failed to take advantage of the striking views that drew the couple to the site. The homeowners tapped architect Malcolm Davis of San Francisco–based Malcolm Davis Architecture to redesign and expand the dwelling without damaging the many established oak trees.

The Japanese "no-brand" masters of minimalism unveil the first single-story design in their line of prefab homes.

The living room leads up to a pitched-roof alcove, the perfect meditation and lounge space. It features a bean bag chair from GAN, and a Trifecta Table by Future Perfect.

The ground floor features Douglas fir flooring. The living room at the front of the house is separated from the entrance hallway by a black steel-framed glazed partition.

Tucked away in the rustic-luxe area of Mandeville Canyon, the 3,164-square-foot home offers ample privacy without sacrificing a convenient commute to Los Angeles.

Two hours north of New York City, an unusual barn emerges from a hill just off a country road. Its black siding and bright-red window frames hint at the imaginative playground inside. This space, with its rope-railed catwalk and indoor tent, is just one element of the multifaceted getaway architecture and design firm BarlisWedlick Architects designed for fund manager Ian Hague.

In addition to saving on construction costs, upcycling an old container can be an eco-friendly alternative to building from the ground up.

A multi-use podium runs the length of the wall under the windows and facilitates impromptu performances for the creative family that lives here.