Top 10 Houses on Dwell This Week January 9, 2014

The residence is set back a few feet from the site’s edge, allowing more light to flood into neighbors’ windows and leaving space for trees. “The idea was to make a strong gesture to incorporate ideas of openness,” Lynch explains. “It’s not just a box if you look at it closely. It’s a series of planes that fit together."

The beanbag chairs and outdoor sofa and chairs are from West Elm and the Case Study Museum Bench is from Modernica.

The budget for the renovation was tight, but the architects splurged on a few elements, like the glass partition show here. "We concentrated investment in a few space-changing, expensive elements, like the glass walls we placed to divide spaces and bring the light in. We kept the budget low on almost everything else," says architect Matteo Colombo. "This is generally our philosophy: to concentrate resources in elements that make the project special, and keep the rest simple and affordable."

A bridge spans the home’s steep site for street access.

The picture wall is adorned with images collected from family, colleagues, and estate sales. ”I kill plants, so cacti are our friends,” Peter says of the succulents along the low table behind the Design Within Reach sofa, just over which an Established & Sons Font clock keeps time.

They collaborated on the project with investor and landowner Holden Shannon whose own home on the Row was outfitted by designer Barbara Hill with vintage furniture like a turquoise sofa and pair of mid-century side tables from Houston’s Reeves Antiques.

The firm collaborated with Kountry Kraft and its modular manufacturer, Simplex Homes, to expand the palette of materials, including the teak cabinetry used in the kitchen and dining areas. Interior designer David Bentheim suggested the marble backsplash for the bar area. Antique dining chairs, an LED Aurea pendant lamp by FontanaArte, and a Paolo Piva table from B&B Italia complete the room.

The back staircase abuts a glass facade overlooking the backyard, allowing plenty of light into the kitchen area above. The art hanging on the wall is by artist Julie Thevenot.

King installed dimmable fluorescent strips by Bartco in the alcoves above the cabinets for ambient lighting.