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Make the most with the home you have. Modern renovations are one of the most popular design stories on Dwell. Renovation presents challenges, and smart design delivers solutions. Modern design and architecture allow old construction to meet new ideas and materials. Hire an architect or interior designer whenever possible, because professional training helps mitigate issues and yield truly beautiful spaces.

Renovating Old and New in Barcelona
When Cecilia Tham and Yoel Karaso of Habitan Architects bought their first-floor apartment in an 1894 block of the Fort Pienc...
Merging Old and New With These 10 Modern Renovations in Scotland
The thought of Scottish homes often conjures a vision of stone row houses nestled together on cobblestone streets, rolling green...
Old Meets New in This Reimagined Garden House in Australia
Maike Design transforms a dark bungalow into a bright family home where greenery takes center stage.
This Recently Listed Frank Lloyd Wright Home Is a Refreshing Blend of Old and New
Listed for $2.3M, the 1951 Glore House matches contemporary updates with original details.
Old Meets New in This Modern Extension to an Edwardian House in Melbourne
Ninety-nine years after this 1915 Edwardian-era house was built, Australian firm Preston Lane transformed the interior via a...
An Old Kit House Is Transformed Into a Multigenerational Home
B.E Architecture combines a revitalized kit home with a modern steel-and-glass extension to form a multigenerational Melbourne...
A New “Scrap House” Comes Together Using Old Industrial Materials
“Repurpose, refurbish, recycle” was the guiding principle to create this shed-inspired Canadian country house assembled piece by...
10 Dwell-Approved, New-Old Homes in the UK
These 10 modern renovations take history into account.
A Centuries-Old Emblem Inspires a New Object of Beauty
Belgian artist Charles Kaisin and French gilding studio Atelier Thiery conjure a glittering, kinetic sculpture that blurs the...
A Converted Warehouse Loft in the San Francisco Bay Area Seeks $950K
The radiant space in Emeryville features 19-foot ceilings, exposed wood beams, and a gabled skylight.
An Old Garden Inspires a Passive House in the English Countryside
London firm McLean Quinlan built out from a dilapidated brick wall that once enclosed a garden, creating an energy-efficient home...
An Old Fisherman's House in Sicily Is Transformed Into 2 Apartments
With their property rental business "I Am Sicily" in mind, architects Francesco Moncada and Mafalda Rangel turned a dilapidated...
A Monochromatic Palette Unifies Old and New in This Ukrainian Bachelor Pad
Period elements combine with contemporary finishings in this old-meets-new renovation.
A Pristine Prospect Heights Townhouse Deftly Harmonizes Old With New
Hatchet Design Build restored this home's historic details—and then brought in modern treatments to sow stylistic tension.
Before & After: A Century-Old Row House in Montreal Gets a Glorious Renovation
After suffering years of neglect, the historic Maison Clark home is brought back to life by architecture firm la SHED with a...
Like a Tetris Game, an Australian Extension Locks Old With New
A rear extension makes this bungalow in a Melbourne suburb more suitable for a growing family.
This New Old House
Danish design impresario Jens Martin Skibsted works with architect Jürgen Mayer H. to update a Norwegian-style, 19th-century home...
A Modern Addition Makes This 110-Year-Old Nashville House Sing
The owners—married musicians in an indie-pop band—turned to an old college friend to create a space for impromptu concerts and...
An Old Charleston Row House Is Elegantly Modernized With a Southern Twist
After a thoughtful revamp, this iconic home now boasts a “southern modernism” sense of style.
An Old Row House in Montreal Gets a Colorful Modern Upgrade
Warm, repurposed building materials are favored in this savvy renovation by MARK + VIVI.
A 250-Year-Old Stone House in Israel With a Surprisingly Modern Interior
This historic home by Henkin Shavit Architecture is reimagined through a modern lens.
An Old Belgian Fortress Breathes New Life as a Charming B&B
With barracks dating back to 1785, this former fort has been carefully renovated and extended to now house a family, as well as...
An Old Dutch Row House Is Reimagined as a Light-Filled Haven
Architecture and landscape studio LMNL gives a dilapidated 19th-century brick home bright interior finishes, a smart layout, and...
Old-World Charm Mixes With Bohemian Style in This New Boutique Hotel
Interior design maven Kelly Wearstler fuses vintage European patterns with contemporary style in this beautiful San Francisco...
A Decades-Old House in British Columbia Is Reborn as an Art-Filled Haven
A family transforms their 25-year-old waterfront property into a bohemian home for their daughter.
A Modern Farmhouse Recalls Old-Time Americana
Thanks to Matthew Hufft, their envelope-pushing architect and longtime friend, Hannah and Paul Catlett have a new home in...
An Old Brick House in Spain Becomes a Light-Filled Family Home
The renovation by miniArquitectura keeps the home’s charm intact, but creates opened-up spaces with a material palette to match.
Centuries-Old Farmhouses Inspired This Timeless Home
When it came to designing a new home for herself and her family, one of the most important ambitions held by architect Lucy...
This Century-Old Bungalow Is an Eternal Work-in-Progress
Its true renaissance started 10 years ago with two new, dedicated owners.
An Old Amsterdam School Is Converted Into 10 Apartments
In Amsterdam’s Bellamy neighborhood, an old school is repurposed and transformed into modern, lofty apartments.
This 120-Year-Old Home With a Greenhouse Is a Gardener's Paradise
With a working nursery, guest suite, and garden shop, this place is much more than just an island home.
Norwegian Ceramics Studio in an Old Ski Factory
Norwegian porcelain and ceramics studio MENT produces minimalist and monochromatic wares.
A Century-Old Hilltop Bungalow in Los Angeles Seeks $800K After a Delightful Renovation
This one-bedroom home offers classic tongue-and-groove ceilings, beveled subway tile, and built-in cherry cabinetry.
An Old Texas Ranch Becomes a Spectacular Family Haven
Outside Austin, a ranch in Texas Hill Country is refashioned as a comfortable, contemporary retreat for family and friends.
In London, an Old Victorian Becomes a Wonderland of Colored Concrete
Studio Ben Allen uses prefab elements to transform a dated Victorian in just four days.
Austin Maynard Architects Turn an Old Terrace House Into a Light-Filled Home
In Melbourne, a dark and narrow single-story terrace home gets treated to a delightful renovation with surprising features.

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