The Obsessions Issue

How our obsessions—from childhood memories and fetishized furniture to the enduring draw of #vanlife—shape how we live.

Personal mementos or just a mess? Our readers decide whether these polarizing trinkets are charming curios or utter clutter.

The must-have objects of specific periods speak volumes about their societies—just look to Victorian fossil mania or the 1990s frenzy for Beanie Babies.

The canon isn’t dying anytime soon, but you can add individuality to your home by investing in pieces from a new generation of designers.

AI-powered toilets. Diagnostic mirrors. In the age of “looksmaxxing” and even “poopmaxxing,” the craze for self-optimization is closing in on where we live.

Working with architect Bruno Van de Calseyde, color-obsessed homeowner Karina Soors coated her home in high-impact hues.

After being displaced by a fire, homeowners Michelle Erfer and Theresa Mershon returned to beloved shades for their new pad and added some bold hues, too.

My father designed two of the houses I grew up in. Then he died. I’m still untangling where his taste ends and mine begins.

To contend with sky-high construction costs, Luke MacDonald improved his odds by building in phases.

Josh Morrow and Chanelle Nibbelink set out for surf breaks, climbing crags, and hot springs in their homemade adventuremobile.

Photographer Cristóbal Palma explains his love for architectural experiments in the country’s rugged countryside—and shows us some standouts.

Two entrepreneuring expats created Fools’ Valley to offer eclectic opportunities for the officeless jet set.

Dionisis Sotovikis isn’t asking for your permission.

A San Francisco couple share why they store gin, Shakespeare, and other survival items in a smashable, emergency-ready furniture piece.

A third-generation home builder reflects on the craftsmanship that makes his intricate coastal homes stand the test of time.

CLiC smart glass was designed to allow homeowners to maintain the connection to the landscape while still having control over when and how their space is seen.

Built on the site of a family cabin lost in the Santiam wildfire in 2020, this new retreat uses mass plywood, charred timber cladding, and carefully placed glazing to connect the...

How heat pumps are quietly reshaping architecture.