On an island 20 miles off the coast of Maine, a writer, with the help of his daughter, built not only a room, but an entire green getaway of his own.

Located in Springfield, Missouri, this modern farmhouse designed by Kansas-City based firm Hufft Projects exudes the traditional vernacular of Kansas with an updated take on the conventional form. The rolling hills and expansive land resemble the tone of quaint Marquette.

The family room is situated at the apex of the house, with picturesque views that extend up the meticulously landscaped north slope. The concrete floor sits just low enough that the main elements of the scene—the succulent garden and large limestone ledges—are at eye level. A bank of NanaWall folding windows breaks up the fourth wall.

A guest room in this repurposed barn in the English countryside lets the ceiling do the talking. Photo by Christoffer Rudquist.

To reinforce a streamlined aesthetic, materials move from the inside out and from room to room. A Caesarstone countertop in the kitchen extends through a window to the backyard. The basalt path in the house continues outside and up the outdoor stairs.

A long hallway from the living room separates the public and private sections of the home and extends the distance between the living quarters and work spaces.

Ipe decking extends from the actual deck to the home's interior.

The Extending Table from 2131 is an innovative home furnishing that can be used as a desk or table. Crafted from rich walnut wood, the Extending Table can expand from five feet to ten feet, making it easy to adapt from a casual four-person meal to a dinner party with eight guests. While most extending dining tables require removing and storing a table leaf, this table expands simply by sliding the table, making it easy to adjust. When used as a work station, the table can be angled to create two spacious desktops.

An IKEA PS Vågö chair sits on a small treated-pine deck off the master bedroom.

PowerCube Extended USB by Allocacoc, $25-30 at powercube-usa.com This stylish alternative to the dowdy (and space-consuming) power strip is equipped with four outlets, two USB ports and a five- or 10-foot cord.

Bamboo shoots around the new patio makes the yard feel calm and seculded. Wienerberger bricks were installed on the exterior wall to complement the existing facade. Double-pitched zinc was used to cover the unusual shape of the roof.

Nestled in Palm Springs, California, this steel post-and-beam residence—completed in 2018—is the last design by Donald Wexler. Embodying midcentury modern design, the 2,780-square-foot dwelling features floor-to-ceiling windows, an open interior layout, indoor spaces that extend outdoors, and intelligent design features.

The exterior view of the Douglas House stepped walkway that extends over the surrounding trees.

The Extending Desk is an innovative home furnishing that can be used as both a desk and dining table. The walnut table can expand from five feet to ten feet, making it easy to adapt from a casual four-person meal to a dinner party with eight guests. While most extending dining tables require removing and storing a table leaf, this table expands simply by sliding.

The backyard features a cedar deck that extends into a field of rolling wildflowers and local fauna.

“The challenge is condensing technology into a compact package. If it gives consumers pause to meditate on the form every now and then, that’s good too.”—Fred Bould, designer

eero combines a router and range extender in a single compact package.

The device blankets the home in wi-fi using complex proprietary software. One per 1,000 square feet is recommended ($199 each or three for $499).

A private raised patio in the small backyard further extends and expands the space into the outdoors.

Wooden beams extend beyond the structure to create shading trellises for the terraces at the front and the back of architect Ray Kappe's Los Angeles home.

The Lotus wallpaper pattern by Galbraith and Paul is produced in-studio with the help of a digital printer.

This Danish dining room is centered around the weathered wooden dining table where the family gathers for meals and conversation. Photo by: Jonas Bjerre-Polsen

The bathroom counter extends into the bedroom as a desk. A sliding door can fit on a track between the bathroom countertop and bedroom desk to seamlessly partition the two rooms. A blue Niche Modern pendant light adds flair to the bedroom.

After purchasing a revered archetypal lake house designed by American architect Richard Meier, a retired couple launches into the home’s second renovation in 35 years. Photo by Dean Kaufman.

For anyone familiar with midcentury modern architecture, particularly in the Palm Springs area, the name Donald Wexler would immediately come to mind. For anyone familiar with the Southern California midcentury modern aesthetic, then the names Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman might roll off their tongues just as easily. Now, where does the Eisenhower name fit within this stylish mix? Eisenhower Medical Center’s newest Palm Springs location at 415 South Palm Canyon is a Donald Wexler–designed building that has been completely remodeled, with a few pieces from the Ackermans as well as photos from Palm Springs photographer Dan Chavkin. The Eisenhower Health Center at South Palm Canyon is not only a state-of-the-art health care facility, but also a midcentury modern treasure. To celebrate the unveiling, a living design legend will be onhand—Jerome Ackerman—for Masters of Midcentury California Design: The Story of Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman on Saturday, February 14.

The Donald Judd Home and Studio in SoHo, which recently reopened following a restoration by Architecture Research Office and Walter B. Melvin Architects.

London, England-Hailed as one of the world’s most important business, financial, and cultural centers, London contains four of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites (Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Greenwich, and Kew Gardens) within city limits. In addition, this major global city hosted the Great Exhibition in 1851 in one of the most ambitious and talked about architectural structures at the time, the Crystal Palace. Although that building was subsequently destroyed in a fire, London still boasts of the preservation of architectural rock stars such as the Banqueting House, Nelson’s Column, the British Museum, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Gherkin. Photo by: Steve Wilson.

A pair of Molded Plywood lounge chairs by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller sit opposite a BoConcept coffee table and a sofa of Paul’s design. For his father’s book collection, Paul created a library around the double-height staircase.

Here's a trio of vases from the collection Strum discussed in the talk. The ceramic Footed Vases (left and center) come in a bronze finish and celadon. The Cube Vase (right) shows how classical forms continue to inform Graves's work.

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Godzilla, by Paul Octavious.

Courtesy Paul Tucker

Liz Galbraith and Ephraim Paul update the ancient art of woodblock printing in their studio in a 19th-century mill building in Philadelphia.

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