The living room and dining room were originally separated by a central fireplace, which interior designer Nicole Hollis removed to create this great room. She installed a modern, custom eight-foot-long open gas fireplace in the living room, equipped with sensors that automatically turn it off when someone gets too near to the flames.

"I wanted to preserve the canopy, the sales space, the garage door, everything," Judin tells FvF. "It wasn’t until later that I realized there was also still space for a garden."

Arguably a symbol of American modernism, these eight high-design gas stations will make you reconsider your next pit stop. Via Architizer

Judin was fascinated by the abandoned gas station ever since he first discovered it in 1992. At the time, it had been unused for seven years. He finally purchased it in 2005 and transformed it into a one-of-a-kind residence.

Gas Station Architect unknown; built in 1965 at Daugavpils 74 in Ogre. Photo by Zigmārs Jauja, NRJA

"When I was furnishing the place, I made sure it’d also be a good place for art," Judin tells FvF. "After that, I considered my other passions: cooking, for example. My kitchen is the heart and center of the house."

Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures, Inc.

When he moved in, Judin noticed that his existing furniture fit right into the new space—many pieces are also from the '50s. See more images here.

Converted Gas Station (New Orleans, USA) For those journeying to the Crescent City, this may be the perfect place to refuel. The 2,000-square-foot station turned open loft space in Bayou St. John has been retrofitted with gas station-chic furnishings (sconces made out of headlights, drawer pulls created from hood ornaments) and boasts a hot tub and a rooftop deck. It’s self service, but it’s unlikely many guests will complain. Listing at Gas Station Modern Renovation Look

In the living area, a Tufty-Time sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, a Soft Grid blanket by Established & Sons, and a wood-burning stove by Stûv keep her comfortable.

At a renovated farmhouse on a 19th-century homestead, a gas fireplace fronted in weathered steel warms up the lofty master bedroom, whose spare decor is framed with beams discovered in a Pennsylvania barn. The Tizio desk lamp is by Artemide.

A vintage "Leaded Pennant Gas" sign in the Suttles and Shah residence.

Pro Harmony PRG304GH Gas Range by Thermador, $4,149 Many homeowners expect professional chef-level performance from their ranges. The high price goes toward hyper-specific heat controls that help you to simmer and boil with precision. A removable base lets you quickly clean beneath the burners.

A3 Sportback e-tronby Audi In the e-tron, Audi seeks to translate the look and feel of a luxury vehicle into a hybrid, plug-in electric model. It closely resembles the brand’s popular A3 and is ideal for buyers who know and love the conventional version but want something environmentally friendly for quick trips around town. A single charge will take you 90 miles, and the car reaches a top speed of 90 mph. The e-tron will be available for purchase in 2014. audiusa.com

Beyond the gas fireplace by Spark Fires, a Ball pendant lamp by George Nelson hangs over a custom cedar table in the dining area.

"The effect of the plantings on the terrace is enormous,” reflects the couple. “Not only do the branches and formations give a sense of the four seasons, but the way it looks from the living room contributes to a sense of calmness. It gives the illusion that we are viewing art."

Inspirational spaces

Barbara Hill's Dancehall/House in Marfa, Texas September 14, 2010 Misty Keasler

West Elm chairs are paired with a locally crafted wooden table.

The Viking gas range is shown in Cotton White and finished in polished brass details to match the Workstead-designed hood.

The interior metal grating motif is continued in these stairs made out of redwood from a tree on-site. A centrally-located gas fireplace distributes heat evenly throughout the home as an energy-saving measure.

500 Series Gas Grill by Viking from $5,400 The ne plus ultra of outdoor grills (it even includes a rotisserie!) is made in Greenwood, Mississippi.

24-inch-wide gas cooktop by Haier, $900 This scaled-down cooktop—which features four gas burners offering a range of BTU levels—is part of Haier’s collection of appliances focused on small spaces and urban living.

Total Filling Station (1969) Prouvé's attractive gas station, with its clear glass facade, demonstrates a key aspect of his work—the idea that furniture and architecture require the same thinking process. The joints of this polygonal structure recall something you may see in his furniture designs.

The Bay Service Center was a bit of an oddity in the Dow canon, but the 1961 structure made of Styrofoam and concrete still stands today.

Millwork in the Living Space

The fireplace holds a modern gas insert. Hall originally built the five-foot-wide fireplace to recirculate heat using inset iron pipes and convection to project warm air throughout the room.

Trisore 140 by Element4; distributed by North American Retailer, European Home.

Living Room

This install was done by All Seasons Fireplace in Minnesota: “The homeowners loved the original wood burning fireplace, but their contractor suggested that cutting and carrying wood on a daily basis would get old fast, even with four boys at home to help. They wanted to maintain the large viewing area that the wood burning fireplace allowed, so this Trisore 100H gas fireplace model from European Home was the perfect choice for the room.”

Haven of Reflection | Olson Kundig

Villa Hohenlohe by Philipp Architekten won the prestigious Hugo Häring Award in 2014.

British artist Hannah Sawtell and technologist Avi Flombaum created sawbaum.com, where users can create visual collages using multiple vine streams. "We wanted it to look like a visual comic book, with overlapping panels," said Flombaum. "And we wanted it to be fun!" Photo courtesy Rhizome.

"It’s a true luxury to have a house with a garden in the middle of the city. That surely played a part in pushing for the conversion of the gas station into a home," he says.