Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures, Inc.

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

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.

Built for the Army in WWII, these tube-like corrugated steel shelters were inspired by a quixotic journey through the Midwest. Fuller and a friend, road tripping in search of unknown letters by Edgar Allen Poe, were struck by the site of metal grain silos lining the road. Inspired, Fuller began working with the manufacturer, Butler Manufacturing, and soon, $1,250 Dymaxion Deployment Units were being built and shipped starting in April of 1941, complete with appliances and furniture by Montgomery Ward. One was displayed in MoMA’s front yard, and the army ordered more than 100 for deployment around the globe. Fuller imagined them as cheap family dwelling and potential post-war vacations homes, but the wartime steel shortage halted further production.

Here's a detail shot of the stool. The leather comes in four options—black, chocolate, tobacco, and saddle—and the brightly hued backing fabric comes in ten—sky, radish, egg yolk, cream, camel, charchol, sand, mocha, chocolate, and black.

Haines House by Christopher Polly in Newtown, Australia

"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."

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.

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

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

Suzanne and Brooks Kelley at the back of their 1,100-square-foot guest cottage.

“A building can have far greater impact than the space it stands in.”—William Carpenter, architect and resident

The owners toured this home, which surrounds a mature tipu tipu tree, while visiting relatives for the day. The brick is original to the 1947 construction.

New zoning allowed for a zero-lot-line structure, but required a public storefront, which Carpenter uses as an art gallery.

Sliding doors by Quantum were made to look like the original panes that couldn't be saved, and they lead to a fire pit outside.

"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."

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.

The more planning you do and the fewer changes you make, the higher chance you have of staying within your budget. Take the time to figure out what the scope of the project is and get a sense of how much work is needed so that you can make educated decisions when presented with options.

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.

See Arch restored the exterior fireplace wall and painted it a deep blue hue to match the repainted blue timber cladding.

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.

Audi's A3 e-tron electric vehicle is in the pilot program stage and we took a quick zip around SoMA to test how it drives. It has an 87 mile range, which is great for quick local trips, and features the same stylings as its gas-powered cousins.

Door hardware is a small design detail, but as with all decor choices, a wise one can effortlessly elevate the overall aesthetic. From hardware style to finish and form, that doorknob you put your hands on every day can really make a statement.

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.

"We hope that in time the house will make the client's lifestyle better by providing spaces that can change as they progress in life, much like how an outdoor space constantly changes with the environment," say the architects.

Pebble Time Round by Pebble, $249 at pebble.com Pebble, the wearable tech company whose signature timepiece is a favorite among Silicon Valley disruptors, recently unveiled Pebble Round Time, the world's thinest, lightest smartwatch yet. Available in rich finishes, including rose gold, it is a dream accessory for the tech-forward and design-conscious.

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

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

Inspirational spaces

A built-in closet and chalkboard surface in the entry keeps things tidy and the couple's to-do list in order.