A detail shot of the stair, which spirals up and down throughout the house.

The Funiculí Wall Lamp is an update of a lamp designed in 1979 by Spanish designer Lluís Porqueras, who is renowned for the absolute simplicity of his designs. The name Funiculí comes from the concept of funicular action—moving up and down. Shown in red, the lamp is also available in neutral colors. It is also available as a floor lamp and table lamp.

The Funiculí Floor Lamp is an update of a lamp designed in 1979 by Spanish designer Lluís Porqueras, who is renowned for the absolute simplicity of his designs. The name Funiculí comes from the concept of funicular action—moving up and down.

“I made a very conscious decision, when I realized that the house with nothing in it was such a fantastic work of art,” says Greg Wooten, “to go out of my way to pull back and only select pieces that complemented the architecture and would allow both the house and the furniture to breathe.” The place is furnished minimally with vintage finds he chose for the rooms over time.

José Roberto looks down on the secluded courtyard, where Pilar and Patty open things up.

Unpacking the deck and awning reveals a glass wall that opens the trailer to its environment, wherever that may be. The ATLAS can be hitched to a truck to travel easily from campsite to campsite.

exterior of the centre georges pompidou paris

The kitchen is done up in Gaggenau and Bulthaup.

The ultimate duo to keep you up-to-speed on...you, the UP wristband plus app tracks your activity, sleep, eating, and day-to-day habits. ($129.99; app is free)

Aaron and Yuka Ruell transformed a 1950s Portland ranch house into a retro-inspired family home with plenty of spaces for their four children to roam. In the kitchen, interior designer Emily Knudsen Leland replaced purple laminate cabinets with flat-sawn eastern walnut, and added PentalQuartz countertops in polished Super White for contrast. The kitchen island is clad with original red tiles, and hanging cabinets above it were removed to maximize light and family-room views.

Down the corridor from the boys’ bedrooms is the family room.

The courtyard offers a glimpse of nature from nearly every angle, including up.

An exterior view of the cantilevered staircases that run up and down the north side of the building.

In the living room, set beyond the kitchen and dining area, floor-to-ceiling wooden shelving span across the rear wall, complementing the home's surrounding millwork.

Listed for $3M, the 1963 residence is perched amidst the canopy of a wooded Dallas hillside.

Lucky Diaz spent three and a half months on this project, working all hours to get it done. “It was worth it,” he says. “To have Ella grow up in an original space is a gift that is beyond measure.”

Gift Sets by Aesop, $60–$110 from aesop.comWhen it comes to grooming, no other company has as comprehensive a commitment to good design. Take for instance Aesop's architecturally savvy retail environments and impeccable packaging. This year, the Australian brand channeled the look of Italian Futurists for its seasonal gift sets. Four different groupings range from lip and body care to a geranium-scented trio to a quartet of the company's best-selling items. While the line is unisex, the Intensity trio of body cleanser, post-shave lotion, and deodorant is geared specifically toward men. Reliable sources tell us that the potent botanicals in the deodorant will leave you smelling like you've rolled around in the Australian bush (in a good way).

This show highlights wares from 2,400 companies hailing from 19 countries and regions, focusing on apparel, food, and home merchandise. Over 200,000 attendees, comprised of buyers from all over the world, will filter through Tokyo Big Sight over the course of three days.

A close-up of the corner.

Engineers envision Roombots evolving over time to create larger and more complex structures—for example, joining stools together to become a bench or table. Each module is also self-improving, and can learn to increase its speed by analyzing and optimizing oscillation patterns.

Diane finishes up some paperwork at the kitchen countertop.

These ceramic planters hang from the ceiling, so there's no need to take up precious counter space. Click here for more information on these upside down planters.

The bedroom takes up the small second floor of the house.

The triple-glazed windows provide plenty of natural light.

Sottsass designed much of the inside furniture, including the vintage Hawaiian Koa lounge chairs and Hyatt side tables.

Ray Kappe relaxes in the central living space, which offers views onto other shared family zones. Behind him is a view down into his office. Half a level up, Shelly Kappe stands at the entrance to the upper family room.

At the moment we are into building marble mazes and ramp structures, and setting up obstacles to knock down.

An enthusiastic cook, Miller says she can easily work in the galley-style kitchen. The reclaimed-wood surround echoes the exterior cladding.

Opening the kitchen to outdoor spaces, a new window with floating shelves for storage looks out into the front yard. New appliances, stainless steel countertops and an integral sink add utility. Photo by Whit Preston.

"We used a couple of piano hinges to allow for the fold-down action," Tim says. "They give you nice clean lines and are really strong. This was important because in researching fold-down desks we found that many of the options available out there look beautiful but are actually pretty rickety when you sit down and really use them like a real desk."

The sleek 320-square-foot MEKA home, designed by Jason Halter and Christos Marcopoulous, when it was set up in New York. The home is made of cedar paneling, set over a steel shipping container.

The bedroom and bathroom make up the private zones on the top floor.

12 Bar Collection by Mast Brothers, $95 The beautiful packaging is a bonus, but the real treat is inside: Made in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in small batches, this 12-bar collection by the Mast Brothers includes all flavor editions from this year, from sea salt, to smoke, mint, vanilla, and olive oil. Artisanal, tasty, and well-designed, the decadent boxset is a fool-proof crowd pleaser.

Check out all of our 2014 holiday gift guides at a glance, and don't forget to comment here with your best modern gift ideas.

Dwell Store Gift Card, $50–$1,000 at the Dwell Store Always in stock, the Digital Gift Card from the Dwell Store lets you give the design seeker on your list the gift of discovering great design. Perfect for that person who has everything (or likes to shop for herself), this gift will save you time and still keep your status as a thoughtful gift-giver.

In another portion of the show floor, a more humble operation dedicated to the splendor of coffee takes place out of the back of a van.