Architect Erick Mikiten helped Melanie and David Maher build a house in Livermore, California.

Ethan Schussler built his first tree house at 12 years old. His tree house in Sandpoint, Idaho, sits 30 feet above the ground and can be accessed by an "elevator" consisting of a bicycle that, when pedaled, ascends a pulley system to the top.

On the first floor, a gentle ramp ensures accessibility to common areas; all passageways are at least three feet wide. “Our goal was to accommodate a wheelchair without having the house feel designed differently at all,” says principal Lisa Gray. The builder on the project, Scotty McClelland, has known and worked closely with the families for many years.

So Melanie Maher could access the kitchen, Mikiten created a station with a KitchenAid cooktop, a refrigerator and freezer drawers from U-Line, and a Sharp drawer microwave. He also adjusted the height of the PaperStone counter to allow Melanie to roll her chair underneath.

Airstream’s Flying Cloud 30FB Office travel trailer includes a designated workspace in the back corner.

The design team restored the existing wood beams, giving nod to the home’s former rustic life, while introducing big windows, white walls, and clean lines.

Bay Point Landing offers cabin and Airstream accommodations, RV sites, a communal clubhouse, an indoor saltwater pool, an event hall, a private beach—and plenty of open spaces for surfing, whale watching, crabbing, fishing, or hiking.

The upper floor of one of the cabins features a wood-burning stove, beanbag chairs, and a hanging paper lantern.

In renovating the 90-square-foot kitchen of a Boston apartment, architect Chris Greenawalt drew upon both spatial and material solutions to create a pleasing and wheelchair-accessible space to accommodate all three of its tenants.

With more and more baby boomers reaching the age of 65, architect Susanne Stadler believes the time is right to rethink and redefine housing. “Homes for life” share key elements: adaptability, transparency and flexibility. Increasingly, kitchens can double as health centers to promote health and wellness, while bathrooms are more like living rooms than “dark caves with no natural light." Stadler cited Snaidero’s Skylab accessible kitchen as a model for Universal Design.

For cosmetics company CO/CO, Tatabi created the branding and packaging design. Taking a cue from nature, the simple packaging almost transforms the beauty goods to food products.

The backyard evokes the serenity of a Japanese Zen garden with a beautiful leaning tree and a shou sugi ban shed.

Stairs

Milan saw the launch of wrong.london, an offshoot of HAY that's run by creative director Sebastian Wrong. The lighting-focused division released these veneered-oak lampshades, dubbed 30degree, among other designs.

Greenawalt also clad the undersides of taller cabinets in marble to create an attractive aesthetic from every angle.

LAYOUT The ADA states the minimum clearance for wheelchair accessibility is 32 inches wide. To improve flow, Soheil Nakhshab of Nakhshab Development & Design prefers a distance of 48 inches between the kitchen cabinets and the island (1). LIGHTING LED lights are long-lasting and easy on the eyes. In addition to task lighting above work stations, install lights in storage spaces to spotlight hard-to-see areas. STORAGE “You want daily-use items at waist-height,” says architect Karen Braitmayer, who recommends rolling cabinets (2) and pull-down shelves (3). Rotating lazy susan trays (4) and full-extension slide shelving also give easier access to deeper storage spaces. Child-safety locks on cabinets keep contents secure (5). DRAWERS Lever-style door handles and wide drawer pulls (6) are easier to grasp. Nakhshab also suggests a touch system “where you push the door and it pops open.” COOKTOP Induction cooktops (7), which conduct heat only when in contact with a magnetic cooking vessel, are safer for homes with children, as well as for adults who may forget to shut off the burners. Braitmayer likes burners set side-by-side with controls at the front. APPLIANCES Drawer-style appliances and side-opening doors can be game changers. “Imagine if you have a bad back,” says architect Robert Kahn. “The side-opening oven (8) is an ADA design that benefits the general population.” Light signals, which can be clearly seen from a distance, can also complement or replace audible alerts like buzzers. SINK Wheelchair users require clearance below the sink (9). Covering exposed pipes with insulating wrap can prevent burns or abrasions, says Braitmayer. Lever-style fixtures (10) are easier to grip than twist knobs, and motion-sensor technology gives users hands-free control. WORK SURFACES Countertops installed at varying levels (11) offer easy-to-use work spaces, regardless of the user’s height. Rails installed along the perimeter (12) offer extra support. FLOOR Surfaces like cork and rubber are comfortable, provide extra traction, and are smooth for wheelchairs plus, they hide nicks and scuffs.

Mami and Goo the Kishu dog return from a frolic in the forest, which the couple, along with Hideaki, has thinned and trimmed back over many weekends. It’s an idyllic escape and a world away from the concrete expanse of Tokyo.

The gradually inclined entrance ramp and open plan help make the house accessible to a range of users.

Jansen+Co Cake Stand Young Dutch design house Jansen+Co adds to its growing collection of brightly colored ceramic servingware with cheerful pedestal stands. Layout cupcakes, pies, cake of course, or anything you want to display on your tablescape. Traditional form meets contemporary styling in the minds of Jansen+Co founders Anouk Jansen and Harm Magis. Find this item at the Dwell Store.

Gustav cycle by Coh&Co, 2015.

Retailer nest.co.uk, which sells modern furniture, lighting, and accessories from brands such as Hay, Tom Dixon, and Flos, will also have a pop-up shop.

For a cost-conscious 2,000-square-foot renovation located 30 minutes outside of Austin, Texas, architect Nick Deaver took a look around for inspiration. He spied galvanized metal cladding on the region’s sheds and co-opted the inexpensive, resilient material for his own design.

by Schacht Aslani Architects

In a narrow residual area between the breezeway and the house's northern elevation, Cohen created a so-called "skinny space," with a changing area accessible to the outdoor shower.

A monumental German climate map enlivens the dining area, which also sports CH 23 & CH 30 chairs by Hans Wegner.

The owners are in their seventies – they actually got married during construction at the site – and they wanted to have a home that would be accessible when necessary. The shower is equipped for a wheelchair, and so is every hallway in the house.

With primary colors and a classic shape, this pot is a throwback to childhood tea parties with a grown-up sensibility. $65 from store.dwell.com.

Utah. Ogden-based leather goods company Stock and Barrel Co. produce bags, belts, and cases that balance sophistication and rusticity.

Jansen+Co Espresso Mug and Saucer Made of high quality ceramic, these mugs are perfect for serving that little bit of espresso at the end of a fabulous meal. They are a beautiful combination of industrial production and hand finish. Their shape is classic with twist and is available in bright colors and urban tones. Find this item at the Dwell Store.