Built in the early 1970s, the house's kitchen, living, and dining areas were originally divided into three distinct zones. In order for this great room to flow as one, Klopf Architecture removed the glass doors and solid walls separating the enclosed atrium from the kitchen and living room. A Herman Miller trade poster, Design Within Reach book tower, and IKEA sofa mingle in the space.

All of Scott Palamar’s selections and customizations brought the total to $150,000 for the 640-square-foot home and surrounding land. “I feel like I struck on such a novel solution because I was able to afford a home tailored to my lifestyle,” he says.

Beyond the terrace, the backs of the Flatiron Peaks reveal themselves. Revegetation of the 35-acre property began immediately following construction of the home—a 2,500-square-foot structure that blends into its woodsy surroundings. Photo by Ron Johnson.

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Architecture: Book Mountain, Spijkenisse, the NetherlandsFor optimum browsing, a veritable mountain of bookshelves created by MVRDV houses over a quarter mile of passages through the structure. Perched at the top is a reading room and cafe area with panoramic views through the transparent roof. Photo by Jeroen Musch.

Moving Mountains Credenza from Colony, price upon request from mvngmtns.com A confetti inlay pattern lends this veneered maple credenza from Moving Mountains a lighthearted appeal.

Cero offers an offset vanity and a circular bowl.

If you don’t have to have cabinetry installed or shelves drilled onto your bathroom walls, one good idea is to create recessed wall shelves for storage. This will help conserve floor space. You can even create recessed wall in corners.

White-and-blue, wood-grain–patterned UonUon tiles by 14oraitaliana line the bathroom walls in a loft above the garage.

The collection of bathroom fixtures includes a wall-mounted sink and vanity, a bathtub, and a round mirror.

A modular shelf system by Alu provides a more sculptural take on the classic bathroom vanity in this Toronto home.

Along the Geiranger-Trollstigen road in western Norway, Oslo-based Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter designed a footpath that traverses rocky terrain before terminating at a scenic overlook. “For me, this is one of the most visionary contemporary architecture projects,” photographer Ken Schluchtmann says. “It doesn’t destroy the landscape, but is instead fitted perfectly into it.”

The garage studio shares a space for the owners’ car with a multitude of functions ranging from gym to playroom. It complements the home's addition with shared materials: stained western red cedar and the same Iron Mountain shade by Benjamin Moore.

With doors open and seating provided, the bar is ready for business at Fortress Mountain, welcoming skiers and snowboarders as they pass down the mountain.

Hideaki and Goo the dog scout the scene.

This home in Melbourne by design duo Kathryn Robson and Susie Cohen has deep nook shelves at one end of the wardrobe, which gives the bathroom a warm, natural and organic feel.

ROAR Architects updated a former women’s refuge in London’s Kentish Town Conservation Area into two interconnected flats for a brother-and-sister duo. Housed in a historic Victorian, each of the flats have their own entrance. The interiors are also differentiated by their distinct color palettes and materials, which the architects designed to reflect the personality of each sibling.

Lone Stupa In this photo, a stupa can be seen along a road that runs deep into Mustang, the Himalayan mountains looming in the background. Probably one of the more majestic sights I was able to capture from the whole trek. It's one of the few remaining places on Earth where you actually feel like you're in the middle of nowhere. Because you are.

The black iron sink designed by Anderman.

In the guest bathroom, Givone installed a hand-chiseled sink made of 17th-century marble quarried from the hills outside of Rome.

For guest bathrooms, where only minimal storage systems are needed, why not go light and vertical with a modular floor-mounted Autopole shelf system with a mirror, soap dish, hand towels, and a tray hang by Alu that frees up floor space.

“With their careful planning, use of light and color, and the elimination of all unnecessary elements, even the smallest room in the hotel feels spacious,” says Kurilenko.

A bright yellow bathroom.

Built into the foot of a forested mountain, the Pool House is located at the edge of the St. Lawrence River valley floor.

"Our many ideas were floating around the mountain, and we needed someone to bring them down and turn them into reality,

The home’s exterior features a smooth, white stucco. An open-air bathroom features a sink constructed using a custom terrazzo made by Mila.

A sink located on lower level was installed as a place to wash off sand after returning from the beach—which is just a 10-minute walk away. The sink, wall, and flooring surrounding it are made of marés. Part of the flooring bears resembles to terrazzo; called "trespol," it's a mix of cement, marés powder, and small pebbles. Unlike terrazzo, the top surface of trespol is not polished.

A skylight illuminates the master bathroom, which is entirely outfitted with Arblu Tulip fixtures. The orange floor is Kenbrock K2 studded rubber. Note how the divisional wall stops short of the ceiling—a decision that the architects implemented to “create volume and height, which celebrate the curve of the ceiling.”

A whimsical hand-painted mural by local painter Rob Moss Wilson livens up the bathroom adjoining the outdoor tub.

Classic Ceramics wall tiles are combined with Caroma Cube ceramic basins in the bathrooms.

An en-suite bathroom, walk-in closet, and window seat complete the bedroom. A bridge leads to a guest room, a family bathroom, and two linked children's bedrooms.

Smooth, handleless joinery are a classical, but nonetheless creative way to make storage systems beautifully discreet with ample room for storage.

The powder room is wrapped in Josef Frank wallpaper.