The crumbling stone walls of a 17th-century farmhouse in the remote countryside of Dumfries, Scotland, presented a unique renovation opportunity for Lily Jencks Studio and Nathanael Dorent Architecture, the teams behind this project. Rather than demolish the old walls, they inserted a crisp, modern home within them, so as to emphasize the site's history and passage of time.

Outside, a triangular saltwater pool overlooks breathtaking views.

A yellow epoxy floor matches the sconce in the tiny bathroom that sits under the staircase.

Heva was designed by A6A and manufactured by My Little Loft. A spacious deck and large glass doors allow for seamless indoor/outdoor living.

It's tough to be productive when you're uncomfortable: the 11+ Bottle Humidifier ($90) is a superbly sculptural device that can improve any office atmosphere, visually and literally. Its ultrasonic nebulizer automatically deactivates when its water is completed, ensuring no energy is wasted.

Casa Volta, located in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, sits among a lush landscape mere steps away from the Pacific Ocean. The almost 1,300-square-foot plan is made of six rectangular areas—alternating between open terraces and the three covered structures.

Inspirational spaces

11+ World Desk Clock designed by Yeongkyu Yoo for Leibal, $49 at store.dwell.com This cylindrical desk clock is inscribed with names of different international cities, telling the time in each. All 24 time zones can be displayed, thanks to a distinctive rolling mechanism.

The same compound of post-war heritage houses is home to Avellana Gallery, designer Jojie Lloren’s atelier, and Artelano 11, a major design destination. In the space, furniture designer and interior designer Eric Paras not only showcases Industria, his collaborative line with Jude Tiotuico, but he has also carefully curated a stellar collection of mid-century pieces, vintage tabletop items and dishware, and standout work from other local designers.

The L-shaped kitchenette is outfitted with minimalist black appliances and fixtures.

Dubbed Small But Fine, a student-built 280-square-foot cabin in Finland connects with the outdoors and features a minimal footprint. Not pictured is a detached outhouse with a composting toilet.

A large bed was deliberately chosen so that Kiki can grow into over it time. The vertically oriented plywood echoes the vertical lines of the hone’s timber cladding.

After: The new fireplace surround is make of Cava Tile and a custom salmon pink grout that Michelle mixed with the contractor. "I could have ordered something off the shelf, but this enabled me more freedom to get the color closer to what I wanted,

A metal roof is adorned in moss that was found on the property.

This space exudes a modern elegance with clean lines and minimalist design. Across from the kitchen, limestone wraps around the base of a built-in banquette paired with inky blue leather cushions. The sleek seating is paired with a custom bronze and marble dining table by Daniel Barbera and Cassina 412 Cab Chairs.

Local architect Sophie Dries combined two Haussmann apartments in Paris’s Marais district to create a larger, open space for a young family. Impactful paint colors and contemporary art counterbalance the delicate architecture and vintage furnishings throughout the home. In the children’s playroom, a piece by JonOne hangs alongside a vintage map on an acidic yellow wall.

The Twill Suite features wallpaper by Zak+Fox, a desk and side tables by Hay, artwork by local artist Dan Talbot and Lighting by Humanhome.

The hut combines “our love of mountains with our love of design. It fuses tradition with innovation,” the brand explains.

The pyramidal roofs of the cabins allow snow to slide down to the ground.

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

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.

This tactile case ($33.99) made of felt features a sleeve for an iPad Mini, as well as compartments for key accessories like headphones and chargers.

National September 11 Memorial Museum by Davis Brody Bond

These pencils rank an 11 on the awesome scale.

Designer Paola Navone transformed a 200-year-old factory in Umbria into an inviting home for Andrea Falkner-Campi and her husband. Once a tobacco-drying plant, and before that a silkworm farm, the home sits 90 miles north of Rome.