Every space, including the living and dining sections seen here, has “furniture, objects and artworks that bring us memories,” says Smud. The bench, coffee tables, and dining table are by the late Alejandro Sticotti.

A PK 22 Easy Chair by Poul Kjaerholm for Fritz Hansen adds a dash of yellow to the breakfast room.

It might not make you popular with your contractor, but for a more streamlined look, Chris recommends forgoing trim. "It lends a clean look with less visual clutter," the architect says. In their house, the doors, lights, cabinetry, and even wall sockets (all 22 by Bocci) are installed without trim. This allows the planar surfaces to recede and do their jobs without unnecessarily distracting the eye.

Abutting a costal reserve, the property has uninterrupted views of the Snowy River and surrounding wetlands

Bocci's 22 Series offers stealthy electrical, cable, USB, and phone outlets.

The three arms of the Apfel House stretch out to catch the best views of Ranco Lake and the Andes Mountains.

Mary and Kundan Bhullar built a shipshape country escape that sits lightly on the land in the Aravalli hills near Gurgaon, India.

The Armadillo is parked on a 1,000-square-foot lot that gives the couple ample outdoor space.

“Every time you challenge a basic assumption, there needs to be some method of expressing the fact that there’s new logic at work.”—Omer Arbel, creative director at Bocci

PeaceBOMB Bracelets by Article 22 "A22PeaceBomb3" $38.00 for three A special product with a special story. PeaceBOMB bracelets are crafted from the reclaimed metal of Vietnam-era bombs dropped on Laos during the United States' conflict in Indochina. Developed through a social enterprise that supports sustainable development through design thinking, its collaborators include Naphia spoon makers, Helvetas’s Rural Income Through Sustainable Energy Project and ARTICLE 22. These bracelets not only represent an opportunity for artisan families to generate income, but also tell a story about their makers and the legacies of a shared history. Buy the bombs back!"

Inspirational spaces

The W.W. Stool by Philippe Starck.

This kitchen features a sleek Henrybuilt kitchen system in white.

On a rocky bank, Hebra Arquitectos builds a breezy home that opens wide to nature.

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.

The courtyard is a secure space with a double-height window that offers seamless interior-exterior connection. “It gives a nice sense of containment and peace, while still engaging interior spaces,” says Cashman.

Steel strips form a security screen on the street side of the scullery. One can also hang pots and pans from them. A skylight filters illumination through glass block flooring to the basement below.

The kitchen is accessible from a raised courtyard across from the main living space. “The double exhaust hood looks like an old industrial gantry,” remarks Cashman. Sandblasted brick and sandstone from the original warehouse dialogue with floating white and grey cabinetry.

“The biggest design challenge was the facade,” says architect Mark Cashman. “It had to step back from the street and recede to give prominence to the heritage status warehouse facade.” Above the translucent bedroom level, a balcony with a herb garden steps back further. From the rooftop garden, downtown Sydney comes into full view.

Simultaneously sculptural and pragmatic, the undulating form of the W Magazine Stand’s molded plywood is both pleasing and useful. It’s compact enough for small spaces, though you may be loath to cover up the figurative grain pattern of the walnut with your magazines.

The master bedroom features wallpaper by Erika Wakerly. The glass tables next to the Croft House bed were gifts.

Kele Dobrinski and Christina Valencia, of Sacramento, California-based Colossus Mfg., revamped a 2008 Starstream Starcraft camper that allows their family of five to comfortably explore nature in different landscapes for weeks at a time.

Track and spotlights are fixtures that are attached to a track that is mounted to the ceiling or hung off the ceiling, depending on the fixture.

A simple kitchen includes a traditional wood stove, but much of the cooking is done outside, on the outdoor wood-fired grill.

Bend Basket in Copper, designed by Gaurav Nanda for Bend, $320 at the Dwell Store Handcrafted in galvanized iron, then hot-dipped and powder-coated, this geometric bowl is rust-resistant, making it equally useful in the kitchen, bathroom, or office. It also comes in neon red, yellow, or white.

Case Study House No. 22., The Stahl House

A secondary bedroom meant for a child has a partially translucent, curved glass wall.

A pivoting Gyrofocus fireplace, staircase, and elevator shaft organize the social space. Lighting throughout the house is mostly ambient, supplemented by task-oriented lighting.

Based in New York, photographer Brian W. Ferry regularly shoots portraits, travel, interiors, and design stories for international clients and publications including Condé Nast Traveler and WSJ Magazine. For this issue, he captured “Outside Providence,” a story about a coastal Rhode Island getaway. “I was blown away by the skylights throughout the home,” he says. “Watching the light and colors change slowly over the course of the two-day shoot was a real treat—it was like a private James Turrell exhibition.” What’s your favorite city to visit in the USA? “I frequently travel to Los Angeles for work and pleasure, and I enjoy every visit. There’s a wonderful art scene, great food, and the ability to spend time outdoors year-round.”

A New York–based photographer who shoots for clients including Condé Nast Traveler and the Wall Street Journal Magazine, Brian W. Ferry loves the perks of Dwell assignments. In one week, he shared lunch alfresco with the owners of the Stanfordville, New York, outbuilding and pizza and wine in São Paulo with the owner and architect of the Jardins apartment.

Tucked away in a corner of Makati, W-17 is an elegant warehouse space showcasing luxe home wares from the Philippines and beyond. Catch Carabao (Philippine water buffalo) horn salad servers, elegant wood serving bowls trimmed in gold, locally crafted dinner ware, and antique Chinese furniture, along with rugs from New York-based Filipino designer Inigo Elizalde.

Style: "Portrait B&W"

From the transitional space between the living area and courtyard, the TV room is visible.