A palette of wood, concrete, and painted brick forms a neutral backdrop for Kathryn Tyler’s vintage treasures, including a $30 dining table, $3 poster, and a set of 1950s Carl Jacobs Jason chairs she snagged on eBay for $400. Read more about this frugal furniture collector here.

Geometric shapes from the wall to the floor scattered throughout. Photo by: Magnus Anesund for Skanska Nya Hem

"I used to study anthroposophy and then I worked for some years in a biodynamic garden, cooking and arranging feasts. Food is an important part of my life and it was through cooking that I came to be a stylist." Photo by: Magnus Anesund for Skanska Nya Hem

A dining table scene from The Collectors series. Photo by: Magnus Anesund for Skanska Nya Hem

The Falmouth, England, home of interior designer Kathryn Tyler is featured in our "Collector's Choice" story. View the slideshow here.

Provenzano says the mullion-less glass corners were sited to be as close to the outside perimeter as possible to provide an crystal-clear viewing experience.

In the dining area, a single glass expanse provides a view to the backyard. "All of our efforts surrounding the glass are to make spaces have no visual barriers between inside and outside," says Provenzano.

A view of the home's rear facade, prior to the renovation and extensive landscaping updates, featured paneled windows and a darker palette.

The home's newly renovated rear facade, which contains the kitchen and dining room, were aligned along the same axis as the backyard pool to create unified, linear sightlines across the property.

Scent London Collector Brick Diffuser The porosity of this clay brick—housed in a handsome copper tin—makes for a surprisingly apt vehicle for a scent meant to recall the British capital.

Our winter choices included beets, cauliflower and fennel.

As the roof had to be clear for fire department access, Baker developed a cantilevered frame for double-sided solar collectors that is elevated a few feet above the rooftop. The frame’s tilted configuration actually allows the panels to collect more energy than traditional flat designs. Seen here before the panels were installed, the frame holds sixteen photovoltaic collectors and is a 3KV system—large enough to generate more energy than the house requires in a single year.

Interior designer Kathryn Tyler's Falmouth, England, kitchen, featured in our recent June 2012 issue, is a clever compromise between tight budget and calculated splurges. Furniture maker David Restorick wrapped Ikea cabinets with oak for a custom look. For Tyler, open shelving provided a chance to show off her collection of colorful vintage cookware.

A stunning collection of 507s and 328s—some of the most sought-after BMWs by collectors.

The 510 Cabin is one of Leggitt's designs, executed with the help of student apprentices.

“Our objective was always to have a luminous house,” explains homeowner Isabel Pinto of the choice to have a window cover the entire north-facing wall.

Although plywood was a cheap and practical choice, it gives the cabin a warm and inviting feel.

The cover of Murakami Versailles.

Collector's Suite

A brand new line of black appliances from Fisher & Paykel provides even more style choices.

The material and color choices—spotted gum, and clean white and gray—were inspired by the environment of Castlecrag.

This unique plywood-and-slate combination makes a great choice for small bathrooms that require a corner bathroom vanity.

Pendant by Matthew Fairbank Design.

Clock by Ding3000 for Discipline.

The structure of the coop was inspired by the new bus shelters and newsstands in New York City.

Much of the furniture in the public spaces is vintage, sourced from local shops and collectors.

Bret is an avid record collector, and his collection fills a corner of the space.

The patio of Collector's Retreat by Heliotrope Architects allows the homeowners to gaze out into a sea of trees.

William Lamson's Solarium.

"Rooms required thoughtfully scaled and placed pieces," say the designers. "Because of the numerous large windows in every room of the house, the color choices and textures were chosen with inspiration from outside."

“Not a drop of water is wasted here,” Nina says of the yard. “This is huge for Mexico City. The whole terrace is a water collector.”

After: The soaring new living and dining space benefits from an abundance of natural light from every side, and they spent a lot of time trying to find the best lighting for the kitchen. The final choice: long, narrow copper pendants from Denmark suspended by ultra thin wires to not disrupt the visual flow of the room.

The window in the living room is framed by built-in shelves. The owners are collectors of local craft and design, and had ventilation grids custom-made specifically for the renovation.

Soft Rocks by Tanya Aguiñiga.

The Anita shelf as seen on The Blog on the Bookshelf.