As the facade of a Bates Masi-designed home in Water Mill, New York, rises from eight to 14 feet high, the mahogany planks subtly widen. “It was quite a demand to make of the contractor,” architect Paul Masi says. “But the design was so much about traveling through the site and weaving [the house] together with the deck.”

In the kitchen, the cabinetry is walnut veneer with a weathered finish applied by cabinetmaker David Rogers. “The process involved sanding and rubbing in stain as well as adding a clear finish,” project architect Eero Puurunen says.

Artist Miranda Lake’s surreal home in New Orleans, via Apartment Therapy.

Grant Mudford, New Orleans, Louisiana.

The New Orleans BioInnovation Center is a nonprofit incubator for biotech startups. While labratory buildings are among the most itense users of energy of all building types, NOBIC measures just 1/3 of the energy use of a typical lab.

Aaron and Yuka Ruell transformed a Portland ranch house into a retro-inspired family home with plenty of spaces—like the trellised porch—for their four children to roam.

The home is embedded in a hillside with five feet of soil above it. In addition to blending the structure into the landscape, the surrounding earth provides natural insulation.

The outdoor room is backed by a gabion wall made of stone. Rainwater runs off the roofs into a channel before being funneled through pipes concealed within it to an underground concrete tank.

The architects felt that a strong vertical addition would draw extra attention to the original house’s strong horizontal character. The tower itself is a reinterpretation of an A-frame from another Strenger house five doors down.

The Guillen Residence in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo via Architecture for Humanity.

Consider this lively bathroom that sits within a recently completed waterfront home in Bridgehampton, New York. Situated on two-and-a-half acres of land with 360-degree views of the nearby bay and ocean, it's covered with brightly colored floor-to-ceiling tiles that reflect the shades of the neighboring water. One step through the sliding glass doors and you’ll find yourself on an open terrace.

“The house’s narrow footprint works for us in terms of maximum exposure to the lake,” says Gibbs (shown here with son Blake and dog Max on the shore of Lake Iosco). Glass walls and doors by Andersen also mean that Gibbs can keep a close eye on Blake when he’s playing in the yard. A plinth of reused bedrock found on the property has become an unintended place for active play.

“When I first thought of moving to Harlem, I looked at a map,” says Ryall. “The island’s about 210 blocks long, I’m near 110th Street—I thought, ‘It’s right in the center of Manhattan.’”

Here's what you need to know before undergoing a building project with a contractor but no architect.

When not in use during winter, the tub is hidden from the home’s view. The entrance has a sheltered overhang for car parking.

The laneway house features Kentwood engineered-wood floors, Cascadia windows, and aluminum-bar grating. The Eames DAX chair is vintage.

Louisiana. Based in New Orleans, Loomed NOLA produces hand-woven, organic Turkish textiles, from tea towels to blankets.

Tom Givone's current weekend abode, nicknamed the Floating Farmhouse, is—so far—his capstone project, a synthesis of personal taste, material experimentation, and historically sensitive restoration: a living laboratory for how to bring the vernacular past into the present.

Overhead cabinets now can be easily swung open for ease of access. The kitchens are priced at IKEA’s usual retails. A 10 by 10 foot kitchen fitted with Sektion cabinets will range from around $1,300 to $2,200, excluding appliances.

To deter all bird collisions, his home’s Ornilux windows use a specialized inner coating to reflect ultraviolet light visible to the birds but invisible to the human eye.

Black and white kitchen tiles add visual interest to this stunning modern kitchen by IKEA.

Eastern white pine finished with Monocoat white oil by Rubio clads the interior, while slatted wood accents the space and screens pipes and ducts.

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Bleecker 80” Sofa This angular sofa has a sturdy, kiln-dried hardwood frame covered in a deep-gray herringbone fabric.

Design by Conran Tufted Wool Square Rug Gun-tufted in a soft, sage-green yarn, this wool rug features a textured, raised freeform circle gesture. The contemporary design includes skid-resistant backing.

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Bleecker Nesting Tables Crafted from engineered wood, a colorful set of three nesting tables adds a sense of fun to your space.

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Bleecker 63" TV Cabinet With cutouts for cable management, the Bleeker media cabinet features tapered legs, shaped pulls, and a solid ash and pine frame.

Design by Conran Lucina Floor Lamp A stunning marble base, and turned-wood section, and pull-chain switch give this floor lamp its classic, elegant look.

Bodum 34-oz. Assam Tea Press Bodum’s Assam Tea Press brews precisely to your desired strength and its patented system stops brewing when tea is plunged, so tea is tasty, not bitter. It is made of heat- and stain-resistant borosilicate glass, and was developed in partnership with the English Tea Council.

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Owl Tray This decorative tray has a lustrous lacquer finish, and a raised rim to keep contents in place. When entertaining, it’s perfect for serving drinks and snacks; for every day, it’s a cheerful decorative accent.

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Bleecker 79" Dining Table The Bleecker dining table, with its clean lines and shapely, solid-wood legs, can seat up to eight guests comfortably (matching chairs sold separately).

Michael Graves Design Toaster Shaped like a piece of toast, this funky, 2-slice toaster features bagel, defrost, reheat, and six browning settings.

Design by Conran Apatura Nesting Tables These versatile, space-saving nesting tables will work great in nearly every room in your home. They have a lovely, natural organic form and super-smooth finish.

Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Charlotte Round Pouf The Charlotte round pouf can be used as an ottoman to prop up your feet, or as a soft spot to take a seat. White with a gray inset design, the knitted construction keeps you comfortable.

Michael Graves Design Triple Glass Vase with Wood Base A set of three tube-shaped glass vases with a wood base makes it easy to arrange flowers more artfully in a unique three-in-one style.

Michael Graves Design Faux-Leather Desk Clock This unconventional faux-leather clock features contrast saddle stitching and easy-to-read numerals. The fold-over, self-standing design will dress up your desktop without overwhelming your space.

Michael Graves Design Metal Fruit Bowl with Wooden Base Contemporary and whimsical, the metal bowl with its cutout fruit pattern and raised base has a modern sense of style.