Mint green-painted ironwork and tiles connect the indoors to the outside more fluidly.

The Max-A studio is also built with a pine frame, though it has pine panelling on the ceiling, while the main house ceiling is painted a warm white.

Mobile sustainability: The sliding doors were made in Syracuse by CabFab with a formaldehyde-free plant-and-soy-based composite board manufactured by e2e of Ithaca, New York. The mobile partitions were fashioned from TimberStrand, an engineered lumber made from younger trees rather than old-growth timber. cabfab.com e2ematerials.com ilevel.com An unconventional exterior: The solar screen is made from medium-density overlay plywood, a widely available and relatively affordable material whose traditional use for highway signs testifies to its durability.

A Dornbracht tap sits above a custom-built glacier white Corian countertop and sink. The sink is covered by a removable cutting board that can be kept in place for an added work surface, or removed for dedicated sink use. The cutout in the center allows water from the tap to flow straight through to the custom Corian drainer.

At a design-focused mansion in Belgium, the soaring atrium is home to a jacaranda high board from the 1960s, a chrome and glass lamp from Italy, a black leather chair and footstool by Sergio Rodrigues, a Berber rug, and a pair of photographs by the Brazilian artist Luiz Braga.

Wood decking extends out to the yard.

Merge Architects wrapped the peg wall around three sides of a bathroom to hide a door and provide a storage for books and knick knacks.

Amending Meeuwissen’s early request for an open bathroom space, the architects devised a more private chamber with an overhead skylight and walls in stone tile from Intercodam Tegels.

After - living room (Rubio monocoat floors, Chantilly lace walls, used fireplace)

99 by Von Tundra and Lydia Cambron $13,000 Oregon-based Von Tundra’s unit combines three different storage options—a rack, drawers, and boxes—into a multipurpose dresser.

An almost-concealed door designed as a part of the kitchen cabinetry leads to the main bedroom and en-suite bath.

From On Our Table, the BlockBowl is an innovative walnut accessory that is both a cutting block and serving bowl.

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

A built-in closet and chalkboard surface in the entry keeps things tidy and the couple's to-do list in order.

SLATE CHEESE BOARD This cheeseboard from Brooklyn Slate is a one-of-a-kind serving platter that is locally sourced from co-founder Kristy Hadeka’s family quarry in upstate New York. Each board also includes a piece of soapstone chalk so you can write which kind of cheeses, smoked meats, or other kinds of hors d’oeuvres are being served.

STONE CHOPPING BOARD From the British design outfit Tom Dixon, this Stone Chopping Board adapts to your culinary needs, elegantly accompanying you as you work and serve. A slab of carved white Morwad marble provides the perfect base for chopping, cutting, and rolling, while the delicate, hand-formed brass saucer can be used to collect crumbs, hold dips, or whatever else you may need it for.

Looming over the LaSalle St. “canyon,” this Art Deco-era skyscraper has a way with the imagination. The tower is a favorite destination of moviemakers, most recently gracing screens as the backdrop for a high-speed showdown between Batman and the Joker in The Dark Knight. When it’s not hosting superheroes, the building is home to the less thrilling but equally important Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The visitor’s center, located in the lobby, offers information and exhibits on the history of the building and its tenants. Photo by: Mohammed Benni

Slate Serving Board ($30)

Slate Cheese Board Presentation is everything. Brooklyn Slate Company manufactures a rustic slate slab perfect for displaying cheeses at your next dinner party. They even provide a soapstone pencil to identify your cheeses your guests will be devouring. from $24

Bamboo Cheese Board “We’re very big fans of animals in this shop,” says store manager Alba Ponce de Leon. “We recently came across this cheeseboard, and love it because it’s practical to use when people come over, and it’s something nobody else will have.” Probably safe to say you’re friends didn’t have zinc chicken feet at their last dinner party.

"Very ugly countertops are common," Perelman says. "I've mostly gone in the grin and bear it camp, but at the same time I think investing in a beautiful cutting board will make you feel much better about your kitchen. I bought a beautiful black maple cutting board and I'll always have it. You could probably get one the size of your counter. The whole idea is you can take it with you." This 12-by-20-inch walnut board is available from Jewett Farms Workshop for $46.

This outdoor chair from designer Damian Velasquez is both striking and strikingly comfortable—you might not believe you're sitting on metal. The mesh design is sturdy, but has just enough give to conform to your body. The heat-dispersing, wind-resistant powder-coated stainless steel construction makes it a smart addition to your yard.

O Table by Half 13 $2,800 This curvy powder-coated stainless steel outdoor table, fabricated by Damian Velasquez in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is available in nine vibrant colors.

Wooden decks can be added to heighten the indoor-outdoor living experience.

Landscape architect Kevin Campion went to great lengths to protect the poplar trees during construction. Delta Millworks charred the cedar gable fronts following the shou sugi ban technique.

A Rafa Kids swing hangs below the loft bed near the large desk designed for playing with Legos.

Shumaker Design + Build Associates honed in on natural light, rich tones, and earthy materials to update this Chicago kitchen. The renovated kitchen now boasts a ten-foot-long banquette paired with a West Elm table, offering seating for everything from quick breakfasts to grand dinners.

Light pine finishes make the interiors feel airy and spacious.

An opaque sliding glass door separates the bathroom from the dining area. White tile with pink-colored grout ties the two spaces together.

A pool cage with a retractable awing makes the pool deck feel like a natural extension of the home's interior, while the terraced construction lifts the building up above the level of floods and storm surges.