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.

Wood decking extends out to the yard.

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.

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

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.

The Heddle Suite is "the look is one of New England design turned on its head

The first-floor rental unit features a table from an 11th-century monastery turned pub.

23' x 13' Detached Garage

With the help of architects X+L Studio, Nynke Meeuwissen and Mark Aink rehabilitated an old school outside of Amsterdam into a comfortable roost for their family of five. The former gym—with original herringbone parquet floors—is now the living room, furnished with Minotti sofas, a Danskina rug, and a Gyrofocus wood-burning stove.

Local sailboat shops wanted thousands to make the 13-by-13-foot curtain that hides the Wall of Storage. "We we called my parents in Bangkok, gave them the dimensions, and they got it made for 150 bucks." says Im.

A white Bulthaup system fits cleanly into the 13-foot-long kitchen.

Luma's strong signal is the backbone for other smart home technologies—such as Philips Hue lights, Nest's Learning Thermostat, Canary, or August Smart Lock—to easily reach their respective smart phone apps via the web. However, Luma's high-level security doens't mean adding new users or devices to the network is a challenge—no password scavenger hunts are required.

The devices come in white, gray, orange, and gold colors. They retail for $199 per device and $499 for a pack of three. However, early-bird special prices are 50% off for the first 30 days: $99 per device and $249 for three. You can order at Luma's website.

Users place these hexagonal devices, which sport a futuristic but unobstrusive aesthetic, in their home to create strong wireless internet connectivity throughout. The company's founders—Dr. Paul Judge and Mike Van Bruinisse, both of whom have extensive backgrounds in network and digital security—compare Luma to a surround sound systems whose multiple speakers create total sonic immersion. (For the tech savvy: Luma works on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies and uses new 802.11ac Wave 2 technology. Each device sports 2GB ethernet ports for WAN and LAN, as well as one USB 2 port.)