Tooled Up at Art&Graft (September 12-20) Amidst more sophisticated displays of design and craftsmanship, the colorful Tooled Up exhibiton at a Shoreditch studio gives designers free rein to turn toolbox standards into playful pieces more at home on Saturday morning television. "Duchess" transformed a screwdriver into an "eminent female character," according to designer Kustaa Saksi.

From the rear of the Gracia house, the city’s still rough character comes through.

The home has retained much of its historic character, including its original wood floors and doors.

The cozy Saegreifinn Fish Shop is owned by a former fisherman, a legendary salty character who lives above the shop.

The variety of grains and finishes on the largely wooden interior manage to both unify the space while still retaining their individual characters.

"In the western facade of the building the individual characters of the different units are most obvious, while in the eastern facade (seen here) their coherence and the cabin as a whole is more prominent," write the architects.

Farnham walks the couple’s Vizsla, Kasia, down the sloped alley upon which the house sits. Hill’s renovation maintains some Victorian character in the decorative eaves and scaling, but the home is largely an anomaly for San Francisco.

Although innovative in construction, the simple and pure gabled form relates to the character of the rural setting and the agrarian use of the building. Elevated slightly above the ground, the home inflicts minimal intrusion on the existing landscape.

The team preserved the blue and buggy pine paneling, which was important to the owners, and made it more of a feature by bringing in new pieces, all of which highlight the double-height ceilings. "That pine, it's really filled with character," says Fowler.

Cheng kept the dining room chandelier and the original fireplace, and gutted most everything else, careful to keep changes in the spirit of the home’s quiet character. "It's an unassuming structure with jaw-dropping, 180-degree views once you walk in the door," says the designer.

The pavilion and carport that Carpenter designed carry on the horizontal character of the Domineys' Craftsman-style house, and picks up on the Southern vernacular dogtrot architecture.

“The overarching goal was to preserve the rustic character of the original building without making any compromises in terms of modern comfort,” says La Firme. The team hid modern appliances (like the refrigerator) below eye level and worked with the original, century-old structure of The Barn.

Built in 1962, the four-bedroom, two-bath home has already been spruced up with modern features that respect the home’s original midcentury modern character. Highlights include updated bathrooms with Carrara marble and walnut cabinetry, a private backyard, and a renovated kitchen with a pretty impressive "edible garden" off the side.

“We definitely wanted to preserve the character of the home and make sure that it always fits the neighborhood,” says designer Jenny Bassett. To that end, the team kept the front façade intact, only repainting and adding new landscaping. The fireplace in the living room was also retained, so wood is stored in the front yard for easy access.

A living lounge with plenty of Victorian character.

When the shutters are closed, the house assumes an introverted character.

Lung Hagem Arkitekter said: "The roof is executed in 270mm thick reinforced concrete with 20mm VIP insulation underneath. The concrete itself is water resistant, thus no additional roofing materials are required. As a result, the roof is a smooth white surface creating a dialogue with the rocky landscape, and giving the cabin its distinctive character."

Pops of color add plenty of character to one of the bedrooms.

Instead of creating a super modern house, the archways and materiality brought warmth and character.

Rough-hewn finishes in the first-floor bedroom speak to the farmhouse character.

Many home buyers are looking for some original or character-defining features.

The expansive steps in front of the house grant it a public character.

A pattern from Juju Papers gives the walls of the powder room a playful character.

“While the house enjoys its inner garden and cloister-like character, a major aim of the project was to give back to the neighborhood through the creation of a public green space along the property line,” says Ryan. “To do so, large sections of the sidewalk around the house were removed and converted to lush planting beds, which the owners tend.”

Lovely lines and heaps of character make this midcentury property a true gem.

Colorful, original hidráulico floors add character to the space.

Plants in patterned pots add a little character to this cool, Scandi kitchen.

An asymmetrical roof lends character and a contemporary note to the red-painted tiny house.

The modern space celebrates the rough-hewed character of the old apartment.

Heritage details were kept intact to reference the home's original character.

Sleek, white custom cabinets quietly tie in with the original character of the home.

All new materials and fixtures were selected to work harmoniously with the structure’s historic character.

The exposed beams lend an industrial character to the home while emphasizing the linearity of the plan.

The project's industrial character ties in nicely with the surrounding infrastructure and architecture.

Sliding doors give the home an elegant character and enhance the fluidity of the plan.

The original stone facade of the farmhouse was left intact to preserve its rural character.