Float On Clerestory windows from YKK Commercial give the illusion that the roof hovers above the house—a key factor in keeping the light, modern touch that the homeowners desired. Epstein did not design the clerestories in a single, straight line; the glass drops down where possible to allow the maximum amount of light. It took a bit of convincing to sway his clients. “He said, ‘Listen to me, stay with my concept, and you won’t be sorry,’” Tetreault recalls. “So I stuck with it, and I’m not sorry.”

A commercial installation with custom Lamontage wall covering.

Urban Conference Room

Moroccan Private Office

Urban Modern Private Office

Seeking more space and a connection with the city, an artist and a designer turn an old Toronto storefront in Dundas West into a home and studio. Photo by Naomi Finlay.

Moroccan Private Office

There are eight units altogether, with commercial space on the ground floor.

The Silent Defenders Steel Step trash can by Rubbermaid Commercial, from $120 Look no further for the Holy Grail of waste receptacles: These boxy commercial-grade cans, available in 7-, 12-, or 24-gallon sizes, feature a soft close, satisfying pedal movement, and keep even the most potent aromas contained. amazon.com

"The desire to take advantage of the spectacular views of Jeddah and the Red Sea led to the design of the distinctive National Commercial Bank, completed in 1983. Set in a 1.2-hectare plaza on the edge of the sea, the 27-story triangular building is flanked by a helical parking garage. In developing its form, SOM incorporated two important features found in traditional Islamic architecture: natural ventilation and inward orientation. Instead of individual windows in the tower's travertine enclosure, colossal openings allow light into the interior across three landscaped courtyards. A central wall that extends from the skylight of the first floor up through the roof allows accumulated heat to rise out of the building."

Though most of the contenders on our approved trash can list are European, one of our all-time favorites is made right here in the US of A. Sure, you might picture, say, a plunger when you think of Rubbermaid, but the company's Silent Defenders line of commercial waste bins is almost perfect. Very roomy, a soft close (hence the name), a sturdy wrap-around foot pedal, and a fuss-free industrial silhouette. You can find most sizes and colors on Amazon, starting around $150.

The garage door is commercial grade, which means that it needs less maintenance than a regular garage door.

The table is situated in front of the house’s rear wall of skyscraper glass. Laminate kitchen cabinets by Ikea are framed in wraparound bluestone; the 48-inch commercial range is by FiveStar.

A trifecta of pendants spruce up the casual dining space. Kim’s daughter Molly, who was also instrumental to the design vision, is a West Coast–based chef. She weighed in on the layout, from roasting pans to compost bins, essentially upgrading it to commercial standards.

Here's a view of the steel and glass master bedroom as it cantilevers over the patio and yard. You can see the cantilevered concrete patio in the foreground. The structure of the building is more common to commercial construction—steel framing with metal studs, storefront glass, and a concrete topping slab poured onto corrugated metal decking at the second floor. Photo by Brian Mihealsick.

The Floating Farmhouse’s semitransparent addition has a roofline that matches the pitch of the original 1820s farmhouse. A porch, tucked under the side eaves, is cantilevered over a stream that runs through the property. Ikea loungers are illuminated from the interior by commercial gymnasium lights repurposed as pendant lamps.

Project: Bethel Commercial CenterLocation: Chicago, Illinois Developer: Bethel New Life 2010 ULI Award for Excellence: The Americas nomination: "Located in a low-income neighborhood on the west side of Chicago, Bethel Commercial Center is a mixed-use transit center equipped with retail space, employment offices, a bank, and a daycare center, allowing residents to drop off and pick up children and get to and from work, all without the use of a car."

The kitchen is inspired by the commercial kitchens that the client worked at in his youth.

This is an example of a non-commercial street dating back to the 1960s. I love the one house in the middle that is so ornate—it really stands out.

The kitchen features a six-sided commercial double-pane skylight.

There is a play between really earthy, natural materials—which are seen in some of the cladding, tiles, and concrete work—and a very sleek, black metal aesthetic. “I have a lot of experience in commercial architecture, so I’m not scared of using more commercial, industrial materials on a residential building,” says Craig.

The yellow perforated metal screens warmly filter light into the commercial space.

By inserting a tunnel made from 36 reclaimed commercial doors and tearing down a handful of walls, LOT-EK and contractor Andreas Scholtz brought light into the formerly unused dark hallway in Maurice Russell (right) and Jorge Fontanez’s apartment. The glossy Safety Red paint by Benjamin Moore catches the light by day but “becomes a richer, darker, very relaxing red at night,” Fontanez says.

Perhaps the most incredible image in the book: the toaster Thwaites built on a department store shelf alongside the commercially made models. Note the disparity in price.

A pop of canary yellow distinguishes the double doors to the front entry of this home, which was designed and constructed for a high-end commercial builder.

The front corner of the renovated building is dedicated to a commercial space, while the rear is a one-bedroom apartment with a studio and private exterior patio.

The Woody was originally designed for inventory use, but after much demand this ladder-inspired shelving system was soon put into commercial production.

The result, which will be available commercially in early 2015, is a teardrop-shaped caravan that can be towed behind a vehicle or parked in a backyard.

The Ellinikon Commercial Hub

The living area can be increased by as much as 10 feet in larger models. The versatile open space can also be utilized for commercial purposes, such as a pop-up store.

Recycled and repurposed items, such as salvaged bricks and a stainless steel bench from a commercial kitchen, have been used to create a low maintenance and sustainable home.

For the exterior and roof, Ewing chose Una-Clad corrugated-steel siding. The material, more commonly found on commercial buildings, is lightweight, durable, easy to maintain, and recyclable.

Established in 1998 and based in Venice, California, Office of Mobile Design was founded by Jennifer Siegal to focus on prefabrication of portable, demountable, and relocatable structures, including homes, schools, and commercial buildings.

Modscape delivered this pool house that's hidden behind cinderblocks. The Australian company offers modular homes and commercial modular building services that minimize environmental impact.

Method Homes is a custom manufacturer of precision–engineered, prefabricated, modern structures. Master craftsmen create their modular homes, commercial structures, accessory dwelling units, and garages. This 4672 sq. ft.

The “promenade” entrance to the lower level commercial space, which is used as a wine tasting room. The entrance doubles as a parking garage for cars when needed.