Meg Callahan’s Porter pattern quilt was inspired by strip quilting, a traditional technique originally used to speed up the process of patchwork quilting.

Juicy Salif Lemon Squeezer -- Alessi (1990) Likely the only juicer displayed at MOMA, Starck’s aluminum tripod design could be mistaken for a streamlined alien invader from a ‘50s pulp comic. He’s rumored to have said: "It's not meant to squeeze lemons, it is meant to start conversations."

Good Goods Catalogue -- La Redoute (1996) Starck’s sense of humor and ecological passion come through in this catalog of “non-products for non-consumers in tomorrow's moral market,” both an environmental message and an about face from some of his more over-the-top projects. Witness the “Starck Naked” Starck roll-on dress.

Zik Headphones -- Parrot (2012) Audiophiles appreciate the sound quality and intuitive, motion-sensitive commands -- swipe the right earcup to increase the volume, take of the headphones and the music pauses-- built into this high-end headphones. Design fans will be equally engrossed with the generous curves and shapely form in Starck’s creation.

Dr. No Chair -- Kartell (1996) Starck recast the club chair with this playful design, a wrap-around of colorful, injection-molded plastic.

Designer Meg Callahan

The pale blue Ada quilt is a perfectly symmetrical pattern thanks to Callahan’s digital printing techniques. Available through the Dwell Store, $600.

Barbara Hill's Dancehall/House in Marfa, Texas September 14, 2010 Misty Keasle

“I have always thought of myself as a student.”—Hiroko Takeda

Louis Ghost Chair -- Kartell (2002) This iconic seat shows Starck playing with form and material, recasting the royal Louis XV chair concept with translucent, injection-molded polycarbonate. More than a million of these chairs have been sold.

Takeda uses two looms, a Macomber Dobby with 16 harnesses—“old but very stable and reliable”—which she inherited from Larsen Design Studio, and a computerized AVL Compu-Dobby loom, which she can program in order to test new materials and weaving techniques.

For this art piece, which she says is inspired by the “quiet but powerful” Italian painter Giorgio Morandi, Takeda wanted to “capture a subtlety of colors” by using bundled silk tape for depth and texture.

One of those experiments has yielded a recurring series of waffle structures.

Meg’s inspiration: The design of the Lucky Linden was something Meg carried along with from many years in her sketchbook. She loves the Art and Craft styled RV’s and was sure that if she built a tiny house RV someday, this would be a her inspiration. What she like most of this pattern is the low sloped roofs, pop out dormers on the front as well as back and especially the bungalow look from the Sears and Roebuck kit houses which were prevalent in the 1990’s.

In the office, existing track lighting illuminates cabinetry covered in Lemon Bar by Miller Paint.

The ToolsGalerie in the Marais district spotlights the work of young French designers.

Rolling Huts (Winthrop, United States) A series of six modernist huts created by Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig Architects, the Rolling Huts look like rustic case study homes, a herd of designer cabins that just may exemplify the term 'glamping.' Elevated on stilts, the 200-square-foot structures offer another level of outdoor accommodation. Photos by Chad Kirkpatrick

Sitting Pretty The ground floor was originally two rooms; now it’s been transformed into one continuous space. To compensate for a low ceiling, Kiely’s team dug into the ground to create a true sunken seating section leading to the garden. Built-in sofas, an Eames rocker, a stool by G Plan, and concrete tiles outfit the space. Kiely chose a neutral charcoal finish for the Malm fireplace to balance the green linoleum floor and her own Rhododendron wallpaper in Sunflower.

Kitchen Confidential Kiely and architect Maxim Laroussi designed the kitchen unit. “I originally didn’t want an island, but I liked what we did because it feels like a piece of furniture. It’s cozy to cook around,” Kiely says. Panels of orange and olive Formica accent the 1950s-inspired piece, which houses a cooktop by Smeg. A checkerboard of closed cabinets and open shelves offers storage against the far wall for Kiely’s collection of dishes, knickknacks, cookbooks, and small appliances, like the KitchenAid stand mixer and radio by Vita Audio. The floor is green Marmoleum, selected because it feels warm underfoot. Kiely’s own Stem dish towels and ceramic storage jars add more lively color to the room.

Textile designer Orla Kiely’s renovated London Terrace House is punctuated by her distinctive palette and motifs.

Home of the Brave In the ground-floor eating area, the design team wrapped the walls in rich walnut to instill warmth often found in mid-century homes. “Sometimes one bold move is enough. Be brave with fewer statements,” Kiely advises. “Go for the big thing rather than lots of little things.” Kiely’s Upholstered Dining Chairs from her House collection surround a Danish vintage dining table. Her Gloss vases adorn the hallway console, which is also from her House line.

A portrait of the designer. “Architecture, to me, is the most beautiful of the arts. I always knew that I wanted to design, but only [if I could] create products over which I had total control.”

For a slightly funkier feel, opt for a variety of high-design chairs around your table. A less rigid approach to hanging art can also ease the hard lines of much modern decor and add to a more bohemian vibe to your home.

Designer Christiane Hogner, Bruxelles

The designer at work.

A second bedroom was converted into a home office/dining room. A Dieter Rams 606 Universal Shelving System (below and opposite) lines the wall. The “Ziggy Diamond” wallpaper (behind the surreal Erle Loran painting) comes from Flavor Paper, a New Orleans firm that prints wall coverings to order, and the ingenious folding table is by Swedish designer Bruno Matthson.

The Porter quilt by Meg Callahan.

The Harrah quilt by Meg Callahan.

The Ada quilt by Meg Callahan.

"Spotlight" by David Rockwell for The Rug Company.

Designed for MatterMade, the ADA Quilt is an expression of Oklahoma-raised designer Meg Callahan’s love of traditional craft, updated for the modern era. Bold graphic patterning is digitally printed on an organic cotton base with machine stitch overlay. The result is a seamless blend of the digital and handmade to create a fresh take on an age-old textile.

The Spine Quilt by Meg Callahan merges graphic and organic on a cozy cotton fabric. $600

On the north-facing facade, it’s easy to discern where the original glass doors used to open directly to the deck. In spring of 2012, Block Island contractor John Spier replaced the entire wall of glass panels.

Onstage, Design Prize Switzerland representatives Michel Charlot, Beat Karrer (of FluidSolids), and Rolf Senti (of Bagno Sasso Mobili/Swiss Eco Tap) will explain their surprising concepts and how good design can benefit our environment. Pictured, a FluidSolids stool.

Cultivating a garden not only helps you and your family live a greener lifestyle, but also saves on grocery bills, too. Start a fruit and vegetable patch in your backyard or roof terrace; and if you live in an apartment with limited outdoor space, try growing herbs and even vegetables inside.