This revamped Montreal flat includes a rooftop sauna lined with torrified, or dried, cedar. Outfitted with glass paneling and oriented to capture views of Mount Royal, it is the ideal haven for this hardworking homeowner.

As the facade of a Bates Masi-designed home in Water Mill, New York, rises from eight to 14 feet high, the mahogany planks subtly widen. “It was quite a demand to make of the contractor,” architect Paul Masi says. “But the design was so much about traveling through the site and weaving [the house] together with the deck.”

In the bathroom, plain white tiles line the walls and ceiling. The floors are natural stone and the fixtures are by VOLA. Lassen built the sink himself.

The bathrooms are lined in luxurious Estremoz marble.

The Rapson Greenbelt Lounge is now available in four different color and wood combinations.

Mexican encaustic tiles with a geometric floral pattern from Mosaicos Terra line the bathroom in Austin’s studio, where a full-height window near the wall-mounted shower provides a view to the expansive outdoor scenery. A vintage kewpie doll sculpture sits atop the custom terrazzo-and-granite counter; the steel mirror is from Artes de México.

The owners furnished the living room with a mixture of new and old pieces, including a Hans Wegner lounger and Tuckbox coffee table. A timber-lined hallway leads out from it to the newer parts of the home. Sections of steel-framed double glazing separate and accentuate each “house” while letting in glimpses of sky.

The compact, hardy cabins were designed to work in a variety of park settings, including the beach.

Lighting in the bathroom is provided by San Francisco-based Aion LED’s modular fixture system. The linear lighting mimics the redwood siding.

The master bath features a freestanding bathtub and elegantly curved spout.

The cozy bedroom is clad in oiled oak.

Gerald wanted the siting of the buildings to appear loose, like a campsite. The gap between the living room and the bedroom wing accommodates a washing line.

Line Mirror by Bower, from $6,500 The curvilinear stripes of this mirror lend eye-popping dimension and a groovy Op Art vibe to an otherwise flat surface—without creating any unbecoming distortion effects.

Brigham works primarily with wood and Archuleta had recently been exploring the potential of glass fiber reinforced concrete, so those disparate but complementary materials became the main focus of the project. Together, the warm wood and the clean, minimalist concrete create a “warm and serene space, reminiscent of a spa,” says Brigham.

VIPP's current line includes a suite of bathroom accessories, including a trash bin, toilet brush, toothbrush holder, soap dispenser, and soap dish.

2014 - Miele unveils Design for Life with the Generation 6000 series of appliances with intuitive interfaces.

Richardson centered the renovation on a space-efficient "service cube," an eco-wood box that houses a marble kitchen and a bathroom. The dining chairs are by Jens Risom.

The residents store perishable items that don’t need refrigeration—like fruits, vegetables, onions, and garlic—in maple-lined pantry drawers.

Line 1 by Social+Studies, $3,000 Jagged shapes paired with marble and copper bases give sartorial flair to this collection of mirrors by fashion designer Hillary Taymour and stylist Gillian Wilkins.

In the master bath, the architect managed to combine privacy and a view by adding a horizontal-line pattern to the glass wall.

Lea Ceramiche's Pixel line of ultra-thin wall tile features mix-and-match colors and geometric shapes.

Plans for the QueensWay call for turning an inaccessible area at its northern end into a small park featuring a playground and rain gardens to reduce flooding in heavy rain.

Edith Heath, Couple line, 1948.

The Line Hotel, Los Angeles The best design aspect of The Line Hotel, conceived by designer Sean Knibb, is its floor to ceiling windows, making the palm trees and Hollywood hills a key visual component in every room. Cloth lanterns and Mexican blanket chairs accent the otherwise simple interiors. For additional details, The Line turns to a host of artist collaborators who create everything from sculptural paperweights to water color prints.

Line Depping, who is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, says she finds inspiration in corralling disorder. Witness her "Stilllife" installation, displayed at Galerie Maria Wettergren in 2010, which contains an array of handmade abstract wooden implements.

An inaccessible, overgrown space on Yellowstone Boulevard could become an access point to the QueensWay, with seating, landscaped plantings, and a small play area and garden.

Dornbracht's Smart Water line of kitchen and bath fixtures uses electronics to help regulate flow and temperature.

Depping's simple and elegant wooden Splejs chair dates form 2010.

These very special towels from Japan feature two textures: one side is terrycloth, the other a whisper-soft chevron weave. Thinner and lighter than traditional towels, and faster drying yet just as durable, these organic cotton pieces are a sensory treat.

Jeffrey Shumaker, chief urban designer for the New York City Department of City Planning, calls out the High Line, the wildly popular public park built on an elevated abandoned railway, as an example of cities seeing potential in underutilized spaces. "As delegations from other cities and countries visit the High Line, they always ask, 'How can we create our own High Line?' The answer I always give is the same: Think of something that's unique to your place, some place that's embedded in the fabric of your city that can have a similarly transformative effect," he says.

The viaduct between Atlantic and Liberty avenues in Ozone Park will feature new walkways, seating areas, and a bike bath.

A rendering of the QueensWay as it would appear near Metropolitan Avenue. Supporters say the QueensWay would provide safe walkways and bike paths for easier access to shopping areas and Forest Park, in addition to creating outdoor learning areas for three nearby schools.

Recreation areas would be added atop the QueensWay's elevated section, while pathways would connect commuters to the A subway line.

Windows Update By angling the second-story window away from the hall, Unsangdong created an expansive space without adding to the house’s footprint. A building-integrated photovoltaic window by Kolon does double duty bringing both light and energy into the house.

The QueensWay would run below grade for nearly a mile through Forest Park. Currently overgrown and unused, this section, called the ravine, would provide opportunities for year-round recreation.

Contractor Keith Romeo worked with Bates Masi on the varied mahogany planks used for the exterior decking, which are finished simply with wood toner by Cabot.