A custom table surrounded by NET’s Museo chairs and poplar stools provides a space for the Sarmiento Tovo boys, Manuel, 5, and Julián, 3, to play with the toys their mother makes.

Nate’s Bedroom Now three, Nate occupies coveted corner real estate in a third-floor room with a treetop-level view. “It’s a great space,” Casale says, “although it is the noisiest room in the house because of the street. But by now he’s so used to sleeping through all of the sounds, I don’t think it bothers him.” The brightness of the space is enhanced by an accent wall coated in fire engine–red chalkboard paint (Benjamin Moore Natura flat-finish paint in Vermillion mixed with unsanded grout) that Nate can scribble on—as soon as his parents get around to telling him that it’s allowed. A matching red pendant lamp from the Soho shop Kiosk hangs above a six-foot-tall teepee by Dexton Kids.

Cal and Macy jump rope with mom and dad.

Martin Buser sharing a quiet moment with his three comrades.

Maja's room is filled with toys and includes a little desk area for drawing and writing.

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Play the LA River wants to create an invitation for Angelenos to discover the river as it stands now, with art events, games, DIY exploration, and more, all before significant changes are set in motion.

The skylights are constantly changing the home's interiors. It's "not just day/night, or dark/light," says Bernheimer, "but the quality of light...changes at any given hour, depending on where clouds are, where the sun is, whether the moon is full or not, all dependent on the time of day, time of year, and so forth."

The kids play in the family room just beneath the stairs.

Near the entrance is the front room, or music room, their daughter’s current favorite play area. “Every space needed to be used efficiently,” Parisien notes of the home’s remodel.

Chicken under glass? Apolo will settle for eggs for breakfast.

The house offers endless opportunities for Taiga and Kouga to play.

Four-year-old Ian plays in the courtyard, which is the center of family life in warmer months.

Zoë plays with a model in the office.

The Food Zone Fine-tuning your cooking and dining areas pays off in more ways than just saving resources. As in other functional zones, their success starts with awareness: Where exactly does your food come from? Where exactly does your trash go after you haul it to the curb? Playing an active role in your family’s food cycle can be eye-opening, and it often helps spark an interest in improving other house zones.

How House, the site of the May 17, 2014 reception and talk, and included on the May 18 tour. Photo by Tim Street-Porter.

Five-year-old Thomas Dochter plays outside the houses.

Designed by architecture firm Arkin Tilt, Bernie Tershy and Erika Zavaleta’s 2,500-square-foot straw-bale home marries cutting-edge green technology with natural building techniques and locally sourced materials.

The pitched facade has a sculptural play of spruce siding and triple-glazed windows that reflect the surrounding treetops.

High design and eco-conscious thinking is the hallmark of any good contemporary kitchen, so why are kitchen playsets so stuck in the past? It has everything your little chef needs to start cooking in style.

LATTJO Card Game by IKEA, $10 at ikea stores These beautiful playing cards are ideal for memory games that increase visual recognition, concentration, and even social skills. Thick paper and laminated surfaces make for durablity as well. See IKEA's entire new LATTJO play collection here.

Project Name: Aspen Flatpak

Find out how Passive House standards are being integrated into affordable housing projects in the United States.

The courtyard is just one of many open spaces that will be highly utilized—in the non-winter months anyway. Concrete worked well with developing the language of FlatPak. The second level is a wood panel that can be clad in corrugated metal or cedar—different layers that can be plugged in like covers on your cellphone.

Julia: How to Make a Concrete Camera Are you looking for a creative project for the weekend? Well look no further! Why not make a pinhole camera out of concrete? I came across this DIY tutorial and was surprised that this unlikely material was being used to make a camera. How wonderful!

A perfect stocking stuffer, the Minim Playing Cards are a minimalist take on traditional playing cards. This refined deck will help traveling friends pass the time, and is a great set for home use as well.

Every weekend away needs a deck of cards. Designed by graphic designer Clara von Zweigbergk, the CVZ Playing Cards are recast in a minimalist, design-focused style. With new graphic icons, these cards also feature a bold red backing that will add rich color to a tabletop.

Front view of the FlatPak House in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When the architect first told his wife about his idea, she said, “It’s about time you focus on a house for me!” He continues, “It’s like the old story about the cobbler whose kids have no shoes.”

Designed by graphic designer Clara von Zweigbergk, this deck of cards is recast in a minimalist style, taking it up a notch from traditional playing cards. Design-seeking kids will love the graphic print while they’re playing Go Fish or War.

No, this isn't day care—it's the Modern Family zone on the show floor in which families tested out the latest play houses and jungle gyms for the youngest of modernists.

Formerly known as the Android Market, Google Play is a an Android phone-exclusive digital application that allows users to browse and download various types of media, such as music, books, movies, television shows, and apps published through Google. Here, Gison's design on the Android phone.

A balancing act, an earlier concept.

Tablet version.

Illustration for the launch of Google Play Music All Access by San Francisco-based graphic designer Zachary Gibson.