Parson Russell terriers Pepper and Trixie get a glimpse of the large courtyard through a glassy expanse by Marvin Windows and Doors.

Copper tumblers, from $32 each.

In the kitchen, the couple found barely used appliances instead of new ones to save money. The cabinetry and butcher block counters are from Ikea.

Designed in 1936 for the Paris World’s Fair, Alvar Aalto’s Clear vases are a classic must-have.

Markus Linnenbrick makes tables by drilling in acrylic. He's not crazy, or aggressive, necessarily: he simply has a penchant for the shape and thickness of acrylic tables from the 60s and 70s, and so has identified the surface as his canvas. This graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin begins with a sanded, one-inch acrylic surface that he then drills with a whimsical sampling of holes. He fills the holes with vibrantly pigmented epoxy resin. And the effect: a raindrop-splattered puddle reflecting the colors of the world around it.

Falcon Enamelware Tumbler, $8 at the Dwell Store A best seller from the Dwell Store, this enamelware tumbler is an iconic gift at an accessible price point. Durable and designed for indoor and outdoor use, the tumbler can be mixed and matched with other colors in the series, used individually, or made into a set.

Kartio Carafe - Light Blue Designed by Kaj Franck | Iittala

Privacy and respect for the natural environment was foremost in the new owners’ mind when conceiving the home’s redesign. The placement of the addition limits direct sightlines to neighbors and offers unbroken views of the surrounding area. The aluminum frame and glass walls create a light, airy atmosphere.

The Gunsmoke tumbler, conceived as a smoky vessel for smokier drinks, represents Fehlō's first forray into glassware.

Raise a glass to minimalist Native American-inspired style. The tumbler rests on a coaster made of eco-friendly bamboo, laser engraved with a single row of arrows.

On an agricultural estate in Portugal, Blaanc Studio designed a simple retreat that does its utmost not to interfere with the scenic backdrop. The home was built with rammed earth, which is known for its thermal properties that help maintain a mild temperature all year long. A large, open fireplace with plenty of wood storage is used to warm the living area in winter. The firewood storage's open shelving is carefully located on the side of the island that doesn't face the living room, making sure that it is only visible in certain locations.

An Alvar Aalto table is surrounded by a quartet of the designer’s Chair 65.

The plastic wagon, created in Japan in 1968, is number two from an edition of fifty. It's sold accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the Kuramata Design Office, signed by Mieko Kuramata.

Last but not least, the western-facing master bedroom captures stunning sunsets from its wall-to-wall windows.

The Bright Side Light by Artecnica has a beautiful message. Inscribed with the phrase "light without darkness," this lamp is certainly illuminating.

Set this handblown beaut directly on your side table for a low glow to light the pages of your nighttime reading. See more of Studio Dunn’s Smoke Grey Standing Cumberland Lamp here.

Boskke's Clear Cube Planter only requires watering once monthly. Giving a clear view of plant growth as it happens, Boskke's planter brings transparency to gardening.

Whether you need a morning pick-me-up or something to get you through day two of a juice cleanse, this tumbler from Fish’s Eddy is just the thing. $5.50

“A building can have far greater impact than the space it stands in.”—William Carpenter, architect and resident

The owners are car collectors, especially of “vintage American Mustangs,” Simpson says, so a nearly 23-foot-wide garage door opening was created at the rear of the building to access a space made for six prized rides.

The Jorgensen's Menlo Park home is a model of green design with features that are smart for everyone to consider. "Every project is different, but there are some universal things that will apply from project to project," says Feldman about designing a green home. "The first—and most obvious thing—is to always try to build less, to have a smaller house and be smart about how the rooms are designed and oriented so that you can get by with less space. Smart design will lead to a smaller building, but it won't feel smaller."

The house is also Build it Green Certified, beating the sustainability requirements of Title 24 (guidelines issued by the California Energy Commission Building Energy Efficiency Program) by over 50%. The house’s laundry is hooked up to a grey water irrigation system and its gutters drain rain into barrels for reuse. The concrete also incorporates 25% fly ash.

New zoning allowed for a zero-lot-line structure, but required a public storefront, which Carpenter uses as an art gallery.

Large gum trees offer a natural barrier for the house. Harkness designed the house's footprint in order to minimize the effect on tree roots. “The retained trees offer a sense of layering and age that new vegetation won’t be able to for a long time,” Harkness says.

Kartio Tumblers

Flaunt your seriousness at work with the Concrete desk set by Magnus Pettersen. $600

Murren chose maintenance-free materials, such as Stepstone precast concrete pavers for exterior decks and river-rock-covered flat roofs. He recalls his neighbors’ astonishment and delight when “we went from a giant hole in the ground to a two-story house in just four days.”

The stunning retreat is centered around a serene swimming pool with natural stone touches.

The Nifty Clear Collection which combines the clean lines of the mid-century aesthetic with Ubabub’s innovative clear acrylic sides, providing visibility for parents, easy assembly and converts to a junior bed.

Limited-edition Duralex Picardie tumblers.

The large terrace on the upper level, which contains the house's bedrooms, is nearly 968 square feet.

Rian and Melissa Jorgensen's 2 Bar House in Menlo Park boasts all the usual green design suspects: energy-efficient lighting, good insulation, renewable material finishes, radiant heat, and the roof is pre-wired for future PV panels. Executed by Feldman Architecture, the house requires only natural lighting during the day which keeps energy costs way down. Still, the most stunning aspect of the green design is the living roof planted with succulents, aloe, viviums, and ice plants. "I'm absolutely glad that we did it," says Melissa. "It turned out so well and I really enjoy sitting up there and taking advantage of it as much as I can. It's very peaceful." Read more about this total remodel here.

After entering through the front door, visitors pass over the large koi pond on a cast-concrete footbridge chiseled to look like stone.

The 82-foot-long pool gets quite a lot of use by Jeff and Millie, and especially by the kids, who are both on the local swim team.

The pergola overlooks the pool with the Baltic Sea in the distance. The couple built the home so that there would be as much outdoor space as indoor space.