The “Umami Cafe” by Aji-no-moto, serves tea from Jugetsudo—a conscious decision was made to only serve tea—in order to keep the PNW coffee culture from seeping into the transportative atmosphere.

Mevis & van Deursen, "Temporary Stedelijk," Courtesy Mevis & van Deursen.

In the open-plan living area, a wall covered in Calico’s Lunaris Midnight—inspired by moonscapes and outer space—sets the tone for a vignette of darker furnishings, including a vintage credenza that doubles as an entertainment center, equipped with a Sonos Playbar.

The house’s open-plan layout encourages the entire family to hang out together, even while partaking in different activities. The durable area rug, made from carpet tiles by InterfaceFLOR, is the ideal base for both reading and playing with trains, as Luka, three, demonstrates.

METI School in northern Bangladesh.

In the DoghousePaul and Shoko's dog, Mei, has lucked into a small prefab home of her own. Making use of a water jet cutter at his office, and using Adobe Illustrator as his design tool, Paul fashioned a series of panels that slot together without any nails or screws.

Rooftops of Fez Fez, Morocco George Robert Horninig

An exterior view of the Umami Cafe.

Shauna Mei, AHAlife founder, and Michela O'Connor Abrams, Dwell President, recently launched the Dwell + AHAlife shoppable holiday catalog.

“We adjusted the combinations to see what kinds of spaces they created in relationship to the site and the surrounding buildings,” his associate Satoshi Ohkami explains.

After: Architect Luki Anderson of Studio Officina created a serene primary suite that reflects the minimalist aesthetic owners Laura and Kelly Moffat prefer. The walls are painted Benjamin Moore Super White, and the DWR bed features pull-out drawers for hidden storage.

Compiled in a display case are a bevy of wine culture ephemera, from 'Wine Diet' books to Japanese manga glorifying wine, such as this page from the 'Kami no Shizuku (Drops of God)' series, 2004-ongoing. Copyright Tadashi Agi/Shu Okimoto/Kodansha Ltd.

Mexi- Wabi Simplicity

The other end of the living room features an Eames Lounge alongside the playful Hello Lamp from Normann Copenhagen. The loose lines of the Hetkia Moments mural by Maija Loukari for Marimekko characterises a bit of chaos and contrast for the minimal space.

Handle Me, a collection of cast iron cookware, by Angel Wyller Aarseth.

Theresa Arns Jewelry Box for Menu, $100 An elegant location for trinkets or desktop items, made from ash and mirror.

Grade A Maple “For us, the dinner table is huge,” says Katie. The pair met furniture designer Seth Eshelman—whose Rochester-based company Staach produces what she called “environmentally conscientious furniture”—at a teatasting event, and they felt he shared their “vision and values.” Eshelman’s Cain dining set is made from maple. Now Yukimi “The meditation room is where we get our Japanese ya-yas out,” says Scott. “I wanted yukimi, which means ‘snow-viewing,’ shoji screens because they open from the bottom as well as side to side. Glen Collins, a guy in Oakland, California, is the one American I could find whose company makes them.”

Lapuan Kankurit Usva Mesi and Corona Uni

The kitchen is a minimalist, functional space with Miele and Wolf appliances, Lumi joinery, and concrete worktops and sinks designed by the homeowners.

Using lami­nates trimmed in Victorian ash for the island cut costs. The white cabinets hide the refrigerator <span style=

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OluKai Manoa

Awkwardly shaped and saddled with a run-down garage, the backyard posed a challenge. Since the city wouldn’t allow for the removal of the garage, Wendi and Lukas decided to convert it into additional living space.

Anka Lamprecht and Lukas Wezel shared their rustic domicile in a valley in Grotli, Norway. Boasting an enviable view, it’s the first cabin archived in the book’s “Backcountry” category that features homesteads in the wilderness.

Commissioned to be the headquarters of the US Pension Bureau and now home to the National Building Museum architect Montgomery C. Megis’s brick building was completed in 1887.

Here is another angle of Lisa Bakamis's room setting.

Architectural paper in shapes of scroll. Each scroll bears Chinese characters that tell a poem of Mei Hua.

Architectural paper in shapes of scroll. Each scroll bears Chinese characters that tell a poem of Mei Hua. 

Architectural paper in shapes of scroll. Each scroll bears Chinese characters that tell a poem of Mei Hua.

"Wendy and Lukas were looking for a natural, sporty lifestyle and a sustainably designed home," says Daffonchio. "It is always rewarding to see the owners living the lifestyle they had dreamed, and seeing their joy in living the home and its incredible surroundings."

A black glass cube at the center of the flat adds a touch of drama. “The box protrudes into space, but with elegance,” Zusman says. It contains the guest bathroom, outfitted in fixtures by Hezi Bank, a custom sink stand, and custom cabinets.

The 4TREEHOUSE features a futuristic illuminated facade that looks like something straight out of a science fiction movie.

"Mei-Lan has Indonesian and Chinese roots. I'm French and I studied and lived in Japan,

Austin Powers