“There was too much visual pollution disturbing the simplicity. The goal was to allow the existing buildings to work within a totally new program, each still distinguishable by its own destiny.” —Architect Bart Len

Scattershot openings in the single-story home omit a soft glow at dusk.

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

In the ground-floor gallery, 40-foot-long library shelving is punctuated by floor-to-ceiling columns made from white acrylic panels that conceal low-cost fluorescent-tube lighting.

The appliances are by Miele and the Cojo stools are by Thomas Hayes.

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

Peter lined the pass-through’s opening with plywood.

Lightroom 2.0 was inspired by artists’ lofts and Decatur’s industrial past. The gallery floors are polished concrete and the exposed joists are Georgia-Pacific engineered lumber.

A Boston chair by Thomas Hayes is upholstered in fabric from Cowtan & Tout.

The view from the dining area extends across the lanai to the lawn, which never needs watering—it stays green from the island’s frequent rains.

A trap-door opening at the top of the house allows for better circulation.

The pool feels as laterally finite as the house feels spacious—but the view goes up forever.

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.

Clad in copper panels that Holl had fabricated by the Kansas City, Missouri, company Zahner, the house is daylit by a host of rectangular skylights (inspired by the musical staff) punched through the roofs and the pool’s floor.

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

Another view of the galleries.

The Cy Twombly Gallery, also by Piano, shares space on the Menil Collection's campus. Based on a sketch by Twombly, the building is topped by white canvas sailcloth ceilings that allow natural light to filter into the gallery.

The Kathmandu photo gallery.

The facade of Rogues Gallery.

Large sliding windows retract at the corner, opening the living area onto a lawn overlooking Long Island Sound.

Three afternoons a week, Wenes opens the gallery and “my private space belongs to the public,” she says. On the box is a piece by Tamara Van San.

Storey wanted to experiment with something other than conventional windows, so he used a regular door instead, and installed ‘top down/bottom up’ blinds for complete privacy.

The all-ages crowd on opening night.

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

Keiko and Taku Shinomoto have two simple rules for their store: that the items come from Japan and that they have been well made by artisans. Just off busy Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, California, the shop carries homewares such as Kaikado metal tea canisters.

Trejos incorporated a variety of reused and recycled material into the project, such as shipping pallet tables, beds made from recyclyed plastic, and couches crafted in Costa Rica.

Take advantage of the holiday to tackle tasks you’ve been putting off: Paint that powder room, change the hardware in the kitchen, or hang the artwork that’s been leaning against the wall. Right now, homes are the nucleus for all life’s events; use this time to cultivate a healthy headspace by making your home your sanctuary.

During construction, Trejos and her team had to trim part of the cedar tree. They utilized the excess wood for stairs and in other parts of the home, including the bathrooms.

Cabinets painted Farrow & Ball Studio Green, pendants by Nickey Kehoe, bar stools by Thomas Hayes Gallery, floors by Cle Tile

Along with antiques, the design team sourced many of the pieces throughout the home from Los Angeles showrooms and boutiques like Nickey Kehoe, Blackman Cruz, Thomas Hayes Studio, JF Chen, and for bedding and accessories, Garde. Here, a guest house bedroom directly opens onto nature.

The wood sculpture from the market continues up through the second floor and provides a dynamic backdrop for the contemporary furniture area.

Tucked behind Tortoise General Store is Tortoise, a gallery-like setting where designs from Ryota Aoki, Hiroto Nakanishi, and Masanobu Ando are on display.

Huts in the Old Harbour used to be where fishermen did their baiting work and tended to their daily catch. Today they house shops, galleries, restaurants, and whale watching excursions among other things. Photo by: Tiffany Orvet