Homeowner Simon Doonan stands next to the front door. "We have flamboyance, and we’re not inhibited about anything. [Architect] Gray Organschi gave [the house] that intellectual rigor needed to make it beautiful. We were well matched."

From Sweden’s studio esinam, the Elevations Architectural Print Series is a thoughtful collection of portraits of famous international cities. In architectural drawings, elevations are flat representations of the façade of a building, showing a complete view of one building’s side. The Paris Elevations Architectural Print includes architectural drawings of five buildings—Sacré-Cœur, Palais Garnier, Arc de Triomphe, Pont Marie, and Centre Georges Pompidou.

Large clerestory windows face the street at the Higashibatas’ house in Tokyo, optimizing both privacy and natural light within.

Shibata made the 10-person dining table using $130 sawhorse legs from Maruki Wood Products Company topped with a sheet of birch plywood. A hole in the sliding wall fits over the table, enabling it to be used in both the library and the meeting room. malki.jp A movable wall clad in wainscoting on one side slides along tracks in the dining-room ceiling, dividing the room into a meeting space and a library. The Shiro Simple Modern Pendant lights can be easily removed and reattached after moving the wall. vanilladesign.jp

Masahiro and Mao Harada of Mount Fuji Architects Studio wanted to break with the traditional definition of a house when they designed this small Tokyo home. They achieved their goal by using the same material for the ceiling, the walls, and the floor, creating a space that flows beautifully. Photo by Ryota Atarashi.

Durable, economical, and easy to build, the simple A-frame was once the must-have midcentury vacation home. Today, the classic retreat has been propelled back to popularity, thanks largely to photo-centric platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. Read on for 20 charming A-frame homes that caught our eye.

The bold and graphic pattern of the Joonas Stick Umbrella from Marimekko almost makes you wish for rain. A departure from most umbrellas, which are usually solid black or muted in pattern, the Joonas adds personality to your rain protection.

Though the house is only 925 square feet, Moffitt argues that it feels much larger, for which she credits three factors: its visual connections to the outdoors, its open spaces, and its simple interior-design language.

Davor and August check out the yard from the living room. “The bifold Vistalite doors allow us to open the house up completely and enjoy the fresh, warm air,” Davor says.

The Berlin Elevations Architectural Print celebrates building from the German capital, including iconic structures alongside lesser known places, focusing on the often overlooked details that comprise the modern urban experience. This print provides architectural drawings of five of Berlin’s buildings— Brandenburger Tor, Berliner Siegesäule, Am Kupfergraben 10, Berliner Fernsehturm, and Neue Nationalgalerie.

Red Bull Framed Print – Menagerie Collection, $265 at the Dwell Store This framed print from illustrator and designer Mark McGinnis will make a great addition to an office. The print blends screen printing and hand-drawing to create a one-of-a-kind piece of wall art.

Created by Brooklyn–based designer Mark McGinnis, this Orange Fox Framed Print is a part of the designer’s Menagerie Collection of prints.

A slightly roomier umbrella opening with a bold and masculine print, the Karakola AOC MAX Umbrella from Marimekko is as stylish as it is functional. The lightweight umbrella features a windproof aluminum frame.

A dramatic black island is expertly balanced by a wall of white cabinetry and a refrigerator that blends perfectly. The kitchen’s black countertops were cut from Nero Assoluto granite. The sink and faucet are from Quebec-based company Rubi. Appliances are from Wolf.

Ran and her brother, Gen, read on one of the structure’s 44 continuous steps.

The entire interior wall opens, extending the house visually and socially into the small garden that lies between the multigenerational family’s two homes. The boys’ favorite feature is the soccer goalpost (which doubles as clothesline).

A Whistler A-Frame | British Columbia, Canada Scott & Scott Architects design an outdoorsy Vancouver family’s dream cabin

The juxtaposition of black and white is perhaps the most notable detail of the home’s interiors. In the guest bathroom, black and white tiles provide visual interest.

The Stockholm Elevations Architectural Print includes architectural drawings of five buildings—the Kaknästornet, City Hall, City Library, Concert Hall, and the Stortorget. This large print is available in an unframed version, or a rich maple, modern black, or sleek white frame. A limited edition of 1,000 prints, each Stockholm Elevations Print is numbered. It can be used as a standalone print, or alongside other studio esinam prints to create a global, architectural art tribute.

Located in Denmark, Kristina Dam Studio is a multifaceted design studio founded by designer Kristina Dam. The studio is focused on connecting the worlds of graphic design, interior spaces, and art. Shown here in By Lassen’s Illustrate Frames alongside the View Mirror, Kristina Dam’s architectural prints are striking accents that blend digital printing and hand drawing. Her framed prints include the Abstraction House, Danish House, Finn Juhl House, Mountain House, Simpel House, and Tree House Illustrations.

In the Danish House Illustration, Kristina Dam Studio celebrates Danish architect and designer Finn Juhl. A part of the “An Abstraction of FJ” series, this print is defined by its use of line, geometric details, and pattern. The series is based on multiple hand drawings she created while studying the work of Finn Juhl. Kristina Dam called to Juhl’s use of curved lines in his designs, which is clearly celebrated here in the House Print.

Set on a green-blue background, the Tree House Illustration from Kristina Dam Studio is comprised of patterned lines, angles, and geometric shapes to create the appearance of a modern home, curving front stairway, and surrounding trees. The result is a composed illustration that looks both architectural and abstract, depending on how it is viewed.

A close-up of the Pink Peacock print, framed.

Tokyo, population 37,900,000. The world's largest megacity has over ten million more inhabitants than its second most populated, Delhi.

Hooper House II's new owner, Richard North, has altered the house very little, though he did convert the carport into an enclosed garage to provide greater protection for his collection of automobiles. Read more about the mid-20th century Marcel Breuer Hooper House here.

The result: a house that looks like it’s just been dropped into a field, casual, with nary a path leading up to it and a front door that can barely be detected on the red-cedar-shingled facade.

1909 TS Lackey House - before - Note, the double door and brick vestibule were added. It will be removed for a more traditional entry interior vestibule.

Adding 290 square feet to this already small (just 566 square feet) black A-frame in Brecht, Belgium, was all the local building ordinances allowed, but the architects at dmvA found that a single wing extended out to the side gave resident Rini van Beek all the storage and living space that she needs.

Entryways shouldn't be boring. Bring them to life by layering black and white art in a tasteful manner. “Grouping black and white outdoor photography in minimal black or white frames and is a great way to make a modern impact,” Sarna says. Enzo Mari panther print, $325, available in the Dwell Store.

A side view of the house and of Salmela’s signature architectural feature: the “unchimney.” All windows are from Loewen.

A third of the house and deck cantilever out toward the stream, and the void beneath the deck provides a place for wood storage. The cabin sits just 100 feet from the water, and with the windows open you can hear the ambient rush of the stream from throughout the house.

Nestled in two and a half acres of land near Boone, North Carolina, Chad Everhart renovates an old farmhouse and turns it into a modest residence. Image courtesy Chad Everhart Architect.

The Alerce shingles change color when it rains, moving from red to grey. “It’s alive,” says Marambio.

A cheerful antidote for dreary weather, Vuokko Nurmesniemi’s bold textile design for the Piccolo Stick Umbrella makes rainy days seem a little brighter. The Piccolo Stick Umbrella is crafted from the durable water resistant polyester to keep water at bay while the wooden handle and manual open and close function gives shelter when you need it most.

The house is surrounded by buildings on all sides except its south facade, which faces the street. An expansive operable window is key for effective ventilation during hot summer months. Additionally, a cantilevered balcony shelters a carport, bike storage, and even a playful swing.