An oversized vanity in one of the bathrooms complements the large glass and stone shower.

The W.W. Stool by Philippe Starck.

The courtyard is a secure space with a double-height window that offers seamless interior-exterior connection. “It gives a nice sense of containment and peace, while still engaging interior spaces,” says Cashman.

Steel strips form a security screen on the street side of the scullery. One can also hang pots and pans from them. A skylight filters illumination through glass block flooring to the basement below.

The kitchen is accessible from a raised courtyard across from the main living space. “The double exhaust hood looks like an old industrial gantry,” remarks Cashman. Sandblasted brick and sandstone from the original warehouse dialogue with floating white and grey cabinetry.

“The biggest design challenge was the facade,” says architect Mark Cashman. “It had to step back from the street and recede to give prominence to the heritage status warehouse facade.” Above the translucent bedroom level, a balcony with a herb garden steps back further. From the rooftop garden, downtown Sydney comes into full view.

Simultaneously sculptural and pragmatic, the undulating form of the W Magazine Stand’s molded plywood is both pleasing and useful. It’s compact enough for small spaces, though you may be loath to cover up the figurative grain pattern of the walnut with your magazines.

The master bedroom features wallpaper by Erika Wakerly. The glass tables next to the Croft House bed were gifts.

A secondary bedroom meant for a child has a partially translucent, curved glass wall.

A pivoting Gyrofocus fireplace, staircase, and elevator shaft organize the social space. Lighting throughout the house is mostly ambient, supplemented by task-oriented lighting.

Based in New York, photographer Brian W. Ferry regularly shoots portraits, travel, interiors, and design stories for international clients and publications including Condé Nast Traveler and WSJ Magazine. For this issue, he captured “Outside Providence,” a story about a coastal Rhode Island getaway. “I was blown away by the skylights throughout the home,” he says. “Watching the light and colors change slowly over the course of the two-day shoot was a real treat—it was like a private James Turrell exhibition.” What’s your favorite city to visit in the USA? “I frequently travel to Los Angeles for work and pleasure, and I enjoy every visit. There’s a wonderful art scene, great food, and the ability to spend time outdoors year-round.”

A New York–based photographer who shoots for clients including Condé Nast Traveler and the Wall Street Journal Magazine, Brian W. Ferry loves the perks of Dwell assignments. In one week, he shared lunch alfresco with the owners of the Stanfordville, New York, outbuilding and pizza and wine in São Paulo with the owner and architect of the Jardins apartment.

Tucked away in a corner of Makati, W-17 is an elegant warehouse space showcasing luxe home wares from the Philippines and beyond. Catch Carabao (Philippine water buffalo) horn salad servers, elegant wood serving bowls trimmed in gold, locally crafted dinner ware, and antique Chinese furniture, along with rugs from New York-based Filipino designer Inigo Elizalde.

Style: "Portrait B&W"

From the transitional space between the living area and courtyard, the TV room is visible.

The reflective marble in the reception area and new Lobby Bar recalls a runway, according to Meyer, injecting life into the entryway while drawing the focus to the bar and the small, circular pods, curtained-off areas where guests can congregate. The reception area also boasts a white spray can mural that plays up a little-known historical fact—the aerosol cans were invented in Chicago in 1883—while referencing the city's spray paint ban.

Ideal for magazines or paperwork, the W Molded Ply Magazine Stand ($149) is equally at home in the living room or the office.

Inga Sempé, W103c light, 2010.

Bookmark your reading materials by perching them on the detachable birch resting pole.

CURRENT, the redesigned restaurant, focuses on straight lines and soft tones to amplify the view of the lake.

According to Jacobs, the design philosophy was about having a point of view and not necessarily trying to be a perfect fit for everyone.

The interiors reformulated as part of the W Chicago Lakeshore’s redesign used glass and metal elements to reflect the lakefront and reference the city's burly skyline, according to Will Meyer of interior design firm Meyer Davis.

The minimal and functional kitchen features a built-in island that seats 5-6, but more often it serves as a prep-working surface for catered parties.

This resort is surrounded by 5.6 kilometers of private lagoon and includes villas with retractable roofs, private pools with catamaran nets and even waterslides.

Wästberg introduces the w153 lamp by Inga Sempé, a multipurpose little LED number that can be clamped, placed on a flat surface, or mounted on a wall.

Studioilse w084 by Ilse Crawford for Wästberg, $625 A dimmer and a semi-translucent shade add extra warmth to this unpretentious task lamp. Crawford has equipped the work tables in her London studio with the design—a ringing endorsement indeed.

The 56-foot home spent three years being used as a trade show prototype by HMK Prefab Homes. The current owners purchased it at the 2014 Dwell on Design conference in Los Angeles.

The top terrace, outfitted with Eos lounge chairs from Design Within Reach, has an unobstructed view of Herzog & de Meuron’s 56 Leonard Street.

The home located at 56 Willow Street is a pet-friendly property, and has additional storage in the basement, as well as a part-time superintendent that looks after the co-op building.

Ludovica Serafini and Roberto Palomba, who work as Ludovica+Roberto Palomba, commissioned a dining table of their own design from Exteta and paired it with Abanica chairs by Oscar Tusquets for Driade. The ceramic centerpiece is by Emilia Palomba, Roberto’s aunt.

The Marvelous Suite looks out over a serene Lake Michigan. According to W Hotel design director Ted Jacobs, the challenge they faced when redesigning the hotel was making the rooms and public space more open and experiential. "Gen Luxe definies luxury as experiences," he says.

This super slender SG68 W stainless steel two-slice toaster by Stefano Giovannoni for Alessi with bun-warmer attachment will look great on your counter top (and won't take up too much of it).

Berlin-based designer Dirk Winkel’s new lamp designed for Wästberg, w164 Alto, has a distinct architectural quality. The top disk of the base is the combined light switch and dimming wheel, and the pole houses a multidirectional LED light that distributes light evenly.

Calf's Leather Kitchen Apron by Malle w. Trousseau, $195 from store.dwell.com Handmade by French craftspeople, this buttery leather apron proudly wears nicks and stains. The luxurious accessory is a modern take on traditional blacksmith garb.

Taking a quote from writer Alain de Botton as inspiration --“ There are many places in the modern world that we do not understand because we cannot get inside them” -- the Writers in Residence series will journey into the heart of the modern condition, beginning with Another Great Day at Sea (May 20), which chronicles life aboard the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier.

The custom mahogany door painted a contrasting green (Farrow & Ball W56 Sap Green) announces entry into the house. Cast stone Peacock pavers were used to clad the entry steps and stoop. Charcoal Shades from The Shade Store cover all the windows and sliding glass doors.