If you've long loathed your leaky faucet, this is your chance to gracefully drop the drip. Professor Donald Norman offers his expert opinion on what makes a spectacular tap.

At a home about half an hour from Lake Tahoe, architect Jack Hawkins and interior designer Cheryl Chenault built a house that would support their clients’ unique requirements in a home that would be 8,000 to 10,000 square feet. In the kitchen, two islands, one in the shape of an L and the other a smaller rectangular island, are layered table over one portion create generous space to spread out. Norman Cherner barstools from Design Within Reach line the island in the kitchen, which is crowned by an open loft office. The faucets are from Dornbracht; the countertops are Caesarstone. Hawkins integrated a steel-clad casual eating nook, at left.

The Reichstag by Norman Foster. Image copyright Nigel Young, courtesy of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Designer Norman Cherner created this classic molded plywood barstool in the 1950s. From $699

Weinstein checks in with Spencer the dog in the residence.

Originally designed as two separate apartment buildings in 1925, The Norman hotel brings them together: one half features Renaissance and oriental influences, while the other is a clean-lined, modernist structure.

A side chair by Norman Cherner with its back overlooking the golf course.

Each suite at The Norman is one-of-a-kind, showcasing an aesthetic that blends old and new.

"Fish Tales: Between Earth and Ice," Peregrine Design/Build Where water and land meet along the rocky shores of Lake Champlain, the winds and currents wash up sharpened slabs of ice, a phenomenon this shanty by Peregrine Design/Build recreates with its jagged, glistening roof.

'If We Build it They Will Come' illustration by Matthew Hollister for The Boston Globe.

The construction was carried out in cooperation with students from the University of San Carlos in Cebu.

The Architect Says: Quotes, Quips, and Words of Wisdom by Laura S. Dushkes (Princeton Architectural Press, 2012). This collection of quotations offers insight into the minds of more than a hundred architects.

Cox enjoys the view from his penthouse terrace. The steel used for the terrace, and the brick-colored cladding of the building, echo the industrial architecture of the area. The angles suggest a ship, a nautical link with Duisburg’s past as a major port.

Jane Grey Baby Rattle, $21 at Norman & Jules.

The fireplace is covered in Norman brick from Mutual Materials, in an era-appropriate stacked pattern.

Triwa Tube Tank (Poznan, Poland: 2012) This pop-up store by Mode:lina Architekci could easily demolish any kiosk in an American mall. Straps hold together a tank-shaped block of cardboard tubes, an eye-catching structure designed to invite shoppers to experience the Swedish watch brand. Photo by Mode:lina Architekci

A Norman Copenhagen Amp pendant light brings both light and personality.

Rebuilding presented architect Heidi Richardson the opportunity to improve views of Mount Tam to the west and the Golden Gate Bridge to the northeast.

The wood-frame residence and studio are clad in vertical cedar siding—back then, a daring competitor to clapboard—instead of concrete to save costs. The effect is equally seamless, however: “If you drive by it fast enough,” Charles Gwathmey once said, “you still might mistake it for a concrete house.” Photo by Norman McGrath.

In the dining room, artworks by Alan Davie (at left) and Martin Bradley join a Norman Foster dining table.

Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the Norman Lykes Residence is one of 14 circular homes by the iconic architect.

The 510 Cabin is one of Leggitt's designs, executed with the help of student apprentices.

Andrew Weinstein stands in the living room of his Long Island abode designed by Bates Masi + Architects. The architects toggled wall panels and panes of custom-cut window glass on the front of the house that let in light while leaving room for large-format artwork like Adam Parker Smith’s American Totem.

A trio of Norman counter stools by Rove Concepts sits underneath Cast pendant lights by Menu in the kitchen. Estate Interiors crafted the custom range hood.

In the words of RCR architects, the underground amphitheater invites reflection "in the deep grounds of the structure of shadows."

A chandelier by artist Joe Norman provides a dramatic accent to the kitchen and dining areas. The backsplash was a commission by the artist KOLABS, part of Mullin's wife's gallery.

The French Norman–style home was built in 1927 and sits on over half an acre in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. The architects preserved much of its original detail in a 2018 remodel.

A classic piece like this Eames lounge chair appears dressed down next to a hammock in the office space. Also featured are wooden office chairs by Norman Cherner.

Bil’ak takes a meticulous approach to Arabic type design, although he is unaware of the words’ meaning.

The cover of Murakami Versailles.

The concert hall by Sir Norman Foster which is now widely known as the Armadillo.

An outdoor shower was the family’s first construction project. “Doing the shower made us realize we can build things the way we want to build them,” says Meg.

The Wish List at the Victoria and Albert Museum (September 13-21) Consider it a fringe benefit of being part of the design cognoscenti. This quirky group exhibition, sponsored by Benchmark and the American Hardwood Export Council, asked famous designers and architects such as Zaha Hadid and Paul Smith to put in a request for a personal object, which would then be created by an up-and-comer. The spherical pencil sharpener, above, is Norie Matsumoto's attempt to spruce up Norman Foster's workspace.