This exterior features painted brick, columns, exposed rafter detail, triple arched front doors, mahogany garage doors, and stone pavers. Photo by Holger Obenaus Designer: Julie O'Connor with American Vernacular

Midcentury Modern armchairs sit on concrete flooring, providing comfortable seating around a classic G-Plan coffee table. The modern art gallery wall provides a fun and colourful backdrop to the space.

A four bedroom, two bathroom functional design that wraps around a central courtyard. This home embraces Mother Nature's natural light as much as possible. Whatever the season the sun has been embraced in the solar passive home, from the strategically placed north face openings directing light to the thermal mass exposed concrete slab, to the clerestory windows harnessing the sun into the exposed feature brick wall. Feature brickwork and concrete flooring flow from the interior to the exterior, marrying together to create a seamless connection. Rooftop gardens, thoughtful landscaping and cascading plants surrounding the alfresco and balcony further blurs this indoor/outdoor line. Designer: Dalecki Design Photographer: Dion Robeson

British Standard tall cupboard is painted in 'Charcoal' by Dulux. Tourmaline ironmongery is only available from British Standard as part of a project; not sold separately. All other furnishings, appliances and accessories were sourced separately by the client.

© Robert Granoff www.robertgranoff.com http://prestigecustom.com/

Living Wall in spa area.

Built-in custom polished concrete fire -pit with surrounding brick bench with a bluestone cap. Bluestone patio paving with slot of gray beach pebbles. Fire-pit has natural gas with an electric spark starter. Bench seating has a wood screen wall that includes lighting & supports vine growth.

Julie Mifsud Interior Design www.juliemifsuddesign.com/

Lakeview, Chicago, Illinois In collaboration with Tom Stringer Design Partners. Photos by Jamie Padgett

This Old House, Bedford. I was asked to be back on the team to work on the second oldest house TOH had ever worked on! It was a great project, super homeowners and a fair amount of discovery and challenges as we brought this old house back to her former glory. The homeowner needed more space and wanted to add on a great room of the kitchen. I was tasked with creating a kitchen that fit into todays modern world but celebrated the "old house" details. Exposed beams, uneven floors, posts and storage needs where all high on the to do and worry list! Working in a full size pantry with counters and a deep freeze provided that function and charm we were all hoping for in this new kitchen. A custom blue inset island with a beautiful 2" thick honed Danby marble top works nicely in the open concept feel. Glass fronted cabinets, blue and white tile and a hint of red in the back wall of the pantry all have a nod to the historic roots of the property and subtle reminder to it's part in the American Revolution. All the episodes of this exciting project may be viewed by going to www.thisoldhouse.com, search Bedford. Enjoy!

Karen Palmer Photography

Simon Maxwell

Twin beds with bold graphic flower wall

Photo: Corynne Pless © 2013 Houzz

Stuart Lorenz Photograpghy

Mellissa Larson - Photographer