Photo: Chris Dorsey © 2013 Houzz Design: Alina Preciado, Dar Gitane

The 16-foot high living-dining area opens up on three sides: to the lap pool on the west with sliding glass doors; to the north courtyard with pocketing glass doors; and to the garden and guest house to the south through pivoting glass doors. (Photo: Grey Crawford)

Lucy Call © 2013 Houzz

Minimalist at heart, the home has an overwhelming sense of energy. “With the recent renovation, we wanted to create living areas that were comfortable and beautiful but stayed true to the original industrial aesthetic and the materials we had used in the first renovation,” says the owner. http://www.domusnova.com/properties/buy/2056/2-bedroom-house-kensington-chelsea-north-kensington-hewer-street-w10-theo-otten-otten-architects-london-for-sale/

Photos by Julie Soefer

Michael O'callahan

Whispering Smith

Gonzalo Höhr

This cool white living room benefits from the addition of teal sofa and a tonal-gradient floor rug. Elden Cheung and in-house @ Urban Design & Build Ltd.

Although it's open in feel, this building is situated privately on a south bay hilltop where the homeowners can relax with privacy. Built by Canyon Construction. Designed by Taalman Koch Architecture. Photographed by Treve Johnson. © 2012.

Clean and simple define this 1200 square foot Portage Bay floating home. After living on the water for 10 years, the owner was familiar with the area’s history and concerned with environmental issues. With that in mind, she worked with Architect Ryan Mankoski of Ninebark Studios and Dyna to create a functional dwelling that honored its surroundings. The original 19th century log float was maintained as the foundation for the new home and some of the historic logs were salvaged and custom milled to create the distinctive interior wood paneling. The atrium space celebrates light and water with open and connected kitchen, living and dining areas. The bedroom, office and bathroom have a more intimate feel, like a waterside retreat. The rooftop and water-level decks extend and maximize the main living space. The materials for the home’s exterior include a mixture of structural steel and glass, and salvaged cedar blended with Cor ten steel panels. Locally milled reclaimed untreated cedar creates an environmentally sound rain and privacy screen.

Audry Hall Photography Fused Glass tile by Chrissy Evans

© Adolfo Gosálvez Photography