Julia is a Chicago-based writer and photographer: art, architecture, design, and details. Recent clips at juliabrenner.com

This Forest Home in Chile Is Elevated to Float Among the Trees
In the Los Ríos region, Hebra Arquitectos perches an H-shaped house on pillars to make its interior feel like a tree house.
The Site Was Long and Narrow, so They Cut the Home in Half
GSBN Studio carves a slice out of a Sydney home to fill its interior with sunshine.
A Firm Cooks Up a New Kitchen With $38K and a Dash of Midcentury Magic
In her L.A. office, Tracy A. Stone swaps commercial fixtures and 20-year-old cabinets for fresh appliances and tasteful finishes.
Ruddy Cor-Ten Steel Wraps a Warm, Woody Retreat on Lake Superior
Built on Michigan’s rugged Upper Peninsula, the residence is a trio of boxes built to withstand the elements—and embrace them.
An Old London Victorian Gets a Greenhouse-Inspired Dining Room
Framed in timber and steel, the glass-wrapped space connects a kitchen renovated with reused materials to a lush garden.
This Apartment Renovation Was Meant as a Rental. The Owner Liked It So Much, He Kept It for Himself
Architect Rafael Ramos turned a cramped 700-square-foot flat in Rio de Janeiro into a finely tuned space infused with his...
Before & After: The Tide Turns for a Washed-Up Coastal Home Near Vancouver
A thoughtful renovation by Andrea McLean Studio gives new life to a dilapidated house in White Rock, British Columbia.
A Family’s Forsaken Stone Farmhouse in Spain Is Delicately Restored
Returning to old stomping grounds, two siblings enlist Acabadomate to revive the 19th-century residence in Catalonia.
Before & After: A New York City Apartment Goes From Dark and Cramped to Daring and Capacious
A bold renovation turns an outdated apartment in Manhattan into a light and bright home.
Before & After: A Dilapidated Spanish Revival Home in L.A. Gets a Dazzling Renovation
An inspired renovation brings new life to a rundown Spanish Revival home in Los Angeles.
This Low-Impact Home Links a Family Closer to Each Other and the Spanish Landscape
Nestled in the wine country of Tarragona, Spain, Casa Almudena emphasizes connection through an intriguing open-plan concept and...
12 Stunning Glass Cabins You Can Rent Right Now for a Dream Getaway
When it comes to cabins, wood is good—but glazing is amazing.
This Group Is Reimagining the Future of Boutique Hotels
Chicago–based Aparium Hotel Group is investing in communities and celebrating local heritage, one vibrantly reimagined building...
A Dramatic Hotel in Northern Italy Is a Hiker's Refuge
Hidden in the alpine region of South Tyrol, Italy, Hotel Bühelwirt is a stunning, modern take on the hiking hotel.
A Prefab Cabin in New Hampshire Is a Magnificent Mountain Retreat
Perched atop a soaring granite outcropping, I-Kanda Architects' Cabin on a Rock is a modernist hideaway.
Without a Buyer, This Frank Lloyd Wright Building Will Be Destroyed in 3 Days
The Lockridge Medical Center will be demolished on January 10, 2018—and it will be the first viable Wright design to be lost in...
A Silver Lake Home Built in 1939 Is Renovated From Top to Bottom
A prewar house in Los Angeles is extensively renovated to enhance lakeside views and create a fresh, modern aesthetic.
A Renovated Hawaiian Beach House From the 1950s Asks $1.79M
Located just steps away from Maui's sandy beaches, this 1950s-era home for sale blends vintage charm with modern sophistication.
A Midcentury Eichler in San Mateo Is Turned Into a Functional Family Home
An Eichler just south of San Francisco is carefully renovated in a way that respects the minimalist beauty of the original design.
A New Hotel That Celebrates Ibiza's Maritime History and Love For Parties
Tour a new hotel that's inspired by Ibiza's status as a sun-drenched holiday destination for beaches, music, and culture.
A Design Duo’s 19th-Century Brooklyn Townhouse Is Filled With Art They Love
Built in 1890, this recently renovated townhouse balances a beautiful mix of styles and eras.
Tour a New Residential High-Rise That's Uniquely "Chicago"
Landmark West Loop is a love letter to Chicago's West Loop neighborhood.
A Usonian Masterpiece by Frank Lloyd Wright Is on the Market For $1.5M
One of Wright's Usonian homes in New York hits the market for the first time in 20 years.
A Renovated Midcentury Home in L.A. With Timeless Details Asks $1.3M
Take a tour of a light-filled, midcentury-modern home in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood that just hit the market.
Meet 40 of the World's Most Creative Entrepreneurs With Kinfolk's New Book
The respected publication's new book chronicles an impressive list of entrepreneurs from around the world who have turned...
Explore the World of Shipping Container Design With a New Architectural Book
Featuring built, unbuilt, and in-progress projects, the new monograph on architectural studio LOT-EK offers an in-depth look at...
A Renovated, Midcentury Glass-and-Steel House in New York Asks $2M
Designed by Roy O. Allen, the Woodward Residence in Westchester County, New York, offers the chance to own a restored...
A Family's Kiev Apartment Is Filled With Copper, Marble, and a Sophisticated Palette
Using a simple color scheme and dynamic textures, architectural design studio YoDezeen creates a strikingly modern yet warm...
Soon to Be Completed, These Striking Beachfront Estates Are Designed by 2 All-Star Architects
Renowned art dealer and gallery owner Serge Sorokko recently announced the forthcoming debut of two fully-entitled estates on his...
Celebrate the Late Zaha Hadid With a New Book That Highlights Her Unforgettable Work
From Images Publishing Group comes the first posthumous book on the master architect and revolutionary designer.
Thoughtful Design Details Warm Up a Modern Family Home in Northern California
When the San Francisco firm l'oro began designing a family home in Mill Valley, California, they challenged themselves to create...
A Family’s Loft in Poland Gets a Minimalist Renovation That’s Both Elegant and Functional
A comprehensive interior renovation by Loft Kolasiński transforms a 1930s-era family home in Szczecin, Poland, into a...
A New Hotel in Paris That’s Designed to Give Guests a Taste of Modern Parisian Living
Located in the heart of Paris, Hotel Parister is a new concept hotel designed to celebrate vibrant, local Parisian living.
This New Japanese Resort Offers Access to Hot Springs and Pristine Alpine Skiing
KAI Alps is reopening this December as a luxury hot springs ryokan (or Japanese inn) in northern Nagano, the stunning ski region...
A Brooklyn-Based Landscape Firm That’s Reshaping New York City’s Green Urban Scene
Based in Brooklyn, New York, Future Green Studio is cultivating beautiful and sustainable landscapes throughout NYC, one...
A Careful Renovation Brings New Life to a Family’s Heritage Home on the Spanish Coast
Thanks to a careful renovation that included a handful of preservation challenges, a family's Spanish beach house is given new...