Marie Edesess

There’s even a sense of play in the entryway: Bocci lights are installed in the layout of the Orion constellation.

Adair has long wished for Togo chairs, but as much as she loves the design, she tries not to be too precious about it. “We let the kids use them how they want, and they’re perfect fort furniture,” she says. “They’re really durable. It’s a design that makes architect parents happy.”

Construction pausing during the pandemic turned out to be a boon: Living in the half-finished space, the couple realized they needed to open up the pass-through to the rest of the house for even more circulation.

An aqua Malm fireplace warms up a corner. The pink, green, and yellow stripes now reach the skylights and extend over an integrated storage space to the floor. “My husband and I, we both actually hate having a TV visible to guests, but it’s a necessary evil,” says Shawn. “So how do you make that interesting and without it being too busy? [The rainbow stripe] creates an element that draws your eye away.”

The new exterior was kept dark, but the front door was given a punch of color.

The updated doors are beautiful and functional, and are inspired by Japanese shoji screens.

Seating and storage are combined in this nice cleverly built into the existing bay windows.

The first floor is a continuous public space featuring a dining area, kitchen, and living room.

In the powder room is an American Standard “Regency Blue” wall-mount sink found at a salvage yard. Janusz color-matched paint for the powder room.

Homeowners Izabel and Paul made a large open kitchen a top priority, insisting on counters at double the standard width.

The light-filled staircase features a razor-thin metal railing, open maple treads, and a kids' reading nook tucked beneath it.

The new primary bedroom is outfitted with a bay window that features a built-in bench.

The new kitchen-and-dining area connects to the living area and the rear yard.

Built-in shelving and integrated storage, like in this wall up the stairs, imbues Mouse House with layers of porosity.

The desk folds up and the installation swivels to pull down the bed.

An LGM wall bed from Resource Furniture is a convenient work-from-home spot. After the pandemic, the Paulas wanted to incorporate plenty of work stations in their home, as before the carriage house, “We had four of us all sitting at the dining table working,” remembers René. “It was super loud, like a trading floor at an investment bank, because all four of us would be talking at the same time.” With desks in the kids’ rooms and two offices, every family member can work in quiet.

Olive-green Fireclay tile creates a spa-like experience in the bathroom and fluctuates in tone throughout the day.

The house has two full kitchens, one on each floor. The downstairs kitchen—the one for “the riffraff,” jokes John—is reached through an original pointed arch and features blue and white concrete tiles from Granada Tile and bright white cabinetry. A selection from John’s extensive collection of glass purses is on display above the open shelving. “I love Murano glass and came across these inexpensive purses on eBay and Etsy, so I just started collecting them,” he explains. “Mitchell had the idea to mount them on the wall and make them into planters.”

Pleasing curves recur throughout the arched utility room, which serves as the home's indoor-outdoor transition space.

Pierre-Louis Gerlier's love for craft shines through the refreshed dining booth at the heart of the home, from the gentle irregularity of the hand-made tiles on its facade to the custom table made from marble and wood, around which a cherry-red booth pops in its eye-catching tone.

The entire kitchen was moved from its previous poky nook into the former dining area. Countertops totalled €6.6K, while fixtures (together with those in the bathroom) came to €11K.

A total of €3K was spent on lighting throughout the home, reinforcing the home's newfound warmth. Here in the dining booth, the family can come together under the soft glow of a trio of pendant lamps.

Bringing a "new modernity

Reimagined by architect Lisa Breeze, this compact semidetached brick home in Melbourne was built by the client's granduncle in the 1940s and passed down through generations. While the kitchen was updated to fit a modern lifestyle, the pastel color, gentle curves, and preserved Bakelite handles are a nod to the original era.

The material palette was investigated early on, along with a variety of layout options. The end product reflected both the homeowner’s style and the unique character of the home.

A nib wall tiled in textured Nagoya Mosaic-Tile Co ceramic tiles from Academy Tiles is a low-maintenance choice for a busy family while still packing a visual punch.

Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in the living room and entrance hallway make ample space for the family’s extensive book collection.

In the relocated kitchen, on the annex's ground floor, a whole wall, from cabinets to backsplashes (as well as the adjacent island), was painted green, as if they're single pieces of furniture.

In addition to handcrafted cabinetry, the bright and airy kitchen also features a U-shaped countertop, part of which doubles as a built-in bench for the dining area.

Floor Plan of Tranquil Terraced Piedmont by Turnbull, Griffin, & Haesloop Architects

A built-in desk sits right off the living area, beside plenty of closed storage. Baker's team thought that placing the pendant off center complemented the home's asymmetry.

A custom dining table by Godar Furniture can seat up to 12 with an extension. Its walnut base lightly contrasts the oak chairs with leather seats. In the background, a coffee bar was organized by Haven Home.

A full-length bench extends beneath a wall of windows in the dining area, with a wet bar tucked into the corner. Custom wallpaper was used on the back wall of the bar.

aesarstone counters in the kitchen, which best highlights the homes mix of light and wood. White conversion varnish was used on the sink side of the island for durability, with wood on the side of entertainment.