New York’s historic Gramercy Park neighborhood may be known for its private park, but inside one nearby apartment, openness and sunlight were in short supply. Studio Rosenthal was tasked with changing that. Originally built as a two-bedroom, the home had been converted into a three-bedroom, with partitions that encroached on the living area and limited the flow of natural light. Working as both architect and interior designer, Studio Rosenthal undertook a gut renovation that restored the apartment to its original two-bedroom configuration, reclaiming space for the living room and allowing sunlight to travel more freely throughout the home.

Photography by Adrian Gaut

The clients, a couple based primarily in Australia who split their time across several countries, wanted a calm and highly functional retreat from New York’s cultural energy. Studio Rosenthal shaped the apartment around their lifestyle as international, part-time residents.

Photography by Adrian Gaut

Throughout the apartment, new wood flooring and trimless lighting establish a quiet backdrop for a restrained material palette. Whitewashed oak cabinetry, rope wall coverings, and a Lapitec kitchen island and counter extend across the kitchen and living areas. In the primary bedroom, unfilled travertine shelving is integrated into solid European oak cabinetry that also conceals the apartment’s HVAC units, while Pietra Gray marble forms a sculptural vanity in the powder room.

Photography by Adrian Gaut

Several pieces were commissioned specifically for the space. A walnut entry console by Jacques Jarrige is mounted near the front door, while Eric Schmitt designed the primary bedroom’s fully upholstered headboard, with sconces integrated directly into the piece. A custom coffee table in straw marquetry completes the trio in the living room.

Photography by Adrian Gaut

Belgian, Brazilian, and Japanese influences inform the interior, contributing to the refined, hotel-like atmosphere that carries from the entry to the primary bedroom and powder room. Works by Sheila Hicks, Jenny Holzer, and Rafi Ajl add another layer to the rooms, complementing the materials, custom furnishings, and architectural interventions that transformed the apartment.

Some NFL quarterbacks choose to spend their fortune in a wildly ostentatious fashion, buying private jets, yachts, $300,000 watches, or flashy supercars. Joe Flacco, 2013 Super Bowl MVP with the Baltimore Ravens and current Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, built a home near where he and his wife, Dana, grew up that perfectly suits his large family of seven. 

Photography by Brian Wetzel Photography

Add in that five of the seven are active school-aged children (four of them boys), and it’s obvious this project took some serious design savvy. Dana Bergman Falcione and Erica Vassalotti, co-founders of Philadelphia–based interior design practice Bergman Vass, collaborated with architecture firm Asher Slaunwhite + Partners to make this home work. The result is a refined, minimalist aesthetic that balances sophistication with the demands of a large, busy family. 

Photography by Brian Wetzel Photography

Though the couple bought this 3.5-acre plot of land in the Philadelphia suburb of Haddonfield, New Jersey, years ago, they only decided to build their forever home once they knew their family was complete. More than a decade and five kids later, the Flaccos commissioned the architects and designers to demolish the existing house and custom-build this 10,000-square-foot home. 

Photography by Brian Wetzel Photography

Their number one requirement: They wanted the home to be functional for how they actually live. “The spaces that were really important to them were the kitchen, pantry, homework room, and mudroom,” Falcione and Vassalotti explain. “That’s where functional design would ease their everyday lives.”

Photography by Brian Wetzel Photography

The mudroom was an absolute essential for this sports-loving family. The home’s main entrance opens into the mudroom, which includes laundry facilities, so kids can come home, ditch their sports gear, stow their backpacks, and toss dirty clothes straight into the wash. Individual lockers for each child feature metal-mesh doors and keep everything in its place. 

Photography by Brian Wetzel Photography

Thoughtful material selections for hard surfaces, millwork, stone, and casegoods were key to adding polish while creating durable spaces that could take a beating from the kids. 

Photography by Brian Wetzel Photography

“We knew the family was going to need practical materials, performance fabrics, wool rugs that were naturally stain-resistant, and surfaces that were wipeable,” the designers share. “We didn’t let this stop us from selecting lighter fabrics or elevated wallpapers; we just ensured the materials were durable and would be able to stand the test of time, such as vinyl wallpaper made to look like grasscloth and performance linens. We brought in a level of refinement with throw pillows that were in mohair and silk linen but more easily replaceable.” 

Photography by Brian Wetzel Photography

The family’s lifestyle also dictated the circulation flow. “Through the main hall, the first stop is the homework room, with individual desks and a table in the center,” the Bergman Vass duo says. “The pantry is a working kitchen across from the homework room that’s nearly as large as the main kitchen and includes snack cubbies for the kids to pop in and grab [food] while working on homework.” 

Photography by Brian Wetzel Photography

Despite their family’s size, Joe and Dana didn’t prioritize privacy far beyond their primary suite, which includes a spa-like bathroom, two large closets, and a separate vestibule for Dana’s shoes. Their daughter’s bedroom is across the hall from their own, while their sons are off in a separate wing. The couple requested that the boys share rooms to foster “a sense of togetherness and to not lose sight of that—despite the home’s large square footage,” the designers explain. In response, Bergman Vass designed a wing with two bedrooms, each shared by two brothers, connected by a Jack-and-Jill bathroom for all four boys. From there, a hallway leads to the wellness room and, ultimately, the sports court. 

Photography by Brian Wetzel Photography

“The sports court and gym were big must-haves,” the designers explain. “Joe needed a space to work out, and it created an area where all of the kids could play, especially when friends were over.” 

Photography by Brian Wetzel Photography

Though this may be a 10,000-square-foot house, the thinking behind its design comes down to the same things that matter in any busy family home: a place for backpacks, snacks, homework, laundry, and, in this case, a whole lot of sports. 

The eaves at Moment project six feet from the wall line and run unbroken around all four sides of the house, a depth carried by a two-story timber frame on a hillside site in Sakai City, Osaka. Satoshi Kurosaki of APOLLO Architects & Associates designed the 2,300-square-foot residence with a frame engineered by Motoi Nomura Structures. That expansive overhang, together with the wall surrounding the property, guides the architecture of the rest of the residence.

Photography by Masao Nishikawa

A retaining wall and perimeter enclosure conceal the interior from the sloping street below, so privacy is handled at the boundary rather than at the window. The eaves, meanwhile, prevent direct sun on the south elevation and rain on the glazing.

Photography by Masao Nishikawa

Past the entrance gate, the architecture switches from seclusion to openness through an entry where lacquerware, woodwork, bonsai, and artworks are arranged like an exhibition.

Photography by Masao Nishikawa

Walnut boards line the underside of the eaves, illuminated by lighting designer Ken Okamoto of Ripple Design. After dark, the lit soffit emphasizes the depth of the structure and defines the house at night.

Photography by Masao Nishikawa

A dry garden of vintage olive trees and other plantings surrounds the residence at ground level. Outdoor furniture sits beneath the eaves, sheltered from the elements but positioned to take advantage of the site’s elevation.

Photography by Masao Nishikawa

Inside, that balance between enclosure and openness continues. The staircase runs along the windows and serves as a sculptural object while marking the shift between floors; it lands on a second-floor library, where a built-in sofa bench turns the landing into a second living area with its own view.

Photography by Masao Nishikawa

Two children’s rooms open onto a shared cantilevered balcony and can be combined or divided with movable partitions, allowing the space to change as the family’s needs do.

Photography by Masao Nishikawa

Throughout Moment, the oversized eaves do more than give the house its defining silhouette. Together with the perimeter wall, they create layers of shelter and privacy without closing the residence off from its surroundings. The result is a house that feels protected at its edges while remaining open to the garden, views, and changing light beyond them.

“Two years ago, Lidan Sfadia and I sketched what at the time felt like a dream on paper,” says developer Edward Grigoryan. “A year ago, it was just dirt. Today, it’s a reality that still leaves me breathless.”

The subject? A sprawling, 7,300-square-foot, U-shaped single-story home located in Tarzana, a San Fernando Valley neighborhood known for its quieter residential character and indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Combining Craftsman influences with elements of Tuscan architecture, the residence is organized around a central courtyard and a close connection to the landscape.

Photography by Nils Timm

As the home comes into view, its Tuscan influences begin with the landscape. Olive trees imported from Napa Valley punctuate the grounds, while limestone-clad walls draped in climbing vines set the scene. To enter the home, visitors pass through French iron-framed doors and step into a space defined by tumbled limestone floors, 12-foot-high ceilings, and Belgian linen drapery that softens the architecture’s substantial scale.

Photography by Nils Timm

Throughout, hand-applied plaster in a warm greige lines the walls, providing a serene neutral backdrop for the natural material palette. The home’s U-shaped layout, meanwhile, separates the private quarters from the public gathering spaces into opposite wings while maximizing ambient light and outdoor views. Nestled within the central garden, the pool is edged with fragrant rosemary, further blurring the distinction between the architecture and landscape.

Photography by Nils Timm

“From the outset, the home was designed around the concept of a massive central courtyard—so we created a 35-foot bridge at the entrance,” says Sfadia, an LA-based developer and the home’s co-creator. Yet that isn’t even its most dramatic—or Zen-like—feature of the home. An imported Bonsai tree was placed directly into a central atrium with a crane. Framed by the surrounding architecture, the tree turns the atrium into a contemplative pause within the home.

Photography by Nils Timm

Adjacent to the atrium, an understated kitchen features custom oak cabinetry, a La Cornue oven, and an island finished in what the designers identify as Bonsai marble—creating what Sfadia and Grigoryan call a “full circle moment.”

Photography by Nils Timm

Drawing inspiration from European architecture—especially Tuscan villas—where materials tend to age gracefully over time, Sfadia and Grigoryan sought to create deeply tactile, atmospheric interiors built to last.

“We wanted to create a calm and relaxing environment but with wow moments created by scale,” the duo explains. Case in point: The family room features a floor-to-ceiling fireplace that functions as a sculptural anchor between two generously sized Belgian linen sofas from RH. A jute rug from Lulu and Georgia, two hair-on-hide Pierre Jeanneret-inspired accent chairs, and a custom artwork by local artist Zack Bayati complete the room.

The neighboring breakfast nook pairs a custom travertine table with woven dining chairs and accessories from Berber Imports. The formal living room also centers on a commanding fireplace, this time complemented by a lighter-hued Lulu and Georgia wool rug, a custom brown suede sofa from a local furniture maker, and a Crate & Barrel lounge chair and coffee table.

Photography by Nils Timm

In the home theater, olive-toned limewash walls create a subtle yet cohesive departure from the home’s overall palette. The dining room returns to the Tuscan-inspired vernacular with an RH brown reclaimed oak table and Belgian linen slipcover dining chairs; an early 1900s antique Persian rug adds another layer of pattern and history underfoot.

Photography by Nils Timm

The private rooms continue the material language established in the shared spaces. The primary bedroom—which offers views of the garden alongside its own fireplace—features a Jenni Kayne linen slipcover bed covered in bedding from Parachute Home, along with a jute rug and a seating area with two Belgian linen chairs from RH flanking a Zara Home side table.

Photography by Nils Timm

The en-suite bathroom continues the emphasis on natural and handcrafted materials with handmade Moroccan tiles, a freestanding tub, an expansive walk-in shower with brass-clad glass doors, and a private outdoor space.

Photo courtesy of Nils Timm

“It’s a resort-like home designed to infuse its inhabitants with a sense of peace and serenity,” Sfadia says. “Building a big, one-story home has always been a dream, and this one really brought that dream to life. With 12-foot ceilings and 10-foot-tall windows, the scale is dramatic, yet despite the proportions, the house remains deeply livable—that was always the ultimate goal.”

That balance of scale and livability ultimately found an audience before the project formally entered the market: A creative couple relocating from Malibu in search of privacy, a slower pace, and a sense of permanence purchased the home before it was listed.

Photography by Nils Timm

Blending Austrian and Italian influences, the Alpine-Mediterranean province of South Tyrol, Italy, is chock-full of all-inclusive resorts touting flashy break-out amenities. But for many visitors to this remote region, the real draw is simpler: slowing down and taking in the striking natural setting. With just 70 south-facing rooms, suites, and private villas catering to a wide range of guests, Hotel Chalet Mirabell focuses on restorative relaxation and exploratory excursions. Its whopping 64,000-square-foot panoramic spa spreads across two levels: one dedicated to families and the other reserved for adults. Outside, its sprawling lawn incorporates a natural swimming pond and various alfresco lounging setups.

Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell

In winter, guests enjoy the loft-style accommodations and intimate eateries of the off-site ski-in and ski-out Chalet Zuegg—positioned near the peak of the adjacent 6,500-foot Meran peak—while in summer and fall, they e-bike and hike with alpacas along rustic trails.

Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell

The destination’s wide-reaching wine selection—held in an authentically informed yet contemporary wood-clad cellar—and main Michelin-recommended dining room tie everything together, uniting families and groups of friends for multi-course meals. Even here, the space is deftly divided to ensure those in search of peace and quiet aren’t disturbed.

Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell

Chalet Mirabell packs all of this into a contemporary architectural style. Though primarily built in locally sourced timber, the buildings eschew folksy tropes in favor of large exposures and recessed overhangs that contain private balconies. The entire facility is cleverly tiered into the location’s slope. That same refined modern alpine aesthetic carries over to Chalet Zuegg.

Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell

“In the summer, the world is big, and people have the possibility of going anywhere,” says Martin Reiterer, the resort’s second-generation owner. “In the winter, it’s more limited. They want to stay closer to home but have a place to ski and perhaps even hike.”

Chalet Mirabell caters to a broad mix of guests—those coming up from Milan or down from Munich for the weekend and those traveling across the Atlantic or even Asia—year-round.

“The idea is to find relaxation and calm when they can look out over wide expanses of space,” Reiterer adds. “That’s the main draw here.” Chalet Mirabell faces the Sarentino and Oetztal Alps, and the Dolomites are an hour’s drive away.

Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell

The panoramic spa makes the most of the alpine views and bucolic, rolling farmland that unfolds just below the hotel. Tucked beneath the lawn, the adults-only section includes everything from Finnish and organic herbal panorama saunas to brine, light, and aromatherapy baths. Also clad in a near-monastic material palette of wood and stone, this enfilade of dedicated spaces incorporates infrared heat. On the floor above, the family section features a heated pool that seamlessly transitions from indoors to outdoors.

Photography courtesy of Hotel Chalet Mirabell

For a resort with such an extensive roster of amenities, Chalet Mirabell ultimately seems most interested in what lies beyond them. Whether framed by a private balcony, a wall of glass in the spa, or the edge of an outdoor pool, the surrounding mountains remain the constant—making Reiterer’s “wide expanses of space” less an added attraction than the organizing principle of the hotel itself.

Layers of ultralight MDF, each two inches thick and banded in stained maple veneer, stack into a sinuous mass that runs the length of SKIN1004‘s first U.S. flagship. The Korean skincare brand’s New York store spans nearly 9,900 square feet across two floors on Broadway, with ochre- and umber-toned wood covering almost every surface.

Photography by Sean Davidson; courtesy of LMTLS Architecture

LMTLS Architecture removed the existing second floor of the Soho space to open the entrance into a double-height lounge that can accommodate events as well as everyday visitors. The ceiling then descends toward the point of sale before rising again into a chamber at the rear, so the plan compresses and expands as a visitor moves through it.

Photography by Sean Davidson; courtesy of LMTLS Architecture

The Nature Wall, as LMTLS refers to the milled form, takes on seating, product display, and the sales counter, resolving all three into a single continuous topography rather than breaking them into separate elements.

Photography by Sean Davidson; courtesy of LMTLS Architecture

Conceived as an abstraction of a natural valley, its stepped edges recall eroded sandstone, whose horizontal bands make layers of geological time visible. Gilbert and Adirondack Studios handled the fabrication, cutting each layer to profile before assembly.

Photography by Sean Davidson; courtesy of LMTLS Architecture

Running parallel to the Nature Wall, a reflective plane nine feet high travels uninterrupted from the entrance to the rear of the space. SoHo retail volumes tend to run narrow, and the Mirror Wall returns the millwork to itself at full length, doubling the topography and pushing its apparent depth well past the physical footprint.

Photography by Sean Davidson; courtesy of LMTLS Architecture

Illuminated surfaces from Cooledge are set into the ceiling and the casework throughout, casting a warm, diffuse light that complements the surrounding wood palette. A column sheathed in brushed metal carries the brand mark upward into an amorphous glowing form overhead.

Photography by Sean Davidson; courtesy of LMTLS Architecture

The rear chamber shifts the pace, presenting products more like objects in a gallery than conventional retail displays. A photo booth sits within it, framed by a single-plane mirror twelve feet tall, and an LED wall runs brand films on a continuous loop. A brand built on ingredients drawn from untouched landscapes has housed itself inside a constructed one.

Photography by Sean Davidson; courtesy of LMTLS Architecture

The SKIN1004 flagship is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 470 Broadway in New York, NY.

Set among cedar and Douglas fir trees on a peninsula outside Victoria, British Columbia, Little Giant’s 967-square-foot studio serves as a workplace and a physical expression of its approach to architecture. More treehouse than conventional office, the two-level structure is perched above a forest floor dense with moss, fern, and salal, with views extending across Saanich Inlet.

“At Little Giant, we see the creative act as an act of exploration,” says founder and principal Mark Burkart. “When starting any design process, the client and the architect both step into a process where the end result is unknown. This requires an act of courage. In this light, we see this studio as a basecamp.”

Photography by Chris Amat

That idea of a basecamp shaped the project from the beginning. Originally conceived as a flexible two-bedroom studio for an artist or musician, the building could also accommodate guests or tenants. Little Giant ultimately made it its own office and turned the space into a daily testing ground for the firm’s interest in what Burkart calls “Natural Modernism.”

Photography by Chris Amat

“We see ourselves as not only architects and designers, but as naturalists and explorers,” he says. “Our studio embraces nature by touching the ground lightly, and it’s all about leaning into ‘quiet.’”

Completed in 2024, the studio occupies the same property as a primary residence, making privacy and visual independence essential. Little Giant carefully threaded the building between established trees, preserving the existing canopy while orienting its primary spaces toward the ocean.

Photography by Chris Amat

“Navigating the dense peninsula required a surgical approach to ensure minimal impact on the existing canopy,” Burkart says. “This strategic placement was further complicated by the need to optimize ocean views while maintaining privacy.”

The steep terrain informed both the structure and the experience of arrival. A recessed concrete base anchors the lower level into the slope, while the upper volume appears to float above the understory. An elevated walkway leads to the entry, heightening the sensation of approaching a treehouse suspended within the canopy.

Photography by Chris Amat

The design studio used cantilevered beams and parallel trusses to minimize columns and full-height interior walls, allowing daylight to move through the windows and gabled ends without interruption. The structural openness echoes the forest itself, where tall trunks rise above a comparatively clear understory.

The architecture draws from the utilitarian buildings of the Pacific Northwest, particularly historic timber mills and coastal canneries. Rather than reproducing those typologies, Little Giant reduced them to a spare, familiar silhouette: a simple gabled volume defined by rhythmic vertical lines and a deep charcoal envelope.

Photography by Chris Amat

That envelope is the project’s most consequential design element. Cedar siding and screens wrap the upper floor, mirroring the verticality and tonal depth of the surrounding tree trunks. Some portions are opaque, others fixed, and several panels are operable, allowing occupants to adjust their relationship with sunlight, privacy, and the landscape throughout the day.

“The cedar cladding and screen allow the studio to engage the forest by day and act as a lantern at night,” Burkart says. “This is a direct reflection of our interest in a ‘Natural Minimalism’ and our pursuit to tie architecture to nature and its immediate context.”

In daylight, the darkened cedar settles into the shadows cast by the firs. Sunlight filters through the screen and creates shifting patterns across the pale interior, much like light passing through the tree canopy overhead. After dusk, the effect reverses. The dark exterior recedes, and the illuminated interior glows through the slats.

Photography by Chris Amat

“As night falls, this dark shell recedes entirely, allowing the internal light to permeate the screen and achieve a translucent lantern effect,” Burkart explains. “By prioritizing these darker tones, the architecture avoids competing with the surroundings, instead acting as a quiet shadow by day and a luminous beacon by night.”

The restrained palette continues inside, though the mood becomes noticeably lighter. Hemlock ceilings and muted finishes form a neutral backdrop for the shifting Pacific light, while vein-cut titanium travertine introduces layers and striations that recall the region’s sandy beaches. A fireplace adds another sensory dimension, bringing warmth and sound into an otherwise quiet interior.

Materials were sourced locally whenever possible, with Little Giant and contractor Maximillian Huxley developing numerous cladding mockups before arriving at the final finish. Even the stone removed during excavation was retained and repurposed as landscape walls near the entrance, making the architecture feel as though it emerged from the rocky terrain rather than being added atop it.

Photography by Chris Amat

The layout is divided vertically. The open, vaulted upper level contains the kitchen, dining area, living room, guest room, and powder room, positioning the shared spaces for the strongest views and daylight. The lower floor, embedded within the hillside, holds the primary suite, laundry, storage, and mechanical areas.

Art and furnishings add warmth without distracting from the architecture. Works by Ed Hughes, Gordon Smith, and David Blackwood appear alongside ceramics by Of The Earth and a custom live-edge studio table designed by Little Giant and built by Paul Owen. A suspended white pendant by A-N-D Lighting and a black pendant by Vibia contribute to a carefully calibrated lighting scheme intended to preserve the studio’s glow after sunset.

Photography by Chris Amat

For Burkart, the building’s real value lies less in any individual detail than in the conditions it creates for working. “Designing in a studio that is perched in the trees, with a fireplace going and views over the ocean, is a truly unique experience,” he says.

Little Giant’s studio may borrow the image of a cabin in the woods, but it is not an escape from architectural practice. It is an argument for approaching that practice differently: slowly, attentively, and with enough quiet to notice what the landscape is already doing.

Editorial Transparency: This article was developed with the assistance of AI tools, which may have been used for research, outlining, editing, or copy refinement. Reporting, fact-checking, and editorial decisions were made by the Design Milk editorial team.

Rather than disguising its 1980s origins, this three-story Toronto penthouse embraces them. Designed by Dvira Interiors for a creative couple in their 30s, the once-dated penthouse has been transformed into a layered sanctuary where sculptural architecture, earthy materials, and global influences coexist in effortless balance. 

Photography by Lauren Miller

Located near Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market, the residence already possessed distinctive architectural bones, including subtly curved walls and dramatic half-arched windows characteristic of late-’80s modernism. Rather than flattening those details into something more conventionally contemporary, founder and principal designer Dvira Ovadia chose to amplify them. 

“Throughout the apartment we discovered original walls that had subtle curves to them, a design feature we chose to celebrate and enhance further in our design,” Ovadia says. “By emphasizing and refining these curved walls, we reinforced the building’s inherent architectural language.”

Photography by Lauren Miller

 The homeowners’ travels also informed the design, though the references remain subtle rather than literal. Drawing on the warmth of the Arizona desert, the lushness of Bali, and an effortless California ease, Dvira Interiors translated those influences into a palette of white oak stained in deeper honey tones, travertine, green marble, and richly textured finishes that feel warm, layered, and grounded. 

Photography by Lauren Miller

Wallpaper becomes an architectural element rather than merely decorative, appearing across walls—and even ceilings—to create immersive environments unique to each room. A burlap-inspired covering envelops the primary bedroom, cork wallpaper adds tactile depth to the office, and lush botanical patterns reinforce the home’s connection to the outdoors.  

“We drew strong inspiration from the jungle, most notably through the creative and expressive use of wallpaper throughout the condo, layering pattern and texture to bring depth and a sense of escapism to each space,” Ovadia says. The homeowners’ appreciation for the eclectic interiors of Austin’s Proper Hotel served as a point of reference for the home’s layered mix of pattern, texture, and atmosphere. 

Photography by Lauren Miller

That immersive quality reaches its peak on the third floor, where terracotta limewash coats nearly every surface, from walls and ceilings to doors and trim. The monochromatic treatment wraps the family room in cocooning warmth that shifts beautifully throughout the day as sunlight filters through the home’s expansive windows. Combined with a palette of earthy neutrals and honey-toned wood, the result is a retreat that feels worlds away from downtown Toronto.  

Photography by Lauren Miller

Equally compelling is the penthouse’s relationship with the outdoors. Multiple balconies and patios extend from nearly every room, softening the line between inside and out while filling the home with natural light. The main level flows seamlessly between the kitchen, dining, living areas, and exterior terraces, while an open-to-above lounge visually connects the upper floors. 

“We set out to create a home that feels equally suited for living, working, and entertaining,” Ovadia explains. “By fully embracing design through layered color, pattern, and texture across every room, wall, custom cabinetry, and furnishing, we achieved an atmosphere that feels immersive, welcoming, and uniquely their own.”  

Photography by Lauren Miller

The renovation also demanded creative problem-solving. Existing condominium infrastructure meant plumbing, HVAC, and ventilation systems could not easily be relocated. Midway through construction, the kitchen required a significant redesign after the original ventilation strategy proved impossible. Elsewhere, unforeseen plumbing conditions in the primary ensuite led to new bulkheads that the designers softened with graceful curves, transforming construction constraints into architectural features that now feel entirely intentional rather than imposed.  

The finished residence resists easy categorization. It borrows the warmth of Mediterranean interiors, the lushness of tropical landscapes, and the sculptural confidence of late-modern architecture while remaining deeply personal to its owners. By working with the building’s original architecture instead of against it, Dvira Interiors created a home that feels at once rooted in its past and unmistakably contemporary. 

Photography by Lauren Miller

Lauren Rottet already had a designer’s mindset as a child, creating structures at her home in Waco, Texas. “I did not realize it at the time, as I was only 5, but I spent most of my time outside building treehouses, digging lakes, and master-planning our backyard,” she says.

Rottet’s family moved to Houston, where she was impressed by the various structures that dotted the downtown skyline—but was disappointed by the offices, which she thought were boring. In a full-circle moment years later, when Rottet was an architect at SOM, she designed spaces in the very same places and made sure they were just as compelling as the exteriors.

She founded Rottet Studio in 2008, and since then the firm has completed more than 90 million square feet of built design. Her contemporary aesthetic is steeped in luxury, seen in the hotel properties, private residences, and even the ships that she envisions.

Rottet launched her furniture company, Rottet Collection, in 2017 as a complement to her signature interiors. With lines that reference the art of James Turrell and Robert Irwin, the pieces double as sculpture in a variety of settings.

Today, Lauren Rottet joins us for Friday Five!

Photography by Rebecca Moses

1. My Siberian Cat

I love working on architectural and design plans at home with my Siberian partner, Sirree.

Art courtesy of Rebecca Moses

2. Rebecca Moses Artwork

I have always been enchanted by the art pieces of my dear friend Rebecca Moses. Her kindness and grace are matched only by her immense talent.

Photography by Scott Frances Photography

3. George Nelson and Gordon Chadwick 1962 Home in Montauk

I own a replica of this home, which was built by the son of the original owners using the original plans and original built-in millwork, light fixtures, and some furnishings. This home is one of the most wonderful examples of mid-century modernism, when creatives like Nelson, Charles, and Ray Eames embraced organic shapes to create an emotional bond between humans and nature. Every room in the home is a hexagon, used for the efficiency of its shape.

Photography by Lauren Rottet

4. The Delano Hotel in Miami Beach

The newly reopened hotel has kept some of the elements that have made it iconic through the years, such as the depth of the gorgeous pool.

Photography by Lauren Rottet

5. Beaches

The dichotomy of the powerful international connection and the perceived calmness is empowering and inspiring to me. I look, and all I see is light blue, dark blue, and many shades with hints of yellow sunlight or gray clouds—the calmness rests my mind and allows me to think. I always come back full of ideas and energy. I find that all beaches inspire, but not all relax. Some terrify, some motivate, and some calm. For me, it takes knowing a beach to relax around it.

Works by Lauren Rottet

Photography courtesy of Hilton

1. Conrad Washington D.C. at City Center, Washington, D.C.

The Conrad Washington D.C. is a classic representation of understated, stately power, reassurance, and comfort from early America to now. Herzog de Meuron created a building uniquely shaped by its surroundings to graciously house the Conrad. When designing a new hotel, I look at a city’s historical context and current influences.

Photography courtesy of Lauren Rottet

2. River Oaks Houston

The building underwent a major renovation and complete overhaul of a 1963 concrete structure. Though it is now completely different aesthetically from the original building, it still preserves one of Houston’s great modern structures. The clean lines and modernist, minimalist attitude of the original building were maintained and enhanced. The modernist notion of indoor and outdoor spaces blending seamlessly is celebrated in our design approach.

Photography courtesy of Corinthia

3. The Surrey Hotel

The Surrey will always hold a special place in my heart as my first hotel design that was ranked the #1 hotel in New York for 10 years in a row.

Photography courtesy of Lauren Rottet

4. Paul Hastings LLP’s New York Office

This office set the tone for my interiors career, and the lessons I took from this project continue to inspire me through smart spatial planning, lighting design, strategically placed mirrors, and art curation.

Photography courtesy of Lauren Rottet

5. The Stolle House

It is a contemporary reflection of a Mediterranean home. The rustic details combined with contemporary architectural details are a dream.

Pierre Bonnard, the French Post-Impressionist artist, never painted a bathtub as something to hide. In his interiors, the tub sits in the same light as the breakfast table, surrounded by wallpaper and windows, folded into the rhythm of an ordinary day rather than sealed behind a door. This apartment in Barcelona’s Turó Park neighborhood echoes that sentiment. A bathtub sits in full view of the living room, framed by an arched doorway and set beneath a vaulted ceiling of glazed green tile, as though someone had simply left out the wall.

Photography by Marta Vidal

Completed earlier this year, the 635-square-foot apartment was designed by SIGLA Studio for a client relocating to Barcelona. Her previous home was composed of fragmented rooms with little natural light. A new city presented an opportunity for a different way of living, so she traded that compartmentalization for open space and uninterrupted light. At the center of the resulting plan is a doorless bathroom that can be screened by glass when privacy is required.

Photography by Marta Vidal

Along one side runs a galley kitchen wrapped in reflective aluminum-clad plywood, practical and understated. The bathroom, by contrast, is the belle of the ball—the space around which the apartment is organized. A freestanding stainless steel vessel sink sits beside the tub, while fluted glass catches and scatters the available light.

Photography by Marta Vidal

Photography by Marta Vidal

The enclosure is entirely bespoke. “The pivoting glass enclosure was custom designed by our studio and fabricated by our local metalworker specifically for this project,” says SIGLA Studio co-founder Bernat Riera. “It isn’t a standard commercial system or branded product.” During everyday use, the enclosure remains open, allowing natural light to pass through the bathing area and into the rest of the apartment.

Photography by Marta Vidal

SIGLA Studio’s response was rooted in a simple question: Why should the kitchen alone get to be sociable while every other private function stays hidden? The design removes the rigid hierarchy that typically separates public and private spaces, replacing it with a compact central volume that brings the kitchen, bathroom, and dressing area together.

In Studio City, a Los Angeles neighborhood known for its blend of privacy and lush greenery, sits a modern sanctuary. Here, architecture, landscape, and interiors were conceived to strengthen the connection between nature and residential space. Designed by Shlomi Sfadia of SLS Properties with architecture by Avi Galili and landscape design by Studio Elico, the home evokes the feeling of a private retreat—despite being a full-time residence.

Photography by Nils Timm

A two-level home with roughly 5,550 square feet of interior space, Obsidian House was conceptualized to maximize the relationship between interior living and the surrounding landscape. Its showstopping kitchen is anchored by an impressive 24-foot indoor planter, while the open-plan main living area flows seamlessly between the kitchen, dining, and lounge spaces. Large glazing panels and sliding doors reinforce the home’s spatial flow, allowing natural light and greenery to extend deep into the interior.

Photography by Nils Timm

For Sfadia, the 24-foot planter shaped the early stages of the design process. “I wanted nature to be more than something you looked at through a window; I wanted it to become part of the architecture itself,” he says. “It became the heart of the house, reinforcing the feeling that you’re living within a garden rather than simply next to one.” Once the central planter was established, it influenced every subsequent design decision.

Photography by Nils Timm

In direct contrast to the bright hues typical of Southern California properties, Obsidian House’s color story aptly reflects its name. Deep charcoals and muted wood tones lend the residence a quiet drama, while limestone and layered greenery add livability and warmth. The palette creates depth and permanence, complemented by rich materials and textured finishes suited to the surrounding climate.

Photography by Nils Timm

Charred wood cladding, lava stone, limestone, and textured finishes were selected for their raw, tactile qualities, helping connect the home to its natural setting. Prioritizing material resilience and the ability to develop visual richness over time, the design team opted for organic finishes and climate-appropriate materials.

“Throughout the day, the house changes with the light,” Sfadia says. “It’s a home that reveals itself over time, rather than all at once.”

Photography by Nils Timm

Studio Elico founder Eli Bahar led the landscape design, helping transform the house into an inviting oasis where nature is not merely decorative but seamlessly extends into the architecture. Vegetation and landscape elements are woven throughout the property, refining the home’s sculptural forms and contributing to the space’s sensory dialogue.

Photography by Nils Timm

Bahar says that the collaboration between Avi Galili and SLS Properties was continuous from the earliest stages of the project. “We carefully coordinated planter locations, tree placements, views, lighting, and circulation so that the landscape became an extension of the architecture,” he explains. “Every space was designed to be experienced as one unified environment rather than separate disciplines.”

Photography by Nils Timm

The challenge was to create impact through atmosphere and material consistency rather than through spectacle. From conception to completion, the project took 18 months, resulting in a two-level residence with five bedrooms and six baths.

Obsidian House prioritizes fluidity and connection through its open-plan living areas. Outdoor patios create a seamless dialogue between exterior and interior spaces, while the kitchen’s indoor planter transforms a functional environment into a living tableau. Outfitted with a floating sink and a mirror positioned against a floor-to-ceiling window, the powder room integrates greenery directly into its material composition. A dedicated media room adds a sense of quiet intimacy to the home.

Photography by Nils Timm

The transitions throughout the house, from intimate spaces to light-filled courtyards, were designed by Avi Galili with great intention. “I’m most proud of the restraint,” he says. “It’s easy to create dramatic architecture by adding more, but much harder to create it through proportion, materiality, and carefully choreographed spaces.” The architecture creates moments where nature is not observed from a distance but experienced as part of daily life.

Photography by Nils Timm

Together, the interiors, architecture, and landscape design create a stunning oasis for Southern California living, creating a quiet retreat from the surrounding city. From the moment of arrival, natural materials, filtered light, water, and lush planting create an immediate sense of calm. As Sfadia says: “If someone walks in and immediately feels like they’re on vacation without knowing exactly why, then the design has done its job.”

Photography by Nils Timm

In the rapidly densifying landscape of Toronto, where a growing array of boisterous architectural statement pieces compete for attention, a new home designed by interior designer Gillian Gillies stands as a welcome reprieve. Sustainability, so often associated with clinical engineering, soaring towers, expansive campuses, and stark, performance-driven aesthetics, is here reimagined as a “warm embrace.” Located in the upmarket “urban village” neighborhood of Leaside, the Net Zero Ready Home project proves that advanced environmental stewardship and joyful, idiosyncratic interiors can coexist.

Photography by Doublespace Photography

The project is the result of a tight collaboration between Gillian Gillies (the designer’s eponymous practice), Dewson Architects, and builders Cliff & Evans. While the technical foundation is rooted in passive house principles—featuring meticulously tested air and moisture control layers to ensure a consistent year-round temperature—the sensory quality of the home is defined by texture, color, and family connection. “Comfort was paramount,” Gillies says, “and that meant a home that was properly constructed as well as [comfortable furniture].”

Photography by Doublespace Photography

Gillies, originally from Edinburgh, brings a sensibility rooted in the permanence of neoclassical and Georgian architecture, translated here through a palette of natural materials including white oak, walnut, and wool. Each room is tailored to its intended function, while bold floral wallcoverings and textured tile add personality. Rather than the sterile “newness” typical of contemporary high-performance homes, the interiors embrace deliberate juxtaposition.

Photography by Doublespace Photography

“We don’t perfectly match textiles,” Gillies explains. “Instead, we like a little bit of tension, a little bit of a mismatch that makes the home feel more settled.”

This philosophy is most evident in the communal spaces, where the design explicitly fosters human interaction. A double-sided sofa in the living room invites simultaneous yet distinct modes of engagement. A floating box window seat in the foyer provides a quiet nook for reflection. The color story—a grounding base of greens and blues punctuated by vibrant flashes of yellow and red—mirrors the family’s love of travel and the natural world.

Photography by Doublespace Photography

Throughout the four-story structure, strategically placed architectural and decorative lighting shapes the mood. A Lutron HomeWorks system seamlessly transitions the atmosphere from energetic to intimate. Sculptural pendants from Montreal-based boutique producers Lambert & Fils and Gabriel Scott add a layer of contemporary craft. Vintage Brazilian furniture and Oaxacan woven baskets reinforce the space’s warm, tactile quality.

Photography by Doublespace Photography

Ultimately, this Toronto home stands as a testament to the idea that thoughtful architecture can improve everyday life. By prioritizing the wellbeing of both the planet and a specific family, Gillies created a structure that does more than just store carbon; it’s a space that holds life in all its complexity.

“We create homes to be lived in and not simply looked at,” she says. In striking this careful balance, the designer has created a home that will undoubtedly last through the generations.

Photography by Doublespace Photography