SubscribeSign In
These Are the Most Popular Homes of March 2023View 11 Photos

These Are the Most Popular Homes of March 2023

From a refined Sydney midcentury to an open-plan Berlin flat with enhanced function and flow, clever renovations are getting a lot of attention.
Text by
View 11 Photos

March saw our readers drawn to simple spaces—redesigned and brand new—that tap into the refreshing feeling of a spring cleaning: custom millwork creates storage and efficiency in homes in Barcelona, Berlin, and Virginia, while the renovations of a 1950s Sydney home and a barn in upstate New York expand kitchen and living areas that better connect with the outdoors.

A Couple Build a Cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains for $150K—Without Borrowing a Cent

After staying in a tree house listed on Airbnb, Remo Kommnick and Emi Moore wanted their own getaway in the woods. "It was amazing being up in the trees," Remo says, "and so I bought a lot and thought I’d build a tree house." A forested four-acre property perched atop Blue Mountain, Virginia, was the perfect setting for their future fort. Enlisting the help of architect Patrick Farley, Remo requested a design that he could build himself.

After staying in a tree house listed on Airbnb, Remo Kommnick and Emi Moore wanted their own getaway in the woods. "It was amazing being up in the trees," Remo says, "and so I bought a lot and thought I’d build a tree house." A forested four-acre property perched atop Blue Mountain, Virginia, was the perfect setting for their future fort. Enlisting the help of architect Patrick Farley, Remo requested a design that he could build himself.

The 512-square-foot cabin is wrapped in black-stained siding that echoes the striations and colors of the surrounding trees. The bright living areas revolve around a central core that houses the bathroom, a sleeping loft, a Murphy bed, shelving, and a custom kitchen. Two round windows, a special request from Emi, frame sunrises to the southeast and sunsets to the northwest.

The 512-square-foot cabin is wrapped in black-stained siding that echoes the striations and colors of the surrounding trees. The bright living areas revolve around a central core that houses the bathroom, a sleeping loft, a Murphy bed, shelving, and a custom kitchen. Two round windows, a special request from Emi, frame sunrises to the southeast and sunsets to the northwest.

When Katya Potkin and Bart Stein bought their 20-plus-acre property in Ancramdale, a small hamlet about two hours north of New York City, there wasn’t a lot going on with the barn. "It was very bare bones," says Katya. "It didn’t have any insulation. It was basically wooden walls and a metal roof." They left it alone until the pandemic hit in 2020, prompting Katya and Bart to think about what they could do with the extra space.

When Katya Potkin and Bart Stein bought their 20-plus-acre property in Ancramdale, a small hamlet about two hours north of New York City, there wasn’t a lot going on with the barn. "It was very bare bones," says Katya. "It didn’t have any insulation. It was basically wooden walls and a metal roof." They left it alone until the pandemic hit in 2020, prompting Katya and Bart to think about what they could do with the extra space.

After revising the 675-square-foot floor plan, architect Doug Huntington covered the ceiling in salvaged wood and the floors in white oak. The large windows and doors punctuate cream-colored walls sheathed in sheetrock. The custom oak cabinetry and bunks work with more rustic wood elements, but exude refinement in their precise detailing. A rooftop solar array with an additional storage battery ensures off-grid capabilities.

After revising the 675-square-foot floor plan, architect Doug Huntington covered the ceiling in salvaged wood and the floors in white oak. The large windows and doors punctuate cream-colored walls sheathed in sheetrock. The custom oak cabinetry and bunks work with more rustic wood elements, but exude refinement in their precise detailing. A rooftop solar array with an additional storage battery ensures off-grid capabilities.

Conic Estudi transformed an industrial space into Vasto Gallery: a comfortable home in Poblenou, Barcelona, that doubles as an art space. The two programs are separated in the otherwise open plan by a service core detached from walls and ceiling. Built in wood, this central volume stands out as a freestanding element that allows an uninterrupted view of the interior.

Conic Estudi transformed an industrial space into Vasto Gallery: a comfortable home in Poblenou, Barcelona, that doubles as an art space. The two programs are separated in the otherwise open plan by a service core detached from walls and ceiling. Built in wood, this central volume stands out as a freestanding element that allows an uninterrupted view of the interior.

In the private section behind a wood partition, the bedroom and bathroom are merged. The bed, bathtub, and sink become loose elements within the room, while a shower, walk-in-closet, and toilet are placed at the core.

In the private section behind a wood partition, the bedroom and bathroom are merged. The bed, bathtub, and sink become loose elements within the room, while a shower, walk-in-closet, and toilet are placed at the core.

Intent on preserving the charm of their midcentury home in West Sydney, Alaina and Geraldine hired Studio Prineas to gently make updates, but also to create a more open, social arrangement for its indoor and outdoor spaces. On the main floor the firm opened the kitchen, living, and dining areas. The original balcony was also removed so the room was right on top of the garden. With the windows open, the whole living area feels like a covered veranda.

Intent on preserving the charm of their midcentury home in West Sydney, Alaina and Geraldine hired Studio Prineas to gently make updates, but also to create a more open, social arrangement for its indoor and outdoor spaces. On the main floor the firm opened the kitchen, living, and dining areas. The original balcony was also removed so the room was right on top of the garden. With the windows open, the whole living area feels like a covered veranda.

Prineas revitalized the home’s De Stijl–style geometries, both in the architecture and interior design, using thick black edges for cabinetry, door frames, and window frames against an all-white background and minimal primary color. The look is particularly distinctive in the renovated kitchen with its simple white cabinetry and an island with red facing.

Prineas revitalized the home’s De Stijl–style geometries, both in the architecture and interior design, using thick black edges for cabinetry, door frames, and window frames against an all-white background and minimal primary color. The look is particularly distinctive in the renovated kitchen with its simple white cabinetry and an island with red facing.

Before Ester Bruzkus Architekten transformed the top-floor apartment into a cozy home for a Berlin couple, the empty apartment had floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides and exposed concrete walls on the other sides. Rather than create a series of conventional rooms that would close off the sense of openness, a single millwork box was positioned away from the walls to make rooms between it and the existing walls.

Before Ester Bruzkus Architekten transformed the top-floor apartment into a cozy home for a Berlin couple, the empty apartment had floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides and exposed concrete walls on the other sides. Rather than create a series of conventional rooms that would close off the sense of openness, a single millwork box was positioned away from the walls to make rooms between it and the existing walls.

The box, lacquered in a deep green, works with warm golds and violets and brown tones found elsewhere in the apartment to play off the cool concrete ceiling and wall. Contrasting materials and colors and carefully crafted details make a home that is at once cool and cozy.

The box, lacquered in a deep green, works with warm golds and violets and brown tones found elsewhere in the apartment to play off the cool concrete ceiling and wall. Contrasting materials and colors and carefully crafted details make a home that is at once cool and cozy.

Published

Topics

Roundups

Get the Dwell Newsletter

Be the first to see our latest home tours, design news, and more.