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Make the most with the home you have. Modern renovations are one of the most popular design stories on Dwell. Renovation presents challenges, and smart design delivers solutions. Modern design and architecture allow old construction to meet new ideas and materials. Hire an architect or interior designer whenever possible, because professional training helps mitigate issues and yield truly beautiful spaces.

A Steel-and-Glass Addition With a Giant Hangar Door Maximizes Indoor/Outdoor Living
In Chicago's Wicker Park, the conversion of a two-flat Italianate building into a single-family home calls for a modern,...
8 Times Historical Architecture Took a Walk on the Modern Side
Traditional architecture is something that can and should be preserved whenever possible.
Renovation: A Breezy Modern Addition Opens Up a Historic Melbourne Home
A family with three young sons asked Mitsuori Architects to renovate and expand their venerable Victorian house to accommodate...
Modern Addition in Louisville
Working creatively to meet strict preservation codes, architect Roberto de Leon affixes a modern annex onto a historic Louisville...
A Converted Warehouse Loft in the San Francisco Bay Area Seeks $950K
The radiant space in Emeryville features 19-foot ceilings, exposed wood beams, and a gabled skylight.
Rising From the Ruins: Homes Built on Architectural Remains
While the English word ruin comes from the Latin "ruina"—meaning “destruction” or “downfall”—ruins can be the literal and...
5 Modern Dishwashers
Dishwashers don’t seem to hold the same cache as some of the more lust-worthy kitchen appliances (looking at you, gas ranges).
See How Sliding-Glass Pavilions Transformed a Renovated Melbourne Home
B.E. Architecture unifies new and old in a Melbourne residence, honoring the existing structure while introducing flexible glass...
An Interior Designer Helps His Mother Turn Her 1960s Chicago Condo Into a Colorful Haven
Andreas Kokkino persuades his mom to toss all her old furniture and start fresh.
Grids and Colors Inspire the Renovation of a Graphic Designer's Pink L.A. Bungalow
On a sloped plot in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, an almost 100-year-old anonymous bungalow was rendered in pink,...
This Renovated Sea Ranch Retreat Is an Absolute Must-See
A couple enlist Butler Armsden Architects and Leverone Design to reimagine their home as a multigenerational meeting point.
A Hidden Penthouse Sits Atop a Historic Cast-Iron Building in New York
Located in Tribeca, this residential development consists of a complete renovation and new construction—both concealed behind one...
A Modern Glass Addition in Belgium
For this tiny house in the Belgian forest, a little extra square footage comes in the form of a glassed-in addition with a...
How to Add a Modern Twist to Any Kitchen Style
It doesn’t always take a full-scale renovation to make a classic kitchen feel more modern.
Old Meets New in This Modern Extension to an Edwardian House in Melbourne
Ninety-nine years after this 1915 Edwardian-era house was built, Australian firm Preston Lane transformed the interior via a...
Alluring Meets Affordable With These 5 Chicago Prefabs
Despite its compact urban setting, prefab homes are becoming increasingly favored in Chicago, Illinois.
A Progressive Melbourne Development Company Helps Facilitate an Exquisite Home Renovation
The BuildHer Collective, a development company whose aim is to empower women to tackle their own construction projects, teams up...
2 New Gable Roofs Brighten Up an Edwardian Cottage in Melbourne
The Melbourne beachside suburb of Sandringham is filled with period houses such as this Edwardian timber home—but this one has...
15 Modern Additions to Traditional Homes
We believe that building a new addition (or many) to your home is exciting.
Modern Cottage Renovation in Michigan
A sagging ranch house is reborn as a spacious cabin with a soaring roof in Harbert, Michigan.
Clever Storage Solutions and a Shifted Layout Revive This 1950s Chicago Home
When Carly and Brad Moeller were searching for a new home in the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood of Chicago, they came across a...
The Real Chicago
If your only experience touring Chicago is from watching Ferris Bueller's Day Off, architect Brad Lynch has some insider tips for...
A Brick-Clad Modern Family Home in Chicago
Once ashamed of his lackluster Chicago abode, architect Brad Lynch tore it down and started over with a family home that’s part...
A Modern Prefab Addition to a Midcentury California Classic
A 1950s Joseph Esherick home in Berkeley, California, inspires an addition that pays homage to the past yet is poised to host the...
Renovating a Modern House in a Historic District
What constitutes good modern design in a historic district? Kansas City architecture firm Kem Studio proposes a solution that...
5 Vital Tips for Sticking to Your Renovation Budget
Keep things from getting out of hand with these insider tips.
Modern Lilong House Renovation in Shanghai
Seeking a stronger connection with his adopted city, Edoardo Allegranti revamps a lilong house in China’s bustling municipality.
5 Kitchen Renovations Done for Less Than $100K
Kitchen renovations can be daunting, but here’s some expert inspiration to get you going.
Top 5 Homes of the Week With Awe-Inspiring Renovations
Rearranged home layouts, refreshed kitchens, and updated dining rooms take these modern home renovations to the next level.
Top 5 Jaw-Dropping Home Renovations of the Week
The best renovations restore homes without sacrificing their original essence.
Soak In the Greatness of This Gorgeous Melbourne Addition
Pandolfini Architects melds steel, concrete, and oak in an elegant, double-height rear addition to a 100-year-old residence.
Victorian Home in London Gets a Modern Office Addition
Inspired by the aperture of a camera, an angular home expansion brings focus to a new live/work space.
This May Be the Most Ecologically Ambitious Home Renovation on the Planet
On Bainbridge Island, off the Washington coast, Charlie Hellstern Interior Design and The Miller Hull Partnership create the...
A 1957 Midcentury in Seattle Receives a Striking Makeover
By removing walls, inserting new windows, and using a lighter color palette, Mowery Marsh Architects give this historic home a...
An 11-Year Renovation Helps a Couple Grow Simpatico With the Original Homeowner’s Quirky Vision
An inspired, if poorly constructed, Los Angeles home gets a proper retrofit that preserves its many idiosyncrasies.
In Berlin, an Auto Repair Shop Becomes a High-Performance Home for a Painter and Her Family
Playing into the building’s raw, industrial character, Studio Karhard converts a space to be fit for children—without losing its...

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