Wow Home Idea

Designer Garrow Kedigian buts a bold twist on neutrals in his Montreal townhouse.  Paul Raeside Exterior Designer Garrow Kedigian's handsome Montreal weekend house is a unique L-shaped corner townhouse built in 1923. Staircase An homage to Canada's fur-trading history, Antilocarpa carpet from Stark creates a dramatic stair runner. "It's a great pattern, contemporary but still classic," says Kedigian. Trim painted in glossy Benjamin Moore Black plays up the home's architectural details. Reproductions of artworks by Géricault are featured throughout. Paul Raeside Living Room In the living room, walls and moldings are painted in a warm beige, Benjamin Moore's Rattan, to create a lustrous, cocooning environment. Simple gold details add to the sense of luxury. The vintage coffee table is by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, and the custom sofa is upholstered in Rogers & Goffigon's Biarritz. The armchair on the right is covered in a Pierre Frey velvet, an...

Live like a rock star (if only for a long weekend) in these impressive rentals. AirBnB A Modern Apartment in Iceland For a quiet break, rent one in three apartments in this beautiful setting, located just outside of Akureyri – the capital of North Iceland. If you're feeling adventurous, go ride horses under the midnight sun during the summer, or go sledding with huskies in the winter. From €73 per night. More information here. AirBnB A Poolside Porch in St. Barths Just steps away from the beach in Petit Cul de Sac Bay, this luxury villa combines architectural minimalism with effortless luxury. Airport transfers and a daily maid service are included, leaving you to sit back, relax and enjoy your stay. From €703 per night. More information here. AirBnB A Dream House in Sant Llorenç If you're looking for total privacy, this contemporary take on the traditional finca (a rural Spanish estate) does the job perfectly. Designed by award-winning architect Andrau Be...

Deasy/Penner & Partners When you envision a mobile home, it's kind of hard not to fall back on the stereotype: cramped bedrooms, low ceilings, dated paneling, thread-bare carpeting and a less-than-ideal outdoor space.   But then you visit Malibu's Paradise Cove Mobile Home Park  and stumble upon what seems to be a prettier-than-most modular home — neatly trimmed in white, complete with a matching wraparound porch.  The remodeled, beachside abode (only a golf cart ride away from Point Dume beach) consists of two bedrooms and two bathrooms, all with hardwood floors. High, tray ceilings make the open living room and kitchen feel even more spacious. The kitchen has granite finishes and features a Wolf stove and custom cabinets (when was the last time you saw a trailer with those?).  Neutral tones keep the interior simple and clean, especially considering the sweet additions it boasts — like a...

ARCHILOGIC In 2013, an English engineer named Dr. Hugh Pratt asked the village of Wraxall, England for permission to build a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home on his 12-acre property. The house originally was planned for a site in Santa Barbara, California but was never realized, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation gave its blessing for this revival. As Curbed reports, Pratt's petition was denied by the town council, which ruled that the modern design wasn't "innovative" enough for an exception to build on its Green Belt Land. Pratt appealed the ruling, but his appeal was also denied. Lucky for us, Archilogic, a firm that creates 3D architectural models has created a virtual and interactive tour of the home ( below ).  Sadly for Pratt, who pumped more than $$$,000 into his effort to build the design, the council's decision seems final. And this design will be the the last of Wright's unrealized plans to get construction...

Skyscrapers aren't the only buildings that get architectural accolades. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) just selected the most structurally-pleasing homes in the U.S. for the 2015 Housing Awards. This AIA recognizes everything from affordable apartment buildings to university housing, but check out their top picks for family homes. Bridge House, South Kent, Connecticut This weekend home uses louvers to create maximum light exposure while reducing heating costs. Better still is the view — the house sits on a 300-foot ridge that runs parallel to the Housatonic River and a state park. David Sundberg, Esto Photographics David Sundberg, Esto Photographics David Sundberg, Esto Photographics Studhorse, Winthrop, Washington The courtyard of this desert home brings nature right into its four separate structures. Shared spaces like the family room and kitchen are in grouped in the main building, while private areas like the master bedroom are more isolated. Benjamin Benschneid...

This 2,600-square-foot house in Westerlo, New York, is nothing compared to the eight lavish garden rooms around the property. Max Kim-Bee Take it Outside Come spring, the number of "rooms" at Mario Pollan's country home in Westerlo, New York, jumps from eight to 16 — that is, if you count the breakfast nook underneath the barnside pergola, the sitting room in the cutting garden, and the other napping and dining spots that dot the 69-acre grounds. "On the weekends, I wake up very early," says Pollan, "and walk around with a cup of coffee, thinking about my next garden project." In this photo: English ironstone, Picardie glassware, and an antique pharmacy scale line the kitchen shelves. The pine butcher's block came with the house. Bright idea: A gingham paper tablecloth from West Elm, affixed with magnets, peps up a plain fridge. Max Kim-Bee Hallway The property, a former sheep farm, wasn't always such an indoor/outdoor escape; it needed an...