Behind the dark facades of these farmhouse-inspired cabins in northern Italy, designed by local studio Pedevilla Architects, is a pair of bright homes that combine traditional elements with modern detailing (+ slideshow). More about Alpine cabins by Pedevilla Architekten build on traditions of Tyrolean farmhouses
Two angular skylights funnel daylight into a kitchen and dining area at the rear of this renovated house in Sydney by local office Carter Williamson Architects. More about Faceted ceilings direct sunlight into Sydney home by Carter Williamson Architects
Jonathan Tuckey Design has refurbished the interior of a semi-detached house in London and added a dining room extension with a latticed wooden ceiling (+ slideshow). More about Doyle Gardens extension by Jonathan Tuckey features a criss-crossing wooden ceiling
A cedar-clad balcony spans the facade of this house designed by Hyde + Hyde, which is perched on the edge of cliff on the southern Welsh shoreline (+ slideshow). More about Welsh seaside home by Hyde + Hyde sits on the edge of a cliff
Behind the clean white facade of this building in Shiga, Japan, is a cafe filled with wooden furniture and plants, and an apartment where clothing rails and shelves take the place of walls (+ slideshow). More about Clothing rails function as partitions inside apartment and cafe by Alts Design Office
Stepped planters flank the stairways that ascend through the atrium and over the roof of this concrete house in Singapore by Formwerkz Architects. More about Formwerkz Architects' Terrace House is covered with plants inside and out
Continuous wooden elements create treads in both upper and lower sections of this U-shaped staircase at a Mumbai apartment by Mexican studio Arquitectura en Movimiento Workshop . More about Waves of wood form staircase at SDM Apartment by Arquitectura en Movimiento Workshop
A staircase spirals like a helter skelter around the curving internal walls of this minimal white house in Tokyo by local office Atelier Norisada Maeda (+ slideshow). More about Atelier Norisada Maeda's Orange house features a curvy interior and a glass floor
Interior architecture firm Amos and Amos has completed two penthouse apartments in London, featuring furniture and accessories by British designers including Tom Dixon, Lee Broom and Bethan Gray (+ slideshow). More about Amos and Amos champions British design in penthouses at 21 Wapping Lane
This house in Oxford, England, by Waind Gohil Architects mirrors the style and shape of older terraced houses on its street, but features a pared-back design to distinguish it as a contemporary addition (+ slideshow). More about Waind Gohil Architects puts a contemporary spin on Oxford's gabled houses
Internal lighting glows through the perforated brick wall of this Melbourne home by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects, which was designed as an abstraction of a typical Victorian-era residence (+ slideshow). More about Harold Street Residence by Jackson Clements Burrows disguises its size with a twisted roof
Perforated metal shutters give this Buenos Aires apartment building by Esteban-Tannenbaum Architects an ever-changing facade (+ slideshow). More about Perforated shutters fold back to reveal apartments at Sucre 4444 by Esteban-Tannenbaum
After 15 years of incremental work, architect Niall McLaughlin has restored and extended a London house with a subterranean gallery (+ slideshow). More about Niall McLaughlin extends Duncan Terrace house with translucent passageway and gallery
Dutch studio i29 has designed a minimal stainless-steel kitchen island for a classical Paris apartment (+ slideshow). More about Slim kitchen island installed at Home 10 by i29
UK architecture firm 5th Studio has added a shingle-clad extension to a house in a listed former inn that is raised above the flood level of the River Cam in Cambridgeshire (+ slideshow). More about Wildfowl Cottage extension by 5th Studio is clad with shingles and raised over a flood plain
Canadian studio Chevalier Morales Architectes has reinterpreted the traditional Swiss chalet to create a top-heavy timber house in the mountain landscape of eastern Quebec (+ slideshow). More about Canadian lodge by Chevalier Morales references Alpine chalets
Rammed earth walls built using soil from the desert site are wrapped in a protective weathered steel shell at this courtyard house near Phoenix by local firm Wendell Burnette Architects (+ slideshow). More about Desert Courtyard House by Wendell Burnette features rammed earth walls
An old farmhouse in France's picturesque Loire Valley has been converted into a summer retreat by Paris architects Septembre (+ slideshow). More about Septembre converts old French farmhouse into holiday home
Japanese firm Shinichi Ogawa & Associates added a glazed wall to the elongated facade of this house and gallery in Japan's Mie prefecture so the florist who owns it can look out into the forest (+ slideshow). More about Elongated gallery and house by Shinichi Ogawa creates a forest home for a florist
Taiwan studio Tai & Architectural Design kept this apartment in Taipei "as minimal as possible" so it can be easily reverted to its original state (+ slideshow). More about Tai & Architectural Design keeps it simple for Taipei apartment interior