Natural Beauties

While the State of Israel often seems to be in a mire of conflict, the nation’s second-largest city has evolved into an oasis of creativity for some of today’s most forward-thinking designers. With European-style boulevards, state-of-the-art museums, and powdery beaches that look more like Miami than the Middle East, Tel Aviv is not only cultivating […]

New Englanders savor every second of the glorious summer weather because they know how fleeting it is. They and others from around the world eagerly pay seven- and eight-figure sums for Massachusetts homes on Cape Cod and the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard that they’ll use for 12 weeks a year at most. Each […]

1} Devon & Devon Jetset One of nearly a dozen new bathroom items recently introduced by the Italian company Devon & Devon, the Art Deco–inspired Jetset vanity ($10,590 to $14,329) features a granite or marble top and glossy lacquered-wood doors. The doors open and close via push buttons and are available in eight colors, including […]

Open Wide The Brazilian architect Arthur Casas has designed several homes at São Paulo’s Baleia Beach before, but never with such limitations. Presented with a narrow strip of land and clients who wanted to maximize the views of the stunning seascape, Casas created a 6,200-square-foot villa over three levels, with oversize windows and doors that […]

Mid-20th-century designers had a field day with the humble chair. George Nelson transformed it into a sleek triangle on slim metal legs; Verner Panton streamlined it into a heart-shaped silhouette on a stainless steel base; and Harry Bertoia fashioned one from a lattice of welded steel rods. While stunning, the chairs didn’t always look comfortable, […]

Le Marche, Italy Most visitors to central Italy stay in Tuscany and Umbria, but those who prefer the road less traveled may find Le Marche more to their liking. Near the hill town of Treia, Le Marche’s Casa Olivi delivers provincial authenticity with cutting-edge style. The 300-year-old farmhouse recently underwent a four-year restoration by the […]

1} VONDOM Designer Karim Rashid’s Sloo chairs for Vondom are composed of polyethylene and come in 10 colors, among them black and white, orange, green, and pink. From $375. +34.962.398.486, http://www.vondom.com 2} SUMMIT FURNITURE In profile, Summit’s Boomerang sofa is designed to recall the shape of a throwing club. Made from sustainable teak, the frame […]

LOS ANGELES Gulla I Luxury Furnishings Using natural woods, bronze, soft linen, and rich leather, the architect and designer Gulla Jonsdottir has created her debut line of furniture, the Tree Collection ($1,200 to $33,500). The 12-piece series mixes organic forms and contemporary styling and includes such standouts as the Split Chair, whose back resembles a […]

Points of View When Peter Becker set about creating for a married couple this 5,800-square-foot Italian-inspired home in the affluent enclave of Montecito, the Santa Barbara–based architect had the site’s sea and mountain views in mind. “Houses in Italy from the 16th and 17th centuries looked like Swiss cheese because they had a limited number […]

From a shark lagoon at a private residence on the Red Sea to historic parterre renovations on the Côte d’Azur, the projects of the landscape architect Robert E. Truskowski are anything but garden-variety. Since he was in his early 20s nearly four decades ago, Truskowski has kept his office in Laguna Beach, Calif., and built […]

HAWAII When Gregg Salter sought a blade for this one-of-a-kind kitchen knife, the Big Island–based craftsman commissioned Japan’s Kikuo Matsuda, whose knives are carried by tactical teams. “The exotic steels he uses are so strong and durable that you could cut through a car door and then shave your face with one of his knives,” […]

CALISTOGA, CALIFORNIA Since opening in 2004, the Auberge-managed Calistoga Ranch has garnered loyal clients who appreciate the resort’s secluded canyon location. The setting makes its guests feel at one with nature, and the San Francisco–based firm SB Architects designed both the hotel guest lodges and the residences in a modern Craftsman style that emphasizes the […]

Out of This World The dramatic terrain of Nuevo León’s Cumbres de Monterrey National Park proved irresistible for a 50-year-old entrepreneur, who bought 24 wooded acres in the park’s Chipinque nature reserve in 2003. He then commissioned the architect Mauricio Lobeira, a partner and cofounder of the firms Treceavo Plano (Nuevo León) and Ten Plus […]