GRAPHĒ

The Dining Room Is Also a Bedroom—and an Office—at This Renovated Athens Flat

A pocket door, fold-down bed, and pop-out desk built into one wall make it the most versatile space in the apartment.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: Athens, Greece

Architect: Georgios Apostolopoulos Architects / @georgios_apostolopoulos

Footprint: 860 square feet

Photographer: Lorenzo Zandri / @lorenzozandri

From the Architect: "The renovation on this 1970s apartment in Kifisia, Greece, began with subtraction. All internal partitions were removed to reveal the apartment’s spatial potential and expose the existing structure. The project questions the conventional role of room-making in domestic space. Instead of rebuilding walls, the apartment is conceived as a continuous interior where light and movement flow without interruption. What remains is the apartment’s essential form, organized by a series of joinery elements that define use without enclosing space. At the center of the plan, the kitchen becomes the main social device. Treated less as a room and more as an inhabited object, it forms a solid volume that gathers cooking, working, and meeting around it. The island anchors the space, inviting people to move around it and use it from all sides. It supports daily rituals without prescribing them, encouraging a more open and informal way of living. Around it, living and dining areas unfold through gentle transitions instead of separate rooms.

"This continuity flows into the main bedroom, which feels like a natural extension of the living area, not a self-contained room. The vanity extends beyond the bathroom enclosure, wardrobes act as layered filters, and privacy becomes adaptable, negotiated through occupation and use rather than predetermined by walls. At the opposite end of the apartment, the idea of a second bedroom is replaced by a flexible joinery system. A fold-down bed, integrated desk, and sliding panels allow the space to shift between sleeping, working, and storing. It functions less like a room and more like an adaptable domestic device. Materials are kept simple, with a monochromatic palette that keeps the interior quiet and allows the original structure to remain present. Slim-frame windows bring maximum light into the interiors, reinforcing the sense of continuity between spaces. The project rethinks the domestic interior as a system of spatial relationships, not a collection of rooms. Boundaries remain fluid, privacy is adjustable, and the organization of everyday life emerges through occupation."

See the full story on Dwell.com: The Dining Room Is Also a Bedroom—and an Office—at This Renovated Athens Flat

They May Be Divisive, But I’m Never Getting Rid of My Stone Bath Mat

Haters say they don’t live up to their marketing claims, but in seven years of use, my diatomaceous earth mat has remained superior to its cloth counterparts.

One of the lasting influences that my former roommate, Liz, has on me stems from her refusal to deal with a regular bath mat. Soggy, mildewy bath mats grossed her out—and they have always grossed me out too, but I had never considered an alternative. In 2009, when we lived together, we used a bamboo shower mat.

Long after Liz moved away, and many roommates later, I still had the wooden mat. It wasn’t perfect, considering that water would still pool under the slats, but it was a lot better than throwing away and repurchasing crappy textile mats that would never seem to get clean.

About a decade later, while I was in a friend’s bathroom, I noticed a different kind of bath mat, made of a slab of thin stone called diatomaceous earth. It was from a brand called Dorai, a company that my friend had known about through her job at Kickstarter when the founders of Dorai had used the crowdsourcing fundraising platform to bring their diatomaceous earth products to market in 2019.

Unlike traditional bath mats that absorb moisture and generate bacteria, the Bath Stone™ Mat is designed to quickly remove water, actually helping prevent mold.

Diatomaceous earth is a firm but subtly porous, quick-drying material made from microscopic algae called diatoms that had been fossilized. When I sprinkled water on the mat, the droplets absorbed and disappeared into the stone immediately, as if never there to begin with. I bought my first stone bath mat not long after, and it effectively changed my life. I went ahead and bought a Dorai dish rack, which is built atop a stone drying mat, too.

I’m personally obsessed with the stone bath mat, but I know it has its haters or skeptics. A common (and rather alarming) complaint, as I’ve read on Reddit and heard through other online chatter, is that it actually doesn’t do what it’s supposed to, which is to dry in seconds and remain antimicrobial. Turns out, this stone is only effective in non-humid climates or in regions where there’s some dryness in the air. New York City, where I live, may now be considered subtropic but there’s enough variation in temps and dew points throughout the year that the stone bath mat isn’t often dank. I gather that the quick-drying stone isn’t designed to handle intense amounts of water—I don’t expect to see this material at a spa or public pool, for example—but it suits my needs.

While I’ve never had an issue with my stone bath mat, I’ve had to replace my stone dish rack, which got moldy after a few years. I first chalked up to the spots appearing on the slab to normal food-drying drippage, only to flip the stone over one day and saw that black mold had quickly spread underneath. Barf. Instead, I bought another (expensive) Dorai dish rack—now, with a slightly updated design—and vowed to be more careful about pouring out all excess water from my dishes before setting them to dry.

The dish rack mold was inevitable, and it was entirely my bad, considering how often it got soaking wet, and in my kitchen, which is always sort of steamy, sticky, and greasy. Every other month or so, and after my dishes have been cleared away, I’ll give the stone a quick rinse to wash off any crumbs or dust. And then I’ll watch it dry immediately before I place it back beneath the rack. So far, so good. Therein lies the beauty of these products: they truly require so little upkeep and maintenance.

The dish rack requires slightly more upkeep than the bath mat, but I still find it to be a better solution than drying mats made from other materials.
Courtesy of the brand

The bath mat, unsurprisingly, tends to get dirtier since it lives on the floor. I have a no shoes policy in my apartment, but occasionally I’ll have the random guest who forgets and leaves an annoying footprint on the mat with the sole of their shoes. I’ve also accidentally dropped beauty and skincare products on the mat before. Whenever a stubborn spot appears, whether from shoes or toiletries, I’ll take a piece of fine-grit sandpaper (which Dorai includes with every order) and sand the area until whatever dirt or stain scrubs off. Similar to the way I "clean" my dish rack stone, I’ll then give the mat a rinse under the running tub faucet and lean it on the wall so both sides can fully dry, within minutes, before I set it flat again atop a no-slip rubber pad.

Purely on a comfort level, what’s missing from the stone bath mat experience is the tender feeling of stepping onto a plush surface after a shower. But I had been so used to a hard bamboo mat prior to a stone mat that making the transition didn’t affect me at all. Plus, cloth bath mats all eventually flatten out and reach a point of no return—they hold onto so much moisture, dirt, dust, hair, and other schmutz that no number of cycles in the washing machine and dryer will bring back the once buoyant yarn loops.

Still, the one point I will give to the diatomaceous earth mat haters (other than its steep price point, at least at Dorai) is how incredibly vibeless it is. The colors are extremely limited and extremely boring. The current options, as of writing this, are light gray, medium gray, and dark gray. It’s a joyless tonal scheme, and recalls conversations around how muted the whole DTC aesthetic is. There are other brands making these stone products, of course (many of which are offered way cheaper too), but there’s hardly any variation in style. I look around at my designer friends, who release bath mats with eye-catching patterns or illustrations brimming with personality. My gray stone bath mat just blends into my gray bathroom tiles. That being said, my distaste for dampness certainly outweighs settling for cloth.

For now, until another diatomaceous earth-based home goods brand appears on the market offering a more playful lineup of products, I’m sticking to (and swearing my life on) my Dorai bath mats and dish rack. The brand’s products have given me hardly any headaches, so I find they’re worth the extra investment. Emerging from a shower and stepping onto a surface that captures my wet footprint for a mere second before it instantly vanishes is kind of magical, and it never gets old.

26 Products to Instantly Upgrade Your Bathroom for Less Than $100

The Roof Also Forms a Wall at This Soaring Colorado Cabin

An off-kilter pitch leans to the rear of the plan, with one eave connecting to the ground to enclose a storage area and pantry.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: Allenspark, Colorado

Architect: Renée del Gaudio Architecture / @reneedelgaudioarchitecture

Footprint: 2,100 square feet

Builder: Coburn Partners

Structural Engineer: Correlate Structural Engineering

Civil Engineer: Van Horn Engineering

Cabinetry: Marc Hunter Woodworking

Photographer: David Lauer / @davidlauerphoto

From the Architect: "Built at the base of Mt. Meeker, this zero-carbon cabin brings together multiple generations of a family that has visited the valley for nearly a century. Rooted in both landscape and family history, Camp Meeker looks ahead, oﬀering a model for the next century of cabin design in the region. Inspired by the clarity of early miner cabins, the architecture is defined by a steep roof-wall and a palette of robust, honest materials. At the family’s request, there is no television, dishwasher, or microwave—an intentional return to quiet living. Yet behind this simplicity lies a sophisticated geothermal system that enables the cabin to operate with zero carbon.

"The cabin is organized into two distinct volumes: one for gathering and one for retreat. The primary volume is an open living space centered around a wood stove, with expansive views to Mt. Meeker, an aspen grove, and surrounding granite outcroppings. The rotated roof-wall shelters the space from western winds while creating space for a children’s sleeping loft above the kitchen. The second volume is a row of bedrooms with oversized sliding doors. Three bedrooms accommodate the adults, while a rooftop sleeping porch oﬀers the option of spending the night under the stars. From this perch, the family’s original 1950 log cabin can be seen across the pond, reinforcing the connection between generations.

"A restrained plan and palette of materials cultivate a calm, direct connection to nature. Outside, a fully fire-resistant envelope of concrete, steel framing, and ironwood siding is designed for resilience and longevity. Inside, floors, walls, and ceiling are lined in a singular, rustic-grade oak, creating a warm, unified interior.

"Camp Meeker is a place to slow down—to gather around a fire, wake with the sun, and fall asleep beneath the stars. Designed to endure, the cabin is built for the next generation of this family and the ones to follow."

See the full story on Dwell.com: The Roof Also Forms a Wall at This Soaring Colorado Cabin
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You Can Lease a Ray Kappe House in Los Angeles for $9K a Month

The 1957 Margaret O. Smith Residence blends into its lush Laurel Canyon lot with a green facade and an upper level perched in the treetops.

Location: 8322 Ridpath Drive, Los Angeles, California

Price: $9,000 per month

Architect: Ray Kappe

Year: 1957

Footprint: 802 square feet (2 beds, 2 baths)

From the Listing: "Tucked away in storied Laurel Canyon, this post-and-beam house showcases the architect’s early genius for blending structures into a tranquil natural setting. An open-concept plan seamlessly connects the kitchen, dining, and living areas. Floor-to-ceiling glass removes the boundary between indoors and out, allowing sunlight to filter softly inside, casting beautiful, slow-moving shadows throughout the day. A freestanding fireplace, a bathroom, and a primary bedroom overlooking a canopy of green trees complete this floor. The lower level features a laundry area, a guest bath, and a second bedroom with direct outdoor access. The exterior unfolds into a lushly landscaped yard, crowned by an upper platform. Minutes from the historic Canyon Country Store, this home offers a quiet escape while remaining close to everything Los Angeles has to offer."

The home is an early example of Ray Kappe's work, who would go on to make significant contributions to California modernism. — The home is an early example of celebrated architect Ray Kappe’s work.
Photo by Pierre Galant

See the full story on Dwell.com: You Can Lease a Ray Kappe House in Los Angeles for $9K a Month
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In Slovenia, Two 1950s Terrace Homes Trade Tiny Rooms for Light-Filled Vertical Layouts

Small, stacked spaces are now more open to one another with a reworked central staircase and a series of skylights.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia

Architect: Dans Arhitekti

Footprint: 3,660 square feet

Photographer: Miran Kambič

From the Architect: "The terraced houses designed by Marko Šlajmer and his colleagues were built in 1957 as one of the first cooperative housing developments, reflecting the active initiative and optimism of a generation of young architects. The ensemble is characterized by rational construction, efficient use of space, and a high standard of living culture, while at the same time standing out for its innovative spatial concept. Compared to today’s open and bright living spaces, the original apartment layout is characterized by small rooms and limited natural light.

"The main challenge of the renovation was how to open up the existing spatial structure and visually enlarge the interiors, while carefully preserving the defining elements of the architecture: structurally fixed load-bearing walls and a clearly articulated central staircase. The original vertical layout was strong in idea but very rigid, with many small stacked rooms. Within this framework, the two terraced houses were reconfigured into two distinct residential units: a larger family dwelling spread across seven levels, and a smaller, more compact unit organized over five levels for a single resident. The vertical division was reinterpreted rather than expanded, allowing new spatial relationships to emerge within the existing structural envelope.

"Within the tightly defined spatial conditions, the project explores subtle interventions that fundamentally change the perception and use of space. The central staircase becomes the main spatial and visual connector, linking all levels of the house and acting as a vertical void through which light is distributed. New openings introduce daylight both from the roof and from the perimeter facades, creating diagonal and vertical visual connections between rooms. Interior boundaries are carefully perforated, allowing views to extend across levels and transforming the house into a continuous spatial system rather than a sequence of isolated rooms.

"Although the interventions are precise and relatively small in structural terms, they create a strong change in space and atmosphere. The sequence of rooms unfolds like a continuous story, where each space has its own material character, light, and sound. Instead of a uniform interior, the house becomes a series of different spatial moments connected by vertical continuity and visual links.

"Terraced houses are protected as architectural heritage. When renovating, we take into account the uniformity of the facades of all the houses in the settlement, facing the street and the garden. A large two-story window on the final facade of the set is the only intervention that expresses the renovation externally."

See the full story on Dwell.com: In Slovenia, Two 1950s Terrace Homes Trade Tiny Rooms for Light-Filled Vertical Layouts

The Double-Height Atrium Is Still the Best Part of This Revived ’70s Australian Home

WOWOWA Architecture turned an upstairs storage area into a study with a view of the signature feature.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: Glen Iris, Australia

Architect: WOWOWA / @wowowaarch

Footprint: 3,229 square feet

Builder: The Carbonist

Structural and Civil Engineer: R.I Brown

Landscape Design: MJB Landscapes

Photographer: Sean Fennessy

From the Architect: "Published in Belle Magazine August 1978, WOWOWA x Borland Crossman House is a restoration, repair and adaptive heritage reimagining of a Kevin Borland modernist gem in Glen Iris, on Boon Wurrung/Bunurong and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country. Designing with the angel of Borland on our shoulder, WOWOWA carefully disassembled the moments of the house that no longer served a contemporary family and stitched them back together in a way that feels both fresh and deeply respectful.

"The home’s double-height, fern-filled internal garden atrium remains its most recognizable feature, filtered by an east-facing slatted shade structure. Beige curved brick walls funnel visitors from the street, through a lushly landscaped garden hosting plants protected and cared for throughout construction. The clients saw themselves as custodians rather than owners, with a commitment to circularity and craftsmanship so strong they were willing to pay more to reuse than replace.

"Spatial interventions were executed with precision. A faceted half-circle window suite was shifted to allow an eight-person dining table, while a new sunken lounge honors the removal of a non-compliant spiral staircase that once blocked light and severed the visual connection to the garden. By reducing overlooking, the house was transformed into a more private sanctuary. Noninvasive reorientation of the pantry, laundry, and powder room aligned with the home’s 45-degree-loving structural logic. This was so faithfully observed that even the lights pivot to 45 degrees.

"For WOWOWA, the study is the hero moment. Formerly a mechanical room turned storage, a section revealed an opportunity for new sight lines into the atrium. Timber lining was carefully removed and replaced with a matching facade curtain wall, allowing a crafted coved joinery desk to mitigate the low ceiling height and visually connect through the void to the revitalized internal garden.

"Existing timber linings were removed, sorted, repaired, and reinstalled alongside new boards color-matched through a replicated whitewash oil process—completed by the clients themselves. Brickwork was on-site cleaned and reused in the back deck and workshop. Joiner Mood relaminated the original kitchen benchtop into a new form, repaired doors, veneers and bedheads, while fixtures, handles, basins and lights were retained, repaired and reused.

"Wearing puffer jackets indoors through winter galvanized the clients’ sustainability efforts: Brick walls were fully relined and insulated, glazing upgraded to thermally broken double glazing matching Borland’s original fin profiles, and a destratification fan installed. Gas was removed, heat pumps installed, and rainwater fully harvested."

See the full story on Dwell.com: The Double-Height Atrium Is Still the Best Part of This Revived ’70s Australian Home

This $550K Seattle Condo Is at the Top of Its Class

Set inside the historic 1896 West Queen Anne School, the Victorian-era classroom has graduated to become a lofty one-bedroom with an A+ kitchen.

Location: 1401 5th Ave W #305, Seattle, Washington

Price: $550,000

Year Built: 1896 (with additions through 1920)

Architects: Warren P. Skillings and James M. Corner

Renovation Date: 2024

Footprint: 714 square feet (1 bed, 1 bath)

From the Agent: "Originally an elementary school classroom in Seattle’s historic West Queen Anne School, this one-of-a-kind residence has been thoughtfully transformed through an extensive renovation that preserves the building’s architectural character while improving its functionality. The redesigned layout opened up the living space and completely reworked the kitchen and bathroom, creating a home that balances historic details with contemporary updates.

Original features, including soaring ceilings, expansive classroom windows, and other historic architectural details, remain central to the home. Carefully selected finishes, exposed brick, a custom rolling library ladder, and Victorian- and Edwardian-inspired elements reference the building’s history. The home also comes with secure garage parking and a dedicated storage unit within the building, and it sits on the school’s landscaped 1.76-acre grounds in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood, minutes from parks, cafes, downtown, and transit."

The one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo occupies a former elementary school classroom inside the West Queen Anne School, built in 1896.
Photo by Noah Gabrielson/Image Marketing Studio

Photo by Noah Gabrielson/Image Marketing Studio

According to the seller, "The afternoon sun pours through the large, west-facing windows, filling the home with light all year round."
Photo by Noah Gabrielson/Image Marketing Studio

See the full story on Dwell.com: This $550K Seattle Condo Is at the Top of Its Class
Related stories:

The Dining Room Is Also a Bedroom—and an Office—at This Renovated Athens Flat

Project Details:

They May Be Divisive, But I’m Never Getting Rid of My Stone Bath Mat

Dorai Bath Stone™ Mat

The Roof Also Forms a Wall at This Soaring Colorado Cabin

Project Details:

You Can Lease a Ray Kappe House in Los Angeles for $9K a Month

In Slovenia, Two 1950s Terrace Homes Trade Tiny Rooms for Light-Filled Vertical Layouts

Project Details:

The Double-Height Atrium Is Still the Best Part of This Revived ’70s Australian Home

Project Details:

This $550K Seattle Condo Is at the Top of Its Class

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