Before & After: How Two Brothers Turned a Cavernous Candy Factory Loft Into a Sweet Pad

"We loved the place because it was big and open, but it’s not very livable to have complete open space," says Sean. "There was no door to the bathroom; it was just open, too."

When Scott and Sean Meyer, two brothers who are both software engineers, set out to buy a Denver condo together in early 2020, they had clear criteria in mind. For starters, they wanted to be able to walk to work and other amenities in minutes, due to the local climate. "We set a boundary based on how long a comfortable walk is in snowy weather," says Scott. (Under 20 minutes was ideal.)

They also wanted three bedrooms—one for each of them, and an extra for visiting friends or family. "Since we’re two brothers living together, we didn’t want one person to have a significantly nicer bedroom than the other," adds Sean. They were relocating from the outskirts of the city to a downtown building, and there were things from the suburbs that they didn’t want to give up: "Like being able to bring a muddy bike inside without having to go through a super nice lobby," says Sean.

They ended up finding a 2,150-square-foot one-bedroom loft in a converted candy factory in the LoDo (Lower Downtown) neighborhood. Built in 1909, it was once home to the Brecht Chocolate and Candies company, before it was converted into lofts into the 1990s. Their commute by foot would be about five minutes, and it even had its own street entrance and interior access to a parking garage for bike storage.

The only problem? It was open—very open. There was a single lofted bedroom in the mezzanine overlooking the living space below, and there was no door to the bathroom. "It was just open, too," says Sean. 

Before: Entrance 

Before: The front door of this Denver loft opened to the kitchen, which was set on an elevated platform. The clients and the team at Helios Design Group wanted to make the kitchen the same level as the rest of the living areas.

Courtesy of Helios Design Group

After: Entrance 

Interior designer Ariel Roth kept the entry elevated and added a coat closet and half wall, which caps the kitchen on the other side.

Dane Cronin

After: Kitchen 

In the kitchen, Unfold pendants by Muuto hang above a Silestone countertop and Svelti stools by Article.

Dane Cronin

See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: How Two Brothers Turned a Cavernous Candy Factory Loft Into a Sweet Pad
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Pink Slime Drips Around Windows at This Renovated Chicago Bungalow. And It Only Gets Weirder

Inspired by Chicago Imagist painters, the updated home holds surreal surprises at every turn.

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: Chicago, Illinois

Architect: Orders Architecture and Design / @ordersarchitecture

Footprint: 1,455 square feet

Photographer: Sarah Crowley / @sarahecrowley

Photographer: Michael Vallera

From the Architect: "Ten Portals is the transformation of a Chicago bungalow into a bright contemporary live/work space full of unexpected details. Throughout, a series of openings, or portals, create new lines of sight, afford useful new spaces, and bring natural light deeper into the home. The renovation also smuggles art historical reference into an iconic Chicago housing type. In dialogue with works by Chicago Imagist painters, window millwork drips, color palettes veer from the norm, pattern enlivens all portals into a different sensibility for an old house.

"Upon entering the house, visitors sit below an arched opening and remove shoes at a custom stool; Dots was designed by Orders and fabricated by bnf studio. The opening, which looks into the living room, was part of the house’s original 1928 design, but was covered up in the intervening decades. Orders brings it back for a bright and open entry experience. The stair risers are clad in mirror, bouncing more light into the space.

"The kitchen layout is reorganized for modern convenience. The original design had a large pantry, but no space for a refrigerator. The renovation opens the pantry and neatly tucks the fridge around the corner. New custom window surrounds, designed by Orders and fabricated by Navillus Woodworks, add a surreal character. A new circular portal, inspired by the work of Philip Hanson, connects the kitchen and office/guest room. When open, this brings natural light into the room. When closed, it serves as a clock on one side, mirror on the other. The room also features a Murphy bed that doubles as shelving when stowed.

"The guest bath is updated for functionality: new fixtures, mechanical ventilation, and all new finishes. Simultaneously, it was an opportunity for play of color and pattern, taking cues from paintings by Barbara Rossi. The drop ceiling glows with unique fluted panels and custom painted T-bar.

"The primary bathroom required a complete overhaul. A new rounded sink eases tight corners. Matte black plumbing fixtures, teal tile, and beige and yellow accents all pick up on a palette from the paintings of Roger Brown. Despite the room’s tight footprint, a deep tub and clever storage solutions make it comfortable and functional.

"One bedroom has been converted into the writer’s studio. The walls and furniture (including a custom desk designed and built by Orders) are all painted a rich blue, simultaneously calming and stimulating."

Photo by Michael Vallera

Photo by Sarah Crowley

Photo by Sarah Crowley

See the full story on Dwell.com: Pink Slime Drips Around Windows at This Renovated Chicago Bungalow. And It Only Gets Weirder
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Anyone Can Now Buy an Eames House—Sort Of

A new kit of officially produced parts lets you build structures in the style of Ray and Charles Eames starting at $325 a square foot.

Case Study Home No. 8, the 1949 Pacific Palisades home of designers Ray and Charles Eames, emerged from brainstorms around adaptability and industrial design, with a name as bland as the term "manufactured parts" suggests. The couple’s first vision for the hilly lot, purchased from Arts & Architecture magazine owner John Entenza, was a dramatic, cantilevering glass-and-steel, Eero Saarinen design. But it would get shelved in part due to postwar material shortages. Its replacement, erected via a series of grid-like, deceptively simple steel-framed panels, has since become a world-renowned museum and midcentury mecca.

But this singularity, a physical shrine to the couple’s vision, is better considered a system, a model that the couple would famously revisit and rework throughout their lifetime. (The couple did design a modular home for production, though one was never built.) "For them, architecture was not limited to the buildings you make," says Eames Demetrios, grandson of the couple and current director of the Eames Office. "It includes the systems you make to make things happen."

Now, Ray and Charles’s prefab visions can be the basis for your own project. In partnership with Barcelona-based manufacturer Kettal, the Eames Office has developed the Eames Pavilion System, a modular building kit of parts with a wide range of proposed uses, including a recording studio, backyard office, your own Case Study cabana, or, with some retrofitting, a "fully equipped two-story house." Made of aluminum structural modules, the system, which starts at around $325 a square foot, includes interchangeable roof types, windows, textiles, and other accessories that reference those of the iconic Pacific Palisades property and other Eames residential projects.

Announcement of the plans for Case Study Houses Nos. 8 and 9 in Arts & Architecture, December 1945 (left); An early 1950s photograph of the Eames House, initially intended for the film House: After Five Years of Living (right).

© Eames Office, LLC. All rights reserved.

Charles and Ray in the Eames House living room, 1958.

© Eames Office, LLC. All rights reserved.

Ray’s paper collages explore compositions of materials, colors, and graphic patterns of the Eames House, 1948 (left); Concept study of possible pavilion sizes and typologies, 2024 (right).

© Eames Office, LLC. All rights reserved.

See the full story on Dwell.com: Anyone Can Now Buy an Eames House—Sort Of

Breuer’s Cape Cod House Gets a Second Wind—and Everything Else You Need to Know About This Week

Samsung customers bristle at fridge ads, the AIA sues Trump over J.F.K. Center renovation plans, and more.

• For a time, the future of Marcel Breuer’s experimental Cape Cod retreat—a lean, timber-frame Long House he built for under $5,000 in 1949—was uncertain. But now it’s been carefully restored by the Cape Cod Modern House Trust after years of decay, and has opened to the public for short rentals and tours and will be home to an artist residency program in the fall. (Architectural Digest)

• A San Francisco firefighter just launched a petition to rename Cesar Chavez Street in Los Angeles after Chuck Norris, the actor and public figure, as sexual abuse allegations against Chavez prompt broader efforts to reconsider the labor activist’s legacy. (San Francisco Chronicle)

• A sweeping federal housing bill aiming to boost housing supply passed this month but now has a provision aimed at institutional investors. It would force large landlords to sell newly built single-family rentals after a period, ultimately impacting what kinds homes get built, and who does or does not get to live in them. (The New York Times)

A new bill could reshape the future of access to single-family homes.

Photo by Kevin Carter / Getty Images

• Samsung is testing ads on its Family Hub smart fridges, and many owners—who say they did not consent to their fridges displaying ads—aren’t happy about it. The pilot program turns once private kitchen screens, often used for recipes or playing music, into marketing spaces, raising questions about whether advertising should follow us home. (The Wall Street Journal)

• A coalition of major preservation groups, including the American Institute of Architects, is suing Donald Trump to halt proposed renovations to the John F. Kennedy Center, arguing the plans bypass required federal review. Here’s how national design and preservation bodies are coming together to defend the modernist landmark from change. (Dezeen)

Top photo courtesy Peter McMahon

The Knott’s Berry Farm Family’s Oregon Ranch Is on the Market for $4.5M

Over four decades ago, Ken and Jeanette Knott left Southern California (and the famed amusement park) to build a rustic home on nearly 37 acres in the Blue Mountains.

Location: 59926 Comstock Road, Cove, Oregon

Price: $4,500,000

Year Built: 1980

Footprint: 4,400 square feet (4 bedrooms, 3 baths)

Lot Size: 36.95 Acres

From the Agent: "This picturesque 36.95-acre ranch is nestled at the base of Oregon’s majestic Blue Mountains. Meticulously maintained, the property features expansive open pastures, gently rolling terrain, and natural attributes ideal for grazing and cattle ranching. Whether you’re continuing a proud tradition or building your own, this ranch offers the core elements of long-term success: reliable water, productive land, a respected legacy, and a track record of proven performance. The scenic Millard Branch Stream adds to the charm and natural resources of the land."

Photo by Evan Buzzell

The custom-built home features wood-clad interiors.

Photo by Evan Buzzell

A wall of windows stretches from floor to ceiling in the double-height living room.

Photo by Evan Buzzell

See the full story on Dwell.com: The Knott’s Berry Farm Family’s Oregon Ranch Is on the Market for $4.5M
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How to Put Together a Freaky Little Dining Tablescape

If your dinner parties could use a jolt of the absurd, pull up a chair.

Welcome to Someone Buy This!, a monthly shopping column featuring the fun, the frivolous, and the practical from a very discerning shopper.

After dinner at my place recently, a friend asked me to help her make her dining table "more freaky." This request was preceded by another question that I decided to take as a compliment: "Where do you find all this weird stuff?" She meant my zoo-inspired glassware, a dip bowl with a little island at the center and other strange little things that make sitting at my dining table feel like you’re at a Julio Torres special. My friend was working with the basics: matching plates, neutral linens, sensible glassware, etc. It was all fine, she said, but it felt a little blah.

If you too are taking a look at your tablewares and thinking that they read a little too flat, here are my picks for a freaky dining table setup that will make your guests do a little double take when they sit down. The goal here isn’t perfection or even cohesion, just to sprinkle in a little personality and, ideally, have at least one object that makes someone say, "Wait…what is that?"

La Maison Inondée Bowl

These whimsical dishes turn eating into an adventure. The smaller bowl is perfectly sized for children and can also serve as a nut dish. The larger size makes a striking centerpiece for fruit. Smaller size is stackable. Dishwasher safe.

Starting small, this bird-shaped citrus squeezer from Gohar World is a nice way to dip your toe into dining table freakdom. It has a job, yes, but it’s also the kind of thing guests will instinctively pick up and inspect mid-conversation. And if dessert is involved (it should be), serve it with the Maison Balzac’s equally strange hand-shaped cake server. This manicured hand is ready for cake, pie or a high five.

Maison Balzac Hand Cake Server

There is nothing more generous than a hand offering a piece of gâteau, so we created a ceramic cake server in the shape of an elegant hand — with red painted nails, of course!

Gohar World Lemon Squeezer, Bird

Fit for a single wedge of lemon, this bird squeezer makes a fine tabletop accompaniment for seafood, salads – and beyond.

Ichendorf Milano is a great brand to look at for fun tabletop accessories. They partner with tons of designers to make incredibly beautiful glassware. It’s whimsical without tipping into kitsch, which is a hard line to walk. In their best collection, called Animal Farm, each piece has a handmade animal baked into it, whether it’s a flamingo pitcher or, my favorite, a poodle glass. I love these for dinner parties. No one ever loses track of their cup! There are lots of Ichendorf Milano imitators out there, and this is one of those times where the dupe doesn’t come close to the charm of the real thing.

Ichendorf Milano Jug Flamingo

Color Clear Pink Material Glass Manufacture Hand-made and flame-worked Dimensions H. 27 ⌀ 23/13

Sophie Lou Jacobsen Petal Plate

The Petal Plates are a colorful collection of hand-made plates, entirely made in NYC. Available in two sizes, they can be used on their own as serving dishes, combined into a set of dinner plates, or paired with the smaller size to create striking color combinations or color blocked pairings. They also work beautifully as decorative catch all bowls.

Plates are another easy place to introduce a little chaos. The petal plates from Sophie Lou Jacobsen ripple outward like a flower in mid-bloom. They look especially good layered over embroidered linen tablecloths from Oeuvres Sensibles, which can be custom made for your number of place settings, your favorite foods or even a custom message. Vintage napkin rings add another unexpected note. You can find tons of these on Etsy and eBay. Mine, a set of painted wooden shrimp, are always a big hit at holidays and dinner parties.

Oeuvres Sensibles Dalí's Dinner Tablecloth

This hand-embroidered tablecloth draws its surrealist spirit from the dreamlike world of Salvador Dalí, whose work has inspired Sarah since childhood.The lobster pays homage to him, as do his famous mustache, while the lips — inspired by his iconic Boca sofa — appear here as decorative elements on refined tableware. Antique doilies and a napkin embroidered with Dalí’s name are sewn directly onto the tablecloth, making it a unique and singular piece that playfully works on multiple levels of trompe-l’œil.

Vintage Hand-Painted Wooden Shrimp Napkin Rings Set w/ Caddy & Candle Holder Coastal

The product is a set of hand-painted wooden shrimp napkin rings, featuring a coastal charm theme with a beachy, whimsical, and nautical vibe. The vibrant orange and red colors add a touch of kitschy vintage flair, perfect for all occasions, including seafood boils and beach parties. Made of wood and hand-painted in the Philippines, this set includes a caddy and candle holder, adding a quaint and festive touch to your dining table or kitchen decor. Ideal for those who appreciate folk art and rustic craftsmanship.


This set comes with eight napkin holders. A napkin holder caddy that holds four. And one candle stick holder. All in great shape. Barely used.

Shop

Finally, every freaky table deserves a centerpiece with a sense of humor. The egg chandelier from Gohar World is the most absurd thing I’ve seen in a long time. This one is not for entry-level freaks! Imagine serving upright deviled eggs in this.

Gohar World Egg Chandelier

A wrought-iron egg chandelier. Put all your eggs in one basket with this one-of-a-kind centerpiece, inspired by the wrought ironwork seen throughout Laila and Nadia's neighborhood in Cairo. Iconic.

Ultimately, the trick to a freaky table isn’t buying the strangest thing you can find—it’s choosing a few pieces that feel a little mischievous. Start small, build up over time, and eventually you become everyone’s favorite stop for dinner and a really fun person to gift shop for.

We love the products we feature and hope you do, too. If you buy something through a link on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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You Won’t Want to Look at Your Phone With These Well-Designed Tabletop Games Around

Budget Breakdown: They Turned Their Sad Garage in Queens Into an Airy "Living Annex" for $100K

The renovation, completed in anticipation of NYC’s new ADU laws, shows that the borough’s many disused backyard units are full of potential.

According to John Patrick Cunningham, building in New York is a lot like filing your taxes. "It's like, ‘What can you write off as an expense?’" says the Brooklyn architect. "There's a lot of gray area about what you can do and if people will give you a fuss about it." Combing through complicated codes, sleuthing for loopholes, and maximizing your returns are par for the course. "It’s always a negotiation," he adds. This approach was particularly relevant for a recent project of his, the conversion of a dilapidated backyard shed in Queens into a serene indoor/outdoor "living annex."

Small garages that have fallen into disrepair stand behind many single-family homes in Queens because it’s challenging to renovate them. Many are no longer in compliance with setbacks, which presents a problem: they’re crumbling, but if you tear them down, you can’t build something new to replace them. Meanwhile, the driveways leading to them are too narrow to drive down. So many become storage sheds.

In 2024, New York City legalized the construction of ADUs across the five boroughs, allowing homeowners of single- and two-family homes to convert attics, cellars, basements, and free-standing or adjacent buildings into an ADU. While the law hadn’t yet passed when Cunningham began working with a family in Queens, they were aware of the potential policy change. They came to him in early 2024 with a 350-square-foot backyard shed with a caved-in roof and a $100,000 budget to renovate it. The Forest Hills residents sought a space that could flex between home office and a craft/playroom for their two children, and make their backyard more livable.

Editor’s Note: General contractor fees are included in costs.

$5,000 Interior Framing & Insulation	$10,000 Roof Framing & Insulation	$9,000 Structural Reinforcement of Existing CMU Wall
$6,000 CMU Storage Addition in Rear	$5,000 Exterior Siding and Soffits	$5,500 Wall Finishes
$6,500 Flooring	$4,000 Roofing - Architectural Asphalt Shingles	$4,000 Roofing- Gutters
$13,200 Electrical and Lighting	$6,000 Landscaping - Sod	$20,000 Landscaping - Paving
$15,500 Windows & Exterior Doors	$3,500 Interior Doors	$1,964 Permitting
$11,757.50 Architect/Design Fee	$11,000 Demolition & Waste / Debris Removal
Grand Total: $137,921.50

See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: They Turned Their Sad Garage in Queens Into an Airy "Living Annex" for $100K
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