A Family in France Expanded Their Tiny Town House the Only Way They Could—by Building Up

A new roof addition transforms the attic into a living area, complete with splashy colors and a surprising bathroom fresco.

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: Bagnolet, France

Architect: 127af / @127_a_f

Footprint: 592 square feet

Builder: Renobati

Structural Engineer: StructuraLab

Photographer: Filip Dujardin / @filipdujardin

From the Architect: "The project concerns the first house in a row of four terraced dwellings, built along a narrow plot. Originally conceived as modest workshops made with ordinary materials, typical of the fabric of Bagnolet, these structures have gradually been converted into family homes. They belong to that fragile typology of small workers’ houses—descendants of a precarious form of housing, sometimes close to the shack—whose transformation demands the utmost care.

"The existing dwelling consisted of a single living space on the ground floor with two low-ceilinged bedrooms and a bathroom tucked under the eaves. Following the birth of a second child, the clients wished to alter the roof to expand the attic space. The interlocking shape of the plots called for an intervention akin to embroidery. Every architectural gesture required delicate negotiation: avoiding intrusive views, preserving thresholds of privacy, and ensuring sunlight for the neighbors. Access located through the rear courtyard of a street-front building was limited to a single door and a narrow corridor. A social dimension was added to these technical and contextual constraints: responding to the tight budget of a young family for whom gaining extra space was essential. The bedrooms and bathroom would move to the ground floor, while the living space would occupy the upper level within a new volume—spacious and filled with light. This choice was reinforced by two key factors: first, the potential offered by this volume to be further divided vertically in the future (for instance, with a mezzanine workspace); and second, the climatic and lighting conditions. The ground-floor rooms, lit by small windows facing a party wall, remain darker and naturally cool in summer, while the new upper floor benefits from generous daylight and effective cross-ventilation through carefully positioned openings.

"The rooftop extension also had to contend with the structural fragility of the existing building, while remaining feasible through a lightweight construction system that could be assembled by hand, given the site’s limited access. A timber frame insulated with recycled textile fibers is clad in Eternit slates. Two exposed steel trusses were sized to allow the possible addition of a mezzanine above the living area. The roof pitch was determined so that the south-facing facade of the street building would retain its sunlight. The existing small Velux windows were reused on this facade and complemented by larger new openings directly aligned with the main spaces—the kitchen and the living room. The new volume is thus conceived as an adaptable space, capable of accommodating future transformations while redefining the home’s relationship to light, air, and everyday life."

Photo: Filip Dujardin

Photo: Filip Dujardin

Photo: Filip Dujardin

See the full story on Dwell.com: A Family in France Expanded Their Tiny Town House the Only Way They Could—by Building Up
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If You Dream of the Catskills, Here’s a Brand-New Cabin for $1.3M

Garrison Architects gave the midcentury-inspired home floor-to-ceiling windows, a large deck, and the requisite woodburning stove.

Location: 120 Cauterskill Avenue, Catskill, New York

Price: $1,275,000

Year Built: 2025

Architect: Garrison Architects

Footprint: 3,115 square feet (3 bedrooms, 3 baths)

Lot Size: 18.42 Acres

From the Agent: "Welcome to Sylvan Wald House, a newly built midcentury-inspired home set at the end of a long, private driveway on 17+ wooded acres in the northern Catskills. The 3,115-square-foot residence includes a first-floor primary suite, white oak millwork throughout, and a wall of large picture windows with views that shift with each season. The first-floor primary suite offers a private deck and a spa-like bathroom with Carrara marble, Hansgrohe and Duravit fixtures, and radiant heated slate-finish porcelain tile floors. Two additional bedrooms share the main level along with a second full bathroom and a laundry room. The finished lower level offers flexible space with polished cement floors, a wet bar, a third full bathroom, and two sliding glass doors opening to the sloping yard; ideal for a media room, studio, home gym, or guest quarters. The location balances rural privacy with a historic river town atmosphere and amenities."

A Norwegian-style Morsø wood stove anchors the living room.

Photo courtesy of This Old Hudson Team at Houlihan Lawrence

A Morsø woodburning stove warms the living room.

Photo courtesy of This Old Hudson Team at Houlihan Lawrence

The kitchen features Bertazzoni appliances, custom oak cabinetry, and soapstone counters.

Photo courtesy of This Old Hudson Team at Houlihan Lawrence

See the full story on Dwell.com: If You Dream of the Catskills, Here’s a Brand-New Cabin for $1.3M
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The Roof at This Norwegian Retreat Holds a Surprisingly Roomy Second Level

One of the gables looks like a hat, its extended eave forming a brim that carves out additional space.

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: Oslo, Norway

Architect: Morfeus Arkitekter / @morfeusarkitekter

Footprint: 1,840 square feet

Builder: Stenberg & Co AS

Structural Engineer: Pretre

Lighting Design: Christiania Belysning

Photographer: Finn Ståle Felberg

From the Architect: "On the eastern edge of Maridalsvannet, Oslo’s main water reservoir, Solem Forest is a small enclave of homes scattered among towering pines and soft, sloping terrain. Here, a new single-family house replaces a worn 1946 timber loft, taking its cues from the site’s lush vegetation, filtered light, and the understated character of the existing wooden buildings. Because the property lies within the protected watershed, development is tightly regulated. The new home adheres to these constraints by reusing the original masonry foundation—now lowered to improve accessibility and to create a fluid connection between indoor and outdoor living. A compact extension to the northeast expands the footprint while maintaining a modest overall presence.

"The house is defined by a large cross gabled roof that shapes its architectural identity. The second floor is partially embedded within the roof volume, reducing perceived height and allowing the structure to sit quietly among the surrounding trees. Varied roof angles and strategically placed roof windows introduce abundant daylight and frame views of the rolling terrain. Deep, irregular eaves carve out protected outdoor niches that shift with the weather and seasons.

"The floor plan is designed for spatial efficiency and long-term adaptability. Thoughtfully varied spaces accommodate different daily rhythms, from active outdoor living to quiet retreat. Custom storage integrated throughout the house keeps the interior calm and uncluttered. The ground floor is accessible and can flex to accommodate visiting family or future needs.

"Attention to the qualities of the site guided every design decision. We minimized disturbance to the terrain, preserving topsoil, exposed bedrock, and much of the existing vegetation. All exterior surfaces are permeable, allowing rainwater to infiltrate naturally. The result is a home that feels lightly placed—a continuation of the forest rather than an imposition on it."

Photo by Finn Ståle Felberg

Photo by Finn Ståle Felberg

Photo by Finn Ståle Felberg

See the full story on Dwell.com: The Roof at This Norwegian Retreat Holds a Surprisingly Roomy Second Level

Before & After: With an $850K Reno, a Couple Ditched the Suburbs for a Home in the Sky

Opa Architecture broke down walls, brought in color, and created "islands of design" to update an Upper East Side penthouse for a family of five.

"The playdates are always at our place," says Brianna Tsarevsky about the penthouse she and her husband, Daniel, recently renovated on New York City’s Upper East Side.

The couple previously lived in a 5,000-square-foot house with a yard in the suburbs—and their eagerness to host in a much smaller space shows just how well the renovation by Opa Architecture suits their family of five while marrying livability and personality with everything the big city has to offer.

With few exceptions, "Everything is as good as it can be," Daniel says.

Before: Entry

Before: Prior to renovating their Upper East Side penthouse, Daniel and Brianna
Tsarevsky didn’t care for the floor designs, including a large compass-shaped inlay, that
were apparent upon entering the unit.

Photo courtesy of Opa Architecture

After: Entry

The renovated entry features terrazzo tile and a miniature "mudroom" that contains
concealed cubbies for each family member.

Photo by Hanna Grankvist

The story of a home with so few compromises began when a job opportunity brought the young couple—who both have a background in law—from Montreal to the NYC metro area.

Although they fell for the city’s walkability and vast food options, their growing family prompted a move to a five-bedroom house in New Jersey. That was in 2020, so keeping some distance from Manhattan offered valuable breathing room through the worst of the pandemic. But it wasn’t long before restlessness settled in and they began to dream of a home that offered more.

"I wouldn’t say cookie-cutter…but yeah, maybe cookie-cutter is the right word," Daniel says about their suburban dwelling, admitting that the house’s lack of character led to their search for a permanent home back in Manhattan.

Before: Living/Dining Area

Before: Prior to renovation, the kitchen was walled off from the dining and living areas,
giving the unit a closed-off feel.

Photo courtesy of Opa Architecture

See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: With an $850K Reno, a Couple Ditched the Suburbs for a Home in the Sky
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It Might Have a Thatched Roof, but This $2M German Cottage Isn’t Traditional

Built in 1829, the historic Poggensee home has a well-preserved facade and radically reenvisioned, monochromatic living spaces.

Location: Alte Dorfstrasse 25, 23896 Poggensee, Germany

Price: €1,750,000 (approximately USD $2,061,539)

Year Built: 1829

Renovation Year: 2019

Footprint: 1,969 square feet  (2 bedrooms, 3 bath)

From the Agent: "The historic Smokehouse of Poggensee, dating back to 1829, stands as a masterfully preserved piece of North German architectural heritage. Thanks to a series of renovations, it blends authentic thatched architecture with uncompromising contemporary design. The home’s steep, thatched roof rises monumentally above a finely balanced half-timbered structure of brick and wood. The clear silhouette, robust materials, and authentically handcrafted details give the house a striking presence that is both historic and elegant. A comprehensive renovation and redesign transformed the property into an architectural sanctuary defined by clean lines, carefully curated materials, and a distinctive sense of space. Throughout the house, great care has been given to the selection of materials and architectural clarity. Exposed timber beams contrast beautifully with purist surfaces, handcrafted fixtures, and select fittings. The property has been extensively modernized in recent years with triple-glazed windows (2019); a modern gas heating system (2022); and a new front door, kitchen door, and main window door (2025). The combination of historic fabric and contemporary building technology provides day-to-day comfort and energy efficiency."

The historic exterior of this thatched roof cottage has been carefully preserved, while the modern interior reflects a recent renovation. 

Photo by Khuong Nguyen

Photo by Khuong Nguyen

Photo by Khuong Nguyen

See the full story on Dwell.com: It Might Have a Thatched Roof, but This $2M German Cottage Isn’t Traditional
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The Inspiration for This Trippy London Home? Anything but Architecture

"Hyperreal natural scenes" served as source matter, leading to flame-shaped cutouts hanging from skylights, a wall of pink tie-dye tiles, and a meandering kitchen island.

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: London, United Kingdom

Architect: CAN / @can_agram

Footprint: 1,830 square feet

Builder: MxH Construction

Structural Engineer: Hardman Engineers

Photographer: Felix Speller / @felixspeller

From the Architect: "Named Druid Grove for its mystical and grounding qualities, the house weaves together an eclectic mix of natural and monumental elements, both fabricated and real, into material-rich spaces that feel part stage set, part sanctuary. Asked by CAN to share inspiration unrelated to architecture, the client shared their brief through a set of hyperreal natural scenes, modern steel structures, and dripping floral arrangements. The priority was to create a dynamic and open environment that maximizes natural light while bringing in an experimental yet cohesive mix of materials to create a unique and personal dwelling.

"A rear extension and removal of a central structural wall unlocked the ground floor plan, reorganizing it around a central antechamber, transformed from a dark underutilized dining area into a key introductory space. The antechamber, set with a bar, is flanked by a pair of cave-like openings concealing sliding pocket doors and setting the scene for the rough cast texture of the kitchen and dining area. The front living room is painted entirely in a creamy white to maintain visual continuity and emphasize the architectural gesture of the cave openings. Flooring consists of Douglas fir plywood panels, oiled to highlight natural texture and grain. The kitchen is transformed from a dark outrigger into an open, customized space defined by a meandering stainless-steel kitchen island. 

"Adding to the feeling of exaggerated natural forms, overhead timber trusses are imagined as growing tendrils, stained pale green. Designed by CAN in collaboration with the client, the patterns were printed and traced, hand cut by the contractor on-site. Set against the gray rough cast texture of the kitchen is an elevation of custom glazed Palet tiles in varying pink and orange tones. A high gloss pale pinky-cream paint bounces light through the room. Standing sentinel to the ground floor extension in the garden is a single standing stone or ‘menhir’, a physical and symbolic anchor that provides privacy from neighboring views. Chosen by the client and architect at a stone farm in Cornwall, it was safely yet nail bitingly craned over the house and into position. Last moved by the glacier that deposited it 15,000 years ago, this ancient rock adds to the cave-like sense of protection and enclosure, standing in contrast to the spacey steel canopy of the patio. The stone’s presence sets the tone for the home’s connection to nature: elemental, experimental, and entirely personal."

Photo by Felix Speller

Photo by Felix Speller

Photo by Felix Speller

See the full story on Dwell.com: The Inspiration for This Trippy London Home? Anything but Architecture

They Built the Most Colorful Home on the Block. What Do the Neighbors Think?

In Halifax, Nova Scotia, two architects designed a turquoise house with an office and connected apartment that’s surprisingly referential to its context.

In 2019, Sara L’Esperance and Michael Putman’s nearly 10 years in London were coming to an end. With plans to grow their family, and feeling nostalgic for their nature-filled childhoods in Canada, they accepted an offer for Michael to teach at a university in Halifax, Nova Scotia, relocating to the small but lively maritime city on Canada’s Atlantic coast.

Sara L’Esperance and Michael Putman, cofounders of the architecture firm SUPERBLK Studio, designed a flexible forever home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with three distinct programs: a rentable town house, an office for their architecture studio, and their family home.

Photo: doublespace photography

After a few years in a rental, where they had their daughter, the couple, who founded the architecture firm SUPRBLK Studio in 2018, were ready to create a more permanent home, one that ideally was flexible enough to support them for decades to come. The result is two buildings with three distinct programs: the structure along the street contains a 680-square-foot town house the family rents out and uses to host guests, but also has an office and bedrooms that make up part of the main home; these spaces connect with the structure at the rear via a landscaped courtyard, which has a kitchen and living and dining rooms. Between the front and rear structures, the family’s space amounts to 2,485 square feet.

A yellow door marks the entrance to the family’s home, while one to the town house blends with the turquoise facade.

Photo: doublespace photography

The city’s gridded streets are lined with colorful timber homes dating to the late 1800s. An influx of residents post-Covid created a flood of new buildings that, to Sara and Michael’s eyes, desaturate the historic vernacular. "You’re starting to see a loss of color, more gray and beige and things that are trying not to stand out," says Michael. "They’re just trying to disappear." With a turquoise, yellow, and silver facade, the house they designed certainly does not disappear, yet its bold moves aren’t just for fun—they are also rooted in Halifax’s traditional architecture.

In their architectural practice as in their home, Sara and Michael are interested in creating spaces within spaces. The kitchen, for example, has a plywood volume that’s pulled in from the walls, creating an object within the gable space.

Photo: doublespace photography

See the full story on Dwell.com: They Built the Most Colorful Home on the Block. What Do the Neighbors Think?