This Los Angeles Tudor home has a dramatic light and dark situation going on, with most of the spaces having a nordic/scandi pale wood and lots of white and neutrals going on, and then the kitchen takes a 180 degree turn and has several black elements. I love that unexpected pairing, especially when most people would go white in a kitchen (BORING!). Another fab space designed by Freudenberger Design Studio.

A beautiful traditional farmhouse exterior (located in Ancramdale, NY) surprises you on the inside. The interiors of this modest 19th century farmhouse were pared down and simplified to better foreground its owner’s collection of contemporary art while a unified color scheme and the absence of wood surfaces created a backdrop for an interior design scheme focused on effortless eclecticism. Furniture and accessories were drawn from icons of twentieth century design, early American antiques, and charming vintage and flea market finds to create a domestic environment that is both playful and finely nuanced. The exterior of the farmhouse was painted a muted dusty grey, its modesty only offset by a vibrant yellow door and a romantic and exuberant garden and outdoor courtyard. The outdoor perennial beds, also designed by Berman Horn Studio, change with the seasons, and create a colorful oasis within the rolling landscape. Designed by Berman Horn Studio. (Photography: Rush Jagoe)

Dartk and moody, modern and minimalist. Blurring the lines between outdoors and indoors. This weekend home is designed to maximise water views while accommodating a low maintenance, single story layout. The spaces within the house are arranged around a central courtyard which not only acts as a physical separation between the guest wing and public areas but allows views of the water for every room. All of the building materials, charred wood siding, zinc metal and exposed concrete, require little maintenance and age gracefully over time. These materials reflect the owner’s desire for a home that will blend within the landscape and provide a relaxing retreat from the city. Architect: Adam Jordan. Photos: Eric Petschek.

It’s been a few years since we featured the work of Nashville interior designer Jason Arnold here and here, and I continue to be smitten with his spaces that are sophisticated yet livable, classy and timeless, old mixed with new.

Rental apartments don’t have to be boring and lack personality. In the case of this rental Manhattan pied-à-terre designer Martin Brudnizki of MBDS piled on the elegance and added a dose of chic with a huge tapestry (go big in a small space!), lots of art and a curtain to hide the ugly kitchen. This is all you need for a quick visit to the big city. (Photos: Nicole Franzen)