Dwell

Dwell is the unique modern architecture and design magazine for people who believe that good design is an integral part of real life. Get Dwell digital magazine subscription today.

America Today

Dwell

contributors

comments

Modern Farmhouse • White board-and-batten siding with black window frames. Apron sinks. Sliding barn doors. These are all hallmarks of the modern farmhouse style, and over the past few years, the look has cropped up everywhere. Here, readers and Dwell editors tell us whether the style is in season or ready to be put out to pasture.

A Timeline of America’s Carpet Crazes • During its short life span, carpet has really been through the wringer. Once a status symbol—wall-to-wall carpet was considered a luxury for most American families before the mid-1900s—by the end of the 20th century it was out of date, cast aside by many American consumers in favor of easier-to-clean surfaces. While hardwood has been the gold standard of home flooring for much of the 21st century, we haven’t seen the last of fabric-covered floors. It’s something old, which means it’s bound to become new again. Here are some of the myriad ways carpet has captivated us throughout the decades.

Modern World

Who Owns Frank Lloyd Wright’s Legacy? It’s Complicated • The estate of arguably America’s most famous architect is tied up in a convoluted web of foundations, conservancies, and a trust—one that outlines the state of preservation today.

Just Add Color • Architect Dan Brunn adds vibrant new details to his minimalist home as an homage to his love of Porsche.

The 20th Century Now • The design languages that defined the middle of the 20th century had their moment, fell out of fashion, and came back as classics. Their hold on the American consciousness feels as strong as it’s ever been, but in a contemporary context, midcentury architecture reads very differently than it did 30, 50, or 70 years ago. In these stories, we take a look at the people reconsidering what it means to have a home designed at such a distinctive moment in time—and how to live in it now.

Happily Ever After

One of a Kind • A thoughtful renovation celebrates the only house ever built by architect and activist Kazuo Umemoto.

A Retro Revelation • Experts in renovating historic homes, a Pennsylvania couple transform a surprising find into their forever house.

Conversation Starter • A Minnesotan’s desire to build a sense of community close to home inspires a bright accessory dwelling unit partly designed by her son.

Bookcase Study • In a 1950s Brooklyn co-op, a scholarly couple’s cramped corner unit gets a smart makeover with attention to storage for their library.

AMERICAN DESIGN SOLVES AMERICAN PROBLEMS

WITHIN REACH • A housing development in Tempe, Arizona, offers a model for affordable home ownership.

The Next Chapter • A Philip Johnson house in upstate New York grapples with the architect’s legacy and looks to the future.

Coming Home • The Ben Smith Welcome Home Center in New Orleans provides a well-designed safe space for formerly incarcerated men as they start new lives.

Picking Up the Thread • They already had a lot to like, but a creative director in fashion turned her family’s midcentury home into something they love.

CONSTRUCTION DIARY • Made in Maine A carpenter/designer builds his family’s home by hand, using locally sourced, healthy materials.

sourcing • The products, furniture, architects, designers, and builders featured in this issue.

one last thing • A stockpile of toys, trinkets, and American ephemera from Los Angeles architect Melissa Shin’s past reminds her not to take things so seriously.