All too often, homeowners build extensions which blend into the existing house when a bold, high-contrast design can be much more effective. For the Host House in Melbourne, Splinter Society extended a traditional cottage by building a rear extension with sharp angular walls cladded in black timber.

When Patricia Urquiola, a long time Haworth collaborator, was commissioned to renovate the hotel, she created a multi-functional space which shows how good hybrid work-hospitality-leisure spaces could look.

Trousdale Estates has been home to countless celebrities. Jamie Bush and Dennis Gibbens were commissioned to renovate one of the houses in the neighbourhood and took their inspirations from Hollywood glamour and mid-century style.

ITCH, an architectural studio based in Milan and Lugano, has renovated four apartments in a building in Milan. The block itself may be conventional but the interior decor of the apartments is distinctly contemporary.

Once, the grand cities of Europe were filled with handsome hôtels particuliers, built as much for impressing guests as for living in. The CR apartment in Lisbon has been transformed into a family home by Vitor Almeida at ESQVTA architects.

The brief for the architects at RM\Architecture is to capture the essence of Brazilian style in a 115 square metre apartment in Rome, a challenge the team pulled off with the grace of a capoeira master.

Japanese zen style goes far beyond minimalist white spaces. It is about thoughtful spaces which encourage the contemplation of light, colours, textures and shapes - the building blocks of nature and beauty. The Shutter House in Perth is a great example.