Dwell May/June 2019

Don’t quote me on it, but you might be able to drive from Dwell’s San Francisco headquarters to our New York office without straying more than a mile or two from a parking lot. That’s an exaggeration, of course, but it’s worth remembering that the same forces of 20th-century Modernism that birthed the Eichlers and the Eames chairs we love also gave us endless suburbs, car dependence, and a queasy slide toward climate collapse that many of us have been trying for decades to undo. That’s why, in our annual Outdoor Issue, we’re charting the past, present, and future of homes that invite a reconsideration of our place in the landscape. They ask what it means to design for particular ways of life in particular ecologies. Two exceptional examples of…

“You know it’s a good design when people either love it or hate it.”—@jessjanice Re: March/April The paper on which you printed the March/April issue is delightful. I don’t know if this is a change, but I found myself wanting to pet every page. The tactile experience of reading the magazine was a treat. And bonus points for whatever magic was involved that prevents ink stains on my hands even if I am wearing hand lotion. VALERIE COURTNEY, SEATTLE EDITOR’S NOTE: Nothing has changed, but thanks for your appreciation. Architect Otto Ruano hid insulation behind fresh exterior cedar siding for the remodeled cabin in the Hudson Valley [“Like Old, But New,” March/April]. Serious question: What kind of insulation and R-value was installed above the exposed-rafter ceiling and roofing? That would…

The Sourcebook We’ve compiled an indispensable list of every product and professional ever featured in the magazine. Browse by category to find the right fit for your project. Digital archive Access Dwell’s complete print archive, along with a curated rotation of our favorite stories published over the last 18 years. Browse by year and issue on any device. Exclusive home tours Delve into inspiring stories in a premium format, including a midcentury home renovation executed by the acclaimed firm behind the first Apple store, a Palm Springs gem rescued by a pair of alt-rockers, and more. How-to guides Turn to our guides for answers to the questions that most commonly stump prospective prefab home buyers and for a list of things you absolutely must ask your contractor before starting any…

An entire Jurassic scenario of plastic dinosaurs. @gennyland on Instagram Sweetgrass coasters, a midcentury modern decor book, and usually a lovely white cat sipping whatever I rest on one of the coasters. Alison Rhodes on Facebook The newspaper, too many remotes, pepper spray, old tape cassettes, a dot art project, and beer. Tina Leonard on Facebook A rubber-band ball that I started in college (7 inches in diameter and counting), a vintage Royal Aristocrat typewriter with a sentence typed each day, and two rabbit figurines. @creativecurrents design on Instagram A 1964 Camaro camshaft and a coffee tin full of Krugerrands and bottle caps. Charlie Trefry on Facebook Books I would like to read but never will and four old bedsprings that have been turned into candleholders. @brynkarlberg on Instagram We’ve…

For nearly a decade, architect Jesper Therkildsen and his wife, Karin, lived in a dream house: a 2,900-square-foot space of Jesper’s design that looked out onto Denmark’s Little Belt strait, a regular haunt of porpoises, whales, and myriad bird species. But the couple gradually realized they were ready to trade their waterfront vistas, and Jesper’s 19-mile commute, for the convenience of city life. They set their sights on nearby Fredericia, where Karin worked and the couple first met. They eventually found a dilapidated 1930s building that had been empty since the appliance company using it as a storage facility abandoned it in the early 2000s. The property consisted of two conjoined yet distinct buildings—they were attached in a U-shape but their interiors weren’t connected. “When we saw that old stock house,”…

“When I visualize a secret garden‚ I think of something relaxed‚ casual‚ and not very demanding. You can breathe. But there’s an element of surprise‚ too‚ and a feeling of something unexpected and slightly mysterious. The best secret gardens are always well scaled‚ never too big or too small. They embrace you—you feel comfortable and nested. On a larger property‚ a secret garden gives you a refuge and a stopping point before you move on‚ like a chapter in a book. Thinking about them makes me want to create more of these magical resting spots.” Founder‚ Ground Studio‚ Monterey‚ CA…