Dwell July/August 2022

An old subway token from Philadelphia. One Turkish lira found on an Istanbul street on a really good day. A vintage ashtray from the (West) Berlin Hilton, acquired at a Minnesota flea market. These and many more objects that I’ve picked up while traveling are scattered around my Brooklyn apartment on more or less public display. Not just mementos from trips taken, they are reminders of the way travel has shaped how I think and what I value—enough so that they’ve become part of the design of my house. Our annual travel issue explores the enduring hold that the experience of a place can have on how we live, whether it’s somewhere we choose to settle or somewhere we’ve left behind. For our Modern World section (p. 29), we asked five…

Matt Dutile Photographer “Setting Up Shop,” p. 40 “Point of Departure,” p. 68 For New York City–based photographer Matt Dutile, it’s all about light, “whatever the subject it’s falling on.” In Sarasota, Florida, that light was on both Rick Doblin, a leader in the psychedelics movement, and the house Doblin built in his 20s. “Meeting Rick and capturing him within the space was great. He’s one of a kind,” says Dutile, who was equally intrigued by the home, called Arcturus, and its secrets. “Anytime you’re given the opportunity to photograph a home like that it’s a treat,” says Dutile, “because it’s a discovery all its own.” Amy Tang Photographer “An Idea With Legs,” p. 58 Two years ago, photographer Amy Tang moved to Japan from the United States, and these days, she can be found taking pictures all…

“Yay to normalizing accessible design! Please continue to include it in future issues.”—@teresasmock via Instagram Re: “Hide & Seek,” May/June Nice to see Dwell showcasing a country like Colombia, whose design aesthetics are incredible and don’t get enough attention from U.S. design media. @BRUCSITA VIA INSTAGRAM Re: “People Who Live in Glass Houses,” May/June This concept for designing a glasshouse home and more productive garden for colder climates is marvelous. I hope it inspires more to build similarly and innovate further—and gains traction in Western Canada. @KARENLMORLEY VIA INSTAGRAM Re: “Budget Breakdown: A Midcentury Glass House Is Revitalized for $299K,” Dwell.com When I see midcentury-modern homes with lots of glass in states with cold winters like Michigan, it makes me wonder how these homes were when new. Single-pane windows sweat and cause water damage to window trim, and…

When faced with an unappealing brick wall and white ceiling in my otherwise wood-paneled sunporch, I had to go green. I settled on Benjamin Moore’s Bavarian Forest in semigloss, and the result is a warm cavern that makes the week I spent painting totally worth it. Kate Dries, Executive Editor It depends on the type of green. The darker the better IMO. @evanplilly Green is the perfect base on which to add some other bold colors. It’s the better black. @si_grid_ It’s the age of sage, and I’m very into it. Samantha Daly, Shop Editor Too Wizard of Oz. @dochmursan Green is natural. We’ve evolved to feel safe in this color. @lilcow420 It has to be the right green. It isn’t always. @caseymckinnon Green can be tacky, but forest/hunter green is classic. @mariles59 Great as an accent, but too much is distracting. @shansevers Green interiors have been one…

“The original, centuries-old stone walls make this feel like the perfect place to stay in a medieval European city.”SARAH BUDER, CULTURE EDITOR Girona, Spain Alemanys 5 Architect Anna Noguera transformed this historic townhouse in Girona, Spain, the ancient city where she grew up, into a four-level rental. “The main inspiration was the austerity of the environments people lived in during the sixteenth century, when the house was built,” Noguera says. Throughout the home, pared-down materials left with their natural finishes embrace that starkness and spareness. The two-bedroom apartment on the first floor opens to a private yard with a black concrete plunge pool. A narrow stairwell switchbacks up to the three-bedroom duplex, where the updated rooms feature wood, steel, and concrete details. The original stone walls provide a striking backdrop throughout. More at Dwell.com Do…

Hometown Advantage After a long hiatus, travelers can once again explore global hubs incubating the future of design. And who better to provide insight into your new favorite destinations than the creatives born and raised there? We asked five expats who have established careers around the world what they bring back in their carry-ons when they visit their hometowns. Their eclectic selections—everything from home appliances and food products to figurines and fashions—offer windows into the homes and hearts of global cultural capitals.…