It's probably a good thing that I'm a renter. Because if I wasn't, I'd actually have to decide on a kitchen design. And with all of the options out there, how would I ever choose?? If you are planning a renovation (or just day dreaming!), here are just a few of the spaces that I find inspiring - find your favorites and pin away!

In a leafy suburb of Buenos Aires, in a neighborhood full of classical homes, architect Alejandro Sticotti and graphic designer Mercedes Hernáez have built this modern masterpiece. Indoor and outdoor spaces blend almost seamlessly — Mercedes calls it 'a garden with a roof.' Surrounded by all this greenery, it's easy to forget you're in the city. 

One of our favorite annual architecture awards is the AIA Chicago Small Project Awards. It's an opportunity for small firms to recieve recognition for work that might otherwise be shadowed by larger offices. The AIA awards innovation, low budgets and small firms — this year there were 15 winners, ranging from a table on two wheels to a studio renovation in the Hancock building.

Each year around Earth Day the American Institute of Architects (AIA) celebrate the top ten green projects of the past year. This year's list included two homes — one a net-zero live/work home, the other a small affordable house in a planned community.

Have you heard the news? Tokyo is pretty crowded. And since space is at such a premium, some renters are choosing to live in something called "share houses" in downtown Shibuya. If you are in any way claustrophobic, and don't want to hyperventilate, don't click to see the rest.

I usually stay at the Motel 8 or the Holiday Inn, but on my dream vacation, I'd stay at a gorgeous contemporary villa like this one, situated in a mountain valley outside of Araras, Brazil. 

I guess it's not a coincidence that the two Modernist works of architecture that I chose to study in depth while in graduate school were both built in France and created by designers whose skills and works were undervalued for the first 40-50 years of their careers. 

Name: Architect Cass Cheesar, Carla Umlauf-Cheesar, Sophie 13, Ella, 11, and Maggie (our lab)
Location: Brentwood; Austin, Texas
Size: 2,200 square feet
Years lived in: 8 years; Owned

Architect and builder Cass Cheesar and his wife, Carla Umlauf-Cheesar, a native Austinite and realtor, renovated a 1952 home in the Brentwood neighborhood a few years back. While modern elements were brought in, they also maintained the spirit of the original home, all combined with their impeccable style. The end result is an elegant, playful home with Mid-Century lines, bursting with the personality of a vibrant family.