For Marcela Lozano, reinvention comes naturally. As she was growing up in Argentina, her family had a common refrain: ¿Para que podrá servir esto? Or, What could this be used for? 

“It’s a phrase that we said all the time,” recalls Marcela. For instance, if her father bought a new washing machine, he would keep the pieces and parts of the old one for future repairs. For him, and Marcela, it’s not about saving money, but the creative exercise of reuse, and the satisfaction of giving an overlooked object new life. (She still remembers her first project as a child, crafting mouse figurines from cocoa beans, which she sold to neighbors up and down her block.) 

More recently, Marcela launched Füür (“fire” in Swiss German), a design studio that produces durable products from salvaged fire hoses sourced in Switzerland and Barcelona. So far, the line includes indoor/outdoor rugs, garden chairs, and pet accessories, like harnesses and collars, some with Bombers de Barcelona (the name of the city’s fire service) still stamped on the yellow rubber. 

Location: 102 East 45th Street, Savannah, Georgia

Price: $2,225,000

Year Built: 1947

Architect: Cletus Bergen

Footprint: 4,088 square feet (4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths)

Lot Size: 0.33 Acres

From the Agent: “This exceptional four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath residence was designed in 1947 by legendary architect Cletus Bergen and includes original midcentury-modern details as well as thoughtful renovations designed for contemporary living. Meticulously preserved original details include steel casement windows and hardware, plaster walls with dramatic curves, a stylish living room with large, curved bay windows, and a cantilevered second story above an enclosed loggia. The stunning primary suite has original lighting and a jacuzzi tub. The layout has great flow for entertaining, and the property includes a private, landscaped courtyard with slate flooring, a side yard, and ample off-street parking.”

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Project Details:

Location: Sant Cugat del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain

Architect: Raúl Sánchez Architects / @raulsanchezarchitects

Footprint: 1,829 square feet

Structural Engineer: Diagonal Estructuras

MEP: Mares Ingenieros

Photographer: José Hevia

From the Architect: “This home is built on an extreme slope without major excavations into the slate rock. It barely touches the ground, supported by a few structural concrete screens that leave the terrain practically untouched.

“Access is from the upper level, where the house presents itself as a regular and hermetic volume. As the terrain descends, it becomes evident that the house barely rests on a rock at the rear, instead extending its ‘legs’—the concrete screens—to find support on the facade walls and central core along the slope. A cantilevered staircase, connecting the pedestrian access and the parking area, descends and leads to the main level, where a large terrace welcomes visitors. This terrace extends from a spacious kitchen/dining area, which opens onto a outdoor balcony through four large sliding windows. The interiors are in constant dialogue with its environment, with views of surrounding trees and distant valleys and mountains in every corner.

“The main floor has a central block housing the staircase, a bathroom, and pantry, freeing up the entire perimeter for the kitchen, living room, and a viewing space. The latter faces the valley and features a built-in bench running along the entire glazed façade. These interconnected spaces are designed for both habitation and contemplation of the landscape.

“The interior staircase creates a double-height void, emphasizing visual and functional connectivity between floors within this continuous space. It then passes through a circular opening before emerging onto the roof through a rotated square turret. On the upper floor, a central space connects two small balconies that frame the landscape while providing access to three bedrooms and a bathroom. The primary bedroom includes a walk-in closet and an en suite bathroom, with sliding doors that allow for flexible space configuration.

“The house’s design follows the golden ratio in both plan and elevation, achieving a visual balance between simplicity and sophistication. The volume appears straightforward, with three of its façades—facing the entrance and neighboring properties—featuring carefully placed, restrained openings, some of which are covered with lattice screens to control sunlight.”

“The first step of the internal staircase—an enormous piece of local rock—pays tribute to Carlo Scarpa’s approach to staircases, always conceived as an invitation to ascend. This element reflects the project’s philosophy, blending sensitivity to the environment, formal and spatial inventiveness, landscape integration, and sustainability.”

Welcome to Someone Buy This!, a monthly shopping column featuring the fun, the frivolous, and the practical from a very discerning shopper.

When every square foot matters, the right pieces can make your space work harder and look better doing it. As someone with a lot of stuff, I’m always looking for ways to optimize how I store things. I rounded up six design-forward solutions that will make your home feel more intentional, more functional, and, frankly, more pulled together.

Whether you’re tight on storage or, like me, just allergic to visual clutter, these finds prove that utility and good design aren’t mutually exclusive.

A coffee table that hides your mess 

The Orbit Coffee Table by Sundays looks like something you’d see in a perfectly lit Instagram apartment. Underneath its smooth, walnut top is a hidden storage compartment roomy enough for blankets, games, or whatever else you don’t want out in the open. Best of all, the top swivels open. So if you need to grab something inside, you don’t have to disrupt the drinks and perfectly placed coffee table books on the surface.

A lazy Susan that finally brings order to your fridge

Not to be dramatic, but this lazy Susan changed my life. I was constantly forgetting about stuff in the back of the fridge, often finding things spoiled or accidentally buying duplicates. This lazy Susan attaches to the fridge shelf with suction cups and spins smoothly. It keeps all my jars and condiments visible (no more forgotten salsa fossils for me!). It works just as well in a bathroom cabinet or under the sink. It’s clear, clean, and makes you more organized with zero effort.

A storage cart that will fit in the tightest of spaces

This slim rolling cart from Yamazaki is a secret weapon for awkward gaps between the washer and dryer, next to the toilet, wherever. It’s super narrow, has shockingly smooth wheels, and hides tons of stuff inside its minimalist frame. It handles cleaning supplies, skincare overflow, and random tools without looking like it belongs in a utility closet.

Put your walls to work with pegboard tiles

Pegboards aren’t just for garages anymore. I’ve fantasized about adding one as a backsplash in my kitchen. One of my favorite things about pegboards is how accessible they are. You can get a budget-friendly one with a classic look at Ikea or opt for something a bit more elevated like this wooden one from George & Willy. It’s modular, minimal, and actually looks like something you’d want on your wall. Rearrange the pegs and shelves to hold tools, plants, bags, or whatever else you usually lose track of.

Organizers that make your drawers feel custom

There’s nothing glamorous about a junk drawer, unless you’ve conquered it with a system like this. These bamboo dividers instantly make even the most chaotic drawers feel like a custom setup. They’re an elegant upgrade to plastic trays, allowing you to configure sections for utensils, clothing, or whatever else you’re storing. The deep construction makes them perfect for oversize drawers or bulkier items.

A catchall that doubles as wall art

This wall-mounted catchall might help you become the person who always knows where their keys are. It can hold your daily essentials, like your wallet, sunglasses, and mail, without forcing you to take up valuable floor space with an entryway table. It’s functional, obviously, but also just nice to look at. The yellow one is so cute!

We love the products we feature and hope you do, too. If you buy something through a link on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Reading:

My Search for a Modular (and Stylish) Storage Solution for Loft Living

Four Years Into WFH Life, Here’s What You Need for an Aesthetically Pleasing Home Office

Location: 708 N Kenter Ave, Los Angeles, California

Price: $5,498,000

Year Built: 1956

Renovation Date: 2025

Renovation Designers: Joelle Kutner and Jesse Rudolph of Ome Dezin

Footprint: 3,175 square feet (4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths)

Lot Size: 0.33 Acres

From the Agent: “Step inside this masterfully reimagined single-level midcentury home. At the heart of the house, the open-concept living and dining areas are anchored by a sleek fireplace, creating the perfect space for intimate gatherings or lively entertaining. A custom-built banquette offers a cozy spot for morning coffee, while the kitchen boasts high-end appliances, custom cabinetry, and impeccable finishes. The family room provides a flexible retreat, opening directly to the backyard for seamless indoor/outdoor flow. The primary suite is a sanctuary unto itself, with a spa-like en suite bathroom. Three additional en suite bedrooms offer ample space for kids, guests, or a home office. Every system in the home has been fully updated, ensuring modern efficiency without compromising its midcentury soul. A brand-new pool and lush landscaping create a serene retreat.”

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Gavin Cater

When I was a kid, bath time for animals meant rinsing Ellie, our family’s eager-to-please Yorkie-poo, in an unfinished concrete sink or, during one misguided incident, plunging our distraught cat, Chester, alongside me in an alcove tub. The awkwardness of bathing our dirty pets—whether you care for a fluffy Pomeranian or a scruffy retriever—is universal, which is why some are tackling the problem head-on with design.

In 2025, pets are rarely relegated to the doghouse. The proof is in the numbers: Millennials, many of whom are delaying or not having children, are investing in their fur babies: 70 percent of 983 surveyed millennial and Gen Z pet owners report having a budget solely for their pets, according to a study by The Harris Poll. “When I was younger, our dog was in the yard,” says interior designer Kishani Perera, whose recent work includes a laundry room with a walk-in dog shower and a home office with an eight-foot-tall cat tree. “Now my dogs sleep on cashmere blankets.”

For Frederick Tang Architecture, designing for clients’ lifestyles is always part of the deal, so the idea for a dog spa came somewhat naturally. When working with homeowners in Manhattan to renovate their postwar co-op apartment, firm founder Frederick Tang transformed roughly 55 square feet of underused space into a surprisingly luxe dog spa for about $10,000. Tang had envisioned the former utility room as a full bath, but the nearby guest room already had a shower. Being tucked away near the service elevator made it the perfect place for bathing a pair of dirty dogs. With the plumbing already in place—and the scope built into the budget—Tang modified the shower footprint to counter height and added a surround to contain errant splashing.

“A pet area doesn’t have to be purely functional,” says Tang. “It can be well designed and suited for the context of the house.” Blending modernity with quintessential Upper East Side traditionalism, Tang stuck with a black-and-white palette: The basket-weave stone-mosaic floor is clad with Carrara and veined black Nero Marquina trim, which extends upward to form the crisp basin.

Subsequently approached by a couple renovating a recently built farmhouse in the upstate hamlet of Pine Plains, New York, Tang designed a sculptural spa for Albee, the family’s bernedoodle. At a cost of around $15,000, it is similarly steep in budget; however, comparisons end there. The design is tailored to the home’s rural location and contemporary aesthetic. Conceived as a modified apron-front sink, the basin has tall, curving sides that keep water in and soapstone with a supple look. It rests on white oak millwork that doubles as storage space for Albee’s food—turning a pet feature into something more like a pet room.

If a custom dog bath sounds indulgent, it doesn’t have to be just for the dog. For Emilie and Brandon Conaway, living on a lake with their three boys and Australian labradoodle, Harry, means things get messy. Between rinsing a muddy canine, soaking laundry, and washing postgame cleats, there was never a doubt that a generous washbasin would get good use.

“These spaces are designed for pets, but they’re not stainless-steel sinks. They’re sensitive to the contexts in which they were built.”

—Frederick Tang, architect

The couple worked with Popix Designs to renovate their 1970s A-frame house in Canyon Lake, California, with dreams for a dog bath that matched the playfully retro aesthetic. Popix founder Lizzie Green chose cream-and-tan ceramic tiles for the checkered basin and gray porcelain floor tiles—both of which, Green says, are durable and easy to clean. The family spent a combined $4,482 on the tiling and faucet, but saved on the sink’s vintage light pendant—a relic from the original home. “The dog bath is just pretty,” says Emilie. “I don’t wash my dog as often as I probably should, but when I do it’s so handy.”

Details aside, the secret, it seems, is the same. “It’s about listening to the client and incorporating all of their loved ones,” says Tang. “Even the animals.”

On a street of gray Vancouver specials (a boxy style of home mass-produced from the 1960s through the ’80s) and plain-vanilla, vinyl-sided ranchers, the Fluevog family’s jagged, mint-colored house, with its wild, wonderful cutouts, will make you look twice. “The neighbors call it a ‘shape sorter’ house,” says homeowner Ali Palmer-Fluevog, who lives there with her husband, Adrian Fluevog, and their two young sons, Jonah and Lucas. It’s a moniker she and Adrian—CEO of John Fluevog Shoes, the cult fave Canadian brand founded by his dad in 1970—take as a compliment. “I’ve grown up making ‘unique soles for unique souls,’” says Adrian. “I’m used to quirkiness.”

Vancouver firm MA+HG Architects is to thank for this eye-catching, 3,155-square-foot salute to Euclidean geometry. “We were trying to riff on this notion of ‘How would you create architectural designs in a similar way to how you would design footwear?’” explains MA+HG coprincipal Harley Grusko. “They use two-dimensional patterns to create three-dimensional objects, so we developed the facades as a singular pattern and folded it to create the home’s shape.”

A large wooden table in the center of the communal kitchen/dining room is the gathering spot. Here, women are learning to make modern takes on traditional Native American ribbon skirts or create vision boards as part of the cultural, wellness, and life skills programming offered by Anduhyaun, the oldest Indigenous women’s shelter in Canada (and the only one of its kind in Toronto). The table has been refurbished and brought over from the shelter’s former location, a cramped, city-owned historic home, to Anduhyaun’s new, 11,862-square-foot building designed by LGA Architectural Partners, a local firm with years of experience designing transitional shelters and affordable housing.

“That’s the original house meeting table from the beginning of Anduhyaun,” says Danielle Belyea, shelter director of the nonprofit, which was founded by four Indigenous grandmothers in 1973. “That table has been present with us since the beginning of all the programs, every house meeting, all the tears.”

Honoring the cultural identities of Anduhyaun’s women and children clients (most but not all of whom are Indigenous) informed the design for the three-story emergency shelter, which opened in summer 2024. Architect Brock James, a partner at LGA, recalls planning conversations with Anduhyaun’s former executive director Blanche Meawassige (who retired just as the new center was opening). “She would talk to us about an Indigenous way of seeing, where things are interconnected,” he says. This concept influenced the fluid layout of the common and private spaces, as well as the palette of soft blues and mauves representing the sky and flowing water. “The building has to feel alive because what’s happening in here is that transformation and growth,” James adds. Anduhyaun—meaning “our home” in Ojibwe—aims to envelop the people within and protect them.

In 2017, Deborah Castillo was walking on the beach in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, with no other people except a lone fisherman: “It was like a dream,” she says. “I love being on my own on a beach, reading or listening to opera.” The artist was visiting from New York City for an art fair, but she felt a pull to stay. She scoured the area for For Sale signs with no success, but after enough asking around, she found and bought a lot just a six-minute stroll from the beach.

Together with her longtime friend, Los Angeles designer Ana Lasala, Deborah began envisioning a home that could embrace Puerto Escondido’s contrasts. Here, the Pacific brings waves that attract surfers from all over the world but also hurricanes. And the abundant sunshine—another tourist draw—demands creative solutions for shade and cooling.

Deborah and Lasala, who runs the architecture firm Lasala & Lasala with her sister, came up with Palapa Concreta, a 1,560-square-foot structure reminiscent of an A-frame cabin with a concrete base enclosed by a palapa roof—a traditional thatching made with palm leaves. The design sheds rain easily while also providing ample shade, and by making the roof steep rather than wide, Lasala reduced the home’s footprint and preserved more space for the yard.