After renting in San Francisco for a decade, DIY couple Molly Fiffer and Jeff Waldman bought 10 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where the pair and their friends built a cabin compound complete with sheds, tree decks, a pavilion, a wood-fired hot tub, an outhouse, and an outdoor shower. The cabin is made from locally sourced, rough-sawn redwood, which the couple stained with nontoxic Eco Wood Treatment to give the panels an aged appearance and a dark patina.
Fans in the living room,” says Sharmila. (He didn’t get his wish.)
“We are in a nature sanctuary, and we are all responsible for its protection,” Gabriel says. “In this sense, we promote sustainable tourism, which has the least possible impact on the environment and encourages respect and conservation of each species.” Reused larch shingles clad the exteriors of the cabins.
New pine and spruce wood from the Pyrenees (both recyclable and PEFC certified) were selected for the façade of the 1,000-square-foot prefab. Smart blinds cover the windows, rigged to open and close depending on the weather forecast.
The Fish Camp acts as the couple’s forest getaway, just a quarter mile from their main house.
Two pull-down compartments in the kitchen hide an electric cooktop and chopping block, while paper towels are tucked away in a curved yellow container. “I didn’t want anything out in the open,” Ash says.
A 1000xBetter removed the wrought iron and striped awning, and covered the façade in wood, leaving the distinct midcentury elements intact.
The fireplace is covered in Norman brick from Mutual Materials, in an era-appropriate stacked pattern.
A midcentury-style walnut screen separates the entry from the living room, yet allows connection with its permeability.
RIC Design Build paid homage to the midcentury era and architect Alan McCullough’s legacy while making the house work for today.
The couple added a coat of black paint and cedar siding to give the home a cleaner, more modern look. "The house already had wide and low eaves, providing protection from the sun, and we added new spray-foam insulation, so the black exterior actually does not pose too much of an issue with the desert heat," she says. A new Cor-Ten steel fence blocks the view of the neighbor's roof, but doesn't interfere with the landscape.
There are precious few decorative flourishes in the house; the architects put their faith in line, form, and materials. Concrete, stainless steel, and birch were used in the kitchen, where not an inch of space goes unused.
The cabin’s exterior, originally pastel yellow, was modernized with fresh paint from Benjamin Moore in Blackforest Green – a rich and earthy hue perfect for the wooded context.
Kele Dobrinski and Christina Valencia, of Sacramento, California-based Colossus Mfg., revamped a 2008 Starstream Starcraft camper that allows their family of five to comfortably explore nature in different landscapes for weeks at a time.
“It was great to work from the plans of someone who was a part of the history of architecture,” says Drapszo.
The 1967 beach house—which underwent a meticulous renovation by Bates Masi, the original architect’s firm—is listed as an exclusive holiday rental along the coast of Long Island in New York.
No whiteware here. In this moody apartment in Berlin, multi-toned charcoal gray subway tiles make up the backsplash, which contrasts with the pop of rosy color on the kitchen cabinets.
Architect Patrick Tighe displays models for some of his higher-density housing projects in his L.A. studio. Though his practice spans from mixed-use and commercial developments to high-end single-family homes and co-living communities, his portfolio has always included affordable housing.
This shade has a levity about it that works well with both muted neutrals and darker colors. Benjamin Moore’s Blue Seafoam (2056-60) is a good example of a relaxing blue paint color that works well for interior and exterior walls.
Hope power-washed the cabin's exterior, giving it an entirely new appearance.
Perched on a lush lot that spans nearly half an acre, the four-bedroom residence features multiple outdoor living spaces and a bonus turnkey unit.
“The pitched ceilings and ribbon of clerestory windows make the interior feel more spacious than it is,” notes Gooden.
Pale hardwood floors complement pared-back wall tones in mushroom and off-white.
The expansive, well-landscaped backyard presents a splendid setting for entertaining guests.
The 2,109-square-foot home’s luminous gathering spaces feature ample windows and a primarily neutral color palette.
18 more saves