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These Are the Most Popular Homes of January 2023View 10 Photos

These Are the Most Popular Homes of January 2023

From innovative prefabs to an overhauled Airstream bus, here’s what our readers were most drawn to last month.
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Consider this inspiration for creating that perfect escape in a remote corner of the world, or building a dream home on a budget. January’s most-viewed homes will give you the ideas—and hard numbers—to help make things happen.

Budget Breakdown: How a Couple Built a 480-Square-Foot Home for $68K in Cash

If you’re coming from a 160-square-foot Airstream, 480 square feet is downright palatial. At least that’s how Madison and Mark Talley of Tall Architects see it. Since they moved from a camper into their self-designed, self-built space in 2017, the couple and their three-year-old son, George, have happily made the tiny house a home in Vancleave, Mississippi.

If you’re coming from a 160-square-foot Airstream, 480 square feet is downright palatial. At least that’s how Madison and Mark Talley of Tall Architects see it. Since they moved from a camper into their self-designed, self-built space in 2017, the couple and their three-year-old son, George, have happily made the tiny house a home in Vancleave, Mississippi.

Their incentive for thinking small wasn’t just about challenging the conceit that bigger is better, Madison and Mark were simply trying to keep costs down. They were able to complete the project in 2017 for $68,000 (a budget, Mark notes, that likely wouldn’t be doable in today’s economy).

Their incentive for thinking small wasn’t just about challenging the conceit that bigger is better, Madison and Mark were simply trying to keep costs down. They were able to complete the project in 2017 for $68,000 (a budget, Mark notes, that likely wouldn’t be doable in today’s economy).

Bryan and Meredith Verona had such a good time driving an SUV around the southwest United States that they began what Bryan calls their "road trip series." "The trips became something that we really cherished over time," he says. So when Bryan found his dream RV–a 1989 370LE Airstream–for sale in Cleveland, Ohio, he immediately purchased it and drove it back to NYC the same night.

Bryan and Meredith Verona had such a good time driving an SUV around the southwest United States that they began what Bryan calls their "road trip series." "The trips became something that we really cherished over time," he says. So when Bryan found his dream RV–a 1989 370LE Airstream–for sale in Cleveland, Ohio, he immediately purchased it and drove it back to NYC the same night.

With the help of Glickman Schlesinger Architects, the family reconfigured the camper to comfortably sleep six, installed wheel wells and water tanks, tweaked the dining room bench and table orientation, added seating to the living room, and updated the finishes. The new palette utilizes white oak wood floors and tabletops, white plastic laminate, aluminum, Scalamandre fabric leftover from the couple’s home remodel, and surprisingly, Carrara marble.

With the help of Glickman Schlesinger Architects, the family reconfigured the camper to comfortably sleep six, installed wheel wells and water tanks, tweaked the dining room bench and table orientation, added seating to the living room, and updated the finishes. The new palette utilizes white oak wood floors and tabletops, white plastic laminate, aluminum, Scalamandre fabric leftover from the couple’s home remodel, and surprisingly, Carrara marble.

According to iHouse Estudio, the idea for this home Punto del Este, Uruguay, "began with the client’s initiative to live immersed in the forest, always in direct contact with the surroundings. We based the approach on midcentury homes, specifically Case Study houses. This was an important starting point for the main concept—trying to reinterpret single-family houses."

According to iHouse Estudio, the idea for this home Punto del Este, Uruguay, "began with the client’s initiative to live immersed in the forest, always in direct contact with the surroundings. We based the approach on midcentury homes, specifically Case Study houses. This was an important starting point for the main concept—trying to reinterpret single-family houses."

"The idea is that when you’re inside the house, you feel that you are outside and within the woods," explain the architects. "Continuing with this idea, the house features a flowing interior with no interior walls. Inside, blocks contain bathrooms, a kitchen, and closets, freeing the rest of the spaces to connect with the setting. The forest is framed at all times."

"The idea is that when you’re inside the house, you feel that you are outside and within the woods," explain the architects. "Continuing with this idea, the house features a flowing interior with no interior walls. Inside, blocks contain bathrooms, a kitchen, and closets, freeing the rest of the spaces to connect with the setting. The forest is framed at all times."

This 530-square-foot prefab in East Sussex, England, was designed by Michael Kendrick Architects for a family who wanted to build a woodland retreat/rental on their property. Immersing the lodge into the forest reflects the family’s intent to, as the architects explain, "enhance the ecological biodiversity of the area, protect wildlife, and enable guests … to understand and appreciate the fauna, flora, and unique history and nature of the area, while supporting and promoting the local economy."  

This 530-square-foot prefab in East Sussex, England, was designed by Michael Kendrick Architects for a family who wanted to build a woodland retreat/rental on their property. Immersing the lodge into the forest reflects the family’s intent to, as the architects explain, "enhance the ecological biodiversity of the area, protect wildlife, and enable guests … to understand and appreciate the fauna, flora, and unique history and nature of the area, while supporting and promoting the local economy."  

The materials for the prefab were chosen to help the lodge blend into the wood. According to the architects, "the lodge features an intentionally limited palette of natural materials, including the same species of timber, western red cedar, on the external cladding and internal lining. Left unfinished, the exterior will weather naturally to a silver-gray color that is reminiscent of the local landscape, which will contrast the cozy, warmer tones of the interior."

The materials for the prefab were chosen to help the lodge blend into the wood. According to the architects, "the lodge features an intentionally limited palette of natural materials, including the same species of timber, western red cedar, on the external cladding and internal lining. Left unfinished, the exterior will weather naturally to a silver-gray color that is reminiscent of the local landscape, which will contrast the cozy, warmer tones of the interior."

For their first big project together, Alessio Pretto and Spencer Bergen sought a property in the western Catskills that would feel secluded while still being close to town. This '80s ranch-style home on Raeder Road in Roxbury, New York, had good bones, was within budget, and—most importantly—benefited from incredible views. In a four-month sprint, the couple opened up the floor plan, converted the pantry into a bathroom, expanded the deck, and renovated the interior finishes.  Photo by Jack Alessio Pretto and Spencer Bergen

For their first big project together, Alessio Pretto and Spencer Bergen sought a property in the western Catskills that would feel secluded while still being close to town. This '80s ranch-style home on Raeder Road in Roxbury, New York, had good bones, was within budget, and—most importantly—benefited from incredible views. In a four-month sprint, the couple opened up the floor plan, converted the pantry into a bathroom, expanded the deck, and renovated the interior finishes.  Photo by Jack Alessio Pretto and Spencer Bergen

"We had a lot of Art Deco pieces and midcentury things, and went looking for bentwood chairs until we could collect 10 of them," says Alessio. "It was a big goal for us to have a clean environment for these featured elements." The vintage writing desk is from Charming by Cheap in Fleischmanns, New York, and the wall sconce is from Red Chair on Warren in Hudson, New York.

"We had a lot of Art Deco pieces and midcentury things, and went looking for bentwood chairs until we could collect 10 of them," says Alessio. "It was a big goal for us to have a clean environment for these featured elements." The vintage writing desk is from Charming by Cheap in Fleischmanns, New York, and the wall sconce is from Red Chair on Warren in Hudson, New York.

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