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On the roof, Claudio and Aranza sit on salvaged blocks of wood around a “water mirror” that reflects the sky. On clear nights, you can gaze both up and down at the stars, an activity that gives Casa Cosmos its name.

A look at the lower-level bathroom and courtyard garden.

“We’re always throwing events,” says Paul, so the indoor/outdoor style was a great fit for them.

The recycled bricks were also used to create an outdoor shower.

In fall, the color of this backyard in Charlottesville, Virginia, changes daily with the foliage. Elizabeth Birdsall marvels how new outdoor spaces on her property, like a patio furnished with upholstered seating from Gloster, make enjoying the woods an easy experience: “It’s like comfortable camping, all the time.”

The home's central courtyard provides green space, as well as a place for the two boys, Jesse and Jamie, to play. The use of bright colors for transitional elements—windows and doors—brightens the otherwise neutral palette.

Floor plan of Square House by Levenbetts

Mature oak trees shade the lounge area near the swimming pool.

Double-height cedar cladding enhances the verticality of the structure.

The floor plan of the home shows its asymmetrical shape and emphasis on indoor-outdoor living.

Woods & Water outdoor bathing

Floor Plan of Southfield Farm Cabin by Barlis Wedlick Architects

The former closet was transformed by opening up the wall to the bedroom and adding a skylight above the bathtub. The light timber joinery and bright white surfaces enhance the feeling of light.

The majority of the house is clad in earth-tone modular brick. The brick was chosen for its durability, low maintenance, and the texture and pattern it lends to the elevations.

In Pukwana Beach, Wisconsin, Lindsay Pauly and Daniel Ohrtman married their desire for minimalism and sustainability with their wish for a family-friendly summer house.

White oak paneling lines the sleeping loft.