Atelier

Solomon Troupe Architects designed this 430-square-foot backyard bedroom suite for the owners to retreat to when their family comes to visit.

The spacious living room offers a modern blend of cinderblock, wood, and cement. The two-story glass wall framing the fireplace allows the area to be bathed in natural light.

The exposed solid cork blocks are gentle to the touch, and they even smell good. The acoustics are soft and calm, and the house only requires heating on the coldest days. The stove is fed with logs harvested from on-site tree maintenance.

A bathroom shows off the large scale of the site's sloping rock with a floor-to-ceiling window.

Bi-fold glass doors allow the primary suite to frame striking sunset and skyline views.

Popham Design supplied the tiles in the bathrooms, were Gebhardt chose to incorporate more color.