Avila House

LH11 Helix pendant light by Brightbound + Windy Chien.

Perforated loster brick partitions are interspersed with slab-like Paras Kerobokan stone walls whose density contrasts with the levity of a pillared veranda that stretches alongside a lap pool.

The covered deck extends the living space outside and acts as a “transition space” between the interior and the landscape. Architect William Samuels and his wife use the versatile space for everything from al fresco dining to a stage to host concerts, movie nights, and performances by local theater groups.

The rear of the house features Victorian brick, a modern extension, and Velfac windows. Landscape designer Matthew Wright was inspired by the art of Henri Rousseau when choosing plants to set amid the garden’s Dorset pebbles.

Evoking shou sugi ban, the cedar exterior has a Benjamin Moore Arborcoat stain.

On an undulating stretch of California coastline, a hidden guesthouse runs free of the grid. "The house is elemental," says project architect Dan Weber of Santa Barbara–based firm Anacapa, who collaborated on the project with designer Steve Willson. "We endeavored to make it out of materials that would wear and take on a patina over time, so they could feel like part of the landscape." Unfinished steel, board-formed concrete, and glass continue inside, where rich black walnut—used for ceilings, cabinetry, and furniture—provides an inviting contrast. "On a foggy day, you want that feeling of warmth around you," says Margaret. Brass fixtures complement the deep-hued wood.

The roof deck is outfitted with Janus et Cie Amari Low Back lounge chairs.

The master bedroom was raised and cantilevered so as not to disturb the mature oak tree roots. Boulders are used as steps to the lawn.

Just over an acre, the residential property is covered in oak trees and volcanic rock.

More Japanese minka than Sears Roebuck, this kit home in the Bay Area—complete with a meditation room—provided the right bones for a renovation.

An ingenious small-space solution turns a wall into a sitting area.

A small treehouse overlooks grassy fields and Squibnocket pond in the background. Jackie O reportedly had the structure built for her grandchildren when they were younger.

The dining room table seats 10 and features an integrated lazy Susan. It is crafted from white laminated plywood with Birdseye maple legs. Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson architects and manufactured by Tomlinson Woodworks, it is available to purchase separately.

The family loves books. This wall of bookshelves was custom-designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and fabricated by Tomlinson Woodworks. A bespoke reading nook is on the right.

A sliding barn door built of salvaged pine separates the master bedroom from the bath.

In the living room, Hansen’s convertible Night couch and coffee table join a Black Marble rug by Suki Cheema and Slovenian Bear from Charles Fréger’s Wilder Mann series.