Clever Ideas

A few steps in a small hallway lead to the main living space and kitchen.

Colter says that the banquette off the entryway is "Airstream-esque.

"I can’t think of anything we did that doesn’t serve some sort of practical function,

"Like the Eppstein House, the Pratt residence offers a peaceful oasis, complete with an open floor-plan and multiple terraces,

One of the most difficult parts of the project, according to MacLean, the floating staircase in the main house connects the main living area with the upstairs. The stainless steel railings match the ones found on the exterior deck.

Achieving the floating blade stairs took a feat of construction and engineering. Their delicate thinness belies their strength: the treads are a wood sleeve fitted over a solid steel core.

The main living space enjoys unfettered ocean views thanks to the beachfront location and the open glass door. Materials used in the home are decidedly weatherproof, like the travertine floors, the concrete thermal mass wall that runs the length of the home, and even the hardware on most of the furniture. Starfire glass railings along the patio cut down on blowing sand and provide a measure of safety.

A 26-foot-wide, 3-ton airport glass hangar door opens the living room to the Atlantic Ocean. The enormous structure was custom-made for the home, designed to raise at the touch of a button to let the ocean breeze permeate every corner of the home.

While this may look like a typical beach house from the outside with cedar siding and a low-pitched roof, a surprise awaits on the beachfront side of the home. A garage-style glass door opens at the touch of a button to welcome the salty sea breeze and plenty of sunlight.

The couch was purchased from Rove Concepts and the dining room furniture was sourced from various flea markets and trade shows.

Located on owner Lucas Steyn’s family farm in Botrivier, South Africa—about 90 minutes from Cape Town—Copia is an eco-retreat comprised of two shipping container cabins.

The second-story, basically a catwalk that threads between the large, exposed trusses, is mostly residual space used for storage.

By building upward and outward, YH2 Architecture added to a former lumberman’s shed without harming the nearby trees. The new 1,300-square-foot home is tucked away in southeastern Quebec.

By building upward and outward, YH2 Architecture added to a former lumberman’s shed without harming the nearby trees.

The palette and furnishings are inspired by nature and the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi. "We wanted people to feel relaxed right when they walked in, so we kept the interiors noble and focused on texture and subtleties in design," says Elaine. The living room features the Neva sofa by Sixpenny, a 19th-century Naga coffee table from India, and leather side chair from Restoration Hardware.

The facade is wrapped in custom-milled Douglas fir siding and punctuated with CommDoor black anodized aluminum windows. "We choose Douglas fir as our wood for the project for its warmth and ubiquitous heritage in Ontario cottage country," says Smirnis.