Exterior

Raw, oiled cedar cladding that will age over time gives the home a warm, textured appearance. The shoestring acacia (at left) provides privacy but still allows for filtered light.

A series of French doors extends the interior living spaces to the deck and meadow beyond.

Caterpillar House

Caterpillar House

The Andersen Architectural Collection’s Eagle windows and doors provide the panes and passageways of the home.

The architects designed the rooms as a linear sequence wrapping around a central courtyard. As one would have traversed the preexisting rock face, residents are constantly negotiating small elevation changes throughout the house. The plan also protects a central courtyard from the harsh Yucca Valley climate.

Both the pool and fountain feature original blue vertical tiles from Heath Ceramics, both of which are still functional.

Cabin at Longbranch | Olson Kundig

Suzanne and Brooks Kelley at the back of their 1,100-square-foot guest cottage.

The main house uses new and salvaged lumberyard materials, including an inexpensive sliding window from Lowe’s. There's a planting box under the window. The sleeping area is completely insulated with rigid foam sheathing. For cold nights there is a heat lamp.

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Professional backcountry snowboarders Zach and Cindi Lou Grant modernized a run-down A-frame cabin outside of Park City, Utah, to help them access untracked powder and follow their dreams.

Three olive trees currently anchor the hot tub and deck area. The architects explain that transplanting them with a crane essentially positioned on a cliff face was one of the biggest challenges of the project.

Two hours north of New York City, an unusual barn emerges from a hill just off a country road. Its black siding and bright-red window frames hint at the imaginative playground inside. This space, with its rope-railed catwalk and indoor tent, is just one element of the multifaceted getaway architecture and design firm BarlisWedlick Architects designed for fund manager Ian Hague.

This private retreat and vacation residence located in a beautiful community on the New England coast features high performance and efficient use of space in a small package.