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The corner is the family’s favorite gathering spot—“a contemporary cave for three,” says Serge. Luisa’s module, with its cactus-lined terrace, is visible through the glass wall.

Jagoda installed two Velux skylights in the kitchen and one apiece in the kids’ bathroom and the parents’. “Ideally, every room in the house has enough natural light that you don’t have to turn on the lights during the day,” says the architect. The frost bathroom tile is from Heath Ceramics, while the faucet is from Vola

The Bracy Cottage — Front Facade

Preproduction model with optional features shown.

The Laurel Hills Residence and the surrounding palm trees reflect on the surface of the 40-foot-long swimming pool.

Florida couple John Pirman and Steve Tetreault built a new house inspired by the Sarasota School. Today’s FEMA codes required a plinth to lift the house five-and-a-half feet above grade and a roof that can withstand hurricane wind loads, making it a challenge to re-create the lightness of midcentury design, Pirman says.

Pirman, an illustrator, works on a vintage Florence Knoll table in his studio at the front of the house.

Raise the Roof Using a commercial roof in a residential project was a first for architect Michael Epstein. While similar systems are often covered, Epstein chose this long-span roof deck from Epic Metals for its beam-like interior face, which hides fastenings in its deep grooves, creating a flat-panel appearance.

Shady Business “What makes this house wonderful to live in is that the light is always, always changing,” says Pirman. Here, he adjusts shades fabricated by Unique Wholesale Distributors, which pull down in the morning when the sunlight is strongest.

Show It Off While the couple’s art collection is a focal point of the house, the structure’s abundance of glass walls means there are fewer places on which to hang it. Custom one-and-a-quarter-inch hardwood-plank shelves and a credenza from DWR provide places to rotate favorite pieces.

Here's what you need to know before undergoing a building project with a contractor but no architect.

The clerestory windows have been preserved, and the house now has a dark facade that recedes into the foliage.

This modern office by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design promotes productivity with uncluttered white walls and plenty of natural light. There’s even enough space for the homeowner’s instruments and a media center.

At the opposite end of the home, one of the three bedrooms benefits from a glazed corner. A new bench adds seating and storage near the window, while a sliding door provides access to a covered outdoor space with framed views of Los Angeles.

The flooring throughout it a light-toned wide-plank oak, and all walls were finished in Roman clay plaster by Portola Paints, for a subtle texture. The Drifted stools from Hem have cork seats, while the sculptural coffee machine from Anza is made of Corian. The wall sconces are from RBW, and all faucets by Kohler.

The kitchen is defined by an extensive island with an oak base and a blue limestone counter, designed and fabricated by Klein Agency.