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The insides of the carcass are as beautiful as the exposed faces. “You can’t capture a piece of solid wood in a frame or it will expand, contract, and crack, so we re-assembled our leftover walnut strips to infill the framework,” Stuart says.

“I like the darkness of walnut. Other woods tend to yellow if you don’t stain it, while walnut stays true to itself,” Caleb says. The white glass tile backsplash melds with the wall.

The open kitchen overlooks a sunken living area, where the polished concrete foundation doubles as a natural heater. “Oftentimes in the winter, we’ll turn off the heat during the day,” Sarah says. “As soon as the sun’s been out for a couple hours, there’s a whole bunch of heat stored there.”

René Gauthier, Aki Kaltenbach, and six-year-old Hiro sit outside their home in Victoria, British Columbia, which architect Colin Harper designed in the spirit of the corner store that stood here before.

Set just beneath the roof’s apex, a lofted bedroom with a sloped ceiling overlooks the kitchen and living area.

Seamlessly integrated into the cabinetry, the refrigerator and dishwasher are from Sub-Zero. The counter-top induction burner and convection oven are from Breville.

Designed by Donald Wexler, the ’60s home is wrapped in lush greenery—and it comes with a sculptural fireplace, a stone pond, and a kidney-shaped pool.

Architect Bruce Goff gained widespread notoriety for his unique, organic designs, often in Oklahoma.

Cabinets double as a back rest for bench seating.

Magnolia House by Chip and Joanna Gaines

Bosco Verticale by Boeri Studio

The slats on the window offer solar protection and privacy. “Before the slats were installed, it really felt like you were just living on the street,” says Vanbesien.