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A new pergola completes the outdoor dining area set against an abundant bougainvillea backdrop.

The couple took advantage of numerous municipal programs when landscaping the backyard. Mandy recently completed a free course through LADWP, who also promotes resources for the SoCal Turf Replacement Program, to become a certified California Native Plant Landscape: “There is an amazing amount of knowledge and resources for transitioning yards with more native/drought-tolerant plants through LADWP and the Theodore Payne Foundation,” says Mandy.

Both the couch and the rug in the living room were purchased from CB2.

The living room’s original altar-topped fireplace and Sante Fe-style plaster were easy sells for Mandy, who made sure they were preserved during the renovation.

Madalena plays in the outdoor shower, from Portuguese company Bruma, which Ana settled on after inspecting multiple options.

The sophisticated white motif of this bathroom capitalizes on its natural light.

Rakks shelves in the primary bedroom hold many books, including those written by James.

The team painted the exterior brick after patching it in places, like the section left by the removal of the door. “We could find the exact texture of brick, that classic Roman running bond, but we could not find it in the right color,” says architect Kailin Gregga. Painting the entire exterior unifies the façade. Rich Brilliant Willing “Hoist” sconces in Black was also added.

The home’s walls are clad in Oregon white oak reclaimed from a dismantled barn on the property. Jessica Helgerson chose to paint them white to create a bright, airy look, but she left the kitchen wall au naturel for a visual pop. With storage at a premium, the kitchen needed ample cabinetry as well as some ingenious solutions—including a pull-out cabinet hidden in one half of the range hood. A vintage cabinet on the left wall provides open storage for everyday dishes.

The Lily Pad is a 280-square-foot shipping container home located near Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio.

Koto’s charred-timber workspace is an exercise in wabi-sabi design that embraces imperfection amid the natural world. The carbon-neutral structure is built from natural materials, and it can operate both on- and off-grid.

“MA03 Library House was designed to meet the requirements of a ceramicist and a lawyer in need of a home capable of holding their extensive book collection as well as providing them with spaces for work and creative activity,” say Fria Folket, the architect behind this cabin in Sweden.

At the garage, “the material is the same cladding as the addition and the back of the house— Hardie Boards were applied in a totally random pattern, with the intent to paint the surface,” says Radutny. “When it was done, I was pleasantly surprised with the accidental outcome and suggested for it to be left as is. The result was rather beautiful, echoing a sense of movement as the foreground to the Elevated Train above. So, they left it, as another art wall.”

Custom metal shelves display books. The flooring throughout is white oak, and its color syncs nicely with the tones in the brick—inside and out.

As part of their space-saving design, the duo created a floating desk. Its plans are available at their website.

Measuring only 180 square feet, this exquisite, off-grid tiny home features a big sense of style.

Special attention was paid to the casework detail. Overlapping butt joints form a subtle herringbone pattern and exposes the plywood end-grain.

There wasn’t enough of the reclaimed Puriri timber for wall cladding, so the decision was made to use it for joinery elements and trims. The hardwood timber is also very strong and moisture resistant, so was appropriate to use in these areas.