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Built on a shale ridge with a 35-foot drop-off, Scott and Julie Pelletier’s house in Maine comprises a succession of simple gables.

The darling cottage sits on a private islet off the coast of Addison, Maine, and boasts panoramic views of the surrounding Wohoa Bay.

Though the cottage offers a peaceful isolated setting, it is also just a short boat ride away from Addison and Jonesport, two small towns on the mainland of Maine.

The home is accessed via an elevator that opens to a private gallery foyer and then the spectacular living space.

Here is a peek at the kitchen, featuring a mix of red and green cabinets over reclaimed hardwood floors. A repurposed stovepipe stands in for standard track lighting above the sink.

The living room is warmed by a Morsø 1440 cast-iron stove and features a pair of calfskin folding seats that are original to the house.

The living lounge, dining and kitchen are located within the larger of the two volumes.

The motto for the Panorama Glass Lodge states "Where the sky is," which works as a fitting descriptor for the design of this cozy 248-square-foot vacation cabin. Thanks to the glass panels that wrap around a strategically placed bed, the bright dancing lights of the aurora can be viewed from the most comfortable spot.

The roughly 160-square-foot modules, dubbed Mini House 2.0, were built in collaboration with Swedish manufacturer Sommarnöjen, and are delivered flat-packed. The homes are painted wood, and include a shaded deck space, plus full insulation and electricity, for a price of about $29,000. The modules come in various layouts, and can be configured and combined to include a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and living space.

A Whistler A-Frame | British Columbia, Canada Scott & Scott Architects design an outdoorsy Vancouver family’s dream cabin

Opposite Jim’s workstation, the modest interior accommodates a single bunk—Hannah’s preferred reading perch.

In Seattle, an artist sought an affordable option for her own studio and looked to Modern Shed, a company that provides solutions for storage and limited living spaces like studios and office sheds. Metal panels in gray and red clad the exterior, and natural light pours in through glazed double doors and clerestory windows.

Marco V. Morelli says his Studio Shed is the perfect refuge. “It’s changed my life for the better,” he says. “I’ve gotten so much more work done, and I think my marital relations are much better because I have a place of my own.”

Designed by Stockholm firm Waldemarson Berglund Arkitekter, this prefab artist studio called Ateljé 25 is shaped like a Monopoly house, serves as an artist’s studio and has simple plywood interiors and massive skylights.

This archetypal Swedish building form, shaped like a Monopoly house, serves as an artist’s studio, with a simple plywood interior and massive skylights to let in natural sunlight.