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The clients work in marketing and exhibitions, and have a thorough knowledge of design. “Their passion for all aspects of design immediately attracted us to work with them,” says architect Simon Feneley. “The home was well furnished with classic pieces—such as the Flos Arco lamp—that became discussion points throughout the project. They share our ethos of quality over quantity and it was a joy to work with a client with such knowledge and vision.”

The corner window offers an off-centre view of the garden, while the corner window seat has an elevated position over the garden. “The window seat cantilevers the main line of the house in both directions, emphasising the effortless nature of the corner itself,” explains architect Simon Feneley. “With no corner post, the structure was detailed with the structural engineer to achieve a feeling of lightness and to keep all timber sections as slender as possible.”

The addition is clad in timber boards of various widths and depths, adding a subtle layer of texture to the simple, gabled form.

Wood tones and earthy textures warm the reimagined living room. Much of the art were gifts that the couple bought for each other or pieces by mutual friends; the Mickey Mouse painting is by New Jersey–based artist Dylan Egon. "We like to bring some of the city into the country," says Lauren.

A low stone wall surrounds the perimeter, which Jens planted with trees in order to create a buffer between the house and the surrounding vista.

BEDROOM 2 - Queen Bed

The Lake View

Purchased from its original owner, the 1957 dwelling was reinvigorated, and turned into a space the family can call home for many years to come. “It’s been amazing to see new families buy in our neighborhood, and restore the homes back to their midcentury glory,” says Leah.

Jennifer and Kenard Bunkley braved resident wildlife and the soaring cost of plywood as they demolished and rbuilt their vacation home in upstate New York.

This area between the living area and private bedroom acts as a study and storage station.

The main sustainability feature of the home is is its small size, which has a fraction of the embodied energy and utilises far less energy for heating and cooling than the average home. "When it comes to sustainability, size is often overlooked in favour of increased insulation, efficient appliances or solar panels,

“Our primary consideration was to have a home that was comfortable and functional for the two of us,” says architect William Samuels. “That consideration outweighed all other aspects of the brief and was our only non-negotiable.”

Guest loft.

LIVING ROOM - The living room is framed by custom floor to ceiling shelves housing a collection of art, games and tchotchkes brought together for this house. There’s a hanging chair to take in the desert views.

SPA AND OUTDOOR SHOWER - We could have saved a lot of time and effort by just plopping a hot tub out back near the outdoor shower and calling it good, but we wanted to show reverence for the Mojave and we designed it to be flush with the ground.