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Rosewood garden gate. Unsealed , the rosewood with grey naturally over time.

There is even a private meditation garden off the master with a zen pond, waterfall feature, and a hot tub.

The ADU shares the backyard of the main home, but gabion retaining walls (rocks in wire cages) and an elevated terrace gives it an intimate space of its own.

Thanks in part to landscape architect James C. Differding, the residents can enjoy the outdoors on all four levels, from the pocket garden that buffers the house from the street.

The horizontally slatted cedar railing bordering the first floor deck is echoed on the second floor balcony.

A deck with seating.

Designed to follow universal design principles, this Santa Monica prefab home by Connect Homes delivers modern and environmentally friendly design on a budget.

“Sustainability is very important to us,” lead architect Heather Dubbeldam says. “It is easy to design with passive systems, to use passive sustainable principles to influence the design and layout of the house.” Her team reduced the need for air conditioning and artificial lighting through carefully positioned doors and windows that draw in natural light and breeze. New insulation, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and low-energy lighting also minimize the homeowners’ dependence on utilities.

The couple asked for a “no maintenance, not low maintenance” backyard. However, Shino tends to “Carlsbad's largest public bathroom for cats” (otherwise known as their Japanese-style rock garden) about once a month. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!

The exterior of Connect 4L 1,600 sf 3 bed 3 bath 2 story modern prefab.

Since Portland is at roughly the same latitude as Sapporo, Japan, Howells was inspired by minimalist Japanese gardens. All of the wood used in the space, including the furniture, is designed to weather to a silver-gray shade over time.

The once-sloping space now has climbing vines, a slatted fence, and foxtail agaves.