Favorites

The curved concrete retaining wall slowly reveals the Cover, a design detail the couple love for its thoughtfulness.

View looking from the new deck along the central axis towards the new pool and existing living room (with new concrete deck). The new design built-up the sloping site around the pool so its surface could be raised to allow more of a connection between the existing indoor spaces and the water.

Not willing to sacrifice aesthetics for cost, Christie spent $2,000 on a wood-burning stove. "I could have gotten a propane stove for free, but it would have been ugly,

Facade detail

The second bedroom features bunk beds that allow the cabin to accommodate extended family holidays and gatherings.

The social sofa area is made up of modular sofa cushions that can be broken up or be pushed up to the wall. "It’s totally surprising how comfortable and relaxed the space feels even when you’re sharing it with six other people,

In the backyard, a fire pit also serves as a grill thanks to grates that slide back and forth on steel rails. “We cook on it all the time,” says Briana. “I think it’s my husband’s favorite part of the house.” The fire pit was designed by Briana and features and grates from Grate Grates. The patio chairs shown in the background are from Direct Furniture Modern Home.

The living area features additional built-ins along one wall.

The backyard is perfectly suited for summer entertaining.

The original run-down shed wasn’t very functional: The roof leaked, the carpet had sprouted mold, and the narrow quarters were sectioned off as two parking spots and two office spaces. So Ella engaged Mutuus Studio to help figure out an optimal design for the 360-square-foot shed—one that would encompass garden shed, exercise room, office, playroom, and outdoor dining space all while staying within a modest budget of less than $40,000.

Another element creating a series of links between the spaces is a carpentry element with a linear graphic texture in three dimensions, created using layers of carefully designed wooden strips. They combine to form a functional surround, concealing storage units within and doors at both ends.

“We gave the architect a hard time by being ourselves, by being very stubborn,” adds Roi.

Immerso Glamping, a 65-square-foot prefab structure designed by Italian architects Fabio Vignolo and Francesca Turnaturi, is located in the Piedmont region of Italy. With a simple palette of birch plywood and plexiglass, the cabin was inspired by the architects’ experience designing easy-to-assemble, flat-packed cabins for disaster relief. You can book it on Airbnb for around $90.

Butler Residence floor plan

Potted cacti are abundant, both inside and out.

The teak dining table is by IB Koford-Larsen for G-Plan and the chairs are by Victor Bramwell Wilkins for G-Plan.