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Guy (holding Pickles the cat) and Mark transformed the backyard, adding a pool and planting sycamore trees and native grasses. A custom dining table by Angel City Lumber is paired with vintage chairs from Amsterdam Modern.

Relocating the kitchen door and changing the windows to high, small units created much more space for storage.

Shelving in the living area holds storage as well as a Murphy bed for guests. "It’s like a Swiss Army knife," says Losada-Amor. "Everything is a tool that you can fold or slice."

A peek inside the master suite dressing room. As with all the bathrooms, the dressing room is topped with a new ceiling made from alveolar polycarbonate. “It imparts a fun twist and provides some natural light to all the areas behind the wooden walls, except for the bedrooms,” adds Toledano.

The built-in shelving and storage save space.

Continuing the built-in elements and panelling in the bedrooms creates visual consistency and eschews the need for additional furniture that may bring clutter.

All of the home’s walnut cabinetry is book-matched, so the grain flows across the fronts.

Built-in pantry hidden in a corridor

View upon entry

A built-in bench at the entry provides storage—a boon, granted the home’s compact footprint.

One of Ulla and Jonathan’s three children steps out of a storage space that provides a thermal buffer for the cabin.

A slatted screen at the entrance helps create a moment of arrival. A shoe cubby helps keep clutter out of sight.

The custom storage behind the bed has cut-out finger pulls that mimic the cabinetry downstairs. "Hardware can almost end up being like a piece of jewelry," says Fowler, who likes the minimalist approach here. "It’s almost in the negative, flush with the face of the cabinet. Just shadow," she says.

The custom storage at the center of the open plan defines the separate rooms, while open sight lines keep them united. "My solution for the unused living room was to custom-design a TV lift cabinet to help define the living room space, offer a reason to gather on the sofa, and provide additional storage," says Cheng. "The back of the lift cabinet has open shelves for decor and small toy storage, while the benches on either end have seats that lift up to stash larger items."

Custom white oak storage with slatted fronts lines the wall of the family room, blending in with the other finishes. The lower ceiling—nine feet high—fosters a cozy room to curl up and watch TV.

MASA Architects constructed the built-in cabinets using side-pressed and lacquered bamboo.

Custom white oak cabinetry conceals the pantry and a bar. The seating nook is a favorite family spot, as the kids can hang out there and draw while the parents are cooking dinner.