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While the owners really liked the idea of shou sugi ban, they opted for a more cost-effective black stain. The random-width, reverse board-and-batten siding reflects the wabi-sabi concept. “The builder said the math for the random siding was torturous,” the wife said. “We didn’t know how hard it was to make things look simple.” DeNiord planted hay-scented fern and lowbush blueberry sod around the house. “We didn't want any side of the house to feel unconsidered,” he says. As for the local boulders he placed around the house and terrace, he says, “They give the feeling that the house grew up around the outcroppings.”

An outdoor shower was installed in the space between the home's two boxes, as an unexpected sanctuary.

The greenhouse windows flood the space with natural light.

Now that these windows are properly sealed, the family will be able to enjoy the space for years to come.

The basement’s kitchenette was moved to a more central location and updated with contemporary colors and finishes. Custom cabinetry was painted in Benjamin Moore’s Spiced Apple Cider to add some brightness to a space that leans on the dark side. Daltile’s Keystones tile in Artic White was also used on the walls in the nearby bathroom.

New white oak stairs connect the upper and lower floors. The homeowner wanted the downstairs apartment for visits from her daughter and young grandchildren, who live in California. La Cantina sliding doors provide easy access to the backyard.

Homeowner Cynthia Chau chats with two of her daughters in the kitchen of her Seattle home.

"This was the best decision I have made for myself in a long time,

Seattle-based Shed Architecture & Design worked with kitchen systems company Space Theory to create Quynh-Vy’s dream kitchen, complete with pink cabinets, open walnut shelving, and a 12-foot marble island.

Marie Saldivar’s experimental metal-clad dwelling is the perfect place to host family—and proof of concept for her new prefab company.

The shower features Fireclay Tile in Blue Satin—a pop of pastel amidst the otherwise earthy palette.

The couple spent $30, 933 on windows and doors, including this sliding glass door outlined in wood.

Updates to the kitchen included new counters and backsplash in Vermont Maple marble, and semi-custom cabinets in a matte moss finish.

While the house was designed to be an efficient machine, it is not without emotive qualities. The internal palette is a tactual composition of cement render and timber.

"Since the living space on the first storey is separated from the bathroom by a staircase, the bathroom has no door and is connected to the living space as one space in a cross-section," says Sudo.

The bathroom is elevated for privacy but offers nice views through large windows.

Alicia’s business Roggenwolf takes its name from the rye wolf, a mythic creature in German folklore.

While Alicia and David rethought their kitchen from floor to ceiling, they tried to preserve the rest of the house in its current state.