Favorites

Surrounded by densely forested terrain, the secluded property at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains had a natural clearing carved in—this small meadow became the site for the Seattle couple’s family gateway.

Stylist and design consultant Oliver Schmid bought an abandoned, century-old house and transformed it into El Patio del Charco, a two-level vacation rental in Arrecife, on the eastern coast.

The main floor hosts the open-plan living areas and a full bath. In the kitchen, black walnut cabinets are topped with counters composed of Baltic birch plywood with Fenix laminate. The floor is honed gray concrete throughout.

The 750-square-foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that Bo Sundius and Hisako Ichiki of BunchADU designed in Los Angeles’s Atwater Village is filled with bright colors that help to designate the spaces within the small backyard home.

The exterior of the ADU is clad in cement-board siding. "It's readily available, relatively affordable, and environmentally friendly,

A dilapidated garage in Los Angeles becomes a whimsical backyard dwelling.

Custom-milled built-ins provide ample storage.

White oak flooring keeps the open-concept space feeling light and bright.

Fields of native grasses connect the main residence, situated at the top of the slope, to the new structures scattered below. A pergola extends from the post-and-beam structure that was maintained during the remodel of the midcentury home.

Spruce and pine cladding echo the verticality of the tree trunks surrounding the cabins.

“The roof overhang extends the living space,” says Boyer, so the deck becomes a spot to entertain visiting friends and family. The couple have been working to restore the surrounding land, as well.

On the left, stairs over the sauna lead up to an elevated lookout on the right. Beneath it is the bathhouse.

If you already have a projector, white sheets and some popcorn are all you need to create your own outdoor cinema. Alternatively, you can set up a backyard screening with a monitor, TV stand, and an extension cord.

Careful studies of the sun led to the distinct designs of each side of the chicken coop.

The integrated closet can be accessed from inside the coop, or outside.

Heart pine wood covers the ceiling, and a ladder leads up to the nesting boxes.

The upper floor of one of the cabins features a wood-burning stove, beanbag chairs, and a hanging paper lantern.

A wood-burning stove adds a cozy element.

"Connection to place is at the heart of this understated house. It evokes the continuous but evolving human settlement in the Bannockburn area in Central Otago. Here, the rusted remains of gold miners’ cottages dot a stony landscape of old mine tailings along the banks of the Kawerau River. ‘It’s an intense, exposed landscape,’ says architect Bergendy Cooke, ‘and the clients wanted a home that complemented these surroundings.’ Bergendy’s response was a house embedded in the terrain, offering protection from the harsh environment while refusing to be ostentatious. The low-lying building that emerged will become even less visible over time through the patina of its materials."