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He DIY’d the studio structure with friends, and, as with the cabin’s eaves, charred the exterior “to weatherproof it and for the aesthetic,” he says. Two sets of sliders bring natural light into the studio, while a circular window matches the ones he added to the cabin.

The new kitchen, part of the reconstructed extension, takes advantage of ample glass.

Marble was used on the kitchen island, complimented by walnut cabinetry and butcher-block countertop, as well as a backsplash of ceramic tile.

A wall in the hallway, after being stripped of its drywall, was left exposed on one side to reveal the wood framing. It now holds a metal and glass pocket door to the office.

The primary bathroom is a recreation of what Peter and Abigail had in Tokyo, particularly a tub that allows one to preset and maintain a desired temperature.

After renting in San Francisco for a decade, DIY couple Molly Fiffer and Jeff Waldman bought 10 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where the pair and their friends built a cabin compound complete with sheds, tree decks, a pavilion, a wood-fired hot tub, an outhouse, and an outdoor shower. The cabin is made from locally sourced, rough-sawn redwood, which the couple stained with nontoxic Eco Wood Treatment to give the panels an aged appearance and a dark patina.

"The 900-square-foot cabin perches on one piece of granite, projecting precariously over a steep drop-off to afford dramatic eastern views across the valley below," says Isamu Kanda, principal at I-Kanda.

One of the major highlights of the home is its strong indoor-outdoor connection.

The Fish Camp acts as the couple’s forest getaway, just a quarter mile from their main house.

At 74 square meters (797 square feet), this variation of the Vinkelhuset line by Danish modular cabin designer Møn Huset is L-shaped in plan and hits all the right notes, boasting clean lines, a practical gabled roof, and simple, attractive detailing on the interior.

Located on Lake Superior, the Week’nder is a light-filled modern prefab with dimensions pre-determined by the size of the ferry used to transport the modules to the island.

Instead of damaging the original exposed beams by scraping off the years of leftover paint, the beams now show the history of the home and are paired with new wood elements, such as the closet built-in, flooring, and vanity.

The prefab design utilizes a pin foundation system that reduces the project’s carbon footprint by 77 percent, says Wittman.