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Two-toned closed cabinetry balanced with open shelves wraps the new kitchen. A metal and stone island acts as both the dining table and a prep counter, if needed.

At the back of the houses, cedar shingles provide an unexpected moment of visual interest.

Keyan Mizani and Alexia Zerbinis work from a ground-floor storefront studio that could be converted to either a garage or a leasable accessory dwelling unit.

The existing Ikea cabinet boxes received new Semihandmade fronts: the DIY Flat Slab painted Benjamin Moore's “Revere Pewter.” The butcher block was replaced with a Ceaserstone Empira White slab, and the wood shelves were preserved, though received new brass brackets. The brass hardware is from Rejuvenation and the pendant is the Pirlo from Tech Lighting. The new zellige tile is from Riad, in the Natural White color.

Like phase one, phase two will have a wood-clad foyer and dining area that will act as an extension.

In the dining room, an Andover custom table by Room and Board and Globus Chairs from Design Within Reach continue the neutral color palette. The white, monochromatic kitchen has quartz countertops by Prestige and Phoenix Ivory Counter Stools from CB2.

The traditional massing masks a super-performing house, built to last for centuries. Photo by: Eric Hausman Photography

The south windows provide much of the winter-free heat as well as the opportunity to break down the wall’s mass into a dynamic composition. Photo by: Eric Hausman Photography

The geometry of the spherical intersections becomes apparent at the entry porch, where an orb of wood welcomes visitors.

The home is elevated to allow for humidity protection and ventilation, but also in order to protect the biodiversity of the forest floor.

The Connect 4 Floor plan

The preserved grove of Redwoods is just past the house. “They loved the house that was there so much that, it was important to create something that wasn't trying to replace it, but would function for them in a different way,” says Boyer. Thus, this cabin reconnects the couple to the land, and gives them “that place of refuge” they need in nature.

All of Scott Palamar’s selections and customizations brought the total to $150,000 for the 640-square-foot home and surrounding land. “I feel like I struck on such a novel solution because I was able to afford a home tailored to my lifestyle,” he says.

House II floor plan

The bathroom features simple black hex tile on the floor and white tile laid in a grid on the walls. The custom vanity is fir, in keeping with the rest of the home’s material palette.

A custom vanity topped with marble floats against a wall clad in Fireclay Tile. The mirrors are by Wayfair and the sconces from Allied Maker.

Because they were working with a modest budget, Casework left the bathroom plumbing fixtures in their original locations (aside from the showerhead).