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Every space, including the living and dining sections seen here, has “furniture, objects and artworks that bring us memories,” says Smud. The bench, coffee tables, and dining table are by the late Alejandro Sticotti.

When the residents of Sinfonía Verde bought their property in 2002, they had expected to spend most of their time on the beach. But the land changed in the twenty years since the initial purchase, and—drawn to the sounds of the regenerating rainforest—they found themselves spending more and more time inland. They asked Ben Saxe to design a house immersed in the canopy because of the studio’s “beautiful designs that work with the environment rather than against it,” the clients say.

Interior clerestory windows above the medicine cabinets allow views to the wood slat wall lining the hallway, and the natural light can now filter into the bathroom.

Floor Plan of Weekend Cottage by Radar Arkitektur

Because the residents wanted lighting “to fade away,” the home makes the most of natural light and minimizes fixtures. Each room has two sources of daylight, usually in the form of floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights. Fluorescent lights integrate into the surface of the skylights so they don’t protrude into the space.

Roberta Gordon’s two story hillside home in San Francisco’s Westwood Highlands neighborhood, built by her father, has been adjusted by architect David Gast and interior designer David Bjorngaard for her to age in place. A staircase from the street below leads into the former basement, now reconfigured as an additional dwelling unit for a future caretaker.

Brian and Melissa's two young children spend hours playing in the yard. With Melissa's mother in a house on the same property, the kids have easy access to Grandma whenever she's in town. "It's such a unique experience having multiple generations together," Brian says. "If the kids get up early, they can just run over to Melissa's mom's and spend time with her."

The exterior is mainly stucco, but part of the house is wrapped in shiplap (seen here, painted gray) to better connect it with the property's existing home, which dates back 100 years.

“There’s something about it that feels very contextual to where it is—on a little teeny hill, looking out over the Dry Creek Valley, and there’s nothing else artful around,” says Louis.

The view was pivotal in the design, and the living area features 180-degree views that bring the spectacular seascape into the interior. The soft, neutral palette complements the seascape.

Architect Merritt Amanti Palminteri reinvented her family home to add volume, flow, and infinite charm without changing the footprint.

Floor Plan of Merriewood House by Fischer Architecture

Floor Plan of White Rock by Andrea McLean Studio

Floor Plan of the Wetzel Residence by Two by Two Architecture Studio