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Hunter's son soaks his feet in the black-tiled spa under the stair that connects the upper dining deck to the ground level patio. Angled boards provide screening but still let in light.

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.”

Since the bathroom has no access to natural light, it was essential to recalibrate the lighting scheme. "The mirror is set off of the wall…and has up and down lights [installed] behind it. So, it has indirect lighting from behind," says Gerson. "On each side, there’s a 45-degree LED strip that provides direct lighting." Jokes Weigley: "It’s exactly what you want for your Zoom calls."

The kitchen countertops are made of oiled soapstone, and the backsplash features Heath Ceramics tiles. The island is a Carrara marble slab fitted onto an industrial base from Big Daddy's Antiques.

In the open-plan living area, one of the highlights is the natural light-filled kitchen from Italian manufacturer Armony.

Charred Siberian timber complements the original brick home.

The new kitchen/dining room is entirely open and provides views of the garden.

Previously a church from the 1900s, this contemporary home repurposes the original stained-glass windows.

Landscaping from Piazza Horticultural surrounds relaxed outdoor hangout spots.

A large soaking tub looks out to lush greenery and bright sunshine—the perfect backdrop for this bathroom retreat. A slatted fence provides privacy from the rest of the yard.

Located two hours north of Boston, the Rocky Brook weeHouse is carved out of the grade of a steep creekside lot.

Sited on a cramped corner lot in Manhattan Beach, California, this midcentury bungalow was renovated and enlarged with a 1,000-square-foot addition to create a total of 1,986 square feet of functional space for owners Alison and Jeff Goad and their three children. Culver City–based practice Edward Ogosta Architecture demolished and remodeled parts of the existing house to include a larger master bedroom and a new bedroom, bathroom, and powder room. The project also included updates to the two existing bedrooms, the laundry room, and garage.

Artist Cori Creed stands in the kitchen of the vacation home in rural British Columbia that she and her husband, Craig Cameron, built with their friend and architect, Kevin Vallely. Cori made the ceramic dinnerware and pendants, while Craig built the kitchen island and installed the plywood ceiling with the help of his stepfather.

The home’s charred-cedar rain screen facade blends in with the forested 15-acre site.

Organized around the staircase and entrance, or core, is a succession of communal living spaces that connect to the outdoors via seamless windows. Images courtesy Claesson Koivisto Rune.