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Every square inch was maximized in these compact vacation homes.

“Many of the houses in the development aren’t too different from the city or suburbs,” says Kilpatrick. “One of our goals was for this project to have a rural feel.”

The three accommodation buildings face into a shared courtyard. The garage is further down the path.

A mirror directly across from the en suite’s massive window serves to double the view.

The meditation studio features a view of the property through black-stained slats.

The rhythm of the slat wall (made from red cedar and stained to look prematurely weathered) is echoed in the shutter detailing on each window.

Because of the project’s rural nature, there was no cell service on-site. Communication with the local tradespeople had to be crystal clear from the outset, so there were just a handful of details used on the whole project, inside and out. “It was about keeping the vocabulary simple, so we were all on the same page,” says Cuppett.

In the en suite, a black Victoria + Albert tub (with matching black American Universal penny tile) makes the perfect spot to soak up the view—though the shower curtains that line the windows can be drawn for a little more privacy. A shower head is mounted off to the right.

There are no upper cabinets in the kitchen, but a large walk-in pantry in the middle of the home—decked out in a cheery yellow paint and chicken-print wallpaper from Voutsa—provides ample storage.

The railings in the casitas echo the details of the main house. The stair treads are painted the same dusty blue as the loft floor. These tiny bunkhouses are designed to sleep a family of four, and also house a little kitchenette and bathroom.

Because of the way the home is sited, breeze is drawn from one screened porch throught to the other. In the heat of the summer, the homeowners leave the windows open all day to pull in air that keeps the house cool through the evening.

Each twin bed in the bunk room over the back porch gets its own Morgan Black sconce from Crate and Barrel. The rest of the furniture was sourced by the homeowners.

Firebrick lines both the wall and floor so that the fire can be lit right on the ground for an ultra-cozy night in.

The windows over the sink open right onto the screen porch. A wall of built-in shelving offers both storage and a clever way to separate the kitchen and living room.

While rooms are often designed to have islands of furniture, with a walking aisle around the perimeter, here the furniture is placed around the edges at a comfortable distance.

The compound was built on one of the Frio Cañon homesites along the Frio River—a ranch that’s been divided up into lots and developed with utilities. So while it’s rural, it also avoids some of the typical headaches of a remote location.

In the dressing room, the ceiling is papered with Ellie Cashman Summer Squall in midnight blue—a little pop of pattern to peek at as you’re heading through to the back door.

The simple finishes provide a backdrop for the homeowners’ collection of carefully curated furnishings, many of which are vintage (and, yes, cozy). One partner is a graphic designer, and she brought her own strong design sensibilities to the project. “She likes contrast, black and white, and bold color,” says Cuppett.

The breezeway acts as a big communal dining space, while the round table for six in the kitchen is for more casual family meals.