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Steps from the dining area is a bright, airy kitchen featuring Portuguese marble worktops and high-end appliances.

Plastered surfaces provide a calm texture to the shower, which was built to feel like a spa. Cal Faucets also supplied the showerhead.

The cabin is surrounded by evergreens and poplars that help to give a treehouse experience.

By moving the door to the bathroom, the architects could place a custom headboard against that wall, so the view can be seen from the bed. Custom storage underscores the windows.

The house is hidden from the road and sits on a hilltop clearing that overlooks the rolling farmland of the Mississippi River bluffs in Western Wisconsin. From this vantage point, there is a 270-degree view, with dramatic sunsets over the distant hills.

Jennifer requested the Japanese-style outdoor soaking tub, but it’s enjoyed by the whole family. It was built by J&K Cedar Works for around $6,500.

Electricity needs are more than met by an array of solar panels that produces 14,423 kWh/year. “It’s a beautiful little power plant,” says Jeff.

By removing walls, inserting new windows, and utilizing a lighter color palette, Mowery Marsh Architects give this historic home a modern, new look.

The mirrored wall bounches light around the room and makes it seem larger. Unlacquered brass plumbing fixtures feel appropriate for the house.

The architect added a deck at the front of the house to extend the living room. "By keeping it uncovered, you’re allowed to encroach into the setback just a little bit," says Nwankpa Gillespie. "So, we were able to get quite a large porch. That was one way that allowed us to open up the doors to the front yard."

Before: The 1924 storybook-style cottage in Los Angeles was a cramped 1,400 square feet for a family of four.

The new loft runs the entire expanse of one side of the house. Ruffin wanted the cross-braces at the ceiling peak visible, as well as the patina on the new wood. “We left all the stamps on the lumber to just let it be really honest,” says Ruffin.

A second-story addition to this midcentury home in Los Angeles is linked to the original structure by a 30-foot skylight. The spacious kitchen—the heart of the home—was designed for entertaining, with white oak cabinetry, quartz countertops, and dual islands for overflow seating.