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There are 12 arches in total throughout the home, playing up the desert modernism vibes. “I feel like they bring a very soft, timeless, and creative aspect to such simple parts of the home—like as simple as a walkway or a window,” says Derek. In the kitchen, and throughout the home, there is no natural gas consumption; every appliance is electric.

The cottage is wrapped in dark timber cladding that allows it to blend into the landscape, while the interior features white and natural timber finishes, making the most of the abundance of natural light to create a bright space.

Feldman Architecture opens up a dark and cramped seaside house with big windows and a healthy dose of wood.

Aro only produces all-electric homes.

With large-format picture windows from Andersen trimmed directly into the wood paneling, the openings act like “living paintings in a drawing room,” says Barber.

The expanded kitchen has a large central island, with room for prep, seating, storage, and cooking. The cabinetry is a mix of wood, Shinnoki Milk Oak, and white fronts, Fenix NTM Bianco Kos. The terrazzo counters are by Concrete Collaborative. There are two types of tiles: the Mutina Rombini fluted tile on the island and Cepac Krave Sugar Tiles on the backsplash. “It looks very mid-century modern,” says Blaine of the backsplash tile. “But in this application, it also adds that little touch of depth that I think is really important to making the house feel interesting.” The counter stools are from Hay.

"If you like the look of higher ceilings, choose a home that already has your preferred ceiling height,” says Eskandari. “Raising the height of ceilings is possible, but extremely labor intensive and costly. Taking down walls to create an open concept space is one of the most common requests from homeowners. Make sure you know which walls are load-bearing, as those are a lot more expensive to take down.”

The units feature radiant floor heating that can be monitored through included smart home devices.

In the master bath, Hale chose slate tile for the floors and green-and-brown glass tile by Lunada Bay for the walls, both from United Tile. The Japanese Ofuro soaking tub, crafted from Hinoki wood, is by Zen Bathworks.

Custom white oak cabinetry defines the open plan kitchen, which also features a stone-topped island and breakfast nook, where Ricks and his family spend much of their time.

The living room includes a Coco Flip pendant, a Jardan lounge and armchair, and a CV110 Cove coffee table.

"The bathroom has a spa-like feel and it seemed natural to choose light blue tiles,

The entrance to the home is through a timber-clad passageway, which connects the different spaces, which are all under one roof. Over time, the Canadian cedar timber cladding will develop a silver patina and the built form will dissolve further into the landscape.

Clerestory windows by Marvin bring plenty of light into the master bathroom. The tiles are by Bisazza and the fixtures are by CEA Design. White Corian surfaces complement the custom walnut cabinetry by Turkel Design.

“Using only wood to form a cabinet results in artistic moments. Diagonals read as decorative, but these strong triangles are necessary when you’re not using plywood,” Caleb says. “It’s pure joy to use the kitchen, knowing that all parts of it are built with meaning and without compromise.