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Accessed through floor-to-ceiling glass sliders, the kitchen and living room open to terraces, which the family reserves for crafting. Their floors are covered in durable Pavestone Pewter Concrete Step Stones, which cost roughly $3.19 per 16-inch paver. Emilie attributes the home’s ample natural ventilation to the balconies as well as to its tall, thin profile, a choice made to keep the overall building footprint small.

The Weltys separated the kitchen/dining area from the living room with a stair framed by maple slats. The treads, made from leftover maple countertop pieces, are set into a steel framework. The staircase cost $2,204 for 168 square feet of material in total.

The main living area is on the second floor in an open double-height space where the ceiling peaks at 15 feet under an angled roof. It contains an airy kitchen/dining area and a living room. A hallway leads to the primary bedroom, and a loft contains a bedroom for their kids. The ground floor has an apartment they rent to local teachers.

Inside the mirrored “box” is a rectangular bathroom measuring only 2.2 feet by 4.4 feet. It contains a green tiled shower and toilet facing each other, and a skylight providing natural light during the daytime. The sink has been strategically placed outside the bathroom.

The black beam on the wall was installed to hide the pipes for the sink and bathroom but also doubles as a shelf for soap.

Lisa added a trio of windows up the staircase so that sunlight would stream in behind the slat wall.

Lisa added a window above the sink, and moved the sink from the island, so that Brendan could watch his kids play as he cooked.

The main floor of the home features a living, dining, and kitchen area all in one place. "I think we went through 10 different teal paints before we landed on this one for the cabinets,

The Kitayama cedar rafter ceiling reflects a naturalist approach to modern Japanese architecture—as do the home’s Takenoko dining chairs, designed by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP.

A rendering shows what the Forest-inspired cabin looks like in a lush, wooded setting.

The cabins can house a king, queen, or two twin-sized beds.

The home's proximity to the river required extensive site preparation to comply with the requirements of the high-flood zone, to the tune of $80K.

Wood continues to set the tone inside. White oak flooring and tiling together came to $80K, while the custom interior millwork cost $30K.

Situated on a small-footprint site on the banks of the Westport River, Mark Lawton Architecture constructed a high-functioning home for a total of $851,000.