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The white walls act as the perfect gallery space for the couple's artworks. “The walls are a bit of an odd proportion because the ceiling is so tall, but I think there’s kind of a beauty in that oddness,” says Lolley.

In the living/dining area, rough-sawn wood-plank screens cover a wall of windows. The removable panels keep the space cool in summer but are taken down the rest of the year so that the sun can heat the interior. The dining table is from Restoration Hardware and the wood chairs from Barnaby.

The exterior of Site Shack is covered in steel panels that are bolted to the framing. Look closely and you won’t see any visible fasteners, as Powers Construction’s welder was fastidious, creating a seamless shell with just steel and glass.

To achieve a path to homeownership without leaving the city or breaking the bank, three families in the sustainable design industry pooled resources to fashion an arrangement of three solar-powered, net-neutral-energy townhouses in place of a dilapidated 1970s single-family home in Brunswick, Australia.

Even as the square footage of this cottage in Fayston, Vermont, shrank in response to budget constraints, architect Elizabeth Herrmann remained focused on making the space feel warm and functional for a family of four and their dog and cat. "I think the trick to making small spaces feel much larger is to design the experience of being there,

Located in northern Michigan, the two-bedroom Lake House is built of metal structural insulated panels and channels Scandinavian design influences.

A large sectional both defines and cozies up the living room in the open plan.

A textured tile wall elevates visual interest in the dining area, while a corner fireplace in the living room pays homage to the minimalism of the midcentury aesthetic.

Kanuka Valley House by WireDog Architecture

Large wood beams frame the sauna’s deck and outdoor shower area.

The oak cabinet in the living room was another secondhand find. “It had the exact measurements of the wall,” says Annemie. “We just needed to hang it.” The throw blanket is from La Femme Garniture while the pillows and pendants are custom.

The Nook exterior features shiplap cypress siding, a reclaimed oak deck, and an entranceway of oak blackened in the traditional Japanese method.

After renting in San Francisco for a decade, DIY couple Molly Fiffer and Jeff Waldman bought 10 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where the pair and their friends built a cabin compound complete with sheds, tree decks, a pavilion, a wood-fired hot tub, an outhouse, and an outdoor shower. The cabin is made from locally sourced, rough-sawn redwood, which the couple stained with nontoxic Eco Wood Treatment to give the panels an aged appearance and a dark patina.