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soft grays and natural materials

The integrated laundry area under the kitchen counter offers a smart space-saving solution.

The office features a combination of built-ins and furnishings that maximize space and storage.

Architect Rafael Ramos opted for a natural mix of materials—off-white cement bricks, wooden frames, and fluted glass—offset by shades of gray and minimalist geometric-print tile work.

While they may resemble shipping containers, the pods are actually built of wood and clad in corrugated steel.

In the primary bedroom, side tables are built into the wall and the bed is custom-made for the space. “Everything had to be custom because of space constraints,” says Madison. “A custom home kind of requires custom furniture to make the most of every inch.”

The deck is constructed from standard, treated 2x6s from the hardware store. The oak tree in the center of the deck provides the family with shade and cooler temperatures through the humid summers, and protects from the rain as well.

“If we were questioning the hospitality of these pods, or the toughness of them, a three year old boy will test the toughness of anything,” laughs Mark.

The couple splashed out on KitchenAid appliance, but stainless steel countertops in the kitchen “look fancy but were cheaper than quartz,” says Mark.

The designer-builders chose white oak in a Cathedral cut, embracing its more rustic quality compared to riff-sawn white oak.

The bathroom's solid-oak door slides into a pocket, allowing natural light from the bathroom window to fill the space.

When artist Birgitta Burling and her husband Staffan decided to build a house on the idyllic Swedish island of Gotland, they set their ambitions high. "The brief was to make a house that can do several things…to create a house with very little boundaries and infinite possibilities," says French architecture and landscape firm Collectif Encore.

The couple’s preference for raw, natural materials, tactile surfaces, and verdant color can be seen throughout the house.