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"Since we're completely off grid we operate off of hauled water, so we have three 1,800 gallon tanks that get filled up every other week. But for those same reasons, people off the grid don't really have pools because they're hard to maintain, but we did it anyway."

On the outskirts of Grândola—a small Alentejan town in the Setúbal district of Portugal—a dramatic architectural form sits in the vast, arid landscape amidst cork trees and herds of cows. The whitewashed guesthouse is known as Casa da Volta, which translates as "Home of the Return,

Don’t worry, there are still plenty of sales to look forward to post–Labor Day—and we’ve rounded up the best of ’em.

The semi-outdoor space extends the living room outward. Inside, a layer of glass sliding doors further facilitate breezes. The occupants can enjoy the sound and smell of rain behind shelter.

Outdoor staircases can also incorporate greenery, taking advantage of the sunlight and rain that falls on them. In this house in Poland, a curved wall of windows envelop the open-air living room. The staircases outside leads to a green roof, which helps to retain heat in winter and cool interiors in summer.

In Singapore, architect Ling Hao wrapped this entire house in greenery, which becomes the facade. The owner grew up in a rural environment and enjoys living among plants, rain puddles, and even the insects and wildlife that find their way here.

An internal courtyard punctuates the main floor of this renovated home near Melbourne, Australia, and adds a practical source of light and air. The local climate patterns were taken into account during the home’s design and layout. Because temperatures can vary quite dramatically, solar control was very important. The large glazed sliders to the east, where the home gets morning sun, strategically contrast with the less extensive glazing to the north.

To complement the charred cedar cladding Vista Residence, the outdoor furniture is crafted from the same wood.

Even the shower embraces the neutral palette.

Watch the Northern Lights from the comfort of your warm bed at Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland. Designed by the Estonian company ÖÖD Homes, the two 200-square-foot prefab cabins are thoughtfully made for small-space living. Each has a bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen.

Tide Design created the dining table, dining chairs, and living room lounge chairs.

An interior rendering of an Ayfraym, which can sleep up to eight in its three-bedroom setup. The kits use FSC-certified Boise Cascade lumber.

Pictured is an Avrame Duo 100 built in Southern Estonia. The Avrame EU kits come with painted exterior pine cladding as the default option, while the US kits come with fiber cement cladding. Customers also have the freedom to source a different exterior finish.

All truss components in the AvrameUSA kits use LVL (laminated veneer lumber) to achieve high snow, wind, and seismic ratings. The A-frame structure can hit load requirements in over 94 percent of U.S. jurisdictions.

Architect Timothee Mercier of Studio XM converted a crumbling farmhouse into a residence for his parents.

Geometric recessed door handles adorn solid oak pocket doors.

The floating oak staircase in the first-floor family room leads to the rooftop garden, which features a lounge area, grill, and small bar room with a restroom. Bespoke oak shelving behind the stair offers a display area for books and other objects.