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The house on the corner in the tiny town of Castellet in Catalonia, that Kirsten Dirksen and Nicolás Boullosa bought in 2018.

The updated ’70s residence has a a dramatic sloped roof, a double-height living area, and a big backyard.

Exterior view of the drive through to the interior courtyard, wild flowers beyond

DeNiord designed a simple concrete bench with a honed top to run parallel to the randomly sized concrete pads that lead to the covered entry. He planted blueberry bushes behind the bench and a river birch tree behind the boulder. To conjure a wabi-sabi feel outdoors, diNiord poured concrete around a boulder. “It represents the interruption of perfect geometry,” he says.

Natural light was very important for homeowners, incorporated though plentiful clerestory glass and indoor-outdoor access.

The house floats out over the hillside, minimizing its impact on the landscape, while taking advantage of surrounding views. The design, which places the primary living spaces on the upper floor, leaves flexibility to add an additional bedroom underneath in the future.

Upstairs, the living room fireplace surround extends to the ceiling with Fireclay’s Thin Brick tile. A trio of rectangular skylights replaced the oddly large square that previously capped the room, and a new built-in desk and shelving add a cozy finish to formerly wasted space.

The home was constructed by prefab company Blue Sky Building Systems, which uses metal as a primary material.

This 4,000-square-foot home is imagined as a quiet retreat tucked into a hillside. The lower level is carved into the natural slope, a gesture that blends the architecture into the landscape and preserves the surrounding canopy. The upper floor extends into the treetops, completing the luminous, calm environment akin to a modern terrarium—without sacrificing privacy.

The original living space is now an open kitchen outfitted with cabinetry made by the couple.

Clerestory glazing across the top of the walls to the DJ booth creates visual connection throughout the entire extension and allows light into the snug area. It also allows an appreciation of the entire roof structure, which has timber soffits that define the character of the space.

Cohen and his wife, Sally, sit in the dining room, which along with the connected living room, is a focal point of the house, lighted in part by high, remote-controlled clerestory windows.

Built in 1820, this converted stable pairs 19th-century patina with contemporary interventions—and it comes turnkey and completely furnished.

The home’s brick facade is tucked away behind mature trees and climbing ivy.

Nestled in a forested spot in Oakland Hills, this house—victim to a tragic fire in 2017—was rebuilt as a bright, serene retreat. At first, the homeowner wasn't sure if she wanted to keep the ruined house or sell, but ultimately her love for the property won out and she stayed.

“This is where we had a little fun with the carpentry work,” says Yektajo, referring to the slatted-wood inserts covering the openings in the villa’s primary suite, as well as ones in the guest suite and loft. “You can’t add more windows in the facade of historic buildings, so that was the only way to get ventilation,” he adds. Ellen designed the bed frames with built-in nightstands for every room.