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The living area is the main showcase of the home with soaring pine ceilings, 20ft windows and a stone walled fire place.

An outdoor breezeway between the storage shed and the main house is ideal for outdoor dining.

The cedar exterior of the building was pre-stained by a local supplier. The charcoal hue helps it disappear visually into the forest, and contrasts with the light and warm interior.

The single-volume home has been designed to appear to float over the lot on its deck. Ryan upgraded the existing foundation to support its passive design. "Originally, I wanted to make the whole house powered with wood pellets," he says. "But I decided against shoveling pellets in the snow. I'll get weird in a little bit less of a cold climate."

A wall of storage in the living area has become a revolving display of souvenirs and found objects, either from their travels or shopping trips around the city. A wide window was installed to make the room feel like a treehouse. "I really wanted the home to feel bright and serene,