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When Kat and Brian Mast downsized to a rented house in Salida, Colorado, the lack of studio space for Kat, an artist, was a problem. The solution, designed by their daughter, Andrea Ostman, was a stand-alone studio on wheels. With its high roof and flatbed trailer base, it looks like a modern-day covered wagon and is similarly able to roam.

A renovation by architect Keith Burns removed the old horizontal siding and added a new facade made of corrugated metal to help the house blend in with its utilitarian neighbors.

Hardy frosted oak panels line the kitchen staircase.

The site is located in Fairfax, California, at the end of a dead-end street. Set in a forest with views to the north, its natural surroundings provide a peaceful retreat from daily life. The steep hillside and narrow driveway made access for construction challenging, and the number of vehicles on site had to be restricted.

The ground floor, with its walls of windows, embraces the outdoors. “Most of the year we keep all the windows open,” says Teresa, “and then the real limit of the house is the property walls.”

Mixing the old with the new in the master bedroom ensuite.

After several DIY renovations, Gary still didn't have the kitchen he wanted. The busy wallpaper and tile work, as well as countertop clutter created by a lack of adequate storage, made the space visually chaotic. To make matters worse, the 10-year-old countertop material was difficult to maintain. The kitchen's transformation was the part of the renovation Gary was most excited about.

In the living room, a RAIS Q-Tee 2 stove and CB2 rocker warm the space.

The “River Cabaan” is just steps away from the Wilson River and a 80-minute drive from Portland, Oregon.

In the breezy bathroom, three walls are finished with white marble.

Close to Sugarbush’s Mount Ellen and the Mad River Glen ski area, Fayston, Vermont, is the prime setting for Little Black House. Giving the retreat its name, Elizabeth Herrmann Architecture + Design only had 1,120 square feet to work with. Sitting just below the top of a hill, the black-stained cabin flaunts a classic gable structure with a stripped-down interior melding white walls and pale wood floors.

“Many of the houses in the development aren’t too different from the city or suburbs,” says Kilpatrick. “One of our goals was for this project to have a rural feel.”

A bespoke golden runner with a tiger illustration drawn by a member of the design team welcomes guests in the entry. The pendant is jade Morano glass with gold fringe.

The smaller garden is adjacent to the Innkeeper's Suite, which is Zeidan's favorite room. "I like to stay there because it feels like I have this private terrace," he says.

In its previous life, the courtyard was "an afterthought," sparsely outfitted with plastic furniture. "For us, it was an opportunity to do something special," says Rami Zeidan, CEO and founder of Life House.

Much of the furniture in the public spaces is vintage, sourced from local shops and collectors.

The 1830s mansion that is now Life House Nantucket was originally built by whaler Captain Robert Calder and opened as an inn in 1870.