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When they needed more room for visiting children and grandkids, Karen and Rick Hawkins paid homage to a once common Midwestern sight, the corn crib, by adding to their family farm.

Floor Plan of Neskowin Beach House Remodel by Webster Wilson

Floor Plan of Lagom Cabin by Carsten Stinn

Throughout the residence, trapezoidal windows and doors frame the dramatic desert landscape.

Built on a shale ridge with a 35-foot drop-off, Scott and Julie Pelletier’s house in Maine comprises a succession of simple gables.

Custom cabinetry runs from the closet into the bathroom for a unified feel.

The cabin is surrounded by evergreens and poplars that help to give a treehouse experience.

“I envision people writing their books, music, refuelling their creative flow,” says Castillero. He should know about its energizing power more than anyone, really: it brought him back to his love of architecture, after all. “It’s truly my new happy place.”

Pearl Block by D’Arcy Jones Architects in Victoria, British Columbia

Floor plan of Lake Pepin Farmhouse by TEA2 Architects

The home’s charred-cedar rain screen facade blends in with the forested 15-acre site.

All of Scott Palamar’s selections and customizations brought the total to $150,000 for the 640-square-foot home and surrounding land. “I feel like I struck on such a novel solution because I was able to afford a home tailored to my lifestyle,” he says.

Project Name: North Bend Residence

The cabin’s small footprint minimizes interference with its natural surroundings. Three stacked stories give the family plenty of living space with living and dining on the top floor; two bedrooms on the main level; and a bunk room, garage and game room in the basement.

Even as the square footage of this cottage in Fayston, Vermont, shrank in response to budget constraints, architect Elizabeth Herrmann remained focused on making the space feel warm and functional for a family of four and their dog and cat. "I think the trick to making small spaces feel much larger is to design the experience of being there,

The eco-friendly escape is powered by solar panels and a wind turbine—and it even includes a full bath.