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Pine slats, which were intentionally spaced unevenly, partially enclose the side deck. Outdoor areas add nearly 300 square feet to the cabin, whose interior measures about 1,000 square feet. Scaly Mountain, North Carolina Dwell Magazine : September / October 2017

Like the entry bridge (below), the deck is surrounded by welded-wire fencing made by West Macon Welding. Scaly Mountain, North Carolina Dwell Magazine : September / October 2017

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

Ethan Schussler built his first tree house at 12 years old. His tree house in Sandpoint, Idaho, sits 30 feet above the ground and can be accessed by an "elevator" consisting of a bicycle that, when pedaled, ascends a pulley system to the top.

The home’s exterior features Trespa Meteon panels, a durable and sustainable high-pressure laminate cladding. By design, expanses of glass reflect the surroundings where the home is placed.

A low-flow wall-mounted faucet from VOLA moderates water consumption in the bathroom.

In Pukwana Beach, Wisconsin, Lindsay Pauly and Daniel Ohrtman married their desire for minimalism and sustainability with their wish for a family-friendly summer house.

Benjamin Moore ‘Dark Burgundy’ paint covers the built-ins, for unexpected contrast with the wallpaper. “It's like a strange color combination that you wouldn't normally expect anybody to be open to, but they were very excited about it,” says Reyes.

Be selective about splurging. One of the hardest, yet potentially most satisfying, parts of staying on budget is learning where to save and where to splurge. There are certain items or pieces that are worthy of spending more on, whether it’s a sofa that will last you a decade or kitchen countertops that will really help improve the value of your home. Your contractor or other design professional can advise you on locations or pieces where a higher-quality product is important versus something more basic.

One of the home’s many sliding cedar shutters opens to reveal a spectacular vista.

The master bathroom has a floor-to-ceiling windowed corner that holds a Belle freestanding tub by Progetto and in-wall fixtures by Copper Bath.

A staircase lined with earthen walls leads from the entrance to the lower-level living areas and courtyard. “Rammed earth has a beautiful texture,” says Simpson. “If you get oblique light across it, tiny shadows form. It’s quite stunning.” The handrail was designed by Nigel and made by English blacksmith Spencer Larcombe; the pendants are by Bruck.

A wall of breeze-block open to the elements and sun from a skylight create a sort of outdoor shower inside the bathroom off the main bedroom.

The home of architect Margit-Kristine Solibakke Klev and her husband, Arnstein Norheim, is built inside an enormous greenhouse.

Flexible indoor-outdoor living keeps the home fresh and adaptable to the number of family members staying at the home.

The home floats gracefully over the landscape, with pine Shou Sugi Ban siding from Delta Millworks cladding the exterior — the dark ebony hue intentionally chosen to help it blend in with nature.