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The back patio and fire-pit area are central entertaining spaces. When the weather is nice, homeowner Joan and Ken wheel their dining room table outside for parties and dinners with friends. The fire pit was built using a steel cut-off from a natural gas tank.

Floor Plan of Southfield Farm Cabin by Barlis Wedlick Architects

Floor plan of French Creek Workshops by Wittman Estes

In terms of versatility, you can’t go wrong with a classic oak table—like the 79-inch Bok Dining Table from Ethnicraft.

A large walk-in shower has Tadelakt plaster applied by Sobro Studios, and integrated storage.

After reading about landscape designer Ryan McWhirter’s firm in a local paper, architect Karin Scott reached out about working on a San Antonio, Texas, lot where she and her husband were building their new home.

An H.D. Buttercup Lounge Chair, George Nelson Bench, and Noguchi 1A Table Lamp sit just off the kitchen.

Nossenhaus floor plan.

The team created an open floor plan for the interior, where the kitchen opens to the dining and the living areas. Concrete flooring lends a soothing quality to the rooms, where there's a built-in concrete bench that also acts as a plinth for the fireplace.

Fuse Architects took a 1960s-built home in Pajaro Dunes, California, and renovated it as a retreat for their clients, a family of five. “The idea was to take the existing house and give it new life—one that met the needs and aesthetics of our designer clients,” says the firm. “Although the shape and form of the remodeled home remains relatively unchanged from its original design, we wanted to take advantage of the ocean’s proximity by opening up the walls and providing framed views of the coast line.”

In the kitchen, the couple found barely used appliances instead of new ones to save money. The cabinetry and butcher block counters are from Ikea.

In the kitchen, an SMA Sunny Beam solar monitor displays the number of kilowatts generated. Though the monitor doesn’t display real-time energy consumption, the family often operates in the negative. “It helps us understand what’s going on and seeing it reminds us to be energy-conscious,” David says.

This Murphy bunk bed, the Lollipop IN model from Resource Furniture, stows away flush to the wall when not in use.

Bert and Yves decorated Hektor with artworks from their own collection, and pieces from visiting artists as well.

In fact, the laundry room would make William Lawrence Murphy proud. One door reveals a dropdown ironing board.

Beach Drive Home floor plan

In the living area, floor-to-ceiling windows by Schüco frame a Gyrofocus suspended rotating fireplace by Focus. At night, a crackling fire appears to hover in the dark.