Outside

Escalante Escape exterior

Nestled right downtown Pioneertown, this cabin sits atop the gulch, and has 360 degree views of the Pioneertown Mountain Preserves.

The new hospitality spaces are respectfully integrated into the existing buildings and environment.

The stone, soil and wood are the main materials used in the construction.

Corsal House features a shed roofline with colors and textures that reminds of the local architecture and natural materials from the region.

In a Manhattan Beach home, homeowner Matt Jacobson and architect Michael Lee designed the long steel-and-Ipe bench surrounding a square, concrete outdoor fire pit, which suspends from the low concrete wall in their outdoor space. Dukes relaxes on a Willy Guhl Loop chair with her German Shepherd, Major.

Arcadia windows and doors with bronze finishes help achieve the homeowners' goal of indoor/outdoor living.

Deep roof overhangs protect the interior from the hot desert sun. New, thermally broken doors and glass were installed throughout the house.

“We designed the landscape and house in tandem to ensure continuity between the exterior and interior,” diNiord says. An outdoor sling chair by Croft House sits in front of the outdoor shower under the covered patio in front of the primary bedroom.

DiNiord collaborated with craftsman Ken Hood to design the concrete bench with firewood storage and detachable wood back. Douglas fir columns along the walkway creates a colonnade. The mono-sloped roof is a nod to the long roofline of the original house that stood on the property. “Reducing the angles also reflects the strictness to budget,” the wife says.

Owners Leah and Dan Curry and their son enjoy the semi-enclosed porch that looks out onto the hillside. The floor-to-ceiling windows are by Ozark Mountain Glass and Razorback Ironworks. The fireplace surround is also by Razorback Ironworks.

Now more than ever, having a sustainable home that conserves resources and energy usage is paramount. Sustainable design and architecture has seen tremendous growth over the last decade—as has the number of professionals who specialize in designing and building green homes. While major sustainable features pertain to the initial design, planning, and building stages, there are still plenty of changes to make in your home for a greener lifestyle. Have you covered all your bases?

When redesigning “Madmen” actor Vincent Kartheiser’s Hollywood cabin, architect Funn Roberts installed custom shoji-style screens of to conceal the closet and provide privacy for the adjacent shower and soaking tub.