Ranch structures

The floating home, originally constructed in 1968 by Forbes Kiddoo, that Marka Hansen and Joe Brubaker recreated with designer Michelle Chan and builder Steve Crutchfield of True North Construction bobs in a berth at the historical Waldo Point Harbor in Sausalito, California, just north of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The fire pit area displays a 48-inch concrete fire bowl, woven chairs, and upcycled tree stumps for kid-friendly-seating.

The sliding pantry cabinet doubles as a room divider when fully extended, separating the kitchen from the bedrooms.

When not in use as the headboard, the large redwood slab folds down to become a desk.

In the New York loft that he shares with two friends, industrial designer Joshua Skirtich covered one wall of his 8-by-11 bedroom/ design studio with a pegboard for organizing his tools. A plywood desk runs the length of the room, accommodating Joshua’s 3D-printing equipment at one end and clothing drawers at the other.

From the living room wall, a panel folds down to reveal a bookshelf and form a table.

This photo shows the elevator bed in the raised position, leaving the living room open. A tiny fold-down desk provides office space.

Monica’s side is more static so she can organize her drawings and work supplies.

The second house seeking a buyer is the sprawling one-level property known as Casa Um.

Madison points out that the pod concept would make it easy to add an extension if necessary. “We see it as a house that can grow with us—and that we can pay for as we go along.”

The frontal approach alludes to a deeply linear layout, while the structural steel beams

Sunshine flows through a large gridded skylight to illuminate an atrium at the heart of the home.

Perforated cabinet faces above the reading nook conceal an energy-efficient, mini-split heating and cooling system. Bleached and whitewashed maple lines the nook, while drawers below provide plenty of storage.