Schoharie

Subtle features incorporated into the design, including an elevated terrace and jetty, help the home float above the island.

With one side of the house closed off, views are directed through the glazed south and west facades to the grassy clearing beyond. "We planted tens of thousands of blue bells and lots of rhododendrons," Oostenbruggen says of the green space. "The setting developed over time."

At night, the interior lighting casts the geometric window framing in silhouette.

According to Remijnse, since the only direction they could build on the small site was up, they decided to add height with a gabled roof.

Mid-century designer Jens Risom's A-framed prefab family retreat, located on the northern portion of Block island, is bordered by a low stone wall, an aesthetic element that appears throughout the land.