The quiet, minimalist kitchen features a wall in the same “criptoméria" wood used for the bookshelf in the living room. A Davide Groppi Punto 2 PL light hangs over the dining table.

Warm wooden walls ensure the simple bedroom setup, a low mattress next to a Muuto Leaf table lamp, offers more comfort than the cold stone exterior.

The Buckle by Gabriele Chiave and Lorenza Bozzoli for Alessi helps you squeeze the last of your toothpase from its tube.

In keeping with the island’s rugged character, the new home was pared down to the essentials. Even the floor in the living room, elevated during the construction process to give seated guests sight lines of the coast, helped frame the outdoors. With this philosophy in mind, Vieira da Silva sourced and designed simple, light furniture, such as the custom bookshelves made from “criptoméria," a type of Japanese wood planted in the Azores for construction. The floor lamp, a Sampei model by Davide Groppi, is set above a Lamino Easy Chair by Swedese. Both the sofa and table are also Swedese.

Built as part of a functional farmhouse, the original building's ground floor was used to store food and animals, a situation that didn't exactly call for expansive views or large amounts of natural light. Vieira da Silva maintained a similar layout over the two-story home, with social areas on the upper floor and bedrooms on the ground floor, but opened up the lower level with large windows. "With the pre-existing stone walls we created patios, keeping a distance [between the walls] so we could have big openings, and create a close and intense relationship with the landscape and the ruin itself."

Initially unassuming, the E/C home appears hidden from the road, perched on the sloping edge of the island and partially wrapped in the basalt walls from an 18th-century farmhouse. Architects Ines Vieira da Silva and and Miguel Vieira approached the site with a vision to create a relationship with the landscape; they designed the 2,600-square-foot holiday home to not only be a simple escape, but also to frame the weathered coast and reflect its past. “Both paths to the house were designed with basalt stone, as if they were still a rural path,” Vieira da Silva says.

Peter Zumthor, the Swiss architect who won the Pritzker Prize in 2009, developed this line of condiment vessels.

Sinks and a toilet from Laufen’s Il Bagno Alessi line add a sculptural presence to the master bathroom.

2011 Alberto Alessi becomes curator of Milan Triennale.

1921 Giovanni Alessi founds the Alessi Company.

The new concrete exterior has already been transformed by the rain and humidity of the Azores, and now sports an aged look. The color contrasts with the basalt wall and dark soil of the Ilha Preta ("Black Island"). Vieira da Silva anticipates that surprising patterns and textures will develop on the outer walls over time.

Holiday Cards by Autograph

Atomium egg cup by Christian Ghion for Alessi.

Pinch vase by Cranbrook's Adam Shirley for Alessi.

There are other dedicated displays, such as the Facebook Like counter called Fliike and the now-defunct Chumby, but the flexibility of options on the LaMetric give it the potential to be more than a smart light-up belt buckle.

A nice detail shot to compliment the other images.

The back of each image card had contact information.

An image of a bedroom shows us that Sean is comfortable photographing spaces.

The four image promo by Sean Dagen side by side.

Alessi MU Serving Set A compliment to the MU Flatware Place Setting or beautiful on it's own, this serving set is created by award-winning Japanese architect and designer Toyo Ito, and draws on the tactile sensation of chopsticks. Its sleek, linear lines are softened with an organic quality inspired by plants. The result is an elegant harmony.

Here's the stand unfolded.

1993 Stefano Giovannoni designs Merdolino toilet brush for Alessi.

For a recent cocktail party, Calder Smith served white and red wine in Alessi glassware. Thad Vogler, of Bar Agricole in San Francisco, devised a custom cocktail served in tumblers from Spieglau.

The Holiday Matinee office at The Hive

French designer Pauline Deltour, part of our Young Guns class of 2013, is behind this coat rack, which packs flat—a boon for frequent movers.

The V tray by Cranbrook's Adam Shirley for Alessi.

Il Tempo Della Festa cake and gelatin molds by Mario Trimarchi for Alessi.

9091 Kettle by Richard Sapper for Alessi Subverting the anxiety-inducing noise produced by typical kettles, Sapper’s 1983 design includes a brass whistle that emanates a harmonic pitch.

Alessi MU Flatware Place Setting Created by award-winning Japanese architect and designer Toyo Ito, this distinctive cutlery set draws on the tactile sensation of chopsticks. Its sleek, linear lines are softened with an organic quality inspired by plants. The result is an elegant harmony. Composed of one table spoon, one table fork, one table knife and one dessert fork in 18/10 mirror polished stainless steel. Find this item at the Dwell Store.

Alessi introduced a new concrete bowl in 2014, based on a competition prototype designed by Luca Galbusera. $450 at Switch Modern

UFO Rechargeable LED Lights by Alessi, available for purchase at Dwell on Design 2013.

Check out all of our 2014 holiday gift guides at a glance, and don't forget to comment here with your best modern gift ideas.

Strategic openings on the ground floor provide a clear view of the ocean.

It’s all about sharp corners and bold white lines in a Caribbean holiday villa on St. Barts.