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.

At 10 feet long by five feet wide, the car barely makes a dent in this Venice alley.

Here's my first glimpse of the house. You can barely see it, right? That's the point.

Wisnu and Sundari have a chat at the gate, which just barely keeps Jakarta's heavy vegetation at bay.

The house is barely visible from above because it so thoughtfully blends into the surrounding landscape.

The lower volume is barely visible as one approaches the main northeastern entrance located along the upper volume.

"Landscaping was strategically planned to cope the home seamlessly into the rock, with access paths from the house to the lake barely visible in some places," adds the firm.

The result: a house that looks like it’s just been dropped into a field, casual, with nary a path leading up to it and a front door that can barely be detected on the red-cedar-shingled facade.

Almost everything about Bob Butler’s Nashville home is unexpected. Its sunken living room, open beams, and carport hark back to the 1950s, yet it’s barely more than a year old. The breezy, rectilinear residence transports visitors to midcentury Hollywood Hills or Palm Springs, though it’s located in a city known for Craftsman bungalows and the rococo mansions of country stars. Most surprising of all, Bob designed and built it himself, with only a few years experience under his belt and no formal training, and on a budget that would get the attention of many area residents: $115 per square foot.

The top floor of the two-story, 1,614-square-foot abode barely pokes above the rocky hillside it’s built into. Sliding glass walls on two sides of the main living space open to expansive cantilevered decks showcasing the bucolic landscape.

Pale purple shelves barely contrast the white walls and clothes rail.

The stairs and guard rail are made of Ash. Vertical beams are connected to the white, steel substructure with hex-head screws that have been concealed with putty—a simple technique that makes a strong impact. “There are barely any other decorative elements in the interior space,” explains Sonja. “It is all about the play of forms, plans, surfaces, and the patterns of the different wooden coatings under the light.”

Whitlock’s window frames are accented with Benjamin Moore’s Electric Orange ($6.50 per pint). “People go on vacation and take photos of all these vibrant houses and then they go home and paint their house brown,” Whitlock says. “Don’t be afraid of color.” A hint: When going Day-Glo bright, look for shades with barely there black undertones to mute their intensity. benjaminmoore.com

Before: There was barely head clearance in the attic.

The loft extension provides accommodation for Josh and Noah. The child-size Bertoia chair (just barely in the foreground) came from Colin’s childhood home in Los Angeles.

Dark leather brings some warmth, but barely.

In contrast to the barely visible front facade, the rear of the home reveals its cavernous interior.

"In 1965, Israel was barely 17 years old," Snyder says. "Teddy Kollek had barely become Jerusalem’s mayor, and was determined to see it become a modern western capital like the great cultural capitals of Europe, and opening the Israel Museum that year was part of his vision."

The bathroom reflects the openness of the apartment itself, with a barely-there glass wall separating the shower

With a stylish chevron back and barely-there arms, CB2’s Bowtie caster chair in green bouclé is a study in geometry.

In the long corridor, both wall and ceiling storage provide room for items needed on a daily basis and those barely reached for.

Neatly nestled into a hillside, the wood-clad property can barely be seen from street-view.

Classic details and furnishings from various eras are highlighted with natural light and barely tinted walls.

New insertions (Shoe Cabinet, Display and Console) barely touching the original pared-down Living.

Solatube's tubular skylights make a discrete rooftop addition. At this idyllic cottage, their presence is barely noticeable from the outside.

PlantMe allows people who barely have access to fresh, high-quality vegetables to grow their own food...

Solatube's tubular skylights make a discrete rooftop addition. At this idyllic cottage, their presence is barely noticeable from the outside.

Before: This was the entrance to the duplex apartment. The wooden door had evident signs of wear and tear and could barely shut properly.

NanaWall sliding glass walls are barely visible in this rustic cabana where the roof seems to levitate as a protective canopy of wood and steel.

Chip and Susie Hobson called on architect Jack Hawkins to transform their barely functioning kitchen and dining area into an indoor/outdoor space.

Jensen-Lewis’ Clubber offers a retro feel and a quick conversion. The barely-there chrome legs present a nice alternative to the heftier sofa beds of yore.

A section of Heatherwick's new bus design, barely clearing in size for an installation within the main staircase of the Cooper Hewitt, emphasizes its impressive scale.

By this time, after an amazing meal of fresh seafood and other Catalan delicacies, my sleep-deprived brain was begging for a nap. This cozy hammock space, underneath a graceful glass canopy, was beckoning to me. I resisted, but barely.

The couple says there is barely any internet at Sky House, so they rely on their record collection, as well as books and board games, for entertainment. The floating shelf was made of wood found on the property.

Dr. Kiss Toothbrush -- Alessi (1986) The tapered, barely there handle on this toothbrush makes a simple tool look like a calligraphic curve, or suspended plastic exclamation point.

The couple says there is barely any internet at Sky House, so they rely on their record collection, as well as books and board games, for entertainment. The floating shelf was made of wood found on the property.