Now, looking towards the front of the bus, two couches face each other. The couches can seat the whole family and also be converted into a full-sized bed, if needed. There is storage in the couch bases and a shoe shelf by the front door. The Mayes Team writes on their blog: "This has been such a blessing and has helped us to keep the bus organized."

For the L-shaped kitchen, the Mayes' chose an under-counter fridge/freezer unit so as to have more counter space. The 23-inch Vigo sink is deep enough to bathe a baby or hide dirty dishes.

Whether they downsized for financial freedom, more mobility, or a simpler lifestyle, all tiny home dwellers reduced their ecological footprint, the study showed.

Patricia Urquiola (born 1961)

Stefano Boeri (born 1956)

Renzo Piano (born 1937)

Perched on top of a hill, the house is accessed by a long staircase that runs up to the exterior courtyard. The dogs, naturally, take their own route.

A mature avocado tree shades the hardscaped patio located just outside the great room.

Seela chairs by Antti Kotilainen complement Eero Saarinen’s round Knoll table, anchored under the clean lines of spotlights designed by Vincent Van Duysen.

A pair of chairs designed by architect Cliff May.

Alexander Girard by Todd Oldham & Kiera Coffee (Ammo Books, 2011). The definitive book on Girard looks at his decades-long career.

“What often happens in our relationship is I come to Funn with an idea and he makes it into something livable.” —Vincent Kartheiser

Thomas and Vincent Dochter lounge in the living room of the blue apartment.

The porch off the master bedroom overlooks a backyard with bunny sculptures by Dallas artist Brad Oldham.

Brothers Vincent and Paul Georgeson take an unconventional approach to expanding their nascent line of furniture: They take a look around their respective homes and tally what they need, and then design those pieces themselves. "We have added several new products that enhance and add functionality to the spaces we live in," says Paul. "Our additions include a versatile coat stand, a multipurpose bench, an adjustable lamp, a robust bar stool and an essential desk."

Smaller is Smarter features this awesome, space-saving, 426-square-foot loft in San Diego, California. Photo by: Misha Gravenor

The Metropol Parasol by J. Mayer is an undulating structure made mostly of wood that twists and turns over a public square in Seville, Spain.

Check out this issue of sweet small spots, including our cover story on arhitect Per Bornstein's diminutive home in Sweden. Photo by: Pia Ulin

Rocks may house the huldufólk.

At the table, a Todd Oldham for La-Z-Boy modular sofa serves triple duty as seating for work, dinner, and overnight guests.

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.

Cees, Jacquelien, Jillis, Lucas, and Thijske Noordhoek gather on the lawn; Andy Dochter looks out of the window while his wife Miriam stands on the terrace with sons Thomas and Vincent.

In the living area of actor Vincent Kartheiser’s Hollywood cabin, redesigned by Funn Roberts to maximize every last inch of space, an Eames lounge chair and ottoman mix with a couch and coffee table by Cisco Home from HD Buttercup. The table in the main room is from West Elm.

Think Small features a nautically inspired New York home and a little red house with a lot of character in Seattle. Photo by: Adam Friedberg

Vincent Van Duysen created a line of outdoor lighting for Flos, including the Casting C and Casting T models, pictured here.

New York–based designer Todd Oldham credits his color sense to artist Charley Harper, whose vibrantly hued illustrations fill The Giant Golden Book of Biology, Oldham’s favorite growing up.

Juergen Mayer's An Der Alster 1 building, completed in 2009, is one example of the architect's exuberant style in Berlin, Germany. For more on Mayer, read Dwell's interviews, parts one and two.

In 2013 we took a trip around the world in Global Style, uncovering a stunning beach house in Greece, a game-changing green abode in El Salvador, and Steven Holl's copper-clad pavilion in Seoul. Photo by: Andrea Wyner

Designed by Vincent Appel, principal of Of Possible Architectures, and built by Kent Hicks Construction, this single-story residence in the Berkshires of Massachusetts frames the surrounding landscape.

Inspired by a series of books, Oldham’s arts-and-crafts line, Kid Made Modern, was launched in 2015 and expanded to include clothing like the Menagerie Dress last year. The animal print is by Patrick Hruby, one of several artists Oldham enlisted to create Kid Made Modern coloring books.

Diana Vincent of High Camp Home renovated a 2,700-square-foot A-frame and enlarged the rooms to create more usable space.

The Arnolds’ architecture studio—right next door to their new home—occupies a 1941 structure by Cliff May.

A Mapp table by Vincent Chia for Air Division is surrounded by Blu Dot’s Real Good chairs in copper. The painting is Untitled (Rinso) by Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Oldham’s tome on Alexander Girard drew extensively from the modernist icon’s archives, including designs he did for the restaurant La Fonda del Sol in the 1960s.

Frank Stella's Protractor series comprises curvilinear forms derived from drawing tools. The layered, striated interior of this felt Dart Trivet gives a similar effect. ($28 at Koromiko.)