A gift that is both festive and functional, the Totem Candles from Grain are hand-turned on a lathe, giving them the look of carved wood. Made in the United States from 100 percent beeswax, these candles are available in three distinct sizes.

Made in the Pacific Northwest with 100% USA beeswax, the Totem Candles are a sculptural take on a home decor staple. Hand-turned on a lathe, each of the candles features intricate elements that are reminiscent of traditional woodcarving. Whether used as a series or individually, the Totem Candles make a graphic visual on a tabletop or mantel, and when burned, the natural beeswax gives off the pleasant smell of honey.

The Totem Candles are handcrafted on a lathe from 100 percent USA beeswax. Fehrenbacher adds, “Any kind of beeswax candle is wonderful, and these Totem Candles are doubly fabulous for their beautiful shapes. Beeswax smells great, burns slowly, and is the best kind of candle for your health and the environment.”

Parson Russell terriers Pepper and Trixie get a glimpse of the large courtyard through a glassy expanse by Marvin Windows and Doors.

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.

Privacy and respect for the natural environment was foremost in the new owners’ mind when conceiving the home’s redesign. The placement of the addition limits direct sightlines to neighbors and offers unbroken views of the surrounding area. The aluminum frame and glass walls create a light, airy atmosphere.

Chelsea Minola and James Minola Totem Beeswax Candle, $22–$38 each The accented grooves of these 100 percent USA beeswax candles make for an, ahem, totemic statement.

Tallow candle by Ontwerpduo.

On an agricultural estate in Portugal, Blaanc Studio designed a simple retreat that does its utmost not to interfere with the scenic backdrop. The home was built with rammed earth, which is known for its thermal properties that help maintain a mild temperature all year long. A large, open fireplace with plenty of wood storage is used to warm the living area in winter. The firewood storage's open shelving is carefully located on the side of the island that doesn't face the living room, making sure that it is only visible in certain locations.

Totem candles and Stick candleholders by Grain Design. The marble or ash candlesticks with graphite tops are made in the Pacific Northwest, as are the beeswax candles, which are hand-turned on a lathe.

Last but not least, the western-facing master bedroom captures stunning sunsets from its wall-to-wall windows.

The owners are car collectors, especially of “vintage American Mustangs,” Simpson says, so a nearly 23-foot-wide garage door opening was created at the rear of the building to access a space made for six prized rides.

The house is also Build it Green Certified, beating the sustainability requirements of Title 24 (guidelines issued by the California Energy Commission Building Energy Efficiency Program) by over 50%. The house’s laundry is hooked up to a grey water irrigation system and its gutters drain rain into barrels for reuse. The concrete also incorporates 25% fly ash.

Large gum trees offer a natural barrier for the house. Harkness designed the house's footprint in order to minimize the effect on tree roots. “The retained trees offer a sense of layering and age that new vegetation won’t be able to for a long time,” Harkness says.

Totem Group Light by Robert Lewis ($850 from totokaelo.com).

Quickly recalling the warm, organic, functional design of Scandinavian modernism, the Marstrand Candle Lantern ($180) by Skargaarden can be used indoors and outdoors. Its leather strap can be comfortably held or easily hung on the wall.

Last but not least, the Carrie Candle Lantern ($110) also mixes modern design with time-tested illumination (in this case, the humble candle). Designed by Norm Architects, its powder-coated steel design is at home on a patio, in a living room, atop a dining table, and throughout the modern home.

LUP CANDLE HOLDER Inspired by Scandinavian tradition and the short daylight hours of the Northern climate, the Lup Candleholder brings warmth and light into the home. The minimal construction creates a continuous line and minimal form.

LUMBERJACK CANDLE HOLDERS Danish designer Simon Legald was inspired by the silhouette created in a tree trunk as lumberjacks slowly chop away toward its center when he conceived of this colorful series of Lumberjack Candle Holders. Each set is carved from a single, cylindrical piece of solid wood. Made in Denmark.

Assorted candles by Wary Meyers, $28.50 each Made in small batches in Cumberland, Maine, these groovy paraffin and soy wax candles come in a range of scents, including Hippie Hollow, Sea Melon, and Violet Pepper.

Something Festive: Giving something festive is all well and good but even better is if that something can also be displayed year round. Consider a beautiful candle holder like the Lup Candle Holder designed by Shane Schneck for HAY.

Made in the Pacific Northwest with 100% USA beeswax, the Totem Candles are a sculptural take on a home decor staple. Hand-turned on a lathe, each of the candles features intricate elements that are reminiscent of traditional woodcarving.

Murren chose maintenance-free materials, such as Stepstone precast concrete pavers for exterior decks and river-rock-covered flat roofs. He recalls his neighbors’ astonishment and delight when “we went from a giant hole in the ground to a two-story house in just four days.”

The stunning retreat is centered around a serene swimming pool with natural stone touches.

The large terrace on the upper level, which contains the house's bedrooms, is nearly 968 square feet.

After entering through the front door, visitors pass over the large koi pond on a cast-concrete footbridge chiseled to look like stone.

The 82-foot-long pool gets quite a lot of use by Jeff and Millie, and especially by the kids, who are both on the local swim team.

The pergola overlooks the pool with the Baltic Sea in the distance. The couple built the home so that there would be as much outdoor space as indoor space.

During the historical review period of the permitting process, Curtiss learned the house was previously owned by three generations of the same family — a fact that deeply informed how she approached the remodel. “We wanted [the family] to drive by and feel like, ‘Oh cool, look what they did to our old house,’” she said, explaining her decision to preserve the house’s original shape. As a reminder of its previous life, workers sandblasted the original floorplate and left it exposed to reveal “the history of little conduit holes drilled before.” They also utilized old framing members when molding the concrete retaining walls in the yard, literally “imprinting the building’s history into the walkways.”

The view from the indoor pool.

The large saltwater pool is ringed by concentric circles.

Architecture firm Bromley Caldari transformed a cramped beach house into a spacious vacation getaway filled with natural light and views.