House of the Week

This navy blue-hued Chicago hideaway by Auerbach Architects serves as the perfect respite from the busy city while serving up a modernized take on classic Americana style. The A-frame roofline creates cozy upstairs bedrooms, and the compact layout leaves room for a substantial backyard.

The sweeping roofline of this English Revival cottage by Christopher Architecture & Interiors is the pièce de résistance on a home that is full of storybook details. A window-lined vestibule creates an effortless transition between indoor and outdoor space, connecting to the wooded landscape and flooding the space with natural light.

Built as an infill residence, this two-story charmer from Richard Hughes Architect makes the most of small spaces. The narrow floor plan maximizes indoor living and has plenty of room for an outdoor garden and welcoming front porch.

What do you get if you combined a quaint cottage with a medieval castle? This cozy house. The unique three-bedroom home was built in 1917 to fulfill the childhood fantasies of the original owners. You don’t have to travel to a fantasy land either to see it for yourself. The charming castle is in Ellington, CT and is available for rent through Airbnb.

With a vast yard and multiple living rooms, this six-bedroom and five-bath house in Wilson, WY has plenty of space for everyone to spread out and relax. It's perfect for staying by the fire on a snowy day or lounging on the large deck on a sunny day. 

In one of the most historic neighborhoods in Denver, Curtis Park, sits this sturdy carriage house built in 1886. The interior has been updated, but it still keeps a lot of its old-house charm in tact.

This isn’t your typical cabin in the Catskills. While the A-frame architectural style has been around for a while, this new-build offers a fresh take with its modern details—like its funky windows and open-concept interior. With six bedrooms, four bathrooms, three living room areas, a game room, plus a large outdoor area, there’s plenty of space for company to spread out.

Located in the heart of the Green Mountain National Forest, this unique contemporary home has a boxy, geometric design with a stunning double-height living area that overlooks its natural surroundings. 

This Alaskan log cabin embraces the regional tradition of “dry cabin living” aka no running water or bathrooms. While the owners have updated it to include a sink in the kitchen and an outdoor shower on the deck, it sticks with the true rustic experience of using an outhouse. That detail—which really just adds to the authentic frontier lifestyle—is certainly overlooked when sitting out on one of the two beautiful porches to take in the stunning Northern Lights on cold winter nights.

A serene hideaway in Seaside, Oregon, this charming contemporary cabin sits on 6 acres of land along the Nehalem River, with 3 bedrooms, a loft, and a wood-burning stove inside.

Enjoy the great outdoors—and the great indoors—with this environmentally friendly modern cabin nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The LEED-certified solar home boasts three bedrooms and three bathrooms and a wrap-around porch, perfect for gazing at the stunning mountain views.

This modern hilltop bungalow has stunning valley views, just outside Asheville, North Carolina. The rectilinear house stands in stark contrast to its organic setting, with large boxy windows that present stunning views of nature, while contemporary fixtures and furnishings make the indoors cozy.

This southwestern contemporary home mixes stone cladding with earth-toned stucco and wood detailing to blend into the Durango landscape. Large boxy windows allow natural sunlight to flood the interiors, and a curved corrugated metal roof adds a touch of an industrial aesthetic.

This wild home cantilevers over a slope, allowing stunning views of the rolling hills near Asheville, North Carolina. The huge porch is made for lounging, dining, and even bathing, and the interiors feature four unique bedrooms and an indoor slide.

On the Canadian side of Memphremagog Lake, you’ll find this cozy cabin nestled in a pine forest. The deep blue exterior with white and red accents pops out amongst its scenic surroundings. With four bedrooms, a large family room and dining room, and a spacious balcony there’s plenty of room to spread out and relax.

Nestled near the shores of Lake Leelanau in Michigan, this Scandinavian-inspired home provides a cozy retreat in a wooded setting. The warm white interior contrasts the outside's black siding, but dark accents and details create a cohesive feel. It has three bedrooms and a vast living room for lounging around, or you can explore the area by hiking to the local cherry orchard, wineries, and farmers market. 

In true Southern style, this home’s porches are the star of the show. You can sip sweet tea on either the upper or lower porch of this four bedroom Nashville home, providing a respite from the bustle of nearby downtown.

This colorful, classic San Francisco row home has an Eduardian-meets-Crayola aesthetic. Split into five condos with hardwood floors, architectural details, and updated fixtures, the home contributes to quirky vibe of the City by the Bay.

This 4-bedroom home in the trendy Lower Greenville neighborhood of Dallas offers a fresh take on farmhouse style. Three gabled roofs and a carriage-style garage door bring a bit of southern charm to the modern exterior. The black and white palette is a classic combo, yet the yellow front door adds a bold pop.

This waterside Washington retreat embodies craftsmanship and celebrates the home’s unique context on the shore of Lake Washington, near Seattle. Scenic views can be enjoyed from the upstairs balcony, or the private boat dock.

This modern Austin home is comprised of geometric volumes clad in a mixture of colors and textures. Part of the second story also cantilevers out over the driveway, creating a unique carport.

The asymmetrical roof line of this home, designed and built by Willow Homes, features an ever-so-slight curve, creating a modern twist on a storybook silhouette. Details like an arched entryway and minimalist exposed-wood window headers will make you want to live here happily ever after.

This stately southern home embodies grandeur and craftsmanship. Ample windows look out over a grassy yard in the heart of New Orleans, and the interior features a central grand staircase that curves around a chandelier.

This modern Texas farmhouse is all about textured materials and an unexpected color palette. The seemingly austere exterior hides a four bedroom house that is full of warm wooden touches and modern comforts, as well as a large fenced backyard that is perfect for an outdoor BBQ.

This Texas bungalow rental home features an open-concept kitchen and living room under a soaring pitched roof that makes the quaint house feel larger. The modern white interior includes touches of rustic charm, and the ample outdoor space has a pergola and a fountain.

This charming cottage, located off Lewis Bay in Massachusetts, is the quintessential Cape Cod home. With a boxy, practical layout, traditional single siding, and sloping eaves, this bed and breakfast offers the chance to soak in the sun along the seashore in style.

Famed architect Fred Bassetti remodeled this iconic floating house in Seattle, Washington. Inside the cottage-inspired interior, you’ll find carvings by American sculptor Richard Beyer, skylights, vaulted cedar ceilings, and expansive windows looking out on the water. The owners can spend their evenings relaxing on the 40-square-foot deck overlooking the Seattle skyline.

This certainly isn't your average home. On an island off the coast of Cancún, Mexico, this seashell house makes for a one-of-a-kind beach getaway. Not to be outdone on the outside, the inside sticks with the seashell theme with bed frames in the shape of clam shells and actual shells for the shower and sink faucets. Luck for everyone, this residence is available for rent so you can live out your mermaid or merman dreams. 

Located in New England, this charming farmhouse by Yankee Barn Homes affords stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The locally-sourced metal roof pairs nicely with the siding, which is stained in Benjamin Moore’s Mountain Moss. Inside you’ll find a 2,000-square-foot living space with an open floor plan, exposed wooden ceiling beams, and plenty of rustic touches.

Poised on the edge of a cliff, this modern farmhouse enjoy lakefront views on three sides. Dense forests that line the lake paint a pretty green picture in spring and summer, and give way to a rich pastel of auburns and oranges in fall. Ensconced in rustic environs, this big house with floor-to-ceiling windows offers a comfortable front seat to the natural world. 

From the front this modern dwelling appears restrained and confined, but a glance at the back reveals jutting rooms and expansive windows. Designed by REMY Architects, their contrasting "Cabos" house offers both privacy and wonderful views, just depending on the room you’re in!

A Canadian design firm outdid itself when it created this modern take on the farmhouse look. A bohemian white and natural wood facade looks instantly chic with the addition of black window trim, and though the porch adds a modest amount of outdoor living space, it gets some help from the front patio complete with fire pit. 

In between the peaks and valleys of the Absaroka Range in Montana, sit this modern ranch. Opting for a sleek wood-siding exterior and energy-saving solar panels, this house ditches many of the typical details you’d might expect from a home in the middle of America’s great outdoors. With 200 acres of wide open land, you can view the rolling hills from just about any room of the house.

This isn’t the weathered, rickety treehouse in your neighbor’s backyard. Far from it. Located at the gateway to majestic Glacier National Park, the Montana Treehouse Retreat boasts 500 square feet of somewhat surprising luxury—two floors, two decks, a full kitchen and one and a half baths. Ingeniously designed and expertly crafted (in part by The Treehouse Guys), the Retreat features a mixed bag of locally sourced and reclaimed materials, yet all work in harmony to forge an unforgettable fantasy.

Nestled in the woods of northern New England atop a small knoll, the red wooden exterior of the Bennington Carriage House exudes the charm that's most typical to the region. Outside, the woodland gardens, detached tea house, and rock wall create a peaceful outdoor living setup. Although, thanks to those floor-to-ceiling windows in the primary living areas on the second level, the homeowners are never far removed from nature. Inside, against the backdrop of foliage, the home's open floor plan places emphasis on the beautiful post and beam frame—a design by Yankee Barn Homes, a nearly 50-year-old company specializing in custom timber frame homes.

Restrained and refined—and yet unmistakably a vision of man's dominion over nature—the minimalist, matte-black Writer's Studio stands in the middle of a clearing, its pure, faceted geometry a stark counterpoint to the surrounding woods. Inside the soaring, bright studio, there's nothing but a few chairs, a fireplace, and a desk. The latter anchors the space, and around it, Studio Joseph carefully arranged the windows—their location but also their height—ensuring that even when seated, the occupant enjoys unobstructed, achingly beautiful views. 

What good is an oceanfront home if you can't see the ocean? Such a scenario is never a problem at the Bellport House, designed by Toshihiro Oki. Floor-to-ceiling windows stand in for opaque drywall around much of the house, allowing for clear views of the sea, and the home's small stature means its height never overshadows the natural surroundings. 

Who needs grass when your backyard can be the water? This mid-century modern houseboat floats on Lake Union in Seattle. And while some might associate the city for dreariness, this home is anything but. The sky blue siding and orange front door with the hanging plants and flower boxes create welcoming curb, er dock, appeal.

Sitting on a grassy hill in the northern part of Spain is this holiday retreat, Villa Slow. The house, built from a stone ruin, blends its naturally rustic look with contemporary design. Mindful of its beautiful environment, Laura Alvarez Architecture incorporated sustainable practices into the construction, using locally sourced reused materials and green-friendly heating and cooling techniques. Panoramic windows in the living room and large sliding doors in both bedrooms ensure that dwellers can enjoy the views from almost every room in the house. For more information about the house and how you can rent it visit villaslow.com.

Though located on the banks of a small pond in idyllic Upstate New York, the Willow Treehouse resembles a robot from the future. Designed by architect Antony Gibbon, the prefab structure almost appears to levitate above its site, thanks to an unseen rear piling and thin, leg-like supports. From within the compact, bright, wood-paneled interior, hooded, oversized windows frame postcard-perfect views of the surroundings—water, woods, and sky.

Nestled in a lush forest on the Columbia River Gorge, the two-bedroom Neal Creek House epitomizes contemporary urban design. Paul McKean Architecture constructed the dwelling in 11 months, and he relied on environmentally friendly products like west cedar siding, a TPO roof, FSC-certified wood flooring, and no-VOC appliances. The elevated design protects against flooding and potential brush fires. Visitors can explore the Oregon landscape before heading inside to enjoy the modern amenities and mid-century decor.

On the edge of the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland, sits this ivy-covered cottage. The restored home is fully renovated on the inside, but the exterior keeps its historic charms intact, like the red brick around the windows. Overflowing with lush ivy, you might miss the green front door!

You’ll find this modern dwelling, Rock Reach House, in the Mojave Desert in Yucca Valley, CA. The 1,000-square-feet home was built in 2009, taking only eight weeks for construction. For a green-friendly design plan, builders chose galvanized steel, concrete, and glass as the primary building materials, using wood just for the cabinets and doors. The all-electric house garners most of its energy from large photovoltaic panels on top of the carport roof. With sleek, straight lines that contrast the rocky terrain, Rock Reach House makes a visually stunning impact.

Built in 1895, this elegant 1100-square-foots house in Oakland, California, underwent renovations in 2015. Despite its modern interior, the wooden facade has many traditional Victorian elements like bay windows, scalloped shingles, and a steep roof with decorative trim. The red door contrasts against the yellow and blue siding, making this house a stand-out on the street.

This charming A-frame is secluded in the woods of Idyllwild, CA. Those who get to lodge here can breathe in the crisp, fresh air from the patio beneath twinkling string lights and at night can relax inside in front of the wood-burning stove. It’s your quintessential A-frame mountain home.

This colorful street in Lisbon stuns. It’s impossible to choose a favorite house between the blue patterned tile, blush pink, and fire engine red. The facades of each building standout on their own, but together create a picture that needs to be captured and shared.

Although it is over 130 years old, this Victorian house in Chatham, NJ looks regal as ever. The intricate details of the period architecture remain intact: lattice windows, detailed porch, and ornate trimming. The brilliant purple and gold just enhance the features even more.

This carriage home in Montana is inherently charming. The slanted roof and reclaimed wood siding bring rustic elegance, while the fully-furnished interior has a contemporary flair. Perhaps the best part, however, is the surrounding landscape; visitors need only to step outside to experience mountains, wildlife, and 100 acres of hiking trails.

While a striking piece of architecture in itself, this contemporary one-bedroom house from building designers BAAHOUSE + BAASTUDIO puts the focus on its unique forest view, thanks to large glass doors, a wide covered porch, and an elevated perspective from atop steel posts. These stilts are also strategic, though: They help the home survive in the rain in the subtropical city of Brisbane, Australia, by reducing the risk of flooding and preventing pools of water from weakening the house’s foundation.

Just outside Coconino National Forest in Flagstaff, Arizona, this A-frame cabin provides a weekend retreat from responsibilities. With limited electronic and Wi-Fi access, residents are left with minimal distractions to enjoy the mountain view.  

Built on grounds sacred to the indigenous people of the region, like the Lakota, stands this symbol of westward expansion. The built-by-hand home is open to lodgers who travel with their horses, and those who travel without.

Under a starry sky, sits this humble gray house on the water. It doesn’t have many fancy features, but when you’re this close to the water what more do you really need?

Embracing its tropical location in Bali, this stunning house blends indoor and outdoor living. Tall, open ceilings let in the breeze and expansive covered patios let you take in the views while staying shaded from the sun.

This is the ultimate wintertime getaway: A mega log cabin on the peninsula of a frozen lake with snow-covered mountains and evergreens surrounding it. During this hectic time of year it’s the perfect peaceful escape.

The handcrafted home in Mayne Island, British Columbia is truly one of a kind. Inside, white stucco walls and curved wooden beams create an otherworldly ambiance in the mushroom-shaped cabin. 

Not to be upstaged by the rocky terrain or teal waters, this tiny cabin in Norway manages to stand out amongst the scenery. Its black tin roof and brick-red siding makes a statement for the random traveler passing by.

You can find these sunny yellow beach shacks in Bocas del Toro, Panama. A favorite destination for surfers and ecotourists, the province has colorful homes scattered across several islands.

Newly renovated on the inside, the outside of this Croatian cottage retains its historic charm. Surrounded by creeping vines and a field of lavender, the property looks straight out of a storybook.

Hidden among two wooded acres in the Catskills, this two-bedroom A-frame house offers a weekend in nature. Just imagine hiking through foliage (or snow-shoeing in wintry months) to relax in the main area of this cozy open floor plan, either in front of the crackling indoor fireplace or the large glass window. Or, stay outside to cook on the large steel drum grill and dine inside the screened-in gazebo. (But you don't have to just dream of living here, though—you can rent it via Airbnb for a night, starting at $195.)

For the homeowner who'd rather be outside, this tiny home delivers in a big way. The kitchen and living space are completely screened yet open to the scenic forest and sky, and, though the bedroom offers privacy, it has no shortage of windows.

This room on stilts is as versatile as it is striking: It has been used as a guest room, reception hall, and children's playroom. The natural color of the exterior cladding helps it blend into its surroundings even while its modern geometric shape makes it stand out.

It might appear small on the outside, but this beach cottage in Coronado, CA, fits 2,000 sq ft—four bedrooms and four bathrooms—and a whole lot of charm under its roof. Turquoise shutters against butter yellow siding, the brick patio out back, exposed ceiling beams, and white beadboard throughout the home all contribute to its quaint look and feel. Built in 2009, though, this isn't your grandma's cottage. Rather, its distressed entry door opens to modern luxuries like an Italian marble fireplace, a wine chiller built into the dining room's custom cabinetry, and a gourmet kitchen filled with great lighting.