Living Remotely: 12 Stunning Homes in the Middle of Nowhere

Awarded the Western Home Award by Sunset Magazine , this modern industrial off-the-grid home leverages the spectacular natural beauty of Southern California to serve as a living wallpaper for the glass home. Panoramic views of surrounding Pioneertown and the California high desert provide the perfect backdrop for a steel floating fireplace. Solar panels supply electricity and hot water to the household, reducing the home's carbon footprint.

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Whether you're photographing frolicking deer or antelope, or gazing at the Absaroka Mountains off on the horizon, nature is your constant companion at this Montana abode located just outside Livingston. Built from two shipping containers, the 700-square-foot home, dubbed "The Little Box on the Prairie," features redwood flooring, plywood walls, and other salvaged materials that minimize environmental impact and make an artful addition to the surrounding landscape.

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Hidden away in peaceful Decker Canyon, far from the glitz of Malibu, this remote retreat boasts striking architecture that rivals the lush landscape. The octagonal main house with matching deck affords the ideal vantage point to gaze at the stars, view the mountains, and admire local flora and fauna. A secret loft tucked into the second floor allows you to sneak in naps and quiet moments in what feels like a private treehouse.

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Dubbed "Teal Hollow," this English-style manor overlooks a private pond that coaxes you to hit the pause button on life so you can partake of simpler pleasures. Whether you're sipping drinks with guests underneath the vine-covered pergola, warming your hands by the hearth in the rustic interior, or stealing views of the nearby Snake River, passing time in the middle of nowhere has never felt so stimulating.

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Can't find a moment to yourself at your mainland digs? At this low-key lodge on the 2.2-acre private island of Sourdough, you're all but guaranteed privacy. The lodge and adjacent shore house, nestled behind a shady thicket of trees, afford spectacular views of Salmon Lake from the comfort of a log-cabin-style wood interior accented by regal chandeliers and a natural stone fireplace. Although the lakefront deck is an ideal spot to simply watch boats cruise by, four bays for boat storage make it easy to embark on your own maritime adventure.

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At this tiny treehouse just outside west Asheville, there's nothing to disturb you but the chirping of songbirds and the rustling of leaves. Decked out with sprawling glass panels, whimsical climbing vines, and warm wood walls and floors, the home offers you a window into the woods from either the ground floor studio or the sunny upper level living quarters.

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There's no shame in asking for (or hiring) help. In fact, with some humdrum home maintenance tasks, doing it yourself doesn't do you any good. Read on!