This kitchen features IKEA cabinet bases with Semihandmade fronts painted Dunn Edwards White. The lights by Rejuvenation and Kitchen Aid appliances make this the perfect space for entertaining.

The house may appear conventional at a glance, but a closer look shows how Oostenbruggen has pushed the boundaries of the traditional gabled typology. It has an asymmetrical roof, with slate shingles that extend down the eastern side to close it off completely.

The house's ceiling was hewn from Douglas fir, which gives off a warm glow. The rafters were designed to emulate the look of strong ceiling beams.

The west side is clad with six shutters made of horizontal, western red cedar slats that can be opened or closed with a single movement. "We wanted it to be able to feel cozy when needed," Oostenbruggen says.

Light breaks through the bedroom's north wall through a vertical window that cuts from the floor up past the second floor mezzanine to the roof's ridgeline. The bed is custom.

Tiny houses are spreading across the world—and probably because it really just makes sense. The tiny home lifestyle is the ultimate application of creative resourcefulness, and allows residents to reduce their environmental footprints without sacrificing good design.

With one side of the house closed off, views are directed through the glazed south and west facades to the grassy clearing beyond. "We planted tens of thousands of blue bells and lots of rhododendrons," Oostenbruggen says of the green space. "The setting developed over time."

In the bedroom, a door opens directly to the stainless steel shower. A half-bath sits just outside the bedroom, allowing guests easy access to it when the wood panel dividing the bedroom from the main area is drawn. The sinks are by Duravit and faucets by Grohe.

The house's open plan is neatly divided into public and private spaces, with the front containing the kitchen and living areas and the back holding the bedroom and bath, overhung by a small mezzanine. A hidden wooden panel can be drawn closed between the two sections for greater privacy.

Fine wood craftsmanship defines the dwelling's interior, where all the facilities—from the kitchen cabinets to the fireplace to the bathroom—are integrated into a single oak wall, handmade by van Norel. He also made the dining table, which is paired with Philippe Starck master chairs—the only ready-made items in the space other than fixtures and appliances.

When the shutters are closed, the house assumes an introverted character.

The designers handmade the custom table with meticulous attention to detail. After intentionally matching wood grains to ensure a smooth transition between pieces, the table was fitted into the kitchen island to transition the kitchen into the living area. The dining chairs and lounger are Eames for Herman Miller.

The design team enclosed the vestibule of the front entrance to offer an area in which everyone can remove shoes and coats. The dining area boasts a handmade pendant by The Light Factory in Baltimore, Maryland. The table is from Blu Dot; the chairs are from Ikea. The flooring is natural bamboo from Dyerich.

In the Spotlight“I’m a huge proponent of lighting as architecture,” says Nix, who suggests illuminating objects instead of empty space. “Light on an object creates ambiance.” In their apartment, they’ve trained track lights from the Polish company LightArt on the Cube, as well as on the handmade cabinetry. The fixtures, which Novak-Zemplinski describes as “good quality and inexpensive in comparison to more well-known brands,” are also installed at the MoMA in New York. lightart.pl Practical DecorationOne of the secrets to living neatly in a small apartment, says Nix, is lots of storage space. To that end, the couple built big cabinets along the walls. To create a sense of visual unity throughout the eclectic but compact space, the couple hand-carved the tree pattern from the kitchen into these cabinet doors (from a template) using an electric router. It’s more than ornament: The cutouts eliminate the need for jutting cabinet pulls. biolinia.com

Hang the Stockings with care. HANDMADE CHRISTMAS STOCKINGScandinavian inspired bird hand screen-printed onto white cotton or natural linen and handmade in London. With a vintage style tape hanging loop.

For dads who are handy, appreciate fine woodworking, or need a storage solution, the Abner Teak Toolbox makes an excellent gift. Designed by Aaron Poritz, the toolbox is crafted entirely in teak, including the comb joints that hold the box together. Named after his grandfather—who taught Aaron woodworking as a child—the Abner toolbox includes a bottom tool compartment, inset tray, and a self-contained lid.

The same materials palette continues throughout the entire home. A cohesive marriage of Cor-Ten steel, handcrafted bricks, and marble floors come together at the home’s perimeter. The thick exterior walls were designed to act as an insulating barrier, shielding interior spaces against thermal loss.

Leen's house is filled with assorted ceramics from years past.

This Market Basket from designer Yumiko Sekine is roomy and accommodating, and is designed to fit up to size A4 paper if used on a desk or in an office. The versatile basket can be used in myriad ways, from holding cloth napkins or kitchen accessories, organizing bathroom products, storing magazines in a living room, or even to hold slippers at an entryway or bedside.

Toolbox by Aurélien Barbry for Ro Collection, $190 Two former Georg Jensen colleagues bring a similar heirloom approach to their new venture, a company producing handmade goods from classic materials, like the ash wood shown here.

Big Ted Wooly Creature, $125 at the Dwell Store From Scottish designer Donna Wilson, the Big Ted Wooly Creature is a soft, sweet rendering of a bear. As Wilson indicates on her website, Big Ted loves cheese and pickle sandwiches and he dislikes shopping. The handmade creature is crafted from 100 percent lambswool and is stuffed with a soft polyester filling.

As an introvert and an artist, Leen has a strong aesthetic sensibility. "I always go for the most simple design," she says.

MWT French Stoneware Chicken Roaster, $85 at the Dwell Store This handmade chicken roaster from French company Malle W. Trousseau simplifies the process of roasting a chicken.

After initially selling her wares—pouffes, pillows, lampshades, rugs, throws—at the craft shop at Royal Tichelaar Makkum, the oldest ceramics company in the Netherlands, Leen now offers her pieces exclusively through her website and out of her studio, under the label Poetryworld.

Designed by Seth Eshelman in 2006, the Cain furniture series was conceived from a need for simple, accessible furniture. Ranging stools, benches, and chairs, the Cain Collection encompasses the Staach brand’s focus on sustainability in design and manufacturing. The wood used in each Cain furnishing comes directly from American mills and is then fabricated by hand with limited use of tools. The choice to reduce tool usage is a purposeful one—it helps achieve a higher level of sustainability by limiting the manufacturing carbon footprint. The Cain Chair is comprised of clean lines and a simple silhouette. The chair can be used at a dining room or kitchen table, or as additional seating in a living room.

The Abner Toolbox takes a necessary household accessory and makes it into a work of art. Designed by Aaron Poritz, the toolbox is crafted entirely in teak, including the comb joints that hold the box together. Although designed as a toolbox, this multi-function accessory can be used to hold paints, jewelry, and other small items needing organization.

The Infinity Keychain is an elegant personal accessory comprised of vegetable-tanned leather, a copper rivet, and a copper split key ring. The leather includes a smooth exterior and soft touch interior, giving it a pleasant tactile experience when in hand.

Yield Design Co.’s Planter Boxes are simple, handcrafted planters that are designed to house indoor plants, including herbs, succulents, and flowering plants. Each Planter Box—including the original, window, and large models—has a colorful stain. According to Gant, they “apply a sheet stain to the Planter Boxes so that we still get the nice wood grain showing through.” The duo sought a stain that “celebrated the natural characteristics of the wood” and added a colorful accent.

The marbled Day-Night Mug is the perfect vessel for a cup of coffee or tea. It is comprised of two colors of porcelain that have been blended to create a one-of-a-kind look.

Hand-made tiles by Corien. Lovely!

Open Kitchen blends modern and organic finishes for functionality and warmth. New skylight above floods the space with daylight. Appliances: Monogram by GE; Cabinet Finishes: Matte Lacquer and Natural Walnut by Semi-Handmade; Countertops: Statuario Nuvo by Caesarstone; Backsplash: Made by Ann Sacks.

The Anonymous office on the third floor holds a display of Storey’s beloved hand-made basswood and foam-core models.

Now, the sizeable kitchen is an exceptional blend of old and new. The original floors, coffered ceiling, and windows are joined with IKEA cabinets with Semihandmade fronts, and Vermont-sourced Danby marble counters.

One of Catherine Williamson's favorite Semihandmade cabinets includes this appliance cabinet, which keeps things out of sight. The piece of art to the right is a vintage portrait from her grandparents.