M Valdes Architects

We have an unusual one-word answer when asked about our favorite home style: "simple". We believe that simple, straightforward design is the key to making beautiful, inviting homes that minimize unnecessary square footage and excess cost. When their daughters grew out of the swing set the family decided to replace it with a Pavilion for summer use.

The Pavilion has a "parrilla" to grill beef and chorizos following the Argentinian and Uruguayan tradition. The pavilion won a RAVE award in 2012. The "A" frame with a low "skirt" roof is a response to the owner's desire for a compact cabin in close contact with nature in a clearing in the woods on Gull Lake, WI.

The 1,700 square feet structure fits a family of four in summer and in winter, including pets and guests. Located on a ridge in a forest in Boone, IA, this house was inspired by a kid's teeter-totter. The middle of the house sits on the top of the ridge and the two ends project out into nature as when the teeter-totter is in balance.