Let’s talk money, people. Our Budget Breakdown stories provide real figures from real projects to inspire your next architectural adventure.
There’s something uniquely vulnerable about inviting the world into your home—your taste, your choices, your most personal spaces laid bare for all to see. But there’s a whole other level of courage required to crack open the books and reveal exactly what you spent to make it all happen.
Our Budget Breakdown stories focus in on details that most design coverage skips over entirely: the actual dollars and cents. Because sometimes a line item tells a story just as compelling as any room reveal—showing what’s achievable, what’s worth splurging on, and where you can save without compromise. So as we step into 2026, we’re looking back at the stories that had us dreaming big, even when the budgets were small.
By the Newfoundland Seaside, a $921K Retirement Dream
A Wisconsin couple fell in love with Newfoundland on a family trip and decided to build their retirement home there, with plans to rent it out until the time came. The saltbox-style cabin, with its whitewashed shiplap exterior, is already a popular destination home for families exploring the peninsula.
Photo: Jane Brokenshire
Birch cabinetry and Dekton countertops keep the kitchen minimal, as requested by the owners, to focus attention on the views. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, guests can keep a close eye on local wildlife, like otters, foxes, and even whales.
Photo: Jane Brokenshire
A roomy recycled-brick courtyard connects the home with a multipurpose ADU, creating an outdoor living room for social gatherings. The inspiration? Spanish-style plazas inspired by the homeowners’ time in Barcelona.
Photo: Aaron Chapman
See the full story on Dwell.com: Here’s What It Cost to Build 10 of Our Favorite Homes of the Year
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