20404 Little Rock Way, Malibu, CA

This very private, peaceful, Balinese-style resort estate offers a lifestyle of indoor-outdoor glamor with a sweeping panorama of the ocean and the sparkling Queen's Necklace from every room. Located in ultra-desirable, close-in Big Rock on more than three-quarters of an acre, this one-of-a-kind residence has amenities galore: pool with a water fall and a cabana, a guesthouse, an enormous entertainer's deck with a spa, high beamed ceilings, hardwood and imported stone floors, and sensational landscaping with lawns, fruit orchard, and a fragrant plumeria tree. Designed as a year-round getaway, the home is detailed with decorative Balinese woodwork and finishes for an exotic, tropical atmosphere. The living room, which opens fully to an ocean-view entertainer's deck for alfresco dining and lounging, has a beautiful stone fireplace flanked by large display niches. The adjoining kitchen will satisfy the most demanding chef, with a laundry room/pantry at one end and an ocean-view dining area at the other. The primary suite is a masterpiece of elegant comfort, with gorgeous Balinese woodwork, a vaulted bamboo ceiling, extra-wide sliding doors that open to the deck, and a serene bathroom complete with a custom-tile drain shower and a large ocean-view tub. An office off the primary suite and another bedroom suite also open to the deck. Above the main living area is a large loft with skylights that could serve as an additional sleeping area, a den/family room, or yoga/meditation space. The attic, beautifully finished as a spacious office with garden- and ocean-view windows, could also serve as an art studio. The attached guest house has a separate entrance with an ocean-view deck, a large sitting/sleeping room, a skylight bath, and a kitchenette. Outside, the full-width deck (approximately 3000 square feet) overlooks the heated pool, backyard, and gardens, with ample room for relaxing and entertaining, plus a small gate that opens to a pool slide. The poolside cabana offers another space for gathering, with a covered porch and a restful interior with a bath. This terraced estate is truly a tropical retreat, lush and private and finished with unmatched island flair.

4745 S Runway Rd, Jackson, WY

This 3,110 sqft modern, handcrafted log home is ensconced by mature landscape, a private pond, and a lush pasture with a creek running through it. Set on 8 acres of flat land, with sweeping views of the Tetons and postcard sunsets, it is ripe for a new guest house. The gray-washed logs were crafted using traditions and skills passed down through generations. Artfully laid out, the 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom squarely designed home balances privacy and flow. The 1,218 sq ft of south-facing deck is ideal for entertaining and relaxing by the pond. Outbuildings include a 3-car garage and a run-in barn with plenty of room for tack and hay. The serene neighborhood attracts wildlife, yet it is just a few miles from town, schools, and a bike path that goes all the way to Grand Teton National Park. Equestrian compound ensconced in nature

A horse lover's paradise, this 8-acre compound is tucked into the pastoral Shootin' Iron Ranches neighborhood like a dream. The 3,110 square-foot modern log home lives simply and is surrounded by mature landscape, a private pond, and a spacious, heated 3-car garage. Behind the manicured lawns, a lush pasture with a creek running through it, brings an Andrew Wyeth painting to mind. There is something about the symmetry of the land and the house that is romantic, beginning with the serene feeling you get when you drive into the circular driveway. Towering aspen trees quake above. A terraced garden lines the wooden path between the garage and the house. Two rows of spruce trees on either side of the fence-lined property create shady spaces that buffer the boundary and create a Zen-like courtyard for lounging. The south-facing deck overlooking the pond inspires harmony in nature. In the back, a flat 4-acre of pasture lined with buck and rail fencing has sweeping views of the Tetons and postcard sunsets.

The raw land on the ranch is ripe for the imagination, a fresh pallet from which to draw a guest house. A second driveway with access to the run-in barn, a dog kennel, and a storage shed could also create a private entrance. County regulations allow for 5,000 more square feet of living space on the property.

The existing home is uniquely square and invites the inside out because it is linked by 1,218 square feet of Alaskan Cedar deck. A footpath from the deck leads you on a short nature walk around the private pond by way of an arched bridge. The deck winds around the oversized master bedroom, creating a perfect spot to unwind with a cocktail and watch horses play in the pasture under the pink sky. A dining terrace in the middle connects the primary bedroom to the media room, with the solarium in between. The solarium, one of the latest additions to the house, has a river rock floor that conducts the sun. It leads to an open living room/dining room centered on an iconic stone hearth open to all sides. Hand-peeled, log trusses draw the eye up and add a wonderfully warm texture to the interior.

The gray-washed log, designed and built by Logcrafters in Pinedale, WY, was modern from the get-go. The "sandwiched walls" create exceptional energy efficiency with hearty three-sided logs and "butt and pass" corners on the outside, a framed plaster wall on the inside and insulation in between. Its artful layout balances privacy and creates an energetic flow. A spacious primary bedroom with glass doors leading out to the deck and an en-suite guest room take up one cube; another cube, separated by an archway, encompasses the light-filled living room/dining room with a wood-burning fireplace and galley kitchen with iron and glass features, granite countertops and Mexican tiled flooring; and a third cube offers privacy for a cozy media room and a third en-suite bedroom in the front of the house. Each of the three en-suite bathrooms have tiled showers and countertops. The recently renovated primary bath includes a soaking tub, tile, and glass shower.

Shootin Iron is a relaxed and friendly neighborhood, home to a mix of western riders, an International polo community, and an established group of locals who enjoy privacy. It is also conveniently located within 10 minutes of town, schools, and exponential outdoor adventures, including a pathway system that links 70-miles of bike rides. Many of the children use the pathway system to ride to school on their e-bikes.

Beyond the secluded ranch, untamed forests, riparian vegetation, and high alpine ridgelines attract migrating elk, moose, and deer. Nearby wetlands are on the flight path of a diverse population of trumpeter swans, cranes, and wild songbirds. The wildlife, which migrates through this National Park locked island, alludes to the abundant outdoor recreation. Jackson is home to world-class skiing, hiking, fly fishing, and river rafting, all of which are within 30 minutes from the ranch.

The snow-capped mountains that melt into the streams below are all part of the 360-degree views. Munger Mountain, the Snake River Range, and the Tetons. A backdrop of gigantic cottonwoods separates the free-flowing creek from the Snake River beyond. The current owner, who walks her horses down the street to practice at a private polo field or trailers them to the renowned Jackson Hole polo grounds down the road, describes the house as her European cottage in the west.