The Galoskas' priorities were simple. First and foremost, their home had to blend well with its surroundings - be at one with nature, so to speak. It was important to Micheline and Greg that the lot be disturbed as little as possible - they will always remember how they agonized over which trees to cut down.

Micheline incorporated as many natural materials and finishes as possible into both the interior and exterior. The couple wanted the interior to be open yet cosy - high ceilings, lots of natural light and a sunken living room were all on their wish list. As is the case with many design projects, a number of revisions had to be made due to budget constraints. That meant making some difficult choices. "The one design element that I was not going to budge on was the stone columns," says Micheline. "They're what sets the house apart from a regular bungalow"

Ultimately the house was reduced from 2,500 to 1,800 square feet, so Micheline was even more careful to use the space efficiently The size of the kitchen and dining and living rooms didn't change, though, because those are the areas where the couple planned to do most of their living and entertaining.

When it came time to add the finishing details, the moderate budget also challenged Micheline's creativity. As a result, much of the furniture and accessories, and even some of the artwork, was designed and built by the Galoskas. The pieces are both original and appealing. For example, separating the entrance from the living room are three full-height burlap-and-pine screens that create visual interest and privacy while still allowing the flow of light. These inexpensive screens were also used as closet doors in the master bedroom.

ABOVE: Randomly scattered stone tiles guide the eye to three full-height burlap-and-pine screens that seperate the entrance from the living area. The kitchen's flat maple cabinets and simple , clean lines reflect the uncluttered design of the rest of the home. Micheline wanted to incorporate as many natural materials as possible - flagstone columns, burlap-and pine screens, and of course the trees outside seen through the large windows.

LEFT: In the dining room, the maple, concrete and frosted-glass table was designed by Micheline; she and Greg built it on site. The table's concrete pedestal picks up the hues of the flagstone columns, while the black upholstered chairs and iron candleholders, bade by Micheline's father, add bold contrast to the room.

STYLE NOTES: Built-in savings

Micheline and Greg Galoska's great cost-saving design ideas prove that building a house on a small budget doesn't have to mean sacrificing style. o Consider using alternative materials. To make their home's handsome columns, the couple spent $15 per square foot for real-looking stone veneer, instead of $40 per square foot for the real thing. o Do some of the work yourself. When simple stainless-steel handles for the kitchen cupboards totaled $900, Micheline sourced steel strips at a metal shop for $50. Her father made the handles for free, but even if she'd had the work done at the metal shop, she would have saved a lot of money. * Negotiate with your builder To save money, Micheline and Greg had their house built without any closets or bathroom vanity cabinets. They built their own white melamine closets and, instead of buying 20 ready-made doors at $1 00 each, they made simple wood-and-burlap versions for $15 a piece. In each bathroom, the builder installed a sink and counter only. Instead of lower cabinets, Micheline bought inexpensive IKEA mobile storage units that can be rolled out of sight under the counter.

The most imaginative item, by far, is the Galoskas' contemporary dining room table, which was actually built where it stands now. Using a sonar tube as a mould, they poured concrete inside and embedded four maple legs in the semidry concrete. The piece was then completed with a frosted-glass table top. Everywhere you look - from the dining room table to the home's architecture - there's a close relationship between wood and stone.

The random stone tiles in the vestibule, for example, mingle with the hardwood flooring, subtly leading you to the rest of the home. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said, reveal the nature of the wood, plaster, brick or stone in your designs: they are all by nature friendly and beautiful. The Galoskas' home is a fine interpretation of those words. "I get a real sense of peace in this house," says Greg. "Not only with the indoors but with the outdoors, too. I love being able to sit in my living room and listen to the wind in the trees."

TO THE LEFT: Like the rest of the house, the master bathroom was designed to be soothing, sleek and uncluttered. The Galoskas decided to paint the walls white, here and in the main living area, to take full advantage of the view of nature's rich colour palette.