The existing home was dark, with isolated spaces, low ceilings and old, inadequate windows. The owners desired to bring in more natural light and unify the interior spaces so that it felt cohesive and open, while maintaining the original character of the house. To address those needs, our team incorporated skylights over the kitchen and vaulted the ceiling, in addition to incorporating bigger and more windows. As avid entertainers and cooks, there was a desire to transform the existing small kitchen into a larger, more experiential footprint of the home.

These changes resulted in a central, unified space with more natural light, with the kitchen naturally becoming the central hub of the house. By reshaping the interior and removing load bearing walls, structural challenges emerged. It was necessary to maintain the footprint of the existing building and redistribute the structural loads while keeping an open floor plan. To achieve this, we introduced columns in addition to vaulting the ceiling.

Natural, simplistic materials such as wood and stone were chosen to highlight their collection of interesting and eclectic art. Outside, the owners opted to use native plantings that would flourish on their sandy site instead of bringing in soil to plant a traditional lawn. Their lawn is now a certified wildlife habitat, where they grow their own food, and attract native species to feed and enjoy.

The completed project is an elegant, mid-century home that feels like it’s part of the natural landscape, while making a bold statement from the street.

The overall success of the design is evident in its simplicity and clarity. There is now a cohesive feel throughout the house, where one feels like they’re participating in all the important public spaces at one time. Instead of isolation, when the user goes from a public space to a private space, it doesn’t feel like they are going into a different cell but rather experiencing an extension of the architectural language.