Project Description
Priorities
• Improve the connection between interior rooms
• Provide a better visual connection from the house to the landscape
Solutions
Not only was this house poorly laid out, but architect Rob Paulus
describes its Spanish style as “Santa Fake.” “A lot of what we did was
more subtractive—taking things away and bringing it back to a simple
box. From there, we opened up as much as we could,” Paulus says, by
removing walls to create a better flow. Some of the drywall had been
made to resemble adobe walls, so he simplified those for a cleaner, more
modern look.
The owner, who had purchased the house because of
its mature landscape and setting, wanted the interior spaces to better
connect to the yard. To strengthen that connection, Paulus increased the
glazing on the rear wall to capture views.
A film enthusiast,
the owner also wanted the remodel to include a media room with a 14-foot
projection screen. Since the living room didn’t have enough wall space
to accommodate a screen that large, Paulus enclosed an outdoor porch and
incorporated the existing outdoor fireplace.
The second phase of
the project involved improving the outdoor spaces. A 20-foot-by-40-foot
contemporary steel and Douglas fir porch trellis shades an outdoor
living space that has an outdoor kitchen and direct access from the home
theater, great room, and master bedroom.
The interior kitchen
cabinets are also made of Douglas fir, but a more polished, smooth
version that fulfills the owner’s desire to for a natural element. The
cabinets also provide a contrast to the rough-hewn fir used for the
trellis.
Judges’ Comments
The judges praised the
“clarity of structure” the architect was able to create from the
original house and its connection to the new outdoor space. The house
has beautiful detailing and materials, and they pointed out the
interesting contrast between the raw steel and warm wood on the trellis.
Products
Bath faucet: Aquabrass
Bath sink: Decolav
Countertops: Caesarstone; concrete
Dishwasher: Miele
Hardware: Emtek
Kitchen faucet: MGS
Oven, range, refrigerator: Wolf
Windows: Western Window Systems