Situated on the greens of a golf course, this project began as a private, wooded site with immense potential for a new beginning after the former structure was lost in a fire. Our clients—a married couple at the helm of a local Japanese restaurant—came to us in the hopes of creating a modern, contemporary retreat where they could relax after a long night on their feet.

The floorplan for this project was laid out over two stories along with some additional space in a walk-out basement. Open and sprawling, the first floor consists of a two-story entry with a grand staircase made of Douglas fir wood and cables that serves as a defining element of the home. On the first floor, you’ll find an airy kitchen, dining room, and sitting room along with a guest suite consisting of a small sitting area, two bedrooms, and a shared bath. Just beyond the entry stair, there’s a living area that steps down from the rest of the first floor. The second floor of the house is again a happy balance of shared and private spaces with a spacious living area and a master bedroom with a large walk-in closet and balcony. In between the master bath and master bedroom is a double-sided gas fireplace that can be viewed comfortably either from the bed or from the tub.

With modernity in mind, the exterior of the house is a balance of fiber cement and white cedar vertical siding along with a standing seam metal roof. We used the white cedar for the entry in order to break up the length of the house while also acting as the “knuckle” to the two angles of each wing of the home.

Our biggest challenge throughout this project was the task of designing our clients’ dream home within the footprint of the house that previously stood in its place which likely had an entirely different program. We found a great deal of joy in creating new life on this lot.

At the end of it all, we were incredibly proud of this home, with special admiration for how well the stair and entry sequence tied the two sides of the house together.