After more than 15 years spent in construction, high school friends Simon Fyall and Richard Egli started to imagine an architecture that blended in with the landscape of British Columbia better than industry-standard buildings. Soon after, the pair founded Blend Projects to build their vision: crisp gabled homes strung together from eight-foot-long cedar-sided glulam sections.
“I envision people writing their books, music, refuelling their creative flow,” says Castillero. He should know about its energizing power more than anyone, really: it brought him back to his love of architecture, after all. “It’s truly my new happy place.”
The units feature radiant floor heating that can be monitored through included smart home devices.
Each of the bathrooms are fully remodeled and have all new fixtures and hardware.
Settled on a picturesque hillside in Somona, California, the Connect 5 residence features stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, which allow warm natural light to flood through the home.
CACN offers four model types. Pictured here is their MOR.II - a one bedroom unit with 540 square feet plus a 300 square feet wraparound deck.
Light streams into the master suite’s dressing room through glass panes by Western Window Systems. Clothes are stored in cabinets by Molteni&C; a rustic antique bench from Amber Interiors offers a place to suit up. As in the rest of the house, the fir flooring is by Dinesen. “Having worked with Will so much, I know he responds to a very calm and cool palette of beiges and grays,” says Reddy.
In the living room, a new wall of glass connects the house to its landscape, while a family-heirlume Persian rug adds softness to the new ceramic tile floor.
The remodeled kitchen offers a whole corner of glass, and continues as a backsplash beneath the new cabinetry.
The breezeway between the main cabin and the summer porch acts as a third living space in the summer and on mild spring and fall days, linking the separate structures. “The walls slanting over the breezeway create an implied arch between the cabin and the summer porch, lending a sense of intimacy to the heart of the house,” says Diane.
The solar photovoltaic rooftop panels draw 12 kilowatts of electricity. The prefabricated cross-laminated timber structure is insulated by 17-inch walls, and the deck outside the master bedroom is bordered with sedum.
The chairs at the kitchen table were rescued from an old church.
The cedar exterior of the building was pre-stained by a local supplier. The charcoal hue helps it disappear visually into the forest, and contrasts with the light and warm interior.
To avoid excavating the land, Pang and Boyle designed a structural platform to keep the cabin level.
Floor Plan of Kjerringholmen Cabin by Line Solgaard Arkitekter
The enormous picture window in the living room frames spectacular views over the water, allowing the family to feel immersed in nature even in the wildest of weather.
The arrangement of windows in the home creates a play of light and shadow and allows the family to experience different views as they move around the space. “It’s about creating a calm, comfortable home that is still dynamic,” says architect Line Solgaard. “There are 360-degree views but you don’t see in every direction at all times—there are moments of drama throughout.”
The clients wanted a summer home that would allow them to enjoy the landscape from both inside and outside spaces—and the outdoor spaces needed to be protected from the often windy weather. “That’s why we have the outdoor space to the north of the building, so it’s protected,” explains architect Line Solgaard. The protected deck area gets the evening sun until 10pm in the summer, and views to the water have been maintained through large windows and the glazed wall.
Skigard Hytte floor plan
The master bathroom is encased in wood, from the floors and shower walls, to the vanity and toilet button plate. A small door opens to the outside.
Michael D'Angelo Landscape Architecture provided a new master plan that includes grassy areas for lawn games, a fire pit, and new plantings.
The midcentury home is now on the market for the second time since it was built.
In 1979, architect Gary Michael designed a roof structure that mirrors the form of the original house to cover a section of the large ipe deck.
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A sliding glass door connects the tranquil bathing area to a private patio.
A custom vanity separates the sleeping area from the luxurious en suite bath, which includes a freestanding tub and a walk-in shower with a heated floor.
Jones Media Shop
The lower level houses the primary suite with a soaking tub and sauna, as well as three additional bedrooms and a full bathroom.
Floor-to-ceiling windows bookend the open living spaces on the main level and overlook the connecting patios, flooding the interior with forest views.
A custom steel fireplace by Formed Objects was also added during the phase-one renovation.
Red-oak floors and tongue-and-groove cedar ceilings span throughout the home.
During the first phase of the renovation by Paul McKean Architecture, the kitchen was fully renovated with quartz countertops, stainless-steel backsplash, and new cabinets with detailing designed to match the original millwork. “Two under-counter KitchenAid refrigerators were added along with a new dishwasher, induction cooktop, and electric oven,” says the listing agent.
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