The spacious, covered deck is ready for anything. “From snowstorms to eclipse, we can play here,” says Adair. It’s turned into a big gathering space for their community; sometimes the family hosts film screenings en plein air.
Eva designed new, curved stairs with a smooth plaster surface that contrasts with the roughness of some of the exposed stones. A few of her ceramics fill the niche under them, and skylights bring in sunshine from above. The table, bought locally for about 20 euros at a garage sale, is made of olive wood.
“Being perched on the hilltop at Spyon Cop is like nothing else,” says client Siobhan Turner. “My favourite experience of the house is sitting in my Ercol chair or, in nice weather, out on the deck, coffee in hand, watching the sun rise over the valley.”
The kitchen underwent the most dramatic change, being relocated to the back of the house adjacent to the living room. White Oak floors and casework and new Kolbe windows warm up the space. The pendant light is from Design Within Reach, and the bar stools are custom from Sean Woolsey.
The headboard is a custom fabrication from a live oak felled on the property, made by DeVos Custom Woodworking and Jobe Fabrications and in collaboration with JCA. The headboard “brings so much texture and life into this tiny room,” says Corral. Custom steel shelves are poised below, with a sconce from Serena and Lily mounted atop.
The original living space is now an open kitchen outfitted with cabinetry made by the couple.
The couple maintained much of the home’s original layout and restored ceilings that had been lowered in an earlier renovation to their prior height. Designs by Julián’s father, artist Luis Fernando Benedit, decorate the interiors alongside Julián’s and Micaela’s own works.
In the kitchen, which connects to the internal patio and rear garden, the wooden ceiling beams are painted a pistachio green that’s repeated throughout the home, including on the radiators and the iron trim of the glass doors to the courtyard.
Installing a dutch door allows the couple to moderate light and ventilation, while continuing the traditional feel of the space.
Whether it’s cross-country skiing in the winter or trail running in the summer, the 330-foot home’s minimalist design encourages Catherine to be outside in the surrounding landscape throughout the year.
Natural materials such as concrete, stone, and wood give the architecture a rugged honesty.
“As much as it’s practical, it’s also a very good-looking thing: a sculpture piece. I call it the jewel on the side,” says Noguera of the unique skylight here.
Next to the entrance is an area map etched in aluminum by Black Mountain Marking.
White oak flooring was used throughout the upstairs.
“We sandblasted, I don't know how many layers of paint off the ceiling, but we sandblasted it, and it turned out beautifully,” says Maziarski. “And then we just sealed in its natural color.”
The white brick fireplace from the original home was left intact. It’s complemented by more modern pieces like a bouclé sofa from Lulu & Georgia, a standing lamp from Lightology, and a cabinet from Ferm Living.
The guest bedroom, as well as other parts of the house, have a plywood accent wall. “My family's in the plywood business and they have been making plywood for over a hundred years,” says Holly. “This is not your typical Home Depot plywood. This is really clear with a nice veneer on it. So, we were able to do a special run of plywood that had a really beautiful grain to it, and it adds so much richness to our home.” The sconces are from Cedar & Moss.
The original layout was very much of the time: a perfect midcentury modern flow, with a closed-off kitchen and a fire put in the floor. “They were cool but impractical spaces,” says Schaer.
Polished concrete blocks and a concrete floor are contrasted by a birch plywood tray ceiling. Paola and Jason cut the vertical strips in the ceiling themselves and placed fabric behind to soften the acoustics. Custom brackets were added to the modular seating from West Elm, the table top and legs were found on Etsy, and the chandelier is by Avenue Lighting.
Furniture and art were sourced from family and artist friends, with a mix of high and low, old and new. Artists that contributed to the project include wood sculptor Vince Skelly, ceramicist Sarah van Raden of Notary Ceramics, and furniture builder Nick Tretiak.
In the evening, the glass-clad home glows from within, an inviting presence in the forest. While the interior is highly visible, the trees and landscaping on the sloped site offer privacy for the residents.
The kitchen almost blends into the background of the home, thanks to the all-over use of plywood across the cabinetry, appliances, and ceiling.
The mid-section of the siding was done in a shou-sugi ban method. Custom brass was used for the awning, alongside a standing-seam metal roof.
"We worked closely with the chef of the family, Mike, to fine tune the requirements for adjacency, surfaces, and lighting,
The kitchen area has room for eating, and plenty of storage.
Greg utilized cross-laminated timber to construct the home and for its interior finishes.
The kitchen was designed to be functional, for a family of five that likes to cook. Cabinetry and countertops resemble the colors of the wall panels and metal framing.
The staircase in the mudroom is made of raw steel kickplates and treads created from locally harvested sugar maples.
Poured polished concrete floors, plaster walls, and the pine ceiling with hemlock beams infuse subtle interest and warmth. The bend in the gathering pavilion follows the site’s topography.
At Las Rocas, you always have two views: the lake and the rocks, which was the impetus for erasing the corners of the home. “The corner openings were a must for this project, because they really connect you to the outside,” says architect Ignacio Urquiza.
The living areas are located on the upper level, where natural light spills inside thanks to expansive glazing which capture captivating views of the greenery below.
A partial wall anchors the kitchen on one side and houses closets on the other. A w151 pendant by Wastberg hangs above the central dining area.
In the dining room, a table from Don Willis painted in Benjamin Moore Advance paint anchors the space, with a light fixture from Crate & Barrel overhead.
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