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The bathroom is utilitarian with simple white subway tiles and bluestone flooring. The blackout
The bathroom is utilitarian with simple white subway tiles and bluestone flooring. The blackout
Laminate joinery in the kitchen was one way Matt was able to save costs. It's a low-spec material but we treated it really carefully to make sure it was all quite refined."
Laminate joinery in the kitchen was one way Matt was able to save costs. It's a low-spec material but we treated it really carefully to make sure it was all quite refined."
“Where we let loose was on the window,” Matt says. “It’s an aluminium window frame, which is bushfire compliant and easy to install, but the way that we detailed it was about hiding the frame so that the eye is drawn into the space.”
“Where we let loose was on the window,” Matt says. “It’s an aluminium window frame, which is bushfire compliant and easy to install, but the way that we detailed it was about hiding the frame so that the eye is drawn into the space.”
Arriving at the cabin is now a joyous ritual. “Every time we push the gates back and see the view it’s this sense of ‘we’ve arrived’,” Matt says.
Arriving at the cabin is now a joyous ritual. “Every time we push the gates back and see the view it’s this sense of ‘we’ve arrived’,” Matt says.
The cabin's corrugated iron cladding (Colorbond steel in "Windspray") riffs on the quintessential Aussie beach shack's fibre cement sheeting. When not in use, it can be completely closed off with a sliding gate.
The cabin's corrugated iron cladding (Colorbond steel in "Windspray") riffs on the quintessential Aussie beach shack's fibre cement sheeting. When not in use, it can be completely closed off with a sliding gate.
The custom kitchen bench and dining table "felt like a splurge
The custom kitchen bench and dining table "felt like a splurge
The cabin hovers over the site on stilts, giving it a floating effect.
The cabin hovers over the site on stilts, giving it a floating effect.
Kelli’s horses, many of whom are blind, locate drinking water with the help of a custom concrete aerating fountain. It’s quickly become a favorite feature of the animals: “They all congregate around it in the summer, and it's almost like they're having a meeting,” says Ford.
Kelli’s horses, many of whom are blind, locate drinking water with the help of a custom concrete aerating fountain. It’s quickly become a favorite feature of the animals: “They all congregate around it in the summer, and it's almost like they're having a meeting,” says Ford.
The property, including the barn, accommodates the horses’ impairments with wider-than-usual doorways and therapeutic mattresses in the stalls.
The property, including the barn, accommodates the horses’ impairments with wider-than-usual doorways and therapeutic mattresses in the stalls.
The climate-controlled feed room doubles as a place to relax with a cup of coffee or host guests for a glass of wine. The stone sink began as a planter that Ford imported from Italy and customized to function within the space.
The climate-controlled feed room doubles as a place to relax with a cup of coffee or host guests for a glass of wine. The stone sink began as a planter that Ford imported from Italy and customized to function within the space.
The two chairs in the feed room are family heirlooms that first belonged to Kelli’s grandfather. He had them in what he called his rest space, which referred to the small cabin on their family’s farm in Burleson County, Texas.
The two chairs in the feed room are family heirlooms that first belonged to Kelli’s grandfather. He had them in what he called his rest space, which referred to the small cabin on their family’s farm in Burleson County, Texas.
The bathroom is finished with a marble shower that complements the marble countertops in the kitchen.
The bathroom is finished with a marble shower that complements the marble countertops in the kitchen.
The dining table was designed and built by Ford using antique pine. The sculptural oak chairs are from the 1970s. They were sourced from the Netherlands with the help of local designer Hailey Kolbe.
The dining table was designed and built by Ford using antique pine. The sculptural oak chairs are from the 1970s. They were sourced from the Netherlands with the help of local designer Hailey Kolbe.
For the countertops, Ford sourced distinctive Calacatta Viola marble from Italy.
For the countertops, Ford sourced distinctive Calacatta Viola marble from Italy.
In additional to her residential work, Ford has developed a speciality for designing boutique barns, which made her an ideal guide for Kelli. “I grew up with dirt floor barns, which are special in their own way,” says Kelli. “I didn’t know this was possible.”
In additional to her residential work, Ford has developed a speciality for designing boutique barns, which made her an ideal guide for Kelli. “I grew up with dirt floor barns, which are special in their own way,” says Kelli. “I didn’t know this was possible.”
Kelli spent $73,890 on the exterior siding. Ford sourced a particularly durable Japanese cypress to complement the corrugated metal roof.
Kelli spent $73,890 on the exterior siding. Ford sourced a particularly durable Japanese cypress to complement the corrugated metal roof.
Kelli de la Torre enlisted her neighbor, designer Tina Ford to create a 2,946-square-foot barn with an unexpected addition: an 876-square-foot loft that her family now calls home.
Kelli de la Torre enlisted her neighbor, designer Tina Ford to create a 2,946-square-foot barn with an unexpected addition: an 876-square-foot loft that her family now calls home.
In the primary bath, green Dal tile complements birch plywood walls.
In the primary bath, green Dal tile complements birch plywood walls.
A stair from the lower level leads directly up to the covered porch, with the stair tucked behind the kitchen. The outdoor dining table is by Loll Designs and the chairs are from IKEA and Sundso.
A stair from the lower level leads directly up to the covered porch, with the stair tucked behind the kitchen. The outdoor dining table is by Loll Designs and the chairs are from IKEA and Sundso.
On the ground level, Johnson created a home office and a workshop space. Shelves in the office are IKEA, and the plywood desk and mahogany chair were made by Johnson.
On the ground level, Johnson created a home office and a workshop space. Shelves in the office are IKEA, and the plywood desk and mahogany chair were made by Johnson.
During construction, Johnson and his family lived partially in an Airstream trailer in their front yard.
During construction, Johnson and his family lived partially in an Airstream trailer in their front yard.
The upper level addition contains an open living area with kitchen and dining. The wall casework is birch plywood and the grey casework is painted marine grade plywood, both were designed and built by Johnson.
The upper level addition contains an open living area with kitchen and dining. The wall casework is birch plywood and the grey casework is painted marine grade plywood, both were designed and built by Johnson.
Johnson had renovated the kitchen in the original 1950s home, which now functions as a separate rental property.
Johnson had renovated the kitchen in the original 1950s home, which now functions as a separate rental property.
The living room in the existing home had wood ceilings with exposed beams. Johnson wanted to maintain these and other historic details, so he decided to keep the existing house in tact and build the addition floating above it.
The living room in the existing home had wood ceilings with exposed beams. Johnson wanted to maintain these and other historic details, so he decided to keep the existing house in tact and build the addition floating above it.
The upper addition
The upper addition
Architecture professor Eric Johnson designed an expansion for his Encinitas family home that hovers above the existing 1950s structure below. The living area opens to a covered porch with views of the neighborhood and beach.
Architecture professor Eric Johnson designed an expansion for his Encinitas family home that hovers above the existing 1950s structure below. The living area opens to a covered porch with views of the neighborhood and beach.
The counters are by Caesarstone and the backsplash tile is Fireclay. The appliances are from Fisher Paykel.
The counters are by Caesarstone and the backsplash tile is Fireclay. The appliances are from Fisher Paykel.
The new kitchen is light and bright, with dark green Reform cabinets to provide a grounding energy. "We wanted colors that were calming and soothing, and it's almost got a PNW vibe,
The new kitchen is light and bright, with dark green Reform cabinets to provide a grounding energy. "We wanted colors that were calming and soothing, and it's almost got a PNW vibe,

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