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The bathroom is on the second level.
The bathroom is on the second level.
The focal point of the home is the long Alumicor window that reveals the slope of the site.
The focal point of the home is the long Alumicor window that reveals the slope of the site.
“We put a lot of energy—and at least half our investment—into the bones of the building because we intend to be here for a long time,” says Lauren Snyder, who resuscitated an aging home alongside her husband, architect Keith Burns.
“We put a lot of energy—and at least half our investment—into the bones of the building because we intend to be here for a long time,” says Lauren Snyder, who resuscitated an aging home alongside her husband, architect Keith Burns.
Custom shoji-inspired screens of Roberts’s design conceal the closet and extend to provide privacy for the adjacent shower and soaking tub.
Custom shoji-inspired screens of Roberts’s design conceal the closet and extend to provide privacy for the adjacent shower and soaking tub.
Kitchen
Kitchen
"The narrowness of the house required the design to make effective yet frugal uses of space," explains the firm. "Precise positioning of walls, doors, and windows were crucial as each floor was planned to serve a purpose."
"The narrowness of the house required the design to make effective yet frugal uses of space," explains the firm. "Precise positioning of walls, doors, and windows were crucial as each floor was planned to serve a purpose."
All the furniture in the home was created out of surplus building materials.
All the furniture in the home was created out of surplus building materials.
Kitchen
Kitchen
Bar
Bar
The island and cabinets, fashioned from remilled Douglas-fir beams salvaged from upstate New York, sport inexpensive drawers from Ikea. The Carrara marble for the sink surround also came from the firm’s warehouse, from a section of slab orphaned from an earlier commission. A Viking chimney wall hood tops a free-standing range by Bluestar.
The island and cabinets, fashioned from remilled Douglas-fir beams salvaged from upstate New York, sport inexpensive drawers from Ikea. The Carrara marble for the sink surround also came from the firm’s warehouse, from a section of slab orphaned from an earlier commission. A Viking chimney wall hood tops a free-standing range by Bluestar.
Swell lights by Pablo hang above Hot Mesh stools from Blu Dot. The millwork is by J. Spix Fine Cabinets.
Swell lights by Pablo hang above Hot Mesh stools from Blu Dot. The millwork is by J. Spix Fine Cabinets.
A massive pine beam defines the master bathroom.
A massive pine beam defines the master bathroom.
“The inside is, for the most part, concentrated on the local craftsmanship, because I believe it is very important,” Vanotti says. “It represents our history.” Artisan Vanotti Mauro built many parts of the building, including its most prominent feature: the larch wood accents. A custom fireplace warms the living room.
“The inside is, for the most part, concentrated on the local craftsmanship, because I believe it is very important,” Vanotti says. “It represents our history.” Artisan Vanotti Mauro built many parts of the building, including its most prominent feature: the larch wood accents. A custom fireplace warms the living room.
The cement exterior walls were painted in a dark color to blend in with the forest. Aluminum window frames add some texture to the facade.
The cement exterior walls were painted in a dark color to blend in with the forest. Aluminum window frames add some texture to the facade.
Suspended shelves made of wood planks display organic ingredients. Photo by Wouter van der Sar.
Suspended shelves made of wood planks display organic ingredients. Photo by Wouter van der Sar.
The materials palette is similarly restrained, making the only natural piece of wood in the house—the almost 14-foot-long walnut slab in the kitchen—really stand out. "If there was wood everywhere it would lose its gravitas," notes Chris.
The materials palette is similarly restrained, making the only natural piece of wood in the house—the almost 14-foot-long walnut slab in the kitchen—really stand out. "If there was wood everywhere it would lose its gravitas," notes Chris.
Prefab house in Muskö, Sweden
Prefab house in Muskö, Sweden