A Tree House–Like Midcentury Home Peeks Above the Forest Canopy
Designed around a specimen oak, this renovated midcentury has walls of glass and a natural palette to achieve a seamless connection with the outdoors.
When a pair of nature lovers purchased a hillside midcentury home south of San Francisco in Portola Valley, they were admittedly more taken with the stunning valley vistas than the house, whose original 1960s design had been long covered up by mismatched remodels. Yet, after living there for a few years, the couple decided to start a family and realized a renovation was finally in order.
Set on a forested hillside, the home feels completely secluded. The closest neighboring house is 500 feet away and out of sight.
Joe Fletcher
Malcolm Davis stands behind the specimen oak tree on the new cantilevered wraparound deck.
Joe Fletcher
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Not only was extra living space necessary for the growing family of four, but the existing house also failed to take advantage of the striking views that drew the couple to the site. The homeowners tapped architect Malcolm Davis of San Francisco–based Malcolm Davis Architecture to redesign and expand the dwelling without damaging the many established oak trees.
The annex lanai opens up to the deck for indoor/outdoor living.
Joe Fletcher
A view of the ipe-and-steel bridge from the main house to the annex.
Joe Fletcher
After taking stock of the home’s midcentury elements, such as the original beamed ceilings and relatively open layout, Davis worked to bring greater natural light and a sense of flow to the home. In the main level’s open-plan living areas, Davis removed posts and swapped small windows for walls of glass. A new cantilevered balcony wraps around the dining room, bringing homeowners closer to the specimen oak tree at the center of the site.
The architects preserved the existing beamed ceilings, which give the open-plan living area an airy feel. The living area is dressed with a vintage tête-à-tête sofa by Edward Wormley, a Warren Platner chair, and an Isamu Noguchi table.
Joe Fletcher
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Modern Fan Company Cirrus Flushmount Fan
Designed specifically for low ceiling applications, the Modern Fan Cirrus Flushmount Ceiling Fan adds a sleek, contemporary look while providing excellent air circulation at only 13" long. A variety of remote controls are available, as are optional light kits. Designed by Ron Rezek.In 1997, The Modern Fan Company was founded by Ron Rezek to produce ceiling fans that provide superior air circulation, comfort and energy efficiency for contemporary-minded homeowners and design professionals. Having originated the contemporary ceiling fan genre, The Modern Fan Company remains the only company of its kind, committed exclusively to modern ceiling fan design. Photo Courtesy of Lumens
ShopHerman Miller Noguchi Table
Following his apprenticeship with the legendary Constantin Brancusi, sculptor Isamu Noguchi began to experiment in environmental design, theatrical sets – he was the only designer that choreographer Martha Graham would work with – and, eventually, product design. He created his first furniture prototypes for Herman Miller in 1942 and went on to work with companies such as Steuben and Zenith. The Noguchi Table (1948) conceals nothing, revealing everything about the nature of simplicity. Two smoothly shaped pieces of solid wood interlock to form a tripod that supports a thick glass tabletop. The base is available in black, walnut, natural cherry and white ash, the latter of which is finished with a process that arrests the wood in its freshly cut state, resulting in a creamy white color that will not turn yellow over time. This is the authentic Noguchi Table by Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A.
ShopKnoll Platner Armchair
If you combined the work of I.M. Pei and Eero Saarinen, the result might very well look like the Platner Collection (1962). Warren Platner worked with both of the industrial and organic design giants before turning his attention to steel wire furniture, for which he devised the structure and production method. Requiring as many as 1,000 welds and crafted out of wire and space, the Armchair, available in a range of upholstery options, demonstrates Platner's belief that there is room in modernism "for the kind of decorative, gentle, graceful design that appeared in a period style like Louis XV." Constructed of steel and finished in bright nickel or 18-karat plated gold with a clear lacquer protective coating, the chair has a clear plastic extrusion ring surrounding its base to protect floors. The Platner Collection is Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified for low-emitting products. Manufactured by Knoll® according to the original and exacting specifications of the designer. Made in Italy. Photo courtesy of Design Within Reach
ShopSurrounded by retractable glass doors, the dining area opens up to the landscape. A custom Gianni Corvasce Restoration walnut table is combined with vintage Kai Kristiansen dining chairs and a 1970s brass-and-Lucite chandelier.
Joe Fletcher
Downstairs, the architects dropped the floor to take advantage of the natural sloping site, bringing additional space, taller ceilings, and greater natural light to the interior. They then repurposed the master bedroom, which had been located on the lower level next to the swimming pool, into a media room.
The expanded central kitchen occupies the heart of the home. The kitchen island is wrapped in reclaimed Douglas fir and topped with a white granite countertop. The countertops in the rear are black-flamed granite.
Joe Fletcher
The new walk-through pantry with laminated glass doors runs the width of the kitchen and features reclaimed timber shelving. The floors are engineered oak.
Joe Fletcher
Davis relocated the master bedroom to a new wing on the east side of the house, adjacent to the two existing kids’ bedrooms on the upper floor. Rather than continue the slope of the gabled roof, the architects created a butterfly roof to bring added light into the master bedroom.
The view from the master bedroom. Sliding glazed pocket doors open up to the cantilevered deck. The U-Turn swivel chairs are by Niels Bendtsen from Design Within Reach.
Joe Fletcher
The master bathroom overlooks a private garden. The freestanding tub is by Blu Bathworks and the flooring is slate tile.
Joe Fletcher
White ceramic Fireclay tile wraps around the shower. Skylights bathe the master bath in natural light.
Joe Fletcher
The renovation also added a new structure to the west end of the property on the other side of a mature oak tree. A guest suite and a sitting room, named the lanai, occupy the ground floor, while an artist’s studio sits above and is connected via a bridge to the main house.
The freestanding guesthouse includes a new sitting area that's dressed with a Blu Dot Grotto sofa, a Blu Dot acacia coffee table, and a pair of Harry Bertoia Diamond chairs.
Joe Fletcher
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Herman Miller Nelson Saucer Crisscross Bubble Pendant
While outfitting his office, architect and Herman Miller design director George Nelson discovered a silk-covered Swedish hanging lamp that he coveted but found too expensive. He then recalled seeing a photo in the paper of Liberty ships being mothballed “by having the decks covered with netting and then being sprayed with a self-webbing plastic,” which got him thinking. “And then, Whammo!” Inspiration struck, and by the next night, Nelson had designed his first Bubble Lamp (1952) by spinning a skeleton of steel wires on a turntable and shooting it with translucent plastic until it was covered in a smooth, washable film. “When you put a light in it, it glowed,” he said. This is the authentic Bubble Lamp, produced in partnership with the George Nelson Foundation. Bulb (not included): LED, CFL or incandescent; E26 base; 60W max for small, 150W max for others. UL Listed. Made in U.S.A.
ShopBlu Dot Turn Coffee Table
A lovely, solid piece certain to turn some heads. Whether flowers, books, snacks or even your own feet, the Blu Dot Turn Coffee Table was designed to make everything placed upon it look good. The solidity and natural grain of the acacia wood both grounds a space and warms it up.
ShopKnoll Bertoia Diamond Lounge Chair
The airy seats of the Bertoia Seating Collection (1952) have a delicate, filigreed construction and a relaxed sit. Sculpted out of supremely strong steel rods, the collection was an extension of Harry Bertoia's work in sculpture and remains one of the most iconic contributions to modern furniture design. This is the authentic Bertoia Diamond Lounge Chair produced by Knoll. A sign of authenticity, the Knoll logo is stamped into its base. Chair made in Italy; seat pad made in U.S.A.
ShopThe sun-soaked art studio is elevated into the tree canopy.
Joe Fletcher
The water-resistant ipe wood deck wraps around two existing trees.
Joe Fletcher
"There is a playfulness to the house," Davis explains. "My clients think of it as a tree house, which is fitting given that their active lifestyle and love of the California landscape naturally merged with my own sensibilities and allowed us to create a relaxed and inviting backdrop for their lives."
Surrounded by a sea of forest in Northern California, the Portola Valley House features fire-resistant construction. The annex is wrapped with Corten corrugated siding, while shou sugi ban treated timber clads the main house.
Joe Fletcher
A peek inside the guesthouse bedroom with a Blu Dot Woodrow bed and RH bedding. The sconce is a Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. Isaac plug-in.
Joe Fletcher
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Schoolhouse Electric Isaac Plug-In Sconce - Short Arm
We fused the arcing lines of a Scandinavian classic with handcrafted, vintage-inspired materials to create this Schoolhouse Electric Original. A study in simplicity and elegance, this midcentury modern, plug-in sconce illuminates a room even when idle. Handcrafted from steel on a custom lathe, each material offers a juxtaposition of light, finish and texture. The handspun steel is a celebration of color. Hand-finished in a rich, matte black or an iconic persimmon, both with gloss white interior, the sconces brilliant hue is sure to leave a lasting impression. Complement intimate spaces or group with multiple sconces to frame a room. Like all of our fixtures and shades, the Isaac Collection features handcrafted materials that are Manufactured in our Portland factory to exacting specifications. The hand spinning process lends a unique quality to each shade. Photo Courtesy of Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.
ShopBlu Dot Woodrow Bed
Graceful lines meet gorgeous wood. Available in walnut or white oak and four sizes.
ShopThe guest bathroom features a full-height window with immersive canopy views.
Joe Fletcher
The architects dropped the floor of the lower level to create 10-foot-tall ceilings. The existing den and master bedroom now serve as a media room furnished with an Eero Saarinen table from Knoll, Bruno Hansen chairs, and an Original Timber Co. bench.
Joe Fletcher
Beneath the dining area is a small sitting room flooded with light from three sides through bronze anodized windows with automatic translucent shades by Fleetwood Windows & Doors.
Joe Fletcher
"At night, this annex glows like a jewel box," note the architects.
Joe Fletcher
Portola Valley first floor plan
Portola Valley ground floor plan
Related Reading: A Luxe, Handcrafted Tree House Offers Blissful Escape Into Nature
Project Credits:
Architect of Record: Malcolm Davis Architecture / @malcolmdavisarchitecture
Builder/ General Contractor: Mueller Nicholls Inc
Structural Engineer: Fulcrum Structural Engineering
Landscape Design Company: Randy McDannell of RS McDannell Inc
Interior Design: Lori Yeomans Design
Cabinetry Design/ Installation: Mueller Nicholls Inc
Photography: Joe Fletcher
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