In 2016, Henrybuilt founder and CEO Scott Hudson and his wife purchased a 1961 residence in Mill Valley, California. Set just above Muir Woods, not far from the company’s showroom, the home would come to serve as a retreat and an innovation lab for the Henrybuilt team—but first, it needed a full gut renovation.

Scott saw the remodel as an opportunity to give every element of the 900-square-foot home, now known as the Ridge House, the Henrybuilt touch. “I was focused on having it feel more detailed in terms of design and craft than a typical midcentury house—but at the same time, having everything feel appropriate to the original architecture,” he says.

The renovation began in 2017, with team members traveling to Marin, and taking part in almost every element of the build. “It worked really well,” explains Scott. “I would travel down with one or two people from Seattle, and we would work together for two weeks. I was the GC, and we did everything ourselves except for electrical and plumbing. We weren’t designing in AutoCAD—we did everything in person and on paper, so there was a lot of contribution from people who were working on the project.”

In taking on the project, Scott was inspired by brands like Black Diamond, where the employees are skiers and rock climbers who fully understand the nuances of the products they create. “There are two reasons we did it,” he says. “To create a way to innovate based on direct experience, and to change the culture of the company and give people a chance to actually live with the product when they are traveling for work.”

The process yielded four key products. The Vertical Bar Block is a storage solution that can bridge gaps between cabinetry and appliances to maximize every bit of usable space. Two additional products, the Unity vanity and the Color Box system, became the catalysts for Henrybuilt’s Primary Objects line of standalone furnishings, which are designed to complement and work independently of the company’s built-in cabinetry systems.

“The modern architectural approach to building things can be restrictive if you want to change things later,” explains Scott. “With Primary Objects, you can buy a piece of furniture that has the same qualities as the rest of our system. This provides more freedom, a wider aesthetic range, and eliminates installation costs.”

“It was cool how the collaboration happened so quickly—we created all these products through prototyping, put them in the house, and now we are living with them.” —Scott Hudson, Henrybuilt Founder

The fourth product developed during the build is Henrybuilt’s Functional Partition Wall, a divider with built-in shelving that separates the small, open-plan living area while providing additional storage.

However, the process delivered much more than product innovation. At the start of the Ridge House project, Scott knew that the experience would spark ideas—but the level of teambuilding that took place exceeded his expectations.

“I was surprised at how it changed the feeling of the relationship between people,” Scott says. “It was before the pandemic, and the house was full of staff every day. I was surprised how it broke down this feeling of ‘corporateness’—not that we have a very corporate company, but it’s funny how things like sharing food and having this extra satellite retreat where people come and go, brings people closer. I got to know people really well, and now we are connected in a different way.”

The team started staying at the retreat in 2018, and it continues to serve as a working prototype. Upcoming projects involve turning the carport into an art studio, and redoing the roof with solar panels. And the Ridge House is just the beginning. Scott has since purchased properties in multiple locations—including a loft near Henrybuilt’s Los Angeles showroom—so stay tuned for lots more innovation to follow.

More from Henrybuilt:

A Midcentury Home in Napa Gets a Kitchen That Complements its History

Elegant Design Meets Performance With This Customizable Home System

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Scott Hudson, Henrybuilt / @Henrybuilt

Builder/General Contractor: Scott Hudson, Henrybuilt

Cabinetry Design/Installation: Henrybuilt