Truckee

With soaring vaulted ceilings perfect for taking in the San Gabriel Mountains, this modified A-frame in Eagle Rock was recently on the market with a starting price of $699,000.

A nod to the family’s time in Switzerland, this chalet-like screened porch blends modern Swiss design sensibilities and the traditional architectural style of the Georgian Bay region. AKB explains,“The gabled form was inspired by the Long House, one of the earliest forms of permanent wood structures used in Ontario, which was used by both the First Nations and European settlers to shelter themselves in the harsh winter weather.” A Design Within Reach lounge chair complements the family’s recycled furniture pieces from their original home.

Natural light throughout the house eliminates the need for excessive overhead lighting. The master bedroom features a Pixo Optical LED table lamp, a Halyard chair by Hans Wegner for PP Møbler Flag, and David Weeks' Cement Standing floor lamp.

The front entry opens into a mud room. Each family member has their own cubby for storing shoes, coats, and backpacks. The wood sliding door, seen here, was built from reclaimed barn board. In front of it stands a Chair CH07 by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son Shell and Eames Walnut stool from Herman Miller.

The architects of AKB designed a south-facing facade, seen here, with recessed windows to minimize sun glare and solar heat gain. To the west is an assemblage of boreal trees—sugar maple, poplar, fir, hawthorn, cedar, and birch. The north looks out to the greater Georgian Bay. The home is clad in Western red cedar.

In Scandinavian regions, traditional cabins are painted black using a mixture of tar and linseed oil. Peck reproduced the look using corrugated metal—a lower-maintenance, more sustainable material. “We love that it is black, because it really reminds us of home,” Bronee says. The house has no windows on its front side, belying its light-flooded interior.

During the winter, the north-facing hill behind the home transforms into a prime tobogganing slope. With hiking and snow shoe trails, and a pond for swimming and ice skating, the house provides year-round recreation for residents Jeff and Kara’s kids. Jeff explains that he and Kara are eventually planning to do more landscaping, but want to sit with the house for a few more years to better understand what the family’s long-term needs and hobbies will be.