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This Southern Californian home by architect Sebastian Mariscal has a wabi-sabi spirit, and is built with shou sugi ban timber, has a koi pond, wand a protective overhang, and a tertiary space known in in traditional Japanese homes as the

The custom cabinetry extends into a mudroom area, also with BluDot Wook wall hook in black.

Mutual Materials CMU ground face "Willow

A floating Ipe bench now sits outside the front door, juxtaposed against siding painted Benjamin Moore “Wrought Iron.” The glass panels beside the door now have reeded glass.

A custom sofa anchors the space, with a custom rug from Armadillo & Co. A Wittus fireplace was designed into the custom millwork.

In the office, a Room & Board Rowan desk joins a Pottery Barn Nash chair, with the 9602 floor lamp by Gubi. The wall art is by Katie Gong.

West Elm chairs are paired with a locally crafted wooden table.

Mac describes adding the fireplace’s Domingue plaster finish as a real "labor of love." "The end result was a credit to the builder and his team. It really pulled the spaces together, and there is nothing better than the natural light playing with the plaster finish," explains the architect.

Creating a natural flow from the interior to the exterior gardens was an important factor in the design. As a result of this approach, the kitchen opens out to the new deck through a large, floor-to-ceiling glazed door—one of the most expensive features of the renovation. The kitchen island is wrapped in the same tongue-and-groove timber panelling as the walls.

The family share a love for the color teal, which was already featured in the home. So, when selecting a backsplash tile, teal was the obvious choice. The tiles are locally sourced from Yeomans Bagno & Ceramiche in Eltham.

The pantry features black-stained timber doors that conceal appliances, keeping the kitchen surfaces clear.

From the central kitchen island, there is a continuous line of sight to the garden. “Milli loves her indoor plants,” says builder Hamish White. “The tree views from most windows, and all the indoor plants makes you feel as if nature is never far away.”

White penny tiles reflect natural light in the bathroom.

Ash siding on the home helps it blend into the surrounding woods.

A wood-clad ceiling extends past the glass-enclosed entrance, creating a cohesive materials palette.

Ample glazing frames views of the surrounding landscape, further connecting the living spaces to nature.

“We do a lot of entertaining, so the primary need in the design of this house was gathering friends,” says Will.