Favorites

The Cabinet Face's DIY paint-grade flat panel doors and custom panels are installed in the island.

The kitchen is marked by a variety of textures that include dark walnut and marble.

Eliminating the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room was a challenge, forcing Dupont Blouin to reconsider mechanical and electrical logistics.

The pantry lines the wall to the right.

Living Room

Opening up the stairwell with glass partitions allowed daylight to penetrate to the core of the highly vertical structure. The architects also removed partitions around the kitchen and relocated it to the home's east end where it faces the building's historic bay window.

The hood vent is finished in plaster, same as the fireplace. Ann especially likes the view from the island, through the library to the fire at the end of the living room.

One of Ann's favorite pieces is the George Kovac stainless steel pillar that lights up, found at a vintage store in San Antonio. "We leave it on at night, it has such a nice warm glow,

Harty explains that budget was an issue, and so "the house is just big enough to suit the needs of the family without being too grand.

“The owners were especially disciplined in maintaining calmness in all material and product choices,

Oak and concrete surfaces mingle in the kitchen, where views of the landscape are framed through a window and the sliding glass door that opens onto the cedar-clad patio.

Early in the design process, Diane had considered a dropped ceiling over the kitchen to distinguish it from the living/dining area. “Our builder Trevor said he liked the feel of the interior space and advised against it,” reveals Diane. “We’re so glad he did!” He also made other small suggestions, including the stepped trim around the door frames. A piece of the original boxcar was salvaged by Diane’s son and daughter-in-law and turned into a key rack hanging by the main door.

The pair borrowed a little space on the front porch and expanded the kitchen into the breakfast nook, so the sink now looks out on the front yard and old olive tree.

A laundry and powder room are hidden behind artful wood paneling.