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The main floor of the home features a living, dining, and kitchen area all in one place. "I think we went through 10 different teal paints before we landed on this one for the cabinets,

The interior CLT surfaces are treated with a soapy wax that protects the wood and also reflects more light to create a more luminous space.

Using CLT minimized expensive labor on site by allowing panels to be prefabricated. The wood-burning stove, however, was one of the more expensive features. “In the long term it pays off, though,” says architect Cristian Stefanescu. “It serves as the main heating element in winter and it can heat the entire space easily.”

Sheer, lightweight curtains can be closed to separate the studio from the garden. “It’s a very quiet space where you can retreat into your own thoughts, read, write, and think,” says architect Cristian Stefanescu.

Sheathed in black asphalt shingles, the Sea Ranch home created by architect David Ross and artist Mark Dutcher exemplifies values espoused by the 60-year-old community: modesty, aesthetics, simplicity, and respect for the natural environment.

The east-facing kitchen is the brightest room in the house. A Louis Poulsen lamp sits at one end of the table, which doubles as the couple’s desk. There are no drawers or cabinets, just sliding panels to hide things. “I didn’t want cabinets because, then, what are the hinges? What are the knobs?” David explains. “I wanted to make fewer decisions. It’s about the experience of the space and not the hardware.”

“It has a public and private feel, which we like.” A French blue table designed by David adds color to the dining area. “It was important to us to have unexpected and whimsical elements in the house,” says Mark. “We didn’t want it to be too serious.”

“Dwell”, November 2016

The extension’s exterior walls and roof is wrapped in Scottish larch cladding.

A window seat was added at the back of the house framing the rear garden. “It’s our favourite space to sit on a cold, rainy winter night when you can hear the tapping sound of rain drops on the glass roof above,” says Rowan.

A wall of clerestory windows brings afternoon light into the ceramics studio while large sliding glass doors can open it entirely to the garden. They were all custom-made by Blomberg, a company in Sacramento, and the project's biggest splurge.

Custom teal cabinets by Kable Design Build provide storage in the new mudroom, while Bedrosians hexagon tiles in Kuroi Black create a durable transition from outdoors.

The kitchen is from Classic Kitchens Direct, with the cabinetry colour matched with Farrow & Ball’s Duck Pond green paint which has been used on the living room walls.

The family loves to cook and opted for a statement piece as the kitchen island made of volcanic stone with burners that emerge directly from the surface.

Natural light was very important for homeowners, incorporated though plentiful clerestory glass and indoor-outdoor access.