Favorites

Architect Line Solgaard, founder of the eponymous Oslo- and Fredrikstad-based firm, designed a getaway for her family in the place where she grew up. Untreated, exposed concrete pairs with cedar cladding; custom, oak-paneled ceilings; and a glass roof in the center of the home that opens like a sunroof for natural ventilation.

The breakfast nook features a custom table with a terrazzo top from Concrete Collaborative, and the pendant above is by Kuzco. A wall hanging from Caralarga commands the entryway.

The foyer's Douglas fir-clad ceiling extends from the glass-walled foyer outward to form a covered entry.

Looking toward the entrance from the residential wing of the house, which is built "like a bridge

The home angles away from the street in order to bridge over and make room for small wetlands to the north and southeast, with a rocky culvert running underneath.

When closed, the screens blend in with the cedar siding.

Cutouts in the home’s volumes increase the number of viewing angles.

Kanuka Valley House by WireDog Architecture

A corner fireplace faced in Ann Sacks concrete tiles anchors the living room. “There are LED lights behind the peeled back tiles,” Herrmann says. “There is an apparent human touch; each one is a little different.”

The lower level, which has a polished concrete floor and comfy Blue Dot sectional, is where the kids run around, do craft projects, and watch television. A plain barn door separates this area from the guest suite. There are also sliders that spill out into the yard.

Board-formed concrete provides a pleasing but not overly decorative finish for the backside of the lower level. The living room volume and concrete terrace sit atop the garage.

The living room, dining room, and kitchen are distinct spaces while still being very open. “It was fun to come up with a slightly different approach to an open living concept,” Herrmann says. The artwork on the left is by Sonnenzimmer. The abstract on the right is by Ludovic Philippon, a painter in the South of France.

“You’re drawn deep into the house and given clues where to go,” Herrmann says. “Natural light guides you through the house.”

Herrmann’s first inclination was to design the bunks without a partition between them, but the owners asked that each one be its own little pod complete with bookshelves and reading light. “The kids love the bunk room,” the husband says. “At home, the twins share a room and their baby brother is the odd man out. Here, for twelve weeks, he gets to be a part of it.”

The homes at Benloch Ranch are designed to encourage outdoor living and community. Each of the four models features ample outdoor decking and amenities such as fire pits and grills.

The open-plan living space of the Icon model features a kitchen, dining and living

The bedrooms of the Icon model at Benloch Ranch offer plenty of space, en suites, and walk-in wardrobes, as well as access directly to a private deck through large glass doors.

The front garden area is terraced with custom Cor-Ten steel retaining walls with an oxidized patina. The plantings are inspired by the couple’s love for Palm Springs.