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Floor Plan of The Monroe House DADU by Ben Locke

The landing looks out on the dining nook below. Although the couple were required to build on their previous home’s footprint, they were allowed to increase the building’s overall square footage by 25 percent, which brought it to 2,316.

Sheathed in dark bronze corrugated steel, Buttons and Ridgie Barton’s boldly geometric home in California’s Napa Valley rises on the footprint of the retreat they lost to a wildfire in October 2017. Working with architectural designer Brandon Jørgensen, the couple turned the loss into a chance to build what is now their permanent home with fire resistance baked into the design. A narrow path (below) leads to the recessed entrance.

Dated yellow walls were given a fresh coat of white paint to freshen up a spare room that serves double duty as a design studio and a playroom.

Steel handrails and dark kitchen fixtures contrast white oak walls, all selected for how they’ll wear in. “It’s similar to the weathering steel on the entry deck or the hemlock,” Braithwaite explains. “These are materials that age gracefully and develop character.”

Stairs lead from the street to the decked entry garden, where Roberta grows herbs she cooks with. The glass door leads into the kitchen. A Koko dining table and Gigi dining chairs are from Janus et Cie.

The house is located near Punta Mujeres, in northeastern Lanzarote, an area characterized by black volcanic soil and good waves, making it ideal for keen surfers, Georgina “Geo” Giner Gallardo and Zoe Barceló Vicedors.

Windows and glazing were one of the largest overall costs, setting Geo and Zoe back €10,306.

The dining area features a concrete-topped table and benches and concrete pavers lined with gravel. The oversize pendants are from Serena and Lily.

Paul’s favourite spot to stand is in the kitchen looking west through the dining room windows, “I turn my head to the right and see the ‘Mr. Miagi’ tree.” The other direction, he can see through the glass to the living room where Anna Siem’s large painting hangs.

Before:

The couple installed a new glass accordion door that fills the living/dining area with light and improves access to the backyard.

The landscaped yard with multiple “living areas” provides outdoor relief, made possible by the Napa Valley climate.

Custom cabinetry and millwork were expenses the Hughes didn't mind splurging on. Clark's room has a strip of shelving painted sky blue; the color appears throughout the house in various iterations (it's Emily's favorite).

Removing a wall beneath the stairs opened up the interior from the foyer through to the rear patio.

Natalie and Lauren wanted to replicate the feel of a Zen garden with their home’s central courtyard. The garden features a Japanese maple that pops against the charred timber cladding, while structurally, the U-shape design ushers light right through to the back of the house.