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A wardrobe composed of variegated shelving shares a wall with the principal bedroom.

Tan expressed the structure of the living room shelves by painting them fire-engine red.

The powder room—which features Photowall wallpaper, a glitzy Restoration Hardware chandelier, and a concrete sink—provides an opportunity for glamour.

Adamant about floor-to-ceiling windows but reeling from sticker shock, Chau tapped local fabricators Arnold Iron Works and Strong Tempering Glass to create custom glazing, which proved much more affordable. The glass is reflective on the street side, creating a mirror effect.

A wet room that combines the shower and soaking tub saves space in the layout.

The native plantings in the courtyard, which is enclosed by a wall for privacy in the suburban setting, visually link it to the established eucalyptus trees at the front and rear of the property. The home’s dark cladding is accented by rose gold stainless steel panels.

Sleek black timber clads interior walls as well, giving the open kitchen and dining area a dramatic presence.

The ceiling is untreated white oak.

Floor Plan of Host House by Splinter Society

Floor Plan of Slope Prefab by Manta North

The couple found terra cotta breeze block that they stained black and installed so that the pattern was randomized. The builder was a bit scandalized that they wanted to cover the view from the living room, but Tom says, "The view is here all the time and it's nice to go from room to room and discover it, then rediscover it."

“The design for the house emerged from walking the property. We imagined that as we climbed up from the beach, we’d see little peeks of our home from behind the trees,” says Brad Horn, architect and resident.

Before: The kitchen in a 1950s Burbank, California, house featured a dated aesthetic with beige-on-beige tones.

Floor Plan of Stratford Sanctuary by Modus Development

Custom oak storage sets the tone for the house, with the shoes stored behind the slatted door. A large window creates connection between the exterior landing and the interior foyer, as does the continuous slate flooring.