Favorites

If you’re considering forgoing the bed frame entirely, make sure it looks intentional rather than haphazard. Install light fixtures at a level that is appropriate for the low-lying bed, and keep big pillows away from overhead artwork or windows.

In the primary bedroom, ten-foot-tall doors from Sierra Pacific open to a patio.

Floating steps rise past leafy branches in this skylit stairwell designed by Anonym Studio.

Natalie and Lauren opted for high-quality finishes to ensure the kitchen would stand up to many years of use.

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.

The main living area is on the second floor in an open double-height space where the ceiling peaks at 15 feet under an angled roof. It contains an airy kitchen/dining area and a living room. A hallway leads to the primary bedroom, and a loft contains a bedroom for their kids. The ground floor has an apartment they rent to local teachers.

Floor Plan of Glencoe Avenue Residence by Ras-a Studio

The two structures' gabled roofs can be prominently seen from the street, alongside its all-over black siding.

The main home's living room opens to an extended patio, making it feel like the backyard and ADU are included in one large space.

The primary suite's half wall allows for sunlight and fresh air to reach the full bathroom on the other side.

The powder room's blue-and-white motif evokes the ocean, which Emily says is a "quick bike ride

The Kitayama cedar rafter ceiling reflects a naturalist approach to modern Japanese architecture—as do the home’s Takenoko dining chairs, designed by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP.

“To allow natural light to flood the interior space on the north side, which tends to be dark, a high sidelight was installed at the top of the vaulted roof structure, and a skylight was also installed directly above the staircase,” shares Senior Architect Shohei Hatori.

Carpeted stair treads follow the gentle curve of a solid oak handrail. The home’s interior surfaces are rich, warm, and tactile. “The floors and walls are finished in such a way that you will want to stroke them forever, as long as you can actually touch them,” says Nakamura.