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Backdrop’s After Hours, a soft charcoal hue, gives Carlos Naude and Whitney Brown’s home in Woodland Hills, California, sleek curb appeal. Lund Sconces by Kuzco Lighting punctuate the exterior, and the streamlined garage doors are by Amarr.

"This was the easiest room to transform, and where we got the most bang for our buck,

The owners opted to make the dining area smaller to accommodate a wider entryway on the opposite wall. They kept the tongue-in-groove ceiling throughout the home.

"All appliances were new and selected to have integrated panels,

"Being that the sink was not on a window wall, we added a walnut floating shelf spanning from the refrigerator to the pantry to add interest and a more open feel,

"They needed closets for coats and shoes and places for their children to hang backpacks. Julie had specific requests for her office,

“The kitchen is really the heart of the home,” says the owner. “It feels very special to us.” An extra-long island hosts everything from children’s homework sessions to “cooking parties,” such as when the owners have friends over every year to make apricot jam from fruit picked in the yard. The placement of the cooktop means the cook can be working and there’s room for people to help, or mill about easily, inside and out. “We'll open the big doors and dine on the deck, and have appetizers on the island,” says the owner. “I'll still be cooking in the kitchen and never feel like I've left the party.”

The new addition is spanned by a sliding glass door to the kitchen, bringing in much more natural light and creating easy flow between inside and out. The owners especially appreciate how the new deck is at grade with the exterior door for a seamless transition, making the kitchen feel “a part of the garden,” says the homeowner.

The island helps to define and separate the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living areas.

The bathroom features an indoor/outdoor shower. The Wetstyle sink is outfitted with a Blu Bathworks faucet.

Tasmania, Australia Dwell Magazine : September / October 2017

Thanks to a robust solar panel array, the house is net-zero, with enough energy to charge the couple's electric car as well.

“I studied architecture as an undergrad, and even though I’m in interiors now, that education of not overpopulating spaces, of letting the building be seamless, has always carried through for me,” says Caroline.

The home is nestled in a stand of cedar, pine, and Douglas fir trees. The family relocated a smaller cabin to make room for their new retreat, and they plan to convert the original structure into a game room for the kids.