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Burnette sought to maintain the property’s natural vegetation and rocky ground surface.

Office

The outdoor shower situated off of the master bedroom is enclosed to offer privacy and features a courtyard garden. Michael Arp of Lanoha Nurseries designed the house's landscaping.

The couple added a 50-year-old olive tree to create a sense of arrival for guests.

Tasked with renovating a 1950s ranch in Northern California, Ogawa Fisher Architects revived an existing Japanese garden at the center of the home as a central organizing element. Low-slung, wide decks (inspired by the Japanese “engawa,” or elevated walkway) and deep roof soffits expand the living spaces, frame views, and blur the boundaries between inside and outside. The garden is the second of three courtyards that orients the various wings of the home from front to back, creating a vast sense of openness while also maintaining privacy from other areas of the house and the street.

a table by local workshop Chuch Estudio and Harry Bertoia side chairs.

The two bathrooms are sited on either end of the rectangular plan. Each have been fitted with discrete skylights for additional illumination.

A deck connects the guest bedroom with the other bedroom and stairs leading to the living area downstairs.

Sliding pocket doors connect the space to the rooftop garden.

A view from the rooftop garden into one of the guest bedrooms.

Another view of the master bath courtyard, which is lined with Eco Arbor Designs deck tiles and features a ceramic Peanut planter by John Follis for Architectural Pottery from Vessel.

A private deck sits just off the master bedroom.

Thick custom casework surrounds a set of solid mahogany lift-and-slide pocket doors.

A covered dining area marks the end of the communal areas, with a door leading to the master bedroom.

Today, a California live oak blocks a view from the street, and a massive pine sits in the front courtyard—in addition to a Japanese maple, bamboo, and other specimens. Here is a look into the second courtyard and a covered patio off the kitchen.

The living area is bordered on two sides by separate courtyards.

The original architectural model provides an overview of the structure from front to back, starting at the right. Covered patios, courtyards, and rooftop gardens fill exterior spaces.