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Reilly, pictured here, deleted the original front door in order to create an expanse of uninterrupted wall in the living room. The existing slider is now the main entry point. She clad the exterior with planks marketed as a shou sugi ban product that reads as burned, knotty cedar. A new, corrugated metal roof replaced asphalt shingles.

In the living area, Jeremy, left, and Joe relax on a green Muuto sectional. “We never would have chosen it on our own,” says Joe, extending praise to their architects for nudging them to take chances. “Now we can’t imagine any other sofa. It’s perfect.” The velvet sofa upholstery in Moss is from Knoll, while the rug is from Armadillo.

In October 2017, the catastrophic Nuns fire incinerated the ’70s-era A-frame in Napa County, California, that had served as a family retreat for 20 years and that the owners, who are mostly retired, were in the process of turning into their permanent home. (When the fire hit, the couple had already brought nearly all their family keepsakes and heirlooms, making the loss especially poignant.) 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.

Before: While doing construction on one house, Mairead Murphy and her partner bought the neighboring home (on the left) in an effort to save it and fix it up. That project has since been dubbed Next Door House #2.

The corner window offers an off-centre view of the garden, while the corner window seat has an elevated position over the garden. “The window seat cantilevers the main line of the house in both directions, emphasising the effortless nature of the corner itself,” explains architect Simon Feneley. “With no corner post, the structure was detailed with the structural engineer to achieve a feeling of lightness and to keep all timber sections as slender as possible.”

The clients work in marketing and exhibitions, and have a thorough knowledge of design. “Their passion for all aspects of design immediately attracted us to work with them,” says architect Simon Feneley. “The home was well furnished with classic pieces—such as the Flos Arco lamp—that became discussion points throughout the project. They share our ethos of quality over quantity and it was a joy to work with a client with such knowledge and vision.”

A main goal of the renovation was to open the home to its unique perch in Glen Park. On a clear day, it's possible to see from downtown to the South and East Bay.

The full scope of the south-facing windows, including the protruding bay window, can be seen from the street.

The oak-clad staircase is a defining feature of the ground floor. The owners sought to keep the materials "modest

Now, a picture window frames the views into the garden, and a tall glass and steel door accesses the backyard.

Floor-to-ceiling windows bathe the living spaces with natural light.

The center island purposefully features seating so that the family can hang out while preparing meals on the Bertazzoni Master Series range.

Birch ply is available in two sheet sizes, and the 3050mm sheet size was used to set the size of the roof and, in turn, this dictated the width of the roof light. The 18mm x 250mm deep joists are set at precise 397mm centres, creating an unusually slender section.

The birch ply is wrapped around the corner window seat, providing a natural warm seal that engages with both the room or garden. The corner window is frameless with a bonded steeped glass corner, and an insulated side vent provides fresh air. “There are so many elements I love,” says the client. “The corner window, the oriel window and cladding. The finish on the silver birch ply in particular makes my heart sing—it is so organic and tactile. You can see the love that has gone into the build and finish.”

Bosch’s combination wall oven features the brand’s “speed” feature in its upper cavity, which means it can be used as a microwave. The induction cooktop feels right at home in this spacious kitchen, with a wide surface that offers precise temperature control for a full slate of pots and pans. Smart-home compatibility allows for remotely monitoring. The Benchmark refrigerator is perfectly framed by additional hidden storage.

Kitchen and opening living spaces