Galveston House

Custom metal doors with sidelites and transom windows, all made by VanMar Serralheria, were painted green, and one of the budget splurges for the project. "Our ‘luxury' were the metal doors in the bathroom and closet, with hand-picked glass that gives the apartment its charm,

Several shapes and configurations were initially presented, but the Neelys immediately fell in love with the “plus sign” concept proposed by the Höweler + Yoon team. “The four wings each face a particular view, so the house becomes like a viewing device—like an inhabitable telescope,” says architect Eric Höweler.

A two-story commercial glass and aluminum window is reflected in the property’s pond. The ends of the home taper to form a “knife edge” profile, making the walls appear paper thin. “The detail is more than a detail—it’s a space-defining element,” says Höweler.

“I would describe the charred exterior as ‘blacker-than-black,’ as it seems to absorb all light striking it,” says Lucy of the home’s striking siding. “The texture is unique and dramatic while still maintaining a connection to nature and sustainable materials.”

“The black char looks flat from a distance, but up close you see the texture and pattern of the wood,” says Höweler. “The char also catches the light and has a luster that shimmers.”

Overlooking the pond, the home’s living room, located in the western wing, is a bright, voluminous gathering space for the family.

The kitchen’s wood-framed glass doors are original to the house, and the wood used to build the island was taken from old ceiling beams. One section of the island is topped with counter-height granite.

About this part of the kitchen, Chanel says, "We just had a fun with the radius corners in this space. Functionally speaking, we are rounding that corner a hundred times a day, so it's great for running children or clumsy people like me.

Honed marble counters sit atop custom walnut cabinets. The backsplash tile (Umi Calm in Rosemary from DDS Tile) is the first finish Chanel chose. "When I was trying to decide our direction for this house, that was really the first material that I came across that I was like, 'Okay, this is the vibe,'

benches with doggie head dividers by sculptor Colin Selig

A dog sits in front of a colorful fence by local welder and artist Katie Wakeman at San Francisco’s cage-free rescue shelter, Muttville.

Eric added a skylight and new wood in a chevron pattern to the ceiling. The green concrete sink is from Concretti Designs and the floors are Kayan river pebble mosaic by Pebblino Mosaici. April stripped and sanded down a kitchen cabinet for storage, and added plaid wallpaper to the interior.

Eric restored the red oak stair treads and risers, then milled and built the new handrail from salvaged red oak.

A West Elm chair, couch, and rug sit atop the new white oak floors. Eric brought home the antique copper sift from Turkey years ago and it's now the coffee table. The wall color is Benjamin Moore 'Acadia White.'

He expanded the bathroom by fifty square feet and rounded the wall so as to retain as much open space in the bedroom as possible. Glass blocks add visual interest.

Inspired by a trip to a resort in Mexico, the walk-in shower has tadelakt plaster by Color Atelier in the color 'Nue.' The heated floors have flagstone in Jumbo Komodo Beige Honed Marble Mosaic Tile from Tile Bar.

Before: The porch roof was removed and the siding replaced.

A favorite napping spot for many of the cats has a chair and stool from Brimfield Antique Flea Market and a photo by Eric Ashleigh.