Lighting

Although Mattaforma had extensive experience working with sustainable materials. Even so, “it’s our first biodiverse reclaimed countertop!” notes Wikstrom.

The house has the feel of a refined barn: The kitchen flows into the dining area, then into a den. The two PISE “chimneys” serve to demarcate the transitions and visually unite the space.

Concrete counters extend to the exterior.

They installed an IKEA kitchen with dark beige quartz composite countertops and matte black cabinets that contrast with the glossy wall tile.

The gallery has a new whitewashed pine roof that covers the main villa, which includes two one-bed suites and one of the property’s three and a half kitchens. “We think it was a little church before,” says architect Yashar Yektajo. The brick was stripped of plaster from a prior renovation. “It was completely rotten because there’s so much humidity here,” he adds. “Now the brick can breathe, and the whitewash brings it together.” Pinto, one of the couple’s two dogs, rests under a coffee table Ernesto and Ellen designed. The gallery is lined with original arches that lead to the courtyard.

The courtyard doesn’t get a lot of light, and so is planted with ferns that grow well in shade. These also create a pleasant aspect for the therapy room. “This space needed to be a peaceful and tranquil space,” explains architect Simon Knight.