self-build

The master bedroom is situated above the studio and features steeply sloping walls—meaning the bed is located in the middle of the room. A playful Kay Bojesen teak monkey sits on the sideboard.

“Locher's house has been a ruin for the last 30 years, and I've always loved it when I've driven by,” says Thomas. “The large window in the studio especially has a wow-effect.” During the renovation, Thomas converted the studio into an open-plan living and dining room, with three dining tables combined to create an enormous table for entertaining guests. The chairs are by Norman Cherner, and the chandeliers above the table are a rare design by Vilhelm Lauritzen.

For the heart of the space, Hale designed a double vanity—fabricated with wood from the original house—around an existing column. The pendant is by Lindsey Adelman.

Prentis Hale of SHED Architecture & Design reimagined a kit home in Tiburon, California, that was erected in 1991. Photo:

The interior of the house is lined in pine. Anchoring the dining area are an antique Norwegian farm table and chairs. The appliances are by Gaggenau.

In the living room, Two Mario Botta chairs look towards the new fireplace, a Memphis coffee table and an original leaded-glass window. The rug is designed by Faye Toogood for CC Tapis. Happy the dog sits on a sofa from Toronto’s Home Societe.

The architects specified an aluminum roof that “ghosts” the structure—it’s a material that recalls the typical use of corrugated metal on agricultural buildings, yet it subtly contrasts with the historic form. “It’s not quite what you’d use on a normal barn,” says Powell.

The gable roof and L-shaped structure add a buffer against the sound of winds blowing at up to 45 miles per hour. “You don’t hear the outside,” says Ravi.