Hardwood House by Cipriani Studios

This new 2,600 s.f. home is a statement of bold, contemporary architecture. The homeowners wanted open, interconnected family spaces and clean lines. Though the wooded hillside lot is large, 2+ acres, an electric tower immediately behind the lot was one thing the owners didn’t want to see.

To obstruct the unsightly view of the tower, the 3-story house is nestled into the sloping lot. The main entry is on the lower level, along with the garage and a flex space currently used as a gym. An expansive open kitchen, dining, and family area on the main floor has windows on three sides with a view over the treetops and out to the backyard swimming pool. In keeping with the rest of the interior walls, the kitchen's back wall is white. The island is set off in dramatic black. The black is echoed in the stone surrounding the family room fireplace. The primary bedroom suite, guest powder room, laundry, and a second mudroom complete the main floor. Additional bedrooms are located on the second floor.

The exterior of the home is a study in black and white that the architect skillfully used to focus the views and celebrate the home’s structural system. Dark stone veneer and black fiber cement walls denote load-bearing walls. Internal transfer beams make the deep exterior eaves and cantilevered forms possible. White walls and large windows draw views of the skyline. The eaves are aesthetic but functional, helping control the sunlight entering the home.