Marin Midcentury #2

Perched on a hilltop and nestled among mature oaks, the existing house afforded views of the lush slopes that reached towards the bay in the distance. The new homeowners loved the feel and the setting, but years of additions had muddied the overall form and created a confusing approach for visitors. Our design intent was to bring back the clarity of the home’s arrangement and flow, while creating a more intuitive entry sequence and updating the home for a family of four.

The house was made up of two arms wrapped around a courtyard and pool. One arm supported the communal spaces of the home and the other, the family’s bedrooms and bathrooms. This general arrangement is accentuated by lengthening the bedroom wing to accommodate larger rooms and a more dynamic primary suite. A full-height pivot door stands guard at the approach to the primary suite; when it opens, the hall aligns with a floor-to-ceiling window in the primary bedroom beyond which provides views all the way
through the building.

This project represents an evolution of our firm’s engagement with California living. It is especially valued since we have worked with the same client on their previous home (see Marin Midcentury.) There are elements in this project (like the treehouse feeling of the foyer and the cozy window seat at the primary bedroom) that show the legacy of a continuing conversation we have with a repeat client.