Credits
From Robert Zielinski
Dear Dwell Magazine Editor,
We were lured to Smiley Heights neighborhood in Redlands, CA by a breathtaking panoramic views of the whole Valley with the mountain range in the background.
The tallest and most spectacular peak is Mount San Gorgonio (11503 feet ) always covered with snow during winter months.
We can appreciate its beauty with its lush green foothills from almost all the windows. But the best spot to enjoy the Vista is from our wide and long spread roof top.
As in most Midcentury architectural designs our roof is flat and covered with a cement base surface which is comfortable for daily use and cleaning.
The swinging hammock located next to the Palm Tree branches has become ideal for cool evenings since day one.
This roof was another reason that we fell in love with the house.
We bought it in 2009 during the Great Recession when the real estate market was nearly strangled.
The house ( 3750 sqft. )was designed by Clare Henry Day, a renown architect in the Inland Empire, one hour east of LA.
His signature designed homes can be found mostly in Redlands area located only 42 miles west of Palm Springs.
Built in 1969-1970 is a classic Midcentury gem with a flat roof and windows reaching from the floor to the ceilings, where indoor intertwines with the outdoor.
The house had a great bones when we purchased it and has been well positioned between the natural Arroyo with towering Eucalyptus trees and the small street on the cul-de sac.
Needless to say that the outdated structure required plenty of upgrades.
We started with creating a xeriscape garden, with plenty of lava rocks and cacti plants
( blue agave , prickly pear , American golden barrel and African succulent Euphobia )
all wrapped around our covered patios and adjacent lap pool.
We purposely chose a modern shape of the pool that is situated just a few feet from our sitting area.
The natural Arroyo was converted into our living backyard and a playground for our adopted English Mastiff.
Next to it ,we made a bocci lane where we play together with our adult children and friends.
Our house was one of five signature projects of Mr. Clare Day to be chosen for a home tour in 2011
by a local chapter of AlA in celebration of his 90th birthday.
It was a remarkable Sunday when dozens of people with passion for architectural designs
including several of local architects showed up.
They immediately noticed all the improvements (a lap pool, skylights in most rooms, new stairs with modern stainless steel railings, conversion of the roof into an outdoor living space with a hammock and cacti mini garden in the center)
Our art collection with the outdoor life size sculptures complements to the modernistic look.
The next day we received a gift from AIA -
- " Architect cookbook " with a thank you note and congratulations for a splendid stewardship of the place.
We were not surprised when the local AlA board asked us again to have 99th Birthday of Mr. Clare Day celebration
Party in our house. Again a dozen of people came and we all celebrated the man and his art..
In June of this year I got a text message from the local chapter of AlA that Mr.C. Day passed away at the age of 102.
The owners of this unique Midcentury classic are :
Robert Zielinski - veterinarian , a big afficionado of Midcentury art
Ewa Zielinski- a dentist also a big enthusiast of modern art
Dog on the pictures is our 8 year old Mastiff " Lager "
Best regards,
Robert Zielinski
(a subscriber and a big fan of Dwell)