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Muennig’s Green House utilizes the western sun of the dramatic Big Sur coastline.
Muennig’s Green House utilizes the western sun of the dramatic Big Sur coastline.
For the Butterfly cabin, which is part of the Post Ranch Inn, Muennig chose materials that age gracefully when exposed to the elements. He regularly uses Cor-Ten steel, a group of steel alloys that form a stable rust-like appearance when battered by wind and rain.
For the Butterfly cabin, which is part of the Post Ranch Inn, Muennig chose materials that age gracefully when exposed to the elements. He regularly uses Cor-Ten steel, a group of steel alloys that form a stable rust-like appearance when battered by wind and rain.
Hidden away up a perilous dirt road, the Witt Guesthouse, in its material and construction, reflects the wildness of the beauty that surrounds it.
Hidden away up a perilous dirt road, the Witt Guesthouse, in its material and construction, reflects the wildness of the beauty that surrounds it.
The glass doors of Muennig’s own home allow the ocean breeze through the circular entry of the sea-facing front.
The glass doors of Muennig’s own home allow the ocean breeze through the circular entry of the sea-facing front.
The interiors of many of Mickey Muennig’s houses emphasize natural building materials such as wood, concrete, and stone.
The interiors of many of Mickey Muennig’s houses emphasize natural building materials such as wood, concrete, and stone.
The interiors of many of Muennig’s houses emphasize natural building materials such as wood, concrete, and stone. Plant life and nature are intrinsic to the Pfeiffer Ridge House IV.
The interiors of many of Muennig’s houses emphasize natural building materials such as wood, concrete, and stone. Plant life and nature are intrinsic to the Pfeiffer Ridge House IV.
Adjacent to the owner’s larger home, the Music Studio, with its bowed, ship-like ceiling, was designed to house events, parties, and performances.
Adjacent to the owner’s larger home, the Music Studio, with its bowed, ship-like ceiling, was designed to house events, parties, and performances.
On the house’s lower level, Schicketanz’s guests have a bathroom complete with a steam shower to themselves. Anodized aluminum windows pop against white subway tile from Waterworks. The vanity is from Ikea and the fixtures from Hansgrohe.
On the house’s lower level, Schicketanz’s guests have a bathroom complete with a steam shower to themselves. Anodized aluminum windows pop against white subway tile from Waterworks. The vanity is from Ikea and the fixtures from Hansgrohe.
The thousand-foot cliffs and precipitous mountains of Big Sur, California, have a long history of attracting contrarian thinkers. Taking cues from the flora, fauna, and rocky cliffs of the region, California, Mickey Muennig's brand of organic architecture doesn't stop with the terrain.
The thousand-foot cliffs and precipitous mountains of Big Sur, California, have a long history of attracting contrarian thinkers. Taking cues from the flora, fauna, and rocky cliffs of the region, California, Mickey Muennig's brand of organic architecture doesn't stop with the terrain.
The updated master bathroom features white concrete floors, painted wood walls, and veneer plaster ceilings. Light streams in through the original window, and an added sliding door opens to an outdoor shower. A single Washplane sink by Omvivo sits beneath the mirror, with additional faucets for the shower and Duravit bathtub by Hansgrohe. A stool from Roost holds bath essentials.
The updated master bathroom features white concrete floors, painted wood walls, and veneer plaster ceilings. Light streams in through the original window, and an added sliding door opens to an outdoor shower. A single Washplane sink by Omvivo sits beneath the mirror, with additional faucets for the shower and Duravit bathtub by Hansgrohe. A stool from Roost holds bath essentials.
Before When Schicketanz bought the 2,054-square-foot house for $650,000 in 2012, it was dark and dilapidated, sinking two inches out of plumb toward the creek. Unsightly fiberglass panels lined the front door walkway. Plus, there was a woodpecker problem. “The plywood on one side had a million holes in it,” she recalls. “When we opened the walls inside, I don’t know how many pounds of acorns poured out.” All in all, she spent about $270 per square foot to completely renovate the structure.
Before When Schicketanz bought the 2,054-square-foot house for $650,000 in 2012, it was dark and dilapidated, sinking two inches out of plumb toward the creek. Unsightly fiberglass panels lined the front door walkway. Plus, there was a woodpecker problem. “The plywood on one side had a million holes in it,” she recalls. “When we opened the walls inside, I don’t know how many pounds of acorns poured out.” All in all, she spent about $270 per square foot to completely renovate the structure.
This house in Carmel by the Sea is enlivened by its very red kitchen cabinetry. By knocking down a dividing wall, the architects opened the kitchen up to the rest of the living space. Ikea red lacquer cabinetry and Caesarstone countertops replace dingy cupboards and old-fashioned finishes. Stainless steel appliances help ground the airy, open space.
This house in Carmel by the Sea is enlivened by its very red kitchen cabinetry. By knocking down a dividing wall, the architects opened the kitchen up to the rest of the living space. Ikea red lacquer cabinetry and Caesarstone countertops replace dingy cupboards and old-fashioned finishes. Stainless steel appliances help ground the airy, open space.
Before In the original east-facing living room, the light was partially blocked by a poorly located fireplace.
Before In the original east-facing living room, the light was partially blocked by a poorly located fireplace.
Schicketanz whitewashed the living room’s wood walls and replaced the carpet with teak flooring reclaimed from elsewhere on site. Workers also dismantled the dark stone fireplace to widen the view, installing an efficient, compact fireplace on the southern wall. “From sunrise to sundown, you have light in the house,” Schicketanz says. “It’s bright even on gloomy days.”
Schicketanz whitewashed the living room’s wood walls and replaced the carpet with teak flooring reclaimed from elsewhere on site. Workers also dismantled the dark stone fireplace to widen the view, installing an efficient, compact fireplace on the southern wall. “From sunrise to sundown, you have light in the house,” Schicketanz says. “It’s bright even on gloomy days.”
Guests now dine on a table from Coup d’Etat in the space where the residents used to enter the house. The dining room feels much larger than it actually is, thanks to a ten-foot-wide sliding glass door that opens onto a second, outdoor lounge.
Guests now dine on a table from Coup d’Etat in the space where the residents used to enter the house. The dining room feels much larger than it actually is, thanks to a ten-foot-wide sliding glass door that opens onto a second, outdoor lounge.
The Treehouse, also part of the Post Ranch Inn, features Cor-ten panels.
The Treehouse, also part of the Post Ranch Inn, features Cor-ten panels.
Architect Mary Ann Schicketanz transformed the old entryway into a private courtyard, replacing the door and window with a sleek glass slider. She removed the fiberglass panels and constructed a reclaimed wood barrier to separate the sitting area from the new front door on the opposite side. A high concrete wall also encloses it. “I love that you can be right on the street without having any sense the street is there,” Schicketanz says.
Architect Mary Ann Schicketanz transformed the old entryway into a private courtyard, replacing the door and window with a sleek glass slider. She removed the fiberglass panels and constructed a reclaimed wood barrier to separate the sitting area from the new front door on the opposite side. A high concrete wall also encloses it. “I love that you can be right on the street without having any sense the street is there,” Schicketanz says.
“When you have a tiny house, having outdoor spaces off a room can make a big difference,” Schicketanz says. Luckily, each room already had its own deck, which the architect simply refurbished by installing concrete floors and galvanized stainless steel railings.
“When you have a tiny house, having outdoor spaces off a room can make a big difference,” Schicketanz says. Luckily, each room already had its own deck, which the architect simply refurbished by installing concrete floors and galvanized stainless steel railings.
The house is set on a forested hill, which means the backyard—though scenic—is too steep to enjoy. It’s also perpetually shady. Schicketanz wanted somewhere she could soak in the sun, so she added a roof deck. “It’s really the only usable, large outdoor space I have,” she says.
The house is set on a forested hill, which means the backyard—though scenic—is too steep to enjoy. It’s also perpetually shady. Schicketanz wanted somewhere she could soak in the sun, so she added a roof deck. “It’s really the only usable, large outdoor space I have,” she says.