About Us
2009 Single Family 2,000-3,000 Sq. Ft. up to $250,000
At the end of a long career, we all deserve a reward for all the hours spent working for others. Something that says, “Yes, that was worth it.” Retired and now in their 70s, the homeowners decided that it was finally time to build their dream house. They wanted to live near their children and grandchildren in an area where they could golf and feel connected to the land. They planned to live out their retirement in style and comfort. With a wish list in hand, they wanted to build the house they had waited their entire working lives to own.
But, of course, even dream homes have their challenges. The homeowners purchased the last lot in their daughter’s neighborhood–a steeply sloped, rocky parcel sandwiched between two existing homes. The lot that which sat a full 18 feet below a neighboring home. It was our job to take the site and transform it from the neighborhood’s ugly duckling to the couple’s Swan Song.
To give frontage interest and to minimize views of nearby homes, we sited the house at an angle. The land was so rocky we fully expected to build a retaining wall because of the slope, but as we were excavating, we discovered that the site’s disadvantages could be turned into a cost-saving advantage: the rock formed a natural wall which both held back the slope and contributed to the natural beauty. The site made its first transition toward the eventual grace of a swan.
The exterior of the home was chosen to match the couple’s personalities: modest, with high standards and a love of the land. The single-story design aimed to make it look as though it were indeed a natural part of the landscape. We used Cascade Eldorado stone on the front, with neutral almond siding and teak-colored architectural shingles, all to connect it visually with the environment.
Inside, the homeowners wanted a single-story, contemporary, open floor plan that was young in spirit but would accommodate their needs as they aged. The homes entry foyer opens directly into the great room, with its sloped ceiling and skylights, to give a welcoming, open feel. The great room offers an expanse of living and entertaining space, with two skylights to bring in lots of natural light. The gourmet kitchen was equipped with entertaining and grandchildren in mind, with the granite center island doubling as food prep area and a breakfast bar for grandkids to scramble up to have a snack or help with the cooking. The maple wood cabinetry, with its caramel glaze and crown molding, reflects the wooded back of the lot.
Having lived for decades in an older, 1100-square foot home in New Jersey, the couple had accumulated a list of luxuries that they had always wanted but couldn’t have – until now. First on the list was a master bedroom suite. The angle tray ceiling in the bedroom gives a feeling of luxury. The bathroom has a whirlpool bath, his-and-her sinks, an ample linen closet, and the oversize shower noted above. We installed an arched block window over the tub to let natural light pour in while still maintaining privacy.
The finishing touches elevate this home from the ordinary to the extraordinary. The foyer’s structural-support 4×4 cedar columns are enclosed pine panels stained a rich caramel. Two brushed nickel ceiling fans sweep the ceiling of the great room. Nickel hardware and lighting fixtures and 6-panel pine doors throughout bring everything together.
