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This Project involved major renovations to a 1900sf soft contemporary house built in the early 1970’s. A major feature of the house is an existing enclosed garden which features a 40 year old full-moon maple tree that cantilevers into the garden space. To achieve the Japanese-style house that the Owners wanted, the design team eliminated the existing front door and created a new entrance, reached by entering through custom-designed mahogany gate into the garden, following a stone path to the glass front doors. Floor to ceiling windows surround the garden on three sides, allowing a garden view from virtual every room on the floor.

Inside, the upper level of the house was gutted, demolishing a rabbit-warren of small rooms and an enclosed kitchen to create an open floor plan, featuring kitchen, dining room, sunken living room, library, powder room and home office. Also on the upper floor is a master suite, with large bath and dressing room. In lieu of the outdated (and inconvenient) spiral staircase that provided the only circulation between the upper and lower levels of the house, a new wooden staircase was installed in space appropriated from the previously over-sized laundry room. New sustainable hardwood floors were added to the lower level and energy efficient lighting and water saving plumbing fixtures were incorporated throughout the house.

The entire renovation was conducted in a highly sustainable manner and all products used in the house were selected with an eye to making the renovation as “green” as possible. Of particular note were the no-VOC stains and paints which were used exclusively throughout the space, including on the custom designed cabinetry .