Designer Jason Urrutia was finishing a project in Marin County, Calif., when a realtor friend told him she had something he'd like in a neighboring town. He wasn't looking for something new yet, but he went along in the spirit of curiosity. "The minute I walked in I saw all the potential," he says. "You knew, right away, yes."
The house, designed in 1979 by the late celebrated architect Charles Moore, is situated on a piece of land that features a lush mix of Northern California's characteristic live oak trees and other natural growth. Urrutia purchased the home and, in collaboration with his girlfriend, designer Martha Carvalho, transformed it into a luxurious home.
"The realtors, neighbors and friends that have come through the house have loved the great room with its connections to the decks and the pool — and in general the connections between the interior and the exterior spaces," Urrutia says. "There's a connection everywhere you look in the house."
"The main thing for me about this house is that there's a very modest feeling to all of it," Urrutia says. "This is definitely the kind of house that's comfortable — it's not over the top. You feel like you could be barefoot or in sneakers in it; you could entertain kids or CEOs in it. It caters to a lot of different people." Many people have commented on the treehouse character of the home. —Allison Aves
The Exterior
Although Urrutia would not describe himself as fanatical about green building techniques, he did reuse much of the original home's board-and-batten siding as soffit material and fencing for the remodeled structure. Urrutia also reused redwood lumber from a former Elks Lodge in a neighboring town for the entry pagoda and front porch. (Urrutia Design)
The Kitchen
"I try to twist things as much as I can," Urrutia says. Hence, his choice to bring depth to ever-popular white cabinetry by using black cabinetry as the base of the island. The glass pendants were from Ballard Designs. (Urrutia Design)
The Outdoor Kitchen
The outdoor kitchen is equipped for cooking and serving alfresco, complete with another long dining table designed for groups. An area of the deck adjacent to and above the outdoor kitchen contains a fire pit and cushy seating. The pool is separated from the fire pit and outdoor kitchen by a tree-shaded section of open deck. All the outdoor furniture is teak, from Terra Teak in Mill Valley, with ample custom pillows.(Urrutia Design)
The Master Suite
French doors lead out to a private master deck. Skylights bathe the room in natural light. At the far end is the closet, with windows that face the front of the house. (Urrutia Design)
The Master Bath
The master bathroom includes dual sinks and a plunge-worthy bathtub in cool, clean white. (Urrutia Design)
The Guest Apartment
A set of exterior steps, accessed from the front of the house, leads to a completely separate guest apartment with its own private entry. The guest apartment includes a full kitchen and a roomy living area. The apartment includes a raised area that can be used as an extension of the living area or as an office (it has its own storage closet). (Urrutia Design)
// This article was originally published on Houzz. You may also like:
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