KRUMPAK-LOY RESIDENCE

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We added a master suite to the front of the home, with large windows to capture the hilly vista beyond. The stained cedar siding at the corner pays homage to the humble cabin this home once was.

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We were really aiming for a sense of continuity between the exterior and interior in this house — an indoor/ outdoor flow throughout. So, at the front entry, this desire was manifested in the design of the ceiling: Tongue-in-groove stained cedar runs continuously (in appearance at least) from porch ceiling to entry hall ceiling. The transom window frame is partially buried in the ceiling to create the impression of uninterrupted flow between the two spaces. This effect is complemented by the large porch beam, which continues through to the interior: The drywall runs up only to the bottom of the beam, leaving it fully exposed.

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We enlarged the entry by bumping it approximately five feet to the right, and in place of the old closet added a hall leading to the new master bedroom beyond. The exposed ceiling joists add warmth and texture to this minimalist space, while the ceiling vault above conveys a relaxed spaciousness. Clerestory windows above and a skylight in the adjacent stairwell suffuse the area with natural light from sunrise to sunset.

Modern minimalism need not be cold or sterile. Traditional old standbys like window seats blend with the modern aesthetic beautifully. The clean geometry even reinforces the peaceful, ensconcing quality of this nesting space amongst the trees.

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Another of our goals for this project was to create, simultaneously, a juxtaposition of the man-made and the natural, as well as a window — literally or metaphorically — to nature, a space to meditate upon nature. These two aims are quite closely intertwined: The clear, straight, simple geometry of this window is juxtaposed upon the lovely, random chaos of the oak tree beyond. These are complementary contrasts rather than contradictory. Each actually enhances the other. Rather than 'nature' and the 'artificial'/man-made being considered perpetually at odds, we can see how intentional juxtaposition can allow us a framework — in this case literally — to meditate on both.

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Corner windows are always a good idea in any room, especially a smaller room. The longest dimension of any rectangle or square is a diagonal one between opposite corners. Therefore, bringing attention to a corner, as a corner window will do, always makes a room feel more spacious. Additionally, opening up a corner to views can help make a room feel boundless. The less aware we are of boundaries, the more we relax in body and mind.

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Minimal, simple, clean. We wanted the oak tree outside to provide the visual accent, with the interior providing the quiet foreground.

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This space consisted of four separate rooms before we took out all the interior walls. Exposed beams complement the organic modern aesthetic. Skylights frame the overhanging trees of the forested hill beyond.

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The kitchen is open to the living room, but by way of a lower ceiling and beam still feels like its own space. Ceiling changes help to define differing functions of spaces within a greater open space, and also help to create a sense of containment and 'nesting areas' to balance out openness.

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This small addition to the back of the house allowed us to have windows on all three sides, blending it with the exterior. A built-in L-shaped bench provides a minimalist and space-saving means of seating, so that the visual emphasis remains with the porosity of the space — its uncluttered connection to the outdoors.