This home designed for Doug and Chris Perske is located near Cohasset, Butte County, California. It is at an elevation of 3,000 feet in a beautiful mixed conifer forest setting.
The 1,912 SF house is designed as a passive solar mountain lodge home. The Great Room, Master Suite, Kitchen and Utility Room are on the lower level, with a large Loft, Bath and Guest Room on the upper floor. This rustic mountain home has craftsman style detailing. It is finished on the exterior with a fire resistant fiber cement board and batten siding which looks like native cedar wood. The roof is colored corrugated sheet metal with strategically located skylights for natural daylighting and ventilation. The outside covered porch is supported on pine log columns and a heavy timber arbor on the south gable end of the house provides ample summer shading.
Inside the walls are off-white painted sheetrock, and the ceilings are covered with native cedar 1×6 wood paneling for a rustic warm ambiance. Finely detailed Douglas fir wood is used for trim throughout and the heavy timber beams are supported by log columns. The radiant heated floor is a polished exposed concrete left in a natural color. The shell of the house is 6 inch thick SIP walls, with 8 inch thick SIP roof panels. Even though the house has propane fired radiant heated floor for convenience, a single efficient wood stove can easily heat the highly insulated interior.
There is a complimentary designed detached two car garage and a charming gable roofed entry porch. This neat house nestles into the forest environment creating a warm rustic and charming natural feeling home.
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AJ & Bonnie Toy own and operate a 160 acre vineyard near Plymouth, Ca. The ranch headquarters is a 150 year old brick building which had been outgrown and outdated. They searched throughout the state for an architect who they felt could design a complimentary addition to their home. They selected David Wright Associates because of past Sunset Magazine articles and because of adobe designs on our website.
The original structure had been remodeled after a fire in 1948, but had maintained the recessed windows, metal roof and extra thick walls characteristic of California Adobes. We extended the structure north and then wrapped it to the east and then south to create a traditional enclosed courtyard typical of historic Monterey haciendas. We added a portal porch on two sides of the courtyard and proposed an enclosing adobe courtyard wall and Ramada like trellis shade structure in the courtyard; along with herb and flowering landscaping. The overall effect is a thoroughly modern functioning hacienda commandingly sitting on a verdant hillside surrounded by lush vineyard. The exterior walls are finished in earth colored textured stucco with red brick window sills and deep set modern wooden windows suitable to the adobe look. The roof is galvanized corrugated metal and the portal is heavy raw timber construction supported by natural log columns topped with traditional carved wooden corbels. The walkways are concrete covered with natural slate tiles.
Inside, the interior is brightly lit with view focused windows and strategically located skylights. The plaster finished walls have an old world textured look and the floor is concrete and tile. The vaulted ceiling is composed of exposed beams with white colored textured plaster. The exterior walls and roof are made with structural insulated panels (SIPs). The interior decor is a work in progress and we look forward to getting some photographs.
The Toys are delighted with the old world charm and modern function of this beautiful hacienda. This is a living testimonial of the possibilities for breathing new life and beauty into older outdated structures.
Remodeling is cost effective in today’s economy! David Wright Associates, AIA have added to, and remodeled, many homes throughout the years with great success. The idea behind remodeling can be for many reasons: expanding, modernizing or energy efficiency. Our goal is to always add some zest or pizzazz to the new home while preserving the sense of place. The following is the start of a sampler of some successful remodels with happy owners.
Byrne Remodel and Addition –This 1980s contractor special was dated, functionally chopped up and did not take advantage of the horse ranch setting or the great views to the adjacent canyon and waterfall.
We added a library, private porch, deck, and a master suite/spa bath wing. This balanced the house on the site and created a dynamic view line and estate lodge character. We designed a dramatic front entry porch creating a lodge like appearance and clearly identifying the main entry point. We clad the exterior walls with a cedar look fireproof horizontal siding and a few touches of log columns and stone to establish the Lodge Headquarters look. New energy efficient windows were added throughout, and to cap it all off, the existing composition shingles were replaced with an earth-red metal roofing for a more elegant rich look.
The vaulted entry porch roof form penetrates into and through the house emerging on the other side with a compelling breakfast bar view from the open modern kitchen. We removed much of the existing angular ceilings in the entry, kitchen, dining and living area; this brightened up the interior and gave a sense of scale to each of the spaces. Wood paneling is installed in the kitchen/breakfast bar and the formal living room creating a warm organic lodge feeling. Special attention was used with lighting and daylighting to enhance ambiance throughout the day and night, and highlighting the Byrne’s art and furnishings. The north wall of the entire space is opened up with new energy efficient windows to maximize the view giving a super indoor / outdoor living experience to the wonderful canyon and waterfall landscape
The new master suite and library addition continues the lodge theme with vaulted ceilings, wood paneling and great views. This wing of the house has a private entry porch, private view deck, cozy library, awesome bedroom and a gracious master bath from which you can observe the birds and deer.
Several cost effective measures were taken: the appliances were replaced with Energy Star high efficiency models; the wall, roof and floor insulation increased; the air conditioning and water heater efficiency upgraded; and efficient lighting was specified throughout. The Byrnes have added enough solar electric panels on the barn to provide all their power needs achieving “Net Zero” consumption.
The owners invested in extensive and tasteful new landscaping which heighten and compliment the new architectural stature of the Ranch Headquarters Lodge
The Byrne home is a fine example of “turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse”. Remodeling and upgrading one’s home today can be a major improvement in comfort and lifestyle; as well as a good investment!
Before
After
David is writing three articles for Mother Earth News titled: “A Solar Western Farm House”, The Ideal Sunspace”, and “Structural Insulated Panels, The Myths And Realities”. Stay tuned!
We have teamed up with HousePlans.com to sell on-line a few tried and true S.I.P. and passive solar house and cabin designs that we have designed over the years. These affordable plans are offered as an economical way to acquire working drawings. These plans can be modified to suite many different individual needs and looks.
