Narofsky kept the living room ceilings open to give the impression of greater height. Steel beams are capped with reclaimed wood from New York City brownstones. "The rich quality of the wood adds a lot to the space and refers back to the Pacific Northwest look," Narofsky says. The fireplace wall has two cold-rolled steel boxes that intersect a panel of Sentousai stone tile by Inax. But in a bit of a trompe l'oeil effect, things are not necessarily what they seem: The left portion is a gas fireplace, while the right box conceals media equipment. The floors are waxed concrete.
The interior design throughout the home is by Naroksky's wife, Jennifer Rusch, and her assistant, Katrina Hermann, of ways2design. Kenneddee club swivel chairs from Poltrona Frau anchor the far end of the room. They flank Caste Design's Powell occasional table and a sliding-glass door that opens onto a Juliet balcony.
Sofa: Link, Suite New York; cocktail table: LNA, Holly Hunt; rug: Lepere; console: Frank, B&B Italia; painting: Frank Arnold
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design The interior design throughout the home is by Naroksky's wife, Jennifer Rusch, and her assistant, Katrina Hermann, of ways2design. Kenneddee club swivel chairs from Poltrona Frau anchor the far end of the room. They flank Caste Design's Powell occasional table and a sliding-glass door that opens onto a Juliet balcony.
Sofa: Link, Suite New York; cocktail table: LNA, Holly Hunt; rug: Lepere; console: Frank, B&B Italia; painting: Frank Arnold
The house is nestled into the hillside and looks as if it's been there for years. (This is a view of it from the beach.) The home can be entered by walking down three flights of stairs from the parking area or up 50 steps from the sand. The main floor contains an open living, dining and kitchen space. Below the main floor is the bedroom level and then (not visible in this photo) the cellar.
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
Local building codes limited the home's size to 1,500 square feet, and the height bar was set at the ridge of the original bungalow. Narofsky essentially had to build the house from the top down and, as illustrated here, came up with the innovative idea of a deep, careful excavation.
"Other than the first top pour, the south, west and north walls were poured in approximately 4-foot-wide sections in a staggered sequence in an underpinning method that eventually required 37 different pours," he explains. "This kept the hillside and adjacent structures in a safe, undisturbed state."
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
"Other than the first top pour, the south, west and north walls were poured in approximately 4-foot-wide sections in a staggered sequence in an underpinning method that eventually required 37 different pours," he explains. "This kept the hillside and adjacent structures in a safe, undisturbed state."
The aluminum front gate has vertical cutouts that "give a glimmer of what you're about to see," Narofsky says.
The gate opens onto the deck, and entry to the house is through sliding-glass doors that lead into the living room and the kitchen. The vertical portion of the ipe wood arbor affords privacy from the house next door, while the top section is covered with polycarbonate to provide protection from the elements.
Modern Entry
The gate opens onto the deck, and entry to the house is through sliding-glass doors that lead into the living room and the kitchen. The vertical portion of the ipe wood arbor affords privacy from the house next door, while the top section is covered with polycarbonate to provide protection from the elements.
The kitchen and dining area opens directly into the living room. The dining table, with a restaurant-style banquette, was custom designed by ways2design and built by DCL Furniture using reclaimed wood. Its planks can be removed to turn the table into a narrow ledge, and there are extra ones that can allow for expansion when the homeowners entertain.
The stairs lead down to the bedroom level and then to a cellar gym and laundry area.
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
The stairs lead down to the bedroom level and then to a cellar gym and laundry area.
The entire house has a number of materials that play off one another. In the kitchen, an aluminum base kick, a stainless steel sink and Miele appliances interplay with the home's other metal elements, such as the aluminum used for the front gate and the home's stair rails.
The wood-grain cabinets from Poggenpohl have a teak lava finish. The cabinets above the oven and stovetop are painted with a Titan Gray lacquer, while satin-etched glass (for a close-up see the next photo) conceals the hood vent. The Titan Gray lacquer was matched to the color of the steel beams visible throughout the house.
"Balancing materials with regard to texture, color and aesthetic was crucial to respecting the architecture," Katrina Hermann says. "The kitchen finishes were selected to highlight an interplay of levels and proportions inspired by the exposed ceiling and the beautiful corner window."
Morph stools from Suite New York provide casual seating at the raven-colored Caesarstone countertop; the same material was used for the backsplash.
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design The wood-grain cabinets from Poggenpohl have a teak lava finish. The cabinets above the oven and stovetop are painted with a Titan Gray lacquer, while satin-etched glass (for a close-up see the next photo) conceals the hood vent. The Titan Gray lacquer was matched to the color of the steel beams visible throughout the house.
"Balancing materials with regard to texture, color and aesthetic was crucial to respecting the architecture," Katrina Hermann says. "The kitchen finishes were selected to highlight an interplay of levels and proportions inspired by the exposed ceiling and the beautiful corner window."
Morph stools from Suite New York provide casual seating at the raven-colored Caesarstone countertop; the same material was used for the backsplash.
This light-filled corner of the kitchen overlooks the entry courtyard.
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
A half-bath rounds out the main level. It's outfitted with a concrete sink, a custom aluminum planter and cabinets made from stained marine plywood.
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
The bed, headboard and nightstand in the master bedroom are all one piece of furniture, designed by ways2design and fabricated by DCL Furniture. The shelf on the right side of the bed can fold up and out of sight or stay down for use as a nightstand.
Artwork: Frank Arnold; lamps: Signal, Jieldé; curtains: custom, O EcoTextiles in Oyster-Lopez
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design Artwork: Frank Arnold; lamps: Signal, Jieldé; curtains: custom, O EcoTextiles in Oyster-Lopez
"All of the millwork throughout the master bedroom was conceived as a singular unit," Narofsky says. An air conditioning unit is concealed behind the wooden slats at the upper left. The fireplace has the same stone facade as the one in the living room. "In some ways it's an allusion to the more traditional type of chimney in homes where people expect to find a fireplace on each floor," he notes.
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
The tub room is directly next to the master bedroom (there's a hidden curtain for privacy), and there is access out to the deck.
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
The entire tub room is lined and waterproof. Ipe wood covers the walls and floor, while the ceiling is marine plywood. Ipe was also used on the outdoor deck to create an indoor-outdoor feel. A staircase from the deck leads down to the beach, so this is a perfect spot for rinsing off on the way back into the house.
Tub: Nouveau, Hastings Tile & Bath
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
Tub: Nouveau, Hastings Tile & Bath
As you enter the master suite, the main bathroom is to the right. All the finishes are custom mahogany, and the floating vanity — tucked under the staircase to make the most of the available space — is flanked by simple tube lights and topped with an eggshell-color Caesarstone counter.
Faucets: Vola
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
Faucets: Vola
To the left of the vanity, a sliding resin door from Reynolds Polymer opens to reveal additional storage.
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
Because the cellar ceiling is lower than that of a typical basement — and the space is more than 50 percent below grade — this level of the house did not have to be included in the overall 1,500-square-foot allotment specified by the local building code. The bottom of the wood beams is at the 7-foot limit, but there's an additional 10 inches to the subfloor of the level above. "We didn't want it to feel closed in, so we left everything, including the pipes and wires, exposed," Narofsky says.
The walls are covered in construction-grade plywood (used for sheathing houses) with a clear polyurethane finish. "A polycarbonate facade to the west allows for privacy from the adjacent houses but drives natural light down into the cellar," he adds.
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
The walls are covered in construction-grade plywood (used for sheathing houses) with a clear polyurethane finish. "A polycarbonate facade to the west allows for privacy from the adjacent houses but drives natural light down into the cellar," he adds.
Another part of the cellar has a sleeping area for overflow guests and space for the husband to practice guitar. The mattress platforms were custom designed by ways2design and fabricated by Zen Restoration. They're covered in driftwood fabric from David Sutherland. The Lichtenstein poster belonged to the homeowners.
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
The guest bathroom on the bedroom level has porcelain tile on the walls. Narofsky cleverly and efficiently used every inch of space. The custom medicine cabinet was inserted into a section of the wall where there was a void in the foundation.
The toilet is a Philippe Starck design for Duravit. "We do wall-hung toilets in 90 percent of our projects," says Narofsky. "Aside from saving space, they're environmentally friendly."
Sink: Lacava; faucet: Minimal, DaVinci, AF Supply
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
The toilet is a Philippe Starck design for Duravit. "We do wall-hung toilets in 90 percent of our projects," says Narofsky. "Aside from saving space, they're environmentally friendly."
Sink: Lacava; faucet: Minimal, DaVinci, AF Supply
The guest bathroom also features a steam shower with fixtures by DaVinci from AF Supply.
by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
Rather than building large, protruding decks, Narofsky integrated them into the volume of the home. This deck, which can be accessed from the kitchen and the living room, is the roof over the guest bedroom.
Modern Porch
"The exterior facade's ipe wood planks were mounted on a ventilated wall system," Narofsky says. "This allows the facade materials to weather equally so they hold their shape, and it also prevents any moisture infiltration."
Contemporary Exterior
The roof of the house is planted with sedum ground cover in a living roof system from Xero Flor America. "It respects the views from the neighboring homes," Narofsky says.
Photos by Phillip Ennis Photography
Modern Exterior
Photos by Phillip Ennis Photography
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dziner, I was thinking the same thing about Hitchcock!! LOL
Jennifer Rusch of ways2design
"The material in general, whenever you do concrete, is VERY unpredictable, and you have to have a certain mentality to accept a material like that in your home. It's not something you should venture into if you’re not ok with a product that looks, “something along those lines.” A typical waxed concrete might require a little more maintenance, depending on the particular aesthetic you desire. Best of luck!"
I wish more waterfront owner had this sensibility for the environment.
it is so elegant and understated.
I own a waterfront home on Long Island which fits beautifully in the environment.
Unfortunately the land next to me was sold to some wealthy tasteless people who built an impossible mansion on less than half acre,
Wish you were my neighbors
The interior desing the furniture design are very elaborated and inspired.
This work is surely the result of so many hours of thinking and drawing and months of carefull assistance.
Bravo!