Houzz Tour: Designed for Harmony with the Land
by Alison Aves · 12 photos · 23 comments
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"They wanted to feel like the land is what's celebrated, and the house is just a small, modest, beautiful structure," says Parker, a partner in the San Francisco firm 450 Architects, Inc. The windows at the far left of this image are the kitchen, the middle leg is a new sunroom, and at the far right are the French doors and private deck of the master suite. A fig tree grows next to the path.
by 450 Architects, Inc.
The home's front door is recycled old-growth redwood, crafted by Liberty Valley Doors. At right is an antique Japanese screen and two antique stools.
Sonoma Residence Entry Hall
The home is filled with furnishings and accessories that the owners have collected together over time, with just a few new pieces brought in for the remodel. One of the owners is a book publisher; the built-in bookshelves that border the living area are stocked with volumes that are chosen for guests to browse. The wood floors are FSC-certified madrone finished with a nontoxic water-based sealer.
by 450 Architects, Inc.
"The architecture is about supporting lifestyle and possibilities," Parker says. "They wanted to make it easy to entertain and have their children and grandchildren come to visit."
by 450 Architects, Inc.
The bathroom has an open shower, and this ultra-modern tub that's big enough to allow two people to share it comfortably – while enjoying views of the garden. Over the tub, they installed a leaded glass window that was in one of the owner's homes when she was growing up.
by 450 Architects, Inc.
The walls are plaster, but Parker requested not to have it thoroughly mixed so that there would be inherent differences in color and texture. It was applied using a steel trowel. "It slightly burnishes it when applied," he says. "It gives it a lush, buttery smooth finish."
Sonoma Residence Entry Hall
All the furnishings are made by local Sonoma artisans. In the foreground here is a rough model of what would eventually be the kitchen island. "Before you pay to have someone make a custom table, it's wise to have a mockup to make sure it fits in the space the way they want it to," Parker says. "I really celebrate the part where I'm building mockups." The clients wanted the open cabinets so that their colorful kitchenware would become part of the decor, and to make it easier to grab things while they're cooking and entertaining. The concrete countertops are by Bohemian Stoneworks.
by 450 Architects, Inc. 
This 300-square-foot sunroom is the only new addition to the house. "It used to be that the way the whole house functioned, the nicest views were from a bedroom but the bedroom didn't really open to the view," Parker says. "[Now] throughout the house there are linkages to the garden and landscaping." The floors are made by From These Hands using mud taken from the home's site. "It feels great underfoot," Parker says.
by 450 Architects, Inc.
He describes the sunroom and adjacent rooms as being like the lungs of the house. "They give the rest of the spaces all this light ... every room feels slightly larger because they share this entry vestibule hallway that leads right into the sunroom space." A column in the vestibule (shown here before the project was fully complete) is the backside of the kitchen pantry and is made of recycled redwood siding.
by 450 Architects, Inc.
"If you have a grove of redwood trees, you'll get cool air sinking out of the trees and down to the ground," Parker says. "We designed the house to take advantage of that natural convection to cool it in the summertime." Passive solar design provides warmth. "It doesn't look like a typical passive solar house with big south-facing windows designed to soak up sun and heat," he says. "We studied the length of every overhang to see how much sun and heat you're going to get from them at every time of year and day." The house also has a radiant hydronic heating system to provide additional warmth.
by 450 Architects, Inc.
"The deep overhang is part of what shades the house based on certain desirable light levels inside, so they can control the sun," Parker says. "On rainy days they can open windows at kitchen table and not worry about water inside."
by 450 Architects, Inc.
"From the kitchen you can now see the front door as well as the redwood groves," says Parker. "Or open the French doors to a beautiful south-facing patio," which is shown here. "The kitchen became one wing that now stretches out into the yard."
See more design projects by Parker's firm, 450 Architects, Inc.
More: Modern Renovation in Seattle
More Houzz Tours
by 450 Architects, Inc.
See more design projects by Parker's firm, 450 Architects, Inc.
More: Modern Renovation in Seattle
More Houzz Tours
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