A Sympathetic Renovation
It can be a tricky business remodelling an existing home whose pedigree is without question, as is the case with this home located in Sea Ranch the rugged Californian coast north of San Francisco and original designed forty years ago by Ralph Matheson whose home are seromucous with the region. A sympathetic renovation occurred in the 90s by William Turnbull & Associates, however it was not until after living there for four-years that the current owners engaged Butler Armsden Architects and interior designer Matthew Leverone to do a full renovation and extension of the house.
The brief was simple – more space, a program that honoured the original floorplan and a materials palate that continued the narrative of the dramatic cliffs on which the house stands. The most notable change was the addition of a ‘tower’ – containing a his and her office – to one end of the house.
Throughout, the interior walls were relined with fir timber giving the home an immediate connection to the surrounding landscape. To continue this, the furniture selected is simple, clean-lined and upholstered in soft creams, greys and blues to pull the colours of the ocean and cliffs into each room.
What I love most about this renovation is that it firstly pays respect to the original design and secondly creates a new version of the house that continues its history as being a comfortable family retreat (and of course the killer views!).
Story by Brendan Guy, follow him on Instagram MrBrendanGuy
Images: Joe Fletcher