WINNER athome magazine A-List Awards 2018
renovation / modern
SPECHT ARCHITECTS
MODERN VIEW W
hen the owners first bought this former 1960s ranch, they intended to start with a simple bath and kitchen renovation. One thing led to another, and the next thing they knew they were starting from the ground up. “The house had been cobbled together from the 1960s onward,” says Scott Specht, whose firm specializes in contemporary design. “It was a mess. The scope of the project kept expanding and expanding. They really wanted a modern, and they wanted something they could be proud of.” Though the footprint is essentially the same, the house itself has been completely transformed: Set on two levels, it now takes full advantage of the site’s forested hilltop setting. A winding driveway leads to a landscaped courtyard that frames the glass entry pavilion. Floor-to-ceiling
windows allow views through the house to the tree canopy beyond. Upstairs are the kitchen, living and dining areas, as well as two wings— one contains the master bedroom suite; the other is the home gym, which opens onto the pool area. A “secret” stairway behind the limestone hearth leads downstairs to the office, library and lounge, which leads to a terrace and outdoor fireplace. The feel throughout is sleek and streamlined: dark ebonized oak wood floors, straight plaster finishes on the walls and ceilings, black aluminum window frames, oversize sliders, minimal ornamentation. Case in point: the snug, open kitchen with its custom back-painted glass cabinets and stainless-steel hardware. “We tried to hide the appliances as much as possible,” says Specht. “Since this is an open space, it encourages you to keep things perfectly.” —JM
athomefc.com
62