This House Refuses to Face You

An adventurous couple’s renovated home in Twin Peaks features a tiered garden, an outdoor spa, and a meditative alcove.

Built in the late 1970s, the Auburn house is reminiscent of the California Modern homes built in the mid-century. Located in an established neighborhood of mixed residential typologies, the house greets the neighborhood on the north street side and opens to a southern back yard perched above the North Fork of the American River canyon. The owners, who both work from home, asked us to develop a master plan for the property that included additional space for private offices, a guest bedroom, a workshop, and a future pool. Also desired was an extensive remodel of the existing house that update the home and improve energy efficiency. The two-story addition to the home is tucked into a narrow buildable slice of the parcel on the eastern end of the home. It optimizes the existing infrastructure and only hints at a bold modern form, from the street side. However, on the private south side, the addition opens dramatically to the inspiring southern canyon view from the second-floor office spaces. A second entrance is provided into the “creative” wing of the building – to allow work to occur with some separation from the activity of family life. The remodel of the existing home evokes the California Modernist moments of the building by creating smoother transitions between the interior and exterior spaces and updating the kitchen to create better functionality all while using sustainable materials that are expressed in an honest manner. The energy upgrades on this home focus on improving the envelope through meticulous air sealing, replacing all the existing insulation, replacing all the windows, and upgrading all the mechanical equipment. An oversized and outdated furnace was replaced with a high performing unit installed within a conditioned attic. Heating and cooling in the new addition will be provided by a ductless mini split. A roof mounted 6 kW photovoltaic system is expected to offset all the electrical usage for this mixed fuel home.

Decorating a console table in an entryway can be a truly fun design endeavor, especially if…

If there is one room in our house that we fear when it comes to a makeover, then it is definitely the kids’ room. It is a room filled with color, multiple motifs and often is a mix between what you want and what the little ones crave for. Sometimes the compromise pays off and […]

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Refined yet playful, hand-crafted yet modern, Moxy Chelsea reimagines the urban jungle, blending botanically-inspired design with Italian romance. It truly is The Flower District’s new secret garden. Standing 35 stories tall, our hotel features four new dining and drinking concepts by TAO Group and Francesco Panella. Topped off with a spectacular glass-enclosed rooftop lounge that transforms into an alfresco veranda, at the touch of a button, Moxy Chelsea also offers a caffè, ristorante, and a cocktail bar and co-working lounge offering a gourmet take on Italian street food. Our hotel is a sensory overload perfectly suited for fun hunters. From the moment you walk into the property — through an overgrown flower shop — to opening your guest-room and taking in the mesmerizing city views, Moxy Chelsea throws everything it’s got for you to play with. And it’s a lot. With DJ appearances, a made-for-Moxy bocce drinking game on the terrace, rooftop fitness, meditation, reiki classes, floral workshops, and pizza-making classes, to name a few. One might wonder why you should ever leave, were it not for the location. Chelsea is one of New York’s most iconic ‘hoods, brimming with galleries, bars and restaurants. Moxy Chelsea is just steps from landmarks such as The High Line, Madison Square Park, Flatiron Building, Hudson Yards and more. Rest assured that back #atthemoxy, the super star crew will cater to all your needs. Cheers!