Residence_Version 2

Petaluma, California

Primary residence for owner's 5.8 acre rural site—Phase One of a Master Plan which would include additional detached buildings for studios, guests, and a barn/workshop.

The center of the property afforded the most ideal siting—for privacy, adjacency to a flowing creek, as well as views northeast to the Sonoma Mountains.  

The owner desired a modest-sized home of around 2,200 square feet net area.  Three bedrooms, two full baths, powder room (ideally), and small office spaces—two adults, two children.  Open plan for socially connected spaces of Living, Dining, and Kitchen.

Three alternatives were prepared for this house at various stages.

Version #2

The owner had initially expressed an interest in their program for a split level residence—and now asked if another design could be prepared in this direction.  They further desired that the stair occur within an interior garden.  The two-story design places the stair and garden directly at the entry—which is softly illuminated from a large skylight above.  A half flight up the stair leads to the main social level containing an open-planned Great Room.  The Dining area is slightly elevated several shallow steps above the Living area in order to create an informal differentiation of use.  It connects with its own private “breakfast balcony” at the east as well as a larger exterior dining area that is atop the carport.  All bedrooms were on the lower floor with the Master Bedroom suite possessing access to its private patio.  This version, though very pleasing to the owner, exceeded the square footage requirements and found us needing to simplify the residence.