A Design Eternal
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Less is More
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Pasatiempo House
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Casa Tranquila
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Pelz House
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Quiet Opulence
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Maison de Vigne
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closeBold, vibrant colors contrast with natural materials—exposed timbers, hardwood floors—in this home to create a sense of comfortable, eclectic ambience. Traditional touches contrast with the latest innovations, too: look to the concrete countertops for example.
This is a lesson in the new small house, a reasonably-sized home that feels larger, by design.
No space is wasted in the new small house, yet no opportunity is lost. For an example, experience the coziness of the soffitted kitchen inglenook. Windowed and looking outward on two sides, it's also enclosed and made intimate by the crafted wood tower which does double duty as a storage cabinet. Made spatially integral and yet separate from the vaulted Kitchen, it is comfy and close, safe, yet connected by sight lines to all parts of the house.
Intimate spaces—the private rooms, the Dining Room—are juxtaposed against the double-volume living area, a space activated by a soaring, sculptural fireplace, and enlivened by the upper story gallery, clerestory window lighting, and playful window overlooks.
Notice the Craftsman styling while approaching the house: a simple roof form broken by the shed clerestory dormer over the entry and a stair tower to the rear, a one-and-one half story aspect, covered porch, and an ambiguous symmetry—all classic bungalow elements.
A conversion of a nondescript tract model into a jewel, this home is a labor of love by its owners, and DMSA is proud to have played our part in the realization of their dream.
closeThis complete remodeling of a 1970 vintage house results in a thorough redesign of both interior and exterior spaces that share an enhanced relationship to the spectacular site which overlooks Monterey Bay to the south and the Santa Cruz mountains to the north.
The clients required a weekend home for their extended family that could also serve as a retreat for the owner's corporate meetings. The house is conceived with this duality in mind and attempts to balance private, intimate spaces on the one hand with the need for larger gathering places for social and business events on the other. Universal design principles were honored throughout the design for both family members and guests.
The actual building and site are limited in size but are designed in concert as a series of interrelated interior and exterior rooms to enhance the feeling of spaciousness. The entry court and fountain set the stage for grassy lawns and decks on either side of the longitudinal structure that culminate in a second fountain on the southern tip of the site with its terraced space and canopied trees overlooking the bay.
Materials and finish choices are compatible with both practical needs and aesthetic concerns. A sand colored quartzite stone covers the 150 foot long stone wall which runs through the entire site and unites the main house with a smaller garage and bedroom unit to the north. The interiors include custom trim detailing along with specially designed stainless steel brackets and handrails.
closeA beautiful display of Spanish-eclectic architecture, Casa Tranquila’s asymmetrical façade and arched doorways exemplify that style. To one side, a covered driveway leads behind the house to the garage and magnificent master bedroom. Here, a bridge connects the peaceful sanctuary of the master bedroom with the large common rooms of the main house.
Casa Tranquila is a delightful home whose carefully crafted interior has been a labor of love by the owner himself. Wine red Mexican tiles, bright suntan yellow walls, sand colored angled archways and soaring entry hall interplay with the warm wood floors while complementing the Spanish style architecture.
closeThe neighborhood of this design, the Pasatiempo Country Club and Estates, is notable for the earlier contributions of the great Bay Area master architect, W.W. Wurster. Out of respect for this rich context, the exterior massing and detailing of this house are serenely understated, a composed interplay of wood siding, white plaster, and glass.
The house steps subtly down an oak-covered slope, resulting in a “split-level” of not two, but four major levels, and in doing so, successfully responds to an exacting set of Conditions of Approval — on siting the house, its envelope, height, and size, among other criteria — imposed by the County Planning Department.
The calm exterior belies the drama inside, where the visitor encounters a carefully orchestrated interlocking of spaces with lofty volumes and dramatic overlooks. A rich and complementary palette of finish materials — white textured walls with clear Douglas fir trim, wood and stainless steel guardrails, clear maple cabinetry with black lacquer wood trim, and stone tile kitchen tops — completes this composition.
“When a hillside is given to me on which to place a house, I embrace it and do not long for a meadow; conversely, when a site comes on a meadow, I embrace it and do not long for a hillside.” — W.W. Wursterclose
The Craftsman style of architecture flourished between 1905-1930 and, according to the Field Guide to American Houses, originated in California with the work of Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene - famously known as Greene and Greene - from their atelier in Pasadena. Their earliest examples date from c.1903 and by 1909 according the Guide, “had designed and executed several exceptional landmark examples that have been called the 'ultimate bungalows' ”.
Our client for this project, Santa Cruz builder and woodworker Warren Pelz has been a student and devotee of the Greene brothers for many years.
The result of our collaboration with him has resulted in this contemporary interpretation of a classic style. Replete with the intimate woodworking and detailing characteristic of that style, it is a work which invites and rewards intimate participation with the architecture.
closeMaison de Vigne is located on the easterly flank of Oregon's Coastal range. Built as a labor of love by loving owners, it is situated amidst grapes growing regional Oregon varietals. The design of the house captures a modern eclectic aesthetic, with emphasis on Mediterranean, particularly north Italian vernacular architecture, informing the exterior. The interior is a reflection of the owner's experiences, with particular focus on southwest American influences.
closeThe owners came to us with a specific agenda for the remodel of their master bedroom suite, namely, to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities presented by the siting of their home, but lost upon the original designer of the house.
To remedy this, it was clear from the start what the priorities were - where the bed must be placed to avail itself of the morning view, where windows should be placed, where the master bath and closet should be located, etc. After that, the space planning took care of itself...
But the real magic arose because the owners took the time and trouble to prepare an image file, researching carefully for themselves many of the exquisite materials which lend quiet opulence to this modest, refined wing of their home and make this a truly excellent design.
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