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Houzz Tour: Dream Surf Shack at Pleasure Point
Architect Noel Cross creates a dream weekend home for surf-loving California family
The owners of this home and their adult kids are all avid surfers. When they fell in love with the sport they fell hard, and decided that they needed a weekend home close to their favorite surfing spot — Pleasure Point.
By adding classic beachfront details to a more modern frame, Bay Area architect Noel Cross designed a home that's a natural fit for the quirky neighborhood in Santa Cruz, Calif. Pleasure Point got its name from its rather scandalous history as a Red Light District during Prohibition. In the 1960s, Pleasure Point became better known for its waves, and it's still a surfer's mecca today.
By adding classic beachfront details to a more modern frame, Bay Area architect Noel Cross designed a home that's a natural fit for the quirky neighborhood in Santa Cruz, Calif. Pleasure Point got its name from its rather scandalous history as a Red Light District during Prohibition. In the 1960s, Pleasure Point became better known for its waves, and it's still a surfer's mecca today.
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| Cross paid tribute to the local vernacular by staying in line with the scale and simple materials of the beach cottages and bungalows surrounding this home. Board and batten, cedar shiplap, and clapboard on the exterior help contribute to this modern beachfront look. Landscape architect Christopher Yates used a combination of low-maintenance coastal plants for the front yard. One challenge was containing the horsetail grass, which can become a problem if not held back. In the end, Yates and his team encased the entire planting area in a concrete basin. |
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| "I love the towers," Cross says. "They're meant to evoke the lifeguard towers you see so often on California beaches." Each tower is rotated 5 degrees for the best views. |
The clients wanted a terrace with a fire pit that would generate enough heat to make it comfortable even on the foggiest Santa Cruz nights. One of the owners solved this problem himself by installing two gas lines and building a tall vertical gas manifold out of steel tubes. "Lighting it can be a challenge if you value your eyelashes," says Yates.
A winding steel and Cor-Ten staircase winds its way up to a second-floor balcony. The curved wall around the firepit is made of rusted Cor-Ten, as is the firepit itself. Yates used full range bluestone for the terrace and for the fire-pit cap. The wood boardwalks — another beach-inspired element — are made out of Ipe, a sustainable wood.
"This was a rare client in that he asked the design team to take chances, think boldly, and bring him a creative and edgy design that would still fit into the fabric of a somewhat sleepy seaside surfing community," says Yates.
"This was a rare client in that he asked the design team to take chances, think boldly, and bring him a creative and edgy design that would still fit into the fabric of a somewhat sleepy seaside surfing community," says Yates.
In the early 20th century, a motel called "Cozy Cabins at Breakers Beach" on this site was a staple for the local Red-Light district. The clients commemorate that piece of history with a reproduction of the original hotel sign in their foyer.
| The kitchen, designed by Viscusi Elson Interior Design, was made for casual entertaining. The curved countertop and corner position of this kitchen reflects the pivoted position of this part of the house, and embraces the ocean view. Designer Gina Viscusi found the pendants in Charleston, North Carolina. The cabinetry was custom made in Santa Cruz. Since several members of the family are extra tall, Viscusi had the barstools made with a little additional height. Countertops: Baja and Lagos Blue from Caesarstone Wall color: Mellowed Ivory by Benjamin Moore Backsplash: Smoke by Walker Zanger |
| The unique piece of living room art was designed by one of the owners, who placed family photographs on a curving dune fence. Viscusi found the softly glowing floor lamps at a small shop in Savannah, Georgia. Wall color: Boothbay Gray, Benjamin Moore Couch: Custom design by Viscusi, made by A. Rudin in Los Angeles |
The fireplace surround was custom designed by Viscusi and her team using reclaimed lumber. The mantle is made from an old barn beam from a supplier in Santa Cruz.
Cross designed the upper floor to embrace the view of the Monterey Bay. The clients wanted to be able to see the break of the waves from their home, and each room has a view of the ocean. A small reading nook in the master bedroom is a great place to enjoy an evening sunset or a morning cup of coffee.
The drawers underneath the bed provide great storage space and elevate the bed for the over-6-feet-tall husband.
Wall color: Antique Jade by Benjamin Moore
Armchair and ottoman: Crate & Barrel
The drawers underneath the bed provide great storage space and elevate the bed for the over-6-feet-tall husband.
Wall color: Antique Jade by Benjamin Moore
Armchair and ottoman: Crate & Barrel
Ocean-inspired hues continue on into the master bathroom, where Viscusi painted the walls in a soft blue hue and incorporated a sea-glass backsplash from Walker Zanger.
| Although this bedroom is on the main level of the house, it still gets an abundance of natural light during the day. Viscusi Elson Interior Design outfitted this room in a cheerful sea-glass green with ocean inspired accents. Bedding: Pottery Barn Organics Wall color: Antique Jade by Benjamin Moore Starburst mirror and Table Lamps: Pottery Barn Nightstands: Redford House |
Another guest room on the main floor holds four 7-foot long bunk beds for visiting friends of the clients' grown children. The unique piece of art in this room is another one of the owners' beachy designs. Bedding: Company Store
Architecture: Noel Cross Architects
Landscape Architect: Christopher Yates
Interior Design: Gina Viscusi Elson
Lighting Design: Vita Pehar
Contractor: The Conrado Company
Photography: Frank Paul Perez (exterior) and Dean Birinyi (interior)
Next: Step inside more inspiring homes
Architecture: Noel Cross Architects
Landscape Architect: Christopher Yates
Interior Design: Gina Viscusi Elson
Lighting Design: Vita Pehar
Contractor: The Conrado Company
Photography: Frank Paul Perez (exterior) and Dean Birinyi (interior)
Next: Step inside more inspiring homes
Comments
grafixmatt Perfect!
19 months ago · Like
wandm What a great variation on the beach theme! I love it. It has a nice airy oceanside feel without screaming BEACH HOUSE! My family lived in the Santa Cruz area for 20 years and I never knew how Pleasure Point got it's name. Many people unfamiliar with the area don't realize how cold the Pacific is in Northern CA. When the waves are good you can watch the masses of surfers at Pleasure Point, all in wetsuits.
18 months ago · Like
kimc I love the vibe of this house. I'm a Monterey Peninsula girl so for me this house spells home and I think it is pretty spectacular!
18 months ago · Like
oliversudden love it. I would love to see the floorplan. Is the main living area on the second floor?
18 months ago · Like
dianne47 Hardly a "surf shack." More like a surf palace...
18 months ago · Like
Laura Warburton would vaca here any time for certain, love the modern feel
18 months ago · Like
gwen mckay The home to me does not have a surf shack vibe to it all. To me it is a large modern home! although perhaps another person with different taste then i may think it is nice i feel it is etremely overdone1
18 months ago · Like
puating Does anyone know the color of the exterior?
18 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Nov. 11, 2011.
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