Step Inside a Modern Home Built With Old-School Craftsmanship
This professional couple loved living in Venice, California. But once their family started to grow, they needed a larger home, and their existing 2,500-square-foot lot wasn’t big enough to accommodate an addition as well as a yard. So they purchased a lot of about 11,000 square feet with plans to build a special new home that would function well for their casual family lifestyle, operate with energy efficiency and feature materials that had both beauty and meaning.
Seattle architect Nils Finne’s approach was right up their alley. They tasked him with creating a home that would be practical for their family, provide strong connections to the pool and yard, and have meaningful custom fixtures and furniture details that would all work in symphony with the architecture.
I really like how this house connects to the outside.
I love the fact that the entire house is flooded with light, those windows are to die for!
beyond amazing❤
Thank you @nilsfinne for allowing us to be a part of your unbelievable designs!
A thousand thanks to Becky for a wonderful feature story on our Venice House!
Truly art and engineering in beautiful form. A fabulous home designed by totally engaged architect.
What was the duration of construction?
Thanks to everyone for your kind comments! Here is a link to a cool drone video of the Venice House.......https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/venice-house-videomp4-los-angeles-phvw-vp~146421552
Every house in the whole world should be like this one. Bigger, smaller, but all of them should be as intelligently designed as this one. Congrats!
I do not see gutters on this home. How is the rain water handled?
A little too modern for my taste but there’s no arguing the beauty of this House especially how it brings the outside into the house.
An intelligent, beautiful, contemporary design with the perfect balance of wood, metal and stone. What a delight to admire. Well done, FINNE.
I really appreciate warm comments from fellow architects! Thank-you very much, Hess Architects.
Design perfection, both technical and aesthetic. A home that feels warm and personal throughout, from the lovely art to the special family spaces. The kitchen island is like a model of the house itself--magnificent.
@Harry-V. the house took approximately 24 months to build.
Sorry folks I just can't go along with you on your assessment of this house at its present location. Out at my ranch with miles of expansive views and my closest neighbor being 6 miles away I could easily do it but not so open in a crowded city. I think the design is great and from what one can see of the craftsmanship well done and thought out.
amazing
Beautiful
@opferjl the house has integral gutters that are part of the standing seam metal roof. The gutters are not mounted to the fascias. All water is carried to percolation planters in the garden.
@traskstone it sounds like you have a lovely piece of property. Believe it or not, the Venice House does have a sense of tranquility even though it is in a dense urban area.
Love all of this! The lines are clean, the lighting and plantings natural, and the combinations of different natural elements- gorgeous, doesnt look forced...
I love it. I'm jealous. I want it. Why couldn't it be mine? California Dreamin'.
Beautiful design!
Drop. Dead. Gorgeous. One of my favourite houses you have ever shown! A piece of art!
Thanks so much! Make sure you check out the video:
https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/venice-house-videomp4-los-angeles-phvw-vp~146421552
I would really like to know what is the roof made of.
I'm looki at the stairs and I'm wondering how do you paint the wall next to it. Can the staircase be lifted in order to cover that narrow spot?
Thanks for your comments. The roof is a standing seam metal roof. The wall next to the stair was painted prior to the stair installation.
What color white paint did you use for the interior of this project? Lovely design all around.
Wow. Breathtaking. I am always telling my husband that a house without a good roofline is not worth its salt. A roof must have something to add interest: an eyebrow dormer, 2 elevations, tower, something. Yours has it all. I love the swooping wing, the 2 level roofs along with the glass...heaven. Fabulous design, love the thought process.
Beautiful house but just doesn’t fit in that neighborhood, I can see it on open land!
This house, like all FINNE Architects' projects I've seen here over the last decade, is proof that modern architecture is not necessarily cold. I've always been a sucker for this style, i.e. clean lines & warm materials.
I think this house fits perfectly into the hillside of Venice CA. It’s like a tree house. And Venice is a funky beach town. Great job to all
Absolutely INCREDIBLE! This house and its light make my heart feel hopeful and filled with joy. I love “crafted modernism”- there’s a warmth to this work that sometimes gets lost in other contemporary projects.
Bravo!
This home makes my soul sing beyond what mere words can express. It actually brought tears of joy to my eyes. I cannot thank you enough for sharing - including the amazing video by the architectural firm. Sigh.
I love the lighting over the island.
Very attractive home, balancing nature elements into a functional living space.
Any chance I could find out where the main entrance rug was purchased?
Thanks so much
This house would rock in Colorado. I love the open feel, light, materials, and, well I could on an on. I just love it, GREAT JOB!!!
I am forever in love with craftsman house
Love to get info on kitchen cabinet hardware?
Love that you brought quality into a modern building. Love open concept but very frustrating when visible work needs to be done and cant match surface finishes. Just wondering about rain water diversion. I don't see any eaves troughs or down spouts. Do you have a company or link with your method?
@lynsaunerli the house has a complete system of gutters and downspouts. However, as you noticed, they are all hidden .
@eugene ely the cabinet pulls are Mockett tab pulls
love the light & windows, the thought that went into placement of , everything, absolutely gorgeous and artistic. I love the roof line, the beams, and all the angles. Someone asked above where the gutters are, I was curious as well, I would have loved to see solar panels on this roof, curious if it would look as pretty, and maybe ideas on how to apply this crafted Modernism to alternative energy sources ,etc. Thank you for the inspiration, makes me happy to know the designer is from the Pacific Northwest as well-stunning!
the curved roof is cool but channeling rain towards the house does not pass the reassuring test
@bruce hardman we have a large stainless gutter with membrane beneath to catch the water against the house. No problems so far.
Thank I want to put glass around my ball cony is that possible
This home is exquisite. I’d love to see a PNW version of this!
Thank you to @FINNE Architects and the homeowners for sharing this incredible home with us. It was fascinating to learn about the materials and level of detail that went into this home.
The Venice House is beautiful. What wood did you use for this project (indoor outdoor stairs roof etc) and how are they treated to last.
Absolutely Beautiful. I love modern design but dislike the cold feeling of most. This home is warm and inviting. Love the use of wood, stone, and metal. Love the attention to detail, like the floating glass counter at standard chair height. Just beautiful.
@laurelcwan thanks so much for your kind words!
What beautiful ideas!
For those of you interested in seeing more of Finne's Crafted Modernism, check out these Houzz Tours:
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/houzz-tour-organic-beauty-in-a-remote-washington-valley-stsetivw-vs~47856468
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/houzz-tour-pacific-northwest-landscape-inspires-a-seattle-home-stsetivw-vs~55328448
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/houzz-tour-contemporary-oregon-home-connects-with-life-on-the-river-stsetivw-vs~68207295
Such honor for the beauty of place, siting, and the wood used in each of these properties. Imaginative and smart. Bravo!
What an artist, that Nils!!!!!
What a beautiful crafted house ! Unbelievable....
@Joanne and @Barbara Wynd......thanks very much!
Wonderful windows and light! Too bad the designer did not use some color on the walls.
What a gorgeous piece of architecture! Mega talented architect and lucky homeowners.