This home’s owners, who entertain frequently, originally wanted to add square footage to enlarge the kitchen area, enlarge the master bath, and upgrade the finishes throughout the home. Interested in a more modern aesthetic, they focused on quality rather than quantity, adding finer finishes and natural materials, after the preliminary proposal came in over budget.

In a home filled with precision details, cantilevered structures, and select natural materials, the central stair is the preeminent feature. Immediately visible from the front door, it’s the first thing guests see when entering the house. Conceived as floating slabs of wood supported only by a single steel support, this key architectural and circulation element required a great deal of coordination between several trades: designer, structural engineer, project manager, steel fabricator, and floor installer.

The small, outdated kitchen was gutted and redesigned to be more modern, efficient, and open to its surrounding areas-- including a game room to one side and a stunning view outside. The basic layout of the kitchen was reorganized around a new central island, whose angular shape was determined by the new circulation patterns. Existing cabinetry was replaced by all new mahogany millwork with black granite tops separated from the cabinet bases by a thin strip of white marble. A horizontal bank of stainless steel cabinetry spans the length of the wall above the cooktop. Striking mesquite floors run throughout the first floor areas and into the kitchen. The final result greatly simplifies and visually expands the home’s layout. The new kitchen works as planned: acting as a central space within the larger area of the first floor and providing for the entertainment requirements of this active family.

The guest bath/powder room was transformed into a space that addressed the client’s interest in both natural materials and precise, minimal detailing. Maintaining the basic plumbing layout saved money and allowed for custom details and materials-- including a frameless glass shower, slate tile flooring and walls, stepped vanity mirror, and a notable feature: a wall-hung cantilevered custom concrete sink.

The fireplaces on both floors were remodeled as well. Downstairs, the existing traditional fireplace mantle was removed and the surrounding wall clad with large, hand-chiseled limestone slabs laid in horizontal courses. A contrasting smooth limestone slab cantilevers from the wall as the new fireplace hearth. The simplicity of the new fireplace is accentuated by its asymmetrical design. In the master bedroom, the wall above the two-sided fireplace was taken down and replaced with an exposed metal chimney. The firebox was wrapped in travertine tile to match the master bath. As a result, what had been a wall dividing the bedroom in two was reconfigured as a smaller metal and tile design element.

The master bath was completely gutted and replaced with a natural palette of travertine, mosaic slate, and mahogany paneling. The tub and shower were combined into a single “wet area” behind a frameless glass panel. A large horizontal window above the vanity maximizes previously obscured views. Above the sinks, individual mirrors are supported on cables, allowing for a view to the landscape beyond. Clean, contemporary detailing, natural materials, and greater openness characterize the new master bath, which occupies exactly the same space as its predecessor.