Nordic Shift is an uncovering and revealing of the best traits and qualities of an already well-designed home. Quite often our client’s love their home, but it is not performing well any longer, they want it to meet them where they are today. Often this can be done without additional square feet.
Our first task was to explore the form of the home with new textures, materials, and colors, highlighting what was interesting and unique. The existing verticality created an odd proportion that lacked human scale. We introduced a horizontal band using different materials. This banding reduced the scale and also highlighted more interesting features of the home, including the long-sloped roof. The cedar base echoes the dense vegetation and also helps ground the house to the site, something important and often missing in homes.
The upper half is made white, creating a sense of lightness and lift. The smooth panels contrast with the weathering cedar below. Laser cut panels add a focal point to the home which lacks a visible front entry. The pattern is a fresh take on traditional folk art which holds importance to the clients. Facing west, these panels provide beautiful sweeping shadows that glide across the front façade.
These elements are repeated inside at a more human scale. Clean lines articulated in white oak, steel, fresh white, and splashes of color, reflecting the owner’s Scandinavian heritage. The redesigned kitchen, still in the center, now anchors and connects all rooms. Playfully, the cabinetry twists and turns into defining features of each space. Upper cabinets turn and become the stair landing. The appliance cabinet becomes the base for a double height living room art display. Island cabinets wrap around a center table, providing support for seating and a place to work. The house is completely refreshed and renewed without adding any additional square feet.