The island bounded by the driveway and road has a steep slope. Erosion is kept in check with large boulders and plants like itea virginica that are well-know slope holders. With trees, shrubs, and perennials that bloom or show color at different times of year, the island has year-round interest for both people and wildlife. Design and installation by Merrifield Garden Center. Photo: Wayne Boyland.

A couple wanted a weekend retreat without spending a majority of their getaway in an automobile. Therefore, a lot was purchased along the Rocky River with the vision of creating a nearby escape less than five miles away from their home. This 1,300 sf 24’ x 24’ dwelling is divided into a four square quadrant with the goal to create a variety of interior and exterior experiences while maintaining a rather small footprint. Typically, when going on a weekend retreat one has the drive time to decompress. However, without this, the goal was to create a procession from the car to the house to signify such change of context. This concept was achieved through the use of a wood slatted screen wall which must be passed through. After winding around a collection of poured concrete steps and walls one comes to a wood plank bridge and crosses over a Japanese garden leaving all the stresses of the daily world behind. The house is structured around a nine column steel frame grid, which reinforces the impression one gets of the four quadrants. The two rear quadrants intentionally house enclosed program space but once passed through, the floor plan completely opens to long views down to the mouth of the river into Lake Erie. On the second floor the four square grid is stacked with one quadrant removed for the two story living area on the first floor to capture heightened views down the river. In a move to create complete separation there is a one quadrant roof top office with surrounding roof top garden space. The rooftop office is accessed through a unique approach by exiting onto a steel grated staircase which wraps up the exterior facade of the house. This experience provides an additional retreat within their weekend getaway, and serves as the apex of the house where one can completely enjoy the views of Lake Erie disappearing over the horizon. Visually the house extends into the riverside site, but the four quadrant axis also physically extends creating a series of experiences out on the property. The Northeast kitchen quadrant extends out to become an exterior kitchen & dining space. The two-story Northwest living room quadrant extends out to a series of wrap around steps and lounge seating. A fire pit sits in this quadrant as well farther out in the lawn. A fruit and vegetable garden sits out in the Southwest quadrant in near proximity to the shed, and the entry sequence is contained within the Southeast quadrant extension. Internally and externally the whole house is organized in a simple and concise way and achieves the ultimate goal of creating many different experiences within a rationally sized footprint. Photo: Sergiu Stoian

The kitchen, centrally located and equipped with top of the line appliances heighten anyone's cooking experience and invites many to dine at the cascading stone island. Hand crafted self closing cabinetry throughout.

Entry tucked into the junction between the garage and the house provides equal entry experience between the owners and guests. On rainy days water falling off the roof heightens one's connection to the weather.

Basement Media room. Piano black soundbar floating below the television adds interest and excellent sound. Lights, blinds, tv and security are all controlled from your iPhone/iPad, Android device.

Falcon Industries built this oceanfront custom home for a lovely couple looking to heighten their vacation-home experience at the Jersey Shore. We collaborated with the very talented Richard Bubnowski Design and Elizabeth Gillin Interiors on the project. From coffered ceilings and custom trim to handcrafted details that our experienced team of carpenters executed from scratch, this home truly exudes the comforts of coastal living.

Modest yet luxurious, the Master Bathroom is not extensive in size, but the materials and cabinetry chosen heighten the spatial experience. A glass shower enclosure expands the perceived volume of the room. The interior walls a a smooth plaster finish. https://www.makearch.com/residential-projects/california

Joe Fletcher Atop a ridge in the Santa Lucia mountains of Carmel, California, an oak tree stands elevated above the fog and wrapped at its base in this ranch retreat. The weekend home’s design grew around the 100-year-old Valley Oak to form a horseshoe-shaped house that gathers ridgeline views of Oak, Madrone, and Redwood groves at its exterior and nestles around the tree at its center. The home’s orientation offers both the shade of the oak canopy in the courtyard and the sun flowing into the great room at the house’s rear façades. This modern take on a traditional ranch home offers contemporary materials and landscaping to a classic typology. From the main entry in the courtyard, one enters the home’s great room and immediately experiences the dramatic westward views across the 70 foot pool at the house’s rear. In this expansive public area, programmatic needs flow and connect - from the kitchen, whose windows face the courtyard, to the dining room, whose doors slide seamlessly into walls to create an outdoor dining pavilion. The primary circulation axes flank the internal courtyard, anchoring the house to its site and heightening the sense of scale by extending views outward at each of the corridor’s ends. Guest suites, complete with private kitchen and living room, and the garage are housed in auxiliary wings connected to the main house by covered walkways. Building materials including pre-weathered corrugated steel cladding, buff limestone walls, and large aluminum apertures, and the interior palette of cedar-clad ceilings, oil-rubbed steel, and exposed concrete floors soften the modern aesthetics into a refined but rugged ranch home.

Joe Fletcher Atop a ridge in the Santa Lucia mountains of Carmel, California, an oak tree stands elevated above the fog and wrapped at its base in this ranch retreat. The weekend home’s design grew around the 100-year-old Valley Oak to form a horseshoe-shaped house that gathers ridgeline views of Oak, Madrone, and Redwood groves at its exterior and nestles around the tree at its center. The home’s orientation offers both the shade of the oak canopy in the courtyard and the sun flowing into the great room at the house’s rear façades. This modern take on a traditional ranch home offers contemporary materials and landscaping to a classic typology. From the main entry in the courtyard, one enters the home’s great room and immediately experiences the dramatic westward views across the 70 foot pool at the house’s rear. In this expansive public area, programmatic needs flow and connect - from the kitchen, whose windows face the courtyard, to the dining room, whose doors slide seamlessly into walls to create an outdoor dining pavilion. The primary circulation axes flank the internal courtyard, anchoring the house to its site and heightening the sense of scale by extending views outward at each of the corridor’s ends. Guest suites, complete with private kitchen and living room, and the garage are housed in auxiliary wings connected to the main house by covered walkways. Building materials including pre-weathered corrugated steel cladding, buff limestone walls, and large aluminum apertures, and the interior palette of cedar-clad ceilings, oil-rubbed steel, and exposed concrete floors soften the modern aesthetics into a refined but rugged ranch home.

Falcon Industries built this oceanfront custom home for a lovely couple looking to heighten their vacation-home experience at the Jersey Shore. We collaborated with the very talented Richard Bubnowski Design and Elizabeth Gillin Interiors on the project. From coffered ceilings and custom trim to handcrafted details that our experienced team of carpenters executed from scratch, this home truly exudes the comforts of coastal living.

Joe Fletcher Atop a ridge in the Santa Lucia mountains of Carmel, California, an oak tree stands elevated above the fog and wrapped at its base in this ranch retreat. The weekend home’s design grew around the 100-year-old Valley Oak to form a horseshoe-shaped house that gathers ridgeline views of Oak, Madrone, and Redwood groves at its exterior and nestles around the tree at its center. The home’s orientation offers both the shade of the oak canopy in the courtyard and the sun flowing into the great room at the house’s rear façades. This modern take on a traditional ranch home offers contemporary materials and landscaping to a classic typology. From the main entry in the courtyard, one enters the home’s great room and immediately experiences the dramatic westward views across the 70 foot pool at the house’s rear. In this expansive public area, programmatic needs flow and connect - from the kitchen, whose windows face the courtyard, to the dining room, whose doors slide seamlessly into walls to create an outdoor dining pavilion. The primary circulation axes flank the internal courtyard, anchoring the house to its site and heightening the sense of scale by extending views outward at each of the corridor’s ends. Guest suites, complete with private kitchen and living room, and the garage are housed in auxiliary wings connected to the main house by covered walkways. Building materials including pre-weathered corrugated steel cladding, buff limestone walls, and large aluminum apertures, and the interior palette of cedar-clad ceilings, oil-rubbed steel, and exposed concrete floors soften the modern aesthetics into a refined but rugged ranch home.

Falcon Industries built this oceanfront custom home for a lovely couple looking to heighten their vacation-home experience at the Jersey Shore. We collaborated with the very talented Richard Bubnowski Design and Elizabeth Gillin Interiors on the project. From coffered ceilings and custom trim to handcrafted details that our experienced team of carpenters executed from scratch, this home truly exudes the comforts of coastal living.

Falcon Industries built this oceanfront custom home for a lovely couple looking to heighten their vacation-home experience at the Jersey Shore. We collaborated with the very talented Richard Bubnowski Design and Elizabeth Gillin Interiors on the project. From coffered ceilings and custom trim to handcrafted details that our experienced team of carpenters executed from scratch, this home truly exudes the comforts of coastal living.

Falcon Industries built this oceanfront custom home for a lovely couple looking to heighten their vacation-home experience at the Jersey Shore. We collaborated with the very talented Richard Bubnowski Design and Elizabeth Gillin Interiors on the project. From coffered ceilings and custom trim to handcrafted details that our experienced team of carpenters executed from scratch, this home truly exudes the comforts of coastal living.

The kitchen, centrally located and equipped with top of the line appliances heighten anyone's cooking experience and invites many to dine at the cascading stone island.

Falcon Industries built this oceanfront custom home for a lovely couple looking to heighten their vacation-home experience at the Jersey Shore. We collaborated with the very talented Richard Bubnowski Design and Elizabeth Gillin Interiors on the project. From coffered ceilings and custom trim to handcrafted details that our experienced team of carpenters executed from scratch, this home truly exudes the comforts of coastal living.

Falcon Industries built this oceanfront custom home for a lovely couple looking to heighten their vacation-home experience at the Jersey Shore. We collaborated with the very talented Richard Bubnowski Design and Elizabeth Gillin Interiors on the project. From coffered ceilings and custom trim to handcrafted details that our experienced team of carpenters executed from scratch, this home truly exudes the comforts of coastal living.

Falcon Industries built this oceanfront custom home for a lovely couple looking to heighten their vacation-home experience at the Jersey Shore. We collaborated with the very talented Richard Bubnowski Design and Elizabeth Gillin Interiors on the project. From coffered ceilings and custom trim to handcrafted details that our experienced team of carpenters executed from scratch, this home truly exudes the comforts of coastal living.

Joe Fletcher Atop a ridge in the Santa Lucia mountains of Carmel, California, an oak tree stands elevated above the fog and wrapped at its base in this ranch retreat. The weekend home’s design grew around the 100-year-old Valley Oak to form a horseshoe-shaped house that gathers ridgeline views of Oak, Madrone, and Redwood groves at its exterior and nestles around the tree at its center. The home’s orientation offers both the shade of the oak canopy in the courtyard and the sun flowing into the great room at the house’s rear façades. This modern take on a traditional ranch home offers contemporary materials and landscaping to a classic typology. From the main entry in the courtyard, one enters the home’s great room and immediately experiences the dramatic westward views across the 70 foot pool at the house’s rear. In this expansive public area, programmatic needs flow and connect - from the kitchen, whose windows face the courtyard, to the dining room, whose doors slide seamlessly into walls to create an outdoor dining pavilion. The primary circulation axes flank the internal courtyard, anchoring the house to its site and heightening the sense of scale by extending views outward at each of the corridor’s ends. Guest suites, complete with private kitchen and living room, and the garage are housed in auxiliary wings connected to the main house by covered walkways. Building materials including pre-weathered corrugated steel cladding, buff limestone walls, and large aluminum apertures, and the interior palette of cedar-clad ceilings, oil-rubbed steel, and exposed concrete floors soften the modern aesthetics into a refined but rugged ranch home.