My Houzz: A Hilltop Family Home in Santa Cruz
Couple draws dream home inspiration from 'A Pattern Language' in thoughtfully placing windows, nooks and heirlooms
Inspired by memories of childhood homes, Enid and Jim Brock built their house from scratch on a carefully chosen plot with an ocean view in Santa Cruz, California. "I wanted every room to be cozy, with a sunny corner where you could sit with a book, or a place to warm your toes in front of the fire," says Enid.
Along with Santa Cruz architect Matthew Thompson, the couple created the warm, inviting retreat they'd dreamed of, with spacious porches, cozy nooks and plenty of natural light and space for visiting family and friends.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Enid and Jim Brock, their three daughters, and their dog, Lulu
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Size: 4,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and an office
That's interesting: The couple's master bathroom features an outdoor shower.
Along with Santa Cruz architect Matthew Thompson, the couple created the warm, inviting retreat they'd dreamed of, with spacious porches, cozy nooks and plenty of natural light and space for visiting family and friends.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Enid and Jim Brock, their three daughters, and their dog, Lulu
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Size: 4,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and an office
That's interesting: The couple's master bathroom features an outdoor shower.
While designing the home, architect Matthew Thompson gave Enid A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander. "I was instantly amazed. It described all the things I had always thought about houses but had never articulated — what works and what doesn't. Why some rooms feel good and others push you away," she says. "Our home is the house the Pattern Language built."
The first idea Enid took from the book was "south-facing outdoors." The family previously lived in two houses on the same street: one south facing, where they spent a great deal of time outdoors on the steps enjoying the sun, and one north facing, which was much dimmer inside and had steps always covered in shade.
With these contrasting experiences in mind, the couple wanted to do everything possible to orient each room to the south. Almost every room, including the kitchen, is enclosed by large windows and saturated with sunshine." The only two rooms that face north are the dining room and guest bedroom.
With these contrasting experiences in mind, the couple wanted to do everything possible to orient each room to the south. Almost every room, including the kitchen, is enclosed by large windows and saturated with sunshine." The only two rooms that face north are the dining room and guest bedroom.
Enid chose a Madrone butcher block for the kitchen island. "When I remember to oil it (which I do not) it has a gorgeous rich, dark finish," she says. "But because we all use it like a giant cutting board — slicing melon, making sandwiches and rolling pie crust — it tends to be somewhat neglected when it comes to religious maintenance."
Growing up in a family that covered its refrigerator with report cards, snapshots and other family memorabilia, Enid wanted to do the same. The wood-framed doors are custom made with galvanized metal panels, perfect for hanging family treasures. "I know it may look messy, but that's what makes a kitchen feel like home to me."
Growing up in a family that covered its refrigerator with report cards, snapshots and other family memorabilia, Enid wanted to do the same. The wood-framed doors are custom made with galvanized metal panels, perfect for hanging family treasures. "I know it may look messy, but that's what makes a kitchen feel like home to me."
With its southwestern-facing views, the warm and sunny window seat in the kitchen is a favorite spot for reading the newspaper, checking emails and simply enjoying the view. "You can see the Pacific, the forest and the local wildlife as they parade across the lawn," says Enid. "We have seen everything from a family of quail, to bunnies, to a gang of wild turkeys."
Because of the sun exposure, Enid chose to cover the cushions with outdoor fabric, and she changes out the throw pillow covers as needed.
Because of the sun exposure, Enid chose to cover the cushions with outdoor fabric, and she changes out the throw pillow covers as needed.
A side door leads outside to one of many porch areas.
Paint: Cloud White, Benjamin Moore; barstools: Cost Plus World Market; rug: antique from Morocco
Paint: Cloud White, Benjamin Moore; barstools: Cost Plus World Market; rug: antique from Morocco
Many of the living room furnishings have been in Enid's family for years. The leather chair and ottoman belonged to Enid's great-grandfather.
Enid found the brass tabletop during her travels to Morocco and combined it with a self-designed base, made by Rich Loughridge of Loughridge Cabinets.
Rug: Medallion Rug Gallery
Enid found the brass tabletop during her travels to Morocco and combined it with a self-designed base, made by Rich Loughridge of Loughridge Cabinets.
Rug: Medallion Rug Gallery
The painting above the living room mantel by local artist Brian Rounds depicts Wilder Ranch State Park, just a few miles north of the Brocks' home.
Enid's great-uncle made the fireplace fender bench, which is perfect for enjoying the warmth of the fire on chilly Santa Cruz afternoons.
Enid's great-uncle made the fireplace fender bench, which is perfect for enjoying the warmth of the fire on chilly Santa Cruz afternoons.
This drafting desk also once belonged to Enid's great-grandfather, who used it for drafting irrigation plans for his orange groves. A glass mobile from SkLO hangs above the desk. "I love the way it moves in the breeze when we have the windows open, as well as the way it reflects the light from the lamp below," Enid says.
This painting in the entry of Enid's great-grandmother once hung intimidatingly high in Enid's grandmother's home.
"We took the portrait out of the enormous wooden crate it had been shipped in and just propped her up against the wall, and the strangest thing happened. Once she was down at our level, when we could look her right in the eye, Florence stopped being so intimidating and became approachable," says Enid. "People tell me a painting that large should be hung well above the floor, but I don't care. Florence and I like to see each other eye-to-eye."
"We took the portrait out of the enormous wooden crate it had been shipped in and just propped her up against the wall, and the strangest thing happened. Once she was down at our level, when we could look her right in the eye, Florence stopped being so intimidating and became approachable," says Enid. "People tell me a painting that large should be hung well above the floor, but I don't care. Florence and I like to see each other eye-to-eye."
The home's entry is brimming with a collection of worldly decor, including an assortment of globes. "I am on a bit of a mission to collect one that reflects every political and border transition of the 20th century — plus their round shape is very calming, and the different sea blues look so nice with the tomato red chair," says Enid. The leather chest printed with a map of the world is another family heirloom.
When designing the staircase, the couple showed Thompson photos of a staircase in Enid's family's Riverside home. The couple worked with Greg Howerton of Howerton Construction to design and craft the same quatrefoil pattern in the baluster.
Enid wanted a more casual feel for this staircase, so she chose a Japanese textile and quirky cardboard animal busts found at Stripe and Cardboard Safari for the wall. A Japanese maple leaf mobile, which moves when the front door opens and closes, hangs from the ceiling.
Enid wanted a more casual feel for this staircase, so she chose a Japanese textile and quirky cardboard animal busts found at Stripe and Cardboard Safari for the wall. A Japanese maple leaf mobile, which moves when the front door opens and closes, hangs from the ceiling.
Enid purchased this statue from The Warmth Company in Aptos and purposefully placed it on the entry staircase for a warm welcome. The depiction of the Buddha sitting on a lotus flower represents rebirth and good fortune. "We wanted good tidings for the first space you enter in our house," says Enid.
Floor-to-ceiling windows line the hallway leading to the home's guest quarters. The couple purchased the hanging light fixtures from Om Gallery in Santa Cruz. "I love the way they look like pumpkins when we come in the driveway; it feels very welcoming," says Enid.
"I think the silliest thing in the world is a room with gorgeous windows but no way to sit next to them and look outside. That's why our house has so many window seats," Enid says. This built-in nook features a partially enclosed low seat next to a window with a low sill.
Couch: Crate & Barrel; ottoman: Pottery Barn
Couch: Crate & Barrel; ottoman: Pottery Barn
Enid purchased this chair for $10 from the custodian at Burton-Judson hall at the University of Chicago, where she and Jim attended law school. "There was a chair like this in every dorm room, and I had fallen in love with the shape," she says. She re-covered the ripped leather chair with a rose-hued leopard print.
The master bedroom's three walls of large windows flood the space with soft light. Enid covered the ceiling above the bed with a variety of white paper lanterns. "I love the way they look swaying above us as we lie in bed."
Bed: Hannah's Home Furnishings
Bed: Hannah's Home Furnishings
In a small seating area outside the master bathroom, an heirloom chair and garage-sale-found stool complement a framed Man Ray poster from Enid's college dorm and an Ansel Adams Depression-era photograph.
Trim paint: Silver Sage, Restoration Hardware
Trim paint: Silver Sage, Restoration Hardware
The second-floor master bathroom looks out over the property's private forest, making window treatments unnecessary.
An outdoor shower in the master bathroom was at the top of the couple's home wishlist, inspired by Enid's childhood visits to her aunt and uncle's farm. "It was the most exotic, magical, delicious experience of my young life to stand under the hot water looking out at the blackberry bushes with the smell of the Willamette River coming up over the meadow," she says.
"My husband showers there 364 days a year. I only use it in the summer because I am a little bit of a wimp," Enid admits.
Bathtub: Waterworks
An outdoor shower in the master bathroom was at the top of the couple's home wishlist, inspired by Enid's childhood visits to her aunt and uncle's farm. "It was the most exotic, magical, delicious experience of my young life to stand under the hot water looking out at the blackberry bushes with the smell of the Willamette River coming up over the meadow," she says.
"My husband showers there 364 days a year. I only use it in the summer because I am a little bit of a wimp," Enid admits.
Bathtub: Waterworks
The hallway leading to their daughters' bedrooms is lined with world map wallpaper found in the SkyMall catalog. "We actually had to buy two since we didn't want to sacrifice any land masses when we papered around the door in the middle," Enid explains. "You can't see a seam or any break in the pattern of water — it just looks as if the Pacific Ocean stretched wide enough to accommodate the door," Enid says. Whitewashing the wallpaper after hanging toned down the bright hues.
Enid and her daughter worked with interior designer Suna Lock to design this bedroom. "She was ready for a room that reflected her mature personality and interests," Enid says.
Paint: Adriatic Sea, Benjamin Moore
Paint: Adriatic Sea, Benjamin Moore
Lock also designed and constructed this built-in platform-style bed.
Bedspread: Anthropologie; string lights: NapaStyle
Bedspread: Anthropologie; string lights: NapaStyle
Enid's other daughter dreamt of a bedroom that felt like a cozy barn. Not wanting to overpower the room by painting it all red, they chose to limit the hot color to the elevated window nook.
The space is filled with an all-down chaise lounge, perfect for curling up and reading. "There is a huge redwood right outside the window, so it feels as if you are sitting in a tree," says Enid. "I know this because sometimes when she's at school I sneak upstairs and read a book there!"
The space is filled with an all-down chaise lounge, perfect for curling up and reading. "There is a huge redwood right outside the window, so it feels as if you are sitting in a tree," says Enid. "I know this because sometimes when she's at school I sneak upstairs and read a book there!"
Inspired by the all-violet bathroom in her grandmother's Riverside home, Enid chose to create an all-blue bathroom for her daughters. "Taking a bath in that tub feels like floating in the ocean."
Because corner tubs are now difficult to find, the couple bought vintage. They purchased the tub from a store in Berkeley that had recently received it from a San Francisco film set.
Because corner tubs are now difficult to find, the couple bought vintage. They purchased the tub from a store in Berkeley that had recently received it from a San Francisco film set.
One of the last ideas Enid took from A Pattern Language was "a connection to the Earth." "I love a house that coaxes you into the garden, and that is what this pattern is about," she says. "People like buildings that allow them to transition gently from inside to outside." The couple designed their home with plenty of porches and large shallow steps, allowing their family to enjoy the outdoors, while still enjoying the comforts of the indoors.
Houzz call: Share your creative family home with us.
Houzz call: Share your creative family home with us.