Houzz Tour: An Ecofriendly Family Home Gets in Line
Without any curved lines but with a wealth of energy-efficient features, this remodeled home in Northern California has plenty of appeal
"You won't find a single curve or arc in this house or landscape," says residential designer Leigha Heydt. Heydt teamed up with a developer to build this sustainable-minded house on spec. Very quickly, the straight-lined home appealed to a young family of New York City transplants. In addition to a family-friendly layout, Heydt prioritized resource-saving features — such as bamboo floors, energy-efficient windows and skylights, water-saving plumbing fixtures and landscaping — and blurred the lines between indoors and out. The home is GreenPoint rated and within walking distance of a grocery store and other businesses. The couple and the home can age together, too, thanks to an accessible downstairs bedroom and full bath.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with 2 boys
Location: Mill Valley, California
Size: 2,300 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: This home is called Green Lines, because of the strict use of straight lines inside and out, as well as renewable and resource-saving features.
Builder: Jake Glavis, Pacific Ridge Construction
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with 2 boys
Location: Mill Valley, California
Size: 2,300 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: This home is called Green Lines, because of the strict use of straight lines inside and out, as well as renewable and resource-saving features.
Builder: Jake Glavis, Pacific Ridge Construction
BEFORE: This is the original house, which was torn down to the studs so that the floor plan could be opened up and healthier, modern insulation, paint and other materials could be used. Heydt preserved the exterior footprint of the existing home and added a second floor.
She also borrowed a wise idea from the original home. Recessing the front door created a protective front porch and a grander sense of entry. It is tucked between the garage and living room bays, and covered by an upper balcony. The guardrail frames are the same western red cedar used on the siding, and the metal railings are powder-coated tube steel, precisely inset into the posts by a CNC saw.
Attention to detail created continuity and a careful balance of materials. For example, Heydt had the planters and soffit screen fabricated in matching powder-coated steel. And she had the concrete stained to match the color of the metal railings.
Attention to detail created continuity and a careful balance of materials. For example, Heydt had the planters and soffit screen fabricated in matching powder-coated steel. And she had the concrete stained to match the color of the metal railings.
"Permeable landscape materials are a very important aspect of green building," says Heydt. The driveway design allows rainwater to sink into the soil, where it can be used by the landscape plantings.
The gray pads are colored and stained concrete, the golden pebbles are Mexican pebbles (also called buff), and the grasses are a native species, Juncus inflexus 'Blue Mohawk'.
The gray pads are colored and stained concrete, the golden pebbles are Mexican pebbles (also called buff), and the grasses are a native species, Juncus inflexus 'Blue Mohawk'.
Geometry is at play from the foundation to the roof. "The relationship between the materials and the geometric forms creates its own balance," Heydt says. "The horizontal lines of the wood siding play off of the vertical lines in the downspout and railing, while the grid of the soffit screen ties it all together."
"Because the house is a compact size and the design is very modern, we wanted an open great-room design for the lower floor," Heydt says. "The front of the house has very few windows, because the developer wanted the home to feel very private from the street. However, once inside, there is a completely different feeling — it is very bright and open, because the back of the house is almost entirely glass."
Extensive back windows and the open plan make the most of the home's southern exposure. "Maximizing the natural light is not only a green building measure, but also just makes a lot of practical sense," Heydt says. "The owners tell me they almost never have to turn on any lights during the day, and the home uses very little energy for heating or cooling."
Extensive back windows and the open plan make the most of the home's southern exposure. "Maximizing the natural light is not only a green building measure, but also just makes a lot of practical sense," Heydt says. "The owners tell me they almost never have to turn on any lights during the day, and the home uses very little energy for heating or cooling."
Here's one of the homeowners, Cindy, coming into the family room from the deck, which spans the back of the house. "The deck makes the house feel much larger," says Heydt. "Because the weather is very good year-round out here, the deck is used a lot as an extension of the house."
Modern furnishings continue the straight lines, with just a few curves thrown in from a classic Eames Lounge Chair.
Bench (underneath the TV): George Nelson for Herman Miller; sofa: Klein, Room & Board
Modern furnishings continue the straight lines, with just a few curves thrown in from a classic Eames Lounge Chair.
Bench (underneath the TV): George Nelson for Herman Miller; sofa: Klein, Room & Board
The lower windows were acid etched and screened with a wall of bamboo outside to let it natural light while preserving privacy. "The outlines of the bamboo leaves can be seen swaying in front of the windows," Heydt says.
Taking the limestone fireplace surround from floor to ceiling created a bold modern take on a chimney.
Fireplace surround: Fossil Green limestone; woven leather chair: De La Espada; windows: aluminum-clad Marvin wood; coffee tables: Bee Market
Taking the limestone fireplace surround from floor to ceiling created a bold modern take on a chimney.
Fireplace surround: Fossil Green limestone; woven leather chair: De La Espada; windows: aluminum-clad Marvin wood; coffee tables: Bee Market
"While the parents prepare meals, the children do their homework or watch TV in the adjacent family room space. The layout allows for the family to stay engaged with one another while using these common spaces," Heydt says. "When the family entertains, guests flow in and out of the home through the patio doors as though there were no separation between the inside and out."
Bar stools: Radius, Room & Board; cabinets: Nexus Black, Ikea; counters: Calacatta Oro marble
Bar stools: Radius, Room & Board; cabinets: Nexus Black, Ikea; counters: Calacatta Oro marble
"I designed the landscape to be highly integrated with the house," says Heydt. "From the inside of the house, you see the color green through every window."
A row of mature camellias inspired the placement of this window in the kitchen. "When they are in bloom, the backsplash view is spectacular, and when they are not, it is a serene introduction of greenery into the kitchen," Heydt says. She sized the backsplash window to fit the space precisely between the cabinets and the counter. The reflection off the translucent glass upper cabinets gives the illusion of a continued outdoor view.
A row of mature camellias inspired the placement of this window in the kitchen. "When they are in bloom, the backsplash view is spectacular, and when they are not, it is a serene introduction of greenery into the kitchen," Heydt says. She sized the backsplash window to fit the space precisely between the cabinets and the counter. The reflection off the translucent glass upper cabinets gives the illusion of a continued outdoor view.
Homeowner Peter in front of the new dining room. "Since the floor plan was so open, I wanted to create a little intimacy for the dining room and define its space as separate from the foyer and living room, which are extremely close," Heydt says. "One of the columns contains a structural post for the floor framing above. The portico effect of this design incorporates the column and achieves the design goal at the same time."
Dining chairs: Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller
Dining chairs: Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller
"Because the front of the house has very few windows for privacy reasons, we brought natural light into the home through the use of many skylights on the upper floor," Heydt says. "Skylights line the stairwell and hallway ceilings as well as the two bathrooms. The skylights are incredibly energy efficient due to the type of glass they contain. They let in light but keep heat and cold out."
The interior staircase railing is the same powder-coated steel in the same color as the exterior railing.
The interior staircase railing is the same powder-coated steel in the same color as the exterior railing.
This cabinet and shelf wall in the master bedroom houses a TV, fireplace and computer area. The doors to the right lead to a balcony overlooking the backyard.
This back balcony spans the length of the house and is accessed from the master bedroom and another bedroom. "The balconies also serve a safety purpose; the glass doors serve as egress accesses, which are more attractive than egress windows and let in more light," Heydt says.
She chose this Pebble Tec flooring, an epoxy-set aggregate with little gray Mexican pebbles, because it resembles a loose-gravel garden path.
She chose this Pebble Tec flooring, an epoxy-set aggregate with little gray Mexican pebbles, because it resembles a loose-gravel garden path.
Heydt (shown here) surrounded the master bathroom tub in the same porcelain tile she used on the floor: Grey Ground, by GranitiFiandre. It's made of recycled materials.
A floating vanity in the children's bath allows the floor to stretch from wall to wall, making the room feel bigger.
Flooring: Grey Ground porcelain tile, GranitiFiandre; cabinet: Rifra, Fonte Collection
Flooring: Grey Ground porcelain tile, GranitiFiandre; cabinet: Rifra, Fonte Collection
Plan sketches show the home's layout. This is the first floor, including the deck.
Here is the second floor.
Heydt loves seeing the family enjoy her design. "I am thrilled they own the house, because they really understand and appreciate the aesthetic," she says. "It was so much fun for me to see them move in and start using the house in ways I had previously only imagined."
Heydt loves seeing the family enjoy her design. "I am thrilled they own the house, because they really understand and appreciate the aesthetic," she says. "It was so much fun for me to see them move in and start using the house in ways I had previously only imagined."
The developer originally wanted a wood facade, but Heydt incorporated as much stucco as she could (on the first floor and on the sides of the house), because this stucco is more durable and fireproof than wood siding. She put the wood, a stained western red cedar, where it would make the most visual impact. She used the same red cedar on the garage door but stained it dark gray.