The existing house was built in 1963 as a mid-century modern with the goals of simplicity and connection to nature. But simple can get complicated when you have a growing family. The owners came to Thornhill Design Studio needing space, functionality and design. Their wish list of additions included a home office, a bathroom, a bedroom and an exercise room. They also asked for updates to an existing bedroom, home office, powder room, bathroom, laundry room and mudroom.
It was very important to the owners that the new addition blend in seamlessly with the distinctive style of the existing house. With careful attention to the massing as well as the details and materials, Thornhill Design Studio created an addition that is synergistic with the original structure. From the inside and out, the new addition not only blends with, but enhances both the appearance and performance of the original house.
Taking into consideration the wooded site and the winding approach to the house, the new office establishes a central presence for the modern composition. Within the interior, the generously proportioned office provides enough space for the owner to work from home while also functioning as a gracious guest room with an en suite bathroom.
The new bedroom addition floats in the tree canopy and was sized to ensure parity between siblings - just as they each get five marshmallows in their hot chocolate mugs. Thornhill leveraged the sloped topography to insert an exercise room under the bedroom addition with energizing views of the surrounding wooded hills.
Thornhill removed the washer and dryer from the existing mudroom to upgrade the space with custom cabinetry to create an organized and welcoming entry experience for the family and visitors alike. The laundry machines moved to a dedicated room that had enough capacity to house the washer and dryer in addition to all the family’s laundry baskets, which were previously stacked in the second home office. Once the laundry baskets were gone, the domino effect made it possible to return the second office to a functional space.
Deliberate simplicity and consideration for existing architecture makes it possible to rise above challenging terrain. Function and good design can only be enhanced when the outdoors influences the indoors.