Ranch House | 01
Our client tasked us with updating a typical 1950's suburban ranch home into a modern one with a focus on entertaining. Construction funds were limited, so instead of taking the costly step of adding square footage, we focused our efforts on reimagining the indoor/outdoor connection between the public spaces of the home and the garden.
The accordion door system between the public spaces and the deck creates a seamless link to the outdoors. Our intent was to create an outdoor room that can accommodate relaxing, entertaining, and dining. Wheels were added to the dining table to allow for effortless alfresco dining, eliminating the need, and cost, of duplicate furniture.
In the garden, we repurposed the wood timbers from an existing deck and trellis to create an outdoor living room. The concrete patio installed by the previous owners was too costly to remove in its entirety, so a rotary saw was used to cut linear voids that now serve as planting beds.
The dark textured tile in the master bath was selected to be flattering to all skin tones as well as to make the compact space feel more spacious under low lighting.
Details
Location: San Jose, California
Completion: 2010
Photography: Sharon Risedorph
Original Architect: unknown, 1955
Architecture & Interiors:
Chad DeWitt - Project Designer
Alice Hwang - Project Architect
Interior Design: Framestudio
Landscape: St. John Landscapes
Builder: Z&Y Construction
Media
California Home + Design Small Details, Big Impact
San Francisco Chronicle From ranch house to modern gem
The professional designer's guide to garden furnishings, Patricia Gardner Nagel, Timber Press
The less is more garden, Susan Morrison, Timber Press
Landscaping ideas that work, Julie Moir Messervy, Tauton Press