Basement:To keep the ceilings feeling high, Kenny retained the exposed rafters, pipes and ductwork for an industrial look and painted them black. The bottoms of the rafters are 9 feet high and the top height of the ceiling is 10 feet, 4 inches. Having ceilings this high in a subterranean space is a game changer and made it worth forgoing a finished drywall ceiling. “It also saved money for the budget,” Kenny says. The high ceilings also allowed for pleasingly proportioned wainscoting with high contrast. The black-and-white combination on the walls adds to the chic lounge vibe down here. And the TV blends right into the black wall.
Basement:
Low-maintenance Cor-Ten steel siding and concrete foundation walls
The bow-tie-shaped window in the architect’s office marks where the two wings of the butterfly roof meet.
This bridge connects the engineer’s wing and the common area. A system of rain chains carries water from the roofs in lieu of downspouts. They empty into collection boxes full of stones. Under the boxes, piping leads the water to an area away from the house. If needed, rain chain systems can collect water for irrigation, but it wasn’t necessary on this site.
She replaced the pantry with cabinets that have beautiful metal grilles.
New staircase makes crawl space into useable basement. Nook under new stairs
The row house is 18 feet wide.
The row house is 18 feet wide.
Beam
The construction of the guardrail on the right makes you stop and think. “The rail is made of laminated sheets of plywood. We exposed it between the two edges and painted the inside blush to subtly stand out against the white,” Lawrence says.
After: Lawrence came up with a Z-shaped volume for the new staircase. “Elizabeth and I are often fixated on the stairs as an object, because they take up a lot of space,” he says. “They are also a way to bring light down between floors. We wanted the railings to be as thin and light as possible so as not to compete with the brick wall.” He used laminated sheets of plywood to craft the new guardrails and he saved the original stairs, which were in great shape.
The house stands stable on eight steel columns, each supported by an isolated footing (a type of foundation in which individual foundation pads transfer weight into the ground). These columns support the house’s two 10-inch-thick slabs of reinforced concrete. “The soil work was the biggest challenge. We had to replace the soil to a depth of up to [about 20 feet], taking care not to damage the roots of the trees,” Gappmaier says. Once the concrete slabs were poured and leveled, insulation was placed on top. Then came the underfloor heating and the screed (a thin layer of special concrete that creates a smooth, level surface for the final floor covering). The heating is driven by a wood-chip system in the main building. Architekturbüro Gappmaier The slabs, which were necessary for structural reasons, do not interfere with the woodland character of the home. The house is built of prefabricated, preinsulated wood panels — known in German as Holztafelbauweise — covered in larch. “The house was prefabricated and then mounted onto the concrete slabs. It was exciting to see how perfectly everything worked out. Only a few branches had to be cut off or shortened,” Gappmaier says. A 23-...
Jo
Cement-based paint covers the walls, floor and ceiling. The eggshell hue echoes the color of the wood in the rest of the house. “The bathroom had to be seamless. That’s why we chose this paint,” Gappmaier says.
A view of the bedroom wing reflects the home’s treehouse design.
A roof deck above the office allows the family a space to stargaze and camp out. The decking material is sturdy ipe wood, while standing-seam metal roofing covers the rest of the home.
Blacksmith Tim Greene crafted the metal steps up to a hatch that opens onto the roof deck.
An airy hallway connects the bedrooms. Because of the home’s private setting, no window treatments are needed. Awning windows provide ventilation even during Maine’s frequent summer rains.
The living room board-formed concrete fireplace, which separates the living room from the dining area, is a monolithic element that starts below the house at grade as a structural element and continues through the roof as a chimney.
The living room board-formed concrete fireplace, which separates the living room from the dining area, is a monolithic element that starts below the house at grade as a structural element and continues through the roof as a chimney.
The home appears much larger than its 672 square feet, due to light walls, a pitched ceiling and large windows. Cabin sits atop piers over water.
The home appears much larger than its 672 square feet, due to light walls, a pitched ceiling and large windows.
A classic claw-foot tub, a repurposed sink stand, barn lighting and exposed copper pipes add patina to the new construction.
Modern ottomans
Modern interior could refresh a dark cabin
Patterned basket light fixture
Black dresser, white wall, black framed shaped mirror, leaning art, light floors
Black spindles, white walls
front living room’s marble fire surround and wood-burning stove were added
Modern ceiling
Modern cabin / ski chalet
Bar space with rustic feel. Thick shelf with hanging glasses visually balanced by upright glasses.
Black, White and Wood
Wood stove with visible flames
Inside, they sanded and varnished the logs to preserve the wood’s natural texture and grain. The flooring is matte hexagonal tile in a neutral gray, placed over an under-floor heating system. The ceiling is finished in untrimmed, dried boards. These natural materials will age beautifully over time.
The square, 23-by-23-foot house has two levels. The lower one is made of hand-hewn logs and the second level is a wood frame construction. The owners chose this configuration for two reasons: First, wood is a natural material that breathes well, and second, this kind of house can be built in stages, which was convenient for the owners’ budget.
Black and white fireplace
created smart storage solutions that allowed her Redmond, Washington, clients to skip upper cabinets. This allowed her to surround three sides of the room with spectacular window banks. The room’s neutral color palette lets the leafy views be the star of the show.
Modern cabin exterior
Modern cabin exterior
Wall of windows
Swivel chairs
Q