Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The 25-year-old cottage shown here and on our cover sits on two
pleasant berry-strewn acres in northern California. Until a few years
ago, however, the pleasantness stopped abruptly at the front door.
Inside, the 1,500-square-foot house was dark and confining, its
Architect Obie Bowman of The Sea Ranch and his wife, Helena, bought
the cheerless house and set about filling it with light and livability.
Their plan centered around a new 17-foot light tower on the southwest
side of the living room, with rooftop vents for releasing summer heat.
Bowman held costs down by staying on the former structure's
foundation, yet made the house feel larger by raising the ceiling to the
height of the original roof, pushing out the light-tower dormer, and
removing a kitchen wall. Outdoors, adjacent to the old front door, he
created an angled deck that's bounded by lattice panels. A
wisteria-covered frame defines the entry.
to get to the back yard. Most walls needed rebuilding. Closets and work
surfaces were minimal.
The house originally had four bedrooms three along the north wall,
one on the south. They removed the latter, adding the extra space to
the living room, and converted another bedroom into the new bathroom.
With the help of partner John Ruble, Yudell and his wife, Tina
Beebe, a graphic designer, looked for a way to make the interior seem
less cramped.
Photo: Opened-up kitchen wall lets dining area share light from new
kitchen windows; knee-braced opening keeps to cottage style
uncramping both small rooms and letting in light from scaled-up version
of old kitchen window. Fir cabinets and moldings match softwood
flooring
Photo: Curved partition has cutouts for seating. Deepest cutout (far left) is bedroom; seat at foot of
bed can also serve the living
room