This page will evolve as I get more photos of the 20+ years worth of buildings, kitchens, bathrooms, decks, gardens, landscapes and furniture I have designed and built.
Check back soon.....
**Click on pictures to enlarge**
GARDEN ARBOR
In our garden we needed to find a way to transition the flow from our parking area to our home. An arbor was a natural design to bring the garden and path together. We planted grapes on the arbor to allow a waterfall of leaves to cascade across the path and shade the sitting area below. On the side facing the road we planted timber bamboo to create a dramatic screen from the flow of traffic. As this area fills in, we will add photos to show the evolution. The latest image is only 2 years after the arbor was built.
COURTYARD WALL
In 1994 Saint Michael's Extended care retirement home, in San Rafael, Marin County California wanted a court yard in front of their facility. The idea was to give the guests a place to spend time out doors without being in danger of the busy road in front of the building. I have always been inspired by Mediterranean style design and felt this would offer a calm environment in a busy city. I wanted to quiet the constant din of the freeway not 3 blocks from Saint Michael's, so I placed a fountain on the outermost wall to radiate sound back towards the building. I like to integrate water features into common spaces as often as I can, this to me is a vital part of bringing a peaceful atmosphere to a space. The doorway was also an important feature. It needed to bring a feeling of change to all who passed, a sense that this place was very different than the bustling street they left behind.
I like the result.
BUNGALOW STYLE ADDITION
In 1994 when I first moved to Sonoma County I got the chance to help re-design this house in Sebastopol along with Artisan Builders a local design /build outfit. At the time it was a two level house with only one room up stairs. We added an entire floor to the second level and a large attic space with two large rooms and wonderful views. The client was inspired by the craftsman / bungalow style of architecture so this helped guide the design. The project was built by Artisan Builders.
ART STUDIO
In the flood plain of the Russian River this house sat 11 feet above the ground, yet only 12” above the 100 year flood line. The owners, Jack and Carol, are both artists and needed a large room so they could work together in the same space. I wanted to make the addition seem as if it was part of the original house so I matched the details exactly as the were on the existing structure. They used the room for painting so it was important to have good ventilation, so I vaulted the ceiling and installed a overhead fan. Placing many windows and sky lights for light and cross venting, then adding a wood burning stove, the room was warm and comfortable.
Contact the owners Jack and Carol.
SOUTHWESTERN BATH
The tub was leaking, the room was moldy, the floor was rotting and there was almost no natural light in this 1960s bathroom. This old bathroom is on the south wall of the house and there was room to pop out an extension. I wanted as much natural light as I could get and the largest bathtub possible so I added 2 feet in a bay window style. I changed the orientation of the tub so you could be facing the light while you soaked, this had the added benefit of giving me two nice benches on both sides of the sunken tub. This worked perfect for a custom tile job and so we added a bit of south western flavor to create a relaxing atmosphere.
NATURAL BUILT GREENHOUSE
Anice needed wheelchair access to her green house so she could pursue her love of plants. In 1996 she asked me to designed and built one which fit her needs. It was built with a frame of recycled redwood lumber. The foundation was simply 4x6 redwood posts which were charred in a fire on 3 feet of one end (see below). The charred end was then dropped in a hole and filled with 3/8" crushed rock. The walls were then in-filled using a light clay method. I used recycled sliding glass doors for the glass.
*This is us charring the posts
The material cost was around $1500.00 total.
CUSTOM BATHROOM
This was a small, dark and cramped bathroom at my parents house. In 1992 I added 4 feet to the back wall and changed the layout. We added a bath tub, two windows and another vanity. Now my dad can read in the bath tub as long as he wants and my mom can brush her teeth with out elbowing my papa.
ECO-VILLAGE
Rainbow Builders and Symbios design created and built (in 5 days with 50+ volunteers) an "ECO-VILLAGE" at the 1998 Health & Harmony Fair in Santa Rosa, California. It consisted of strawbale walls with over 400 bales, and four display areas - a green kitchen, home office, bamboo living room and a hemp bedroom - on recycled wood platforms (built from old growth Douglas Fir 2x12 planks from an old 1870's water tank roof from Healdsburg, California) and a bamboo roof sculpture (designed by Darrel DeBoer). We had a beautiful fountain in the center court yard which turned out to have such a calming effect on the visitors that by the middle of the first day we had 10 or 20 people snoozing and resting around it in the midst of all the noise and busyness of the fair.
$50.00 GREEN HOUSE
I lived at the 'EARTHSAVE' organization in Santa Cruz California for a couple years from 1989-91. I was living very simply and had little money. I wanted to build a green house and began collecting materials from where ever I could, soon I had what I needed and began building. Most of the materials were from houses built from the late 1800s to the mid 1930s. The design was modular panels which could be unscrewed and transported easily. The whole project cost $ 50.00 for materials (mostly concrete for the foundation) and was built with the help of friends.
CUSTOM KITCHEN
In 1993 we converted this old dark servant's kitchen , with a small pass through to the dining room, into an open floor plan design. Taking out the load bearing wall between the rooms (no small feat in itself) and placing glass cabinets between, we were able to bring in an amazing amount of light. With continuous oak flooring and 12x12" granite tile counters it finished out beautifully
DECKS UNLIMITED
This wonderful couple wanted to convert the entire first story roof of their Marin, California home into a deck. They liked to host large parties and wanted as much outdoor space as possible.
UP-GRADED POOL DECK
I always felt the pool area at my parents house could use more social gathering areas. I first built the large deck (on the left) in 1988, I later added a new sitting deck and a BBQ in 1989. Prior to 88' the pool area was used for an occasional swim or hot tub, where as now it is use through out the year for parties and picnics.
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