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Mid Century Zen
Location: Glen Ellen, California
Celebrating our client's deep connection to Sonoma County winemaking and Japanese heritage, this renovation transforms a dated ranch house into a harmonious blend of cultures and landscapes. The dramatic new roofline creates soaring interior spaces while framing sweeping vineyard views. Traditional Japanese architectural elements are thoughtfully integrated throughout, including a genkan (step-down entry), engawa (wraparound deck), and tokonoma (ceremonial alcove for seasonal displays).
The wine tasting experience became a centerpiece of the design, featuring a sunken floor that evokes the ambiance of a wine cave. A pocketing window behind the custom bar opens to vineyard views, seamlessly connecting indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces. In a poetic touch, we repurposed a fallen redwood from the property, using its timber for the ceiling cladding, a live-edge entry bench, the wine room's bar, and a striking natural column within the tokonoma.
The design thoughtfully weaves together interior and exterior spaces through carefully chosen materials and architectural elements, creating a home that honors both its wine country setting and its owners' cultural heritage.
Project Team
Contractor: Shook & Waller Construction
Interior Design: Amy Friedberg Design
Japanese Yoga Room Consultant: Ryosei Kaneko
Structural Engineer: MKM & Associates Structural Engineering
Civil Engineer: Carlile Macy
Audio Visual: Sync Systems, Inc.
Landscape Design: Gardenworks Inc.
Photographer: Jean Bai Photography
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