Shepard Residence

A Tale of two facades - The owners of this house had very different opinions about the genre their remade Rambler would ultimately assume. Both were agreed on the size and disposition of the new work. But the final style of the house was very much a point of conjecture. One was a fan of the traditional Revival styles found in Seaside, Florida, a favorite family vacation destination. The other was inspired by a Gabled-Modern vernacular.

Ultimately, the design solution combines both styles into one cohesive composition. Being a corner lot, the home owners preferred the two public facing sides be traditional to better relate with the immediate neighbors and neighborhood. The rear, very much hidden from the public eye, is in sharp contrast. It departs from the other facades in both form and material. The angular rear geometry is a literal reflection of the buildable area limits allowed by zoning. The remaining unbuilt area provided just enough space for a functional garage with much needed storage.

The interiors are a fusion of both Traditional and Contemporary design. The original ground floor was transformed into open-plan living space. The sheer steel open riser stair is suspended by a rod from the ceiling structure and appears to float freely within the interior space.

Reclaimed "Old-Growth" wood is used as an accent material in the 2-story high living room and master suite. Note, in the Master, there is a concealed passage door within the wood paneling to connect with the "Secret Office". The door has a magnetic push latch to access, with no other visible hardware to discern an opening. The office was envisioned as an "out of sight, out of mind" secret retreat from their young children when work demands required quiet work at home space.