This addition included a new home gym, media/family room and powder room, all carved out of the hillside below the existing house.

The slatted light wall in the rear of the gym provides light where it otherwise would be the darkest. The custom design is made from reclaimed wood, Lumisite and LED strip lights. The clients are triathletes, live on the West coast but work on East coast time. They like to exercise before starting work. The LED lights are set to mimic the dawning East coast morning a few hours ahead, so that during the workout the clients can adjust to the time difference. All flooring is reclaimed mountain ash, which tilts up in the rear to form the slats of the light wall.

The side yard deck is both carved into and cantilevered over the steep hillside. To offer anchor points for plants to reside, the retaining wall is punctured. The cantilevered deck provides a sunny retreat right off the new family room/home theater for barbecuing, lounging and outdoor dining. The awnings and shade trellises, table and benches, built-in seat and storage trunk are custom designed and built from reclaimed cypress.

The home theater/family room is a true connector between the outdoors, the home gym and the kitchen and living areas. It is the family hub for activities ranging from homework and creative projects to dining and entertaining.

The doors separating the rooms fully retract into the wall cavities for maximum connection, or close to provide sound control and privacy.

The home theater’s large screen is fully retractable into the ceiling, showing off a sculptural, sound-absorbing felt wall custom designed by Kathryn Walter of FELT studio. The custom media cabinet below cantilevers off the wall. The theater is also equipped with blackout screens for an optimal viewing experience.

The theater projector is hidden in the upper cabinetry of a niche that doubles as the home office nook. The built-in desk has pull-out table top areas that hide charging stations for phones and other personal portable devices. Below the desk is a custom designer printer and filing cart. In the home gym, a second custom felt wall improves sound quality.

Photos by Langdon Clay