Collection by Sandra Seaton
Exteriors
Accessed through floor-to-ceiling glass sliders, the kitchen and living room open to terraces, which the family reserves for crafting. Their floors are covered in durable Pavestone Pewter Concrete Step Stones, which cost roughly $3.19 per 16-inch paver. Emilie attributes the home’s ample natural ventilation to the balconies as well as to its tall, thin profile, a choice made to keep the overall building footprint small.
Keeping ample green space on the property was a top-tier goal. One of the house's original screened-in porches remains, but, according to Emily, "we dropped the screens so when you're sitting in the dining room, you can look out and see the bamboo." The divide between the new and old sections is marked by a gap in the roof that lets the sun into a small planted area.
Although they could have extended their house forward on its lot, the Hugheses wanted to keep it in line with the houses on either side. They liked the neighborhood's scale and didn't want to stand out of proportion. A skylight above the living room was the first thing the couple added when they moved in 10 years ago.
According to Eric, a lot of thought went into the connection between the two sides of the house. Part of that included keeping the original siding. To match it on the addition, he worked with GAF Weatherside, which made identical cement board shingles. "They have a crenelated surface that, when the light hits it, gives a very interesting textured effect," he says.