Ma (間) is the Japanese concept that could be translated to “the intentional space between”– an idea represented through the balance of emptiness. Within the structure and program of the existing home, this renovation sought to provide more space and flexibility for a young family. The renovation of this 1964 home consisted of three architectural moves:
I. Deletion of a main level laundry room was removed to enlarge and connect the kitchen, dining, and living spaces.
II. Addition of a mudroom “link” that filled in an original dog-trot breezeway between main house and garage and denotes entry.
III. Excavation of the lower level to allow sunlight to enter the office and allow views from the office towards the lake.
In the kitchen, dining, and living room, the existing fir ceiling and exposed beams were patched to maintain the midcentury look and new finishes were added, including new white oak cabinets with integrated pulls, solid surface counters, and new linen ceramic tiles. White oak with dark wood furnishing accents include benches and a table made by the owner, a set of Nakashima dining chairs, and an 18th century Tansu sourced by the clients.
The primary bedroom was reoriented with the bed facing the lake which also accommodated a closet that doubles as a headboard and room partition. White oak millwork and cabinetry, carried into the adjoining bath, help unify the spaces with the rest of the house. The tile selections operate as permutations of a single palette throughout the home. Each bath has a wainscoting datum that wraps the room– sometimes as a vanity backsplash, tiled shower ledge, or tub shelf. The custom mirror surrounds in each bathroom, the skylight sheathing, custom wainscoting, and the stair guard rail all feature the same logic and materiality of white oak paneling with batten strips.
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