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The Rothenbergs,
a family with three grown children, came to us with a simple desire
to create a home where they could relax and unwind from their everyday
lives; a place to share with friends and family in a casual beach
setting. The trapezoidal property sits on a long, narrow peninsula
of land with the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands to the South and
the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Preserve and Santa Ynez Mountains to the
North. The coastal and mountain views, abundant marine and salt marsh
wildlife, and temperate coastal climate combine to create a unique
and stunning backdrop for the architecture.
Very early in the design process, the Rothenbergs recalled childhood
memories of time spent on the Jersey shore, and hoped for an updated
home reminiscent of the same seaside imagery they remembered so fondly.
While based on a traditional Cape Cod shingle style, the home is designed
with cleaner, more contemporary lines and detailing, giving it a more
updated feeling. The windows, for example, have true divided lites,
but their larger scale allows for bigger panes of glass to capture
the ocean and mountain vistas. The gabled forms of the house create
three separate zones – the main living spaces, the master suite,
and the kids’ wing. These forms zigzag along the coastline,
maximizing views, natural daylight, and onshore breezes in each room.
Large expanses of trellised, covered, and uncovered deck areas provide
ample exterior space for dining, entertaining, or simply watching
the dolphins swim by.
The exterior materials were chosen due to their ability to withstand
the harsh marine conditions. Cedar shingles and lattice have been
bleached to enhance and accelerate the natural weathering process,
and will eventually weather to a beautiful silvery gray. Similarly,
Ipe - an exotic hardwood - was used for all of the decking and has
been left unfinished to weather naturally. The bright white painted
doors, windows, trellises, and trim stand in contrast to the naturally
weathering exterior. Beach grasses, sand dunes, olive and melaleuca
trees, and flagstone pavers complete the landscape and visually tie
the property into the surrounding native vegetation.
The interiors have painted tongue-and-groove plank ceilings, exposed
beams and trusses, and plaster, board and batten or paneled walls.
In contrast to the ceilings and walls, the floors are a dark stained
Santos mahogany. The main gabled space forms the entry, dining, and
living areas with large expanses of glass that capture both ocean
and mountain views from the same space. The more private master bedroom
wing contains an exercise room and office where views focus down the
coastline to Santa Barbara. While somewhat traditional in style, the
home includes a state-of-the-art audio/visual system, an automated
home control system, and top of the line appliances and fixtures.
A detached guesthouse located above a one-car garage provides overflow
guest accommodations with private marsh views. |
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