Architect Visit: Rooms with a View and Maximum Storage Too - Remodelista
Photography by Tim Van de Velde. As architects, my husband and I have fantasies of building our own house one day. As for me, my visions are more prosaic: I dream of a house where every available inch is given over to integrated, built-in storage. Built into the slope of a hill, both floors are glazed to enjoy the views of the surrounding dune landscape. The open space on the ground floor contains the kitchen, dining, and living areas, all enhanced by the uniformity of the polished concrete floor. The kitchen cabinets and island form an anchor. On the ground floor, open and closed storage made from veneered plywood forms a wall between the public, open areas and the smaller, private spaces. The plywood wall extends out and serves as a backdrop for the living area. Sliding glass doors lead to the private quarters in the back. A woodstove provides a hearth for the living area. The back of the kitchen cabinets serve as a partition and as a surface for hanging posters. Industrial galvanized metal stairs work well with the polished concrete floors. A skylight fills the stairwell with natural light. On the second floor living area, a thick plywood wall houses a fireplace and also acts as a room divider. The wall above the sofa provides an opportunity for shelving. On the other side of the fireplace, cabinets and shelving can be hidden away via sliding doors. In the master bedroom, the bed is integrated into the headboard and the thickness of the wall is used to create pockets of storage. In the children’s room, a bed and desk (with nook space) are built out from the closet. Below the entry level, the architects created a basement garage. The house’s layout is on full view at night. The Unexpected Appeal of Plywood explains why.