This mountaintop lot has been in the same family for generations. The current owner had fond memories of visiting her grandparent’s home there, prior to its destruction by fire in the 1960s. She was determined to build a small home of her own there and to retire with her husband.

The house consists of a central great room with large French doors on both sides, giving the central mass the feeling of a pavilion with a sweeping view of rolling vineyards and Mount St. Helena. On either side of the great room are two modest bedroom suites. The house feels well suited for small gatherings.

The homeowner remained active in directing the project through the completion of construction, a decision that saved her additional money and ensured that the house would turn out exactly as she intended. She and Chris remained in touch through the course of construction and afterward, occasionally exchanging ideas and encouragement. She is in the process of moving in, with exterior construction and landscape installation ongoing.

Recent fires throughout the wooded regions of the North Bay created an escalation in the cost of building materials that nearly rendered the modest home un-buildable. However, significant savings were achieved by making some key revisions to the plan. The owner’s determination to build and my commitment to keep the project alive eventually won out.

The owner was inspired by Colonial Revival design, so the house has a very crisp, New England feel to it, with charming, simple, classic details throughout. She enjoyed being involved in the design process and her influence can be observed throughout. That kind of collaboration makes a project truly custom, and it is enjoyable to learn which features of a home activate a client’s imagination.

This home was expertly constructed by Thollander Constuction. This project was executed by Chris Weber while he was a Project Architect at Richard Beard Architects. Richard Beard is the Architect of Record..