cross pines ranch
When my first cousin and his wife invited me to help them design and furnish their ranch retreat I was ecstatic and nervous! None of us had worked on a new build before. Luckily, the architect and I instantly clicked and understood each other’s vision for the home.
I knew we needed to consider every aspect of Universal Design so that this second home would be inviting for their aging parents, youngest grandchildren and everyone in between. An open layout with clear and wide paths of travel, minimal hallways and pocket doors where appropriate was the starting point. Seamless concrete flooring, zero threshold showers with blocking for future grab bars, accessible storage and appliances, d-ring cabinet hardware, lever style plumbing fixtures and door handles, dimmable ambient lighting plus targeted task lighting, and even a built-in stool at the kitchen sink were all part of the mix.
When major health issues occurred for my cousin in the middle of the project, the elements of functionality, comfort and ease of maintenance became even more important. This house needed to be his healing place! The surroundings became the art, perfectly captured in glass walls inviting the outdoors in, creating total harmony between the built and natural environments.
Before the house was finished his mother, my dearest aunt, suddenly passed away. She would have loved this escape from the city! A trained interior designer herself, we had many conversations about the importance and impact of our surroundings. Her legacy lives on in this place as some of her collections were carefully woven in, including my great grandfather’s desk, which fit perfectly in the primary bedroom.
This home is truly a place of tranquility, connection and renewal! I am so thankful for the trust my family put in me to help them bring this dream to life and utterly grateful for all the time it allowed us to spend together.
Photo Credit: Robert Tsai
Architect: A. Michael Architecture
Contractor: Lee Knight Construction
