Mountain Sun is designed to be very clean and simple, light and airy. This versatile 1.5 level home functions essentially as a 1,780 square foot single level home, with a large multi-functional 480 square foot view loft above. Mountain Sun is designed to keep all the activities of everyday life close, convenient and on one level for the couple. Because the master suite and one bedroom are on the main level, the main level alone makes an excellent small family home. The upper level loft was intended to be an office, study or library, but could easily be converted to the home's third bedroom. An optional sunroom allows for the potential of a passive solar design. Originally built on a water view lot, Mountain Sun would be an excellent choice for any rear view situation.

Although the footprint of Mountain Sun is essentially a simple efficient square, the home has a surprising amount of architectural richness and dimension. Clever layout and interior wall placement, plus the use of numerous built-ins, wrapped beams and columns, eliminate the straight lines and boxy feel of modern homes. Throughout the home, and particularly on the second level, interior shapes are quite sculptural. So much so that on the original home the architect decided to let the light and shadow of the physical form accentuate the space, rather than extensive wood trim or even bold colors.

The living room, dining room and kitchen of this home are all open to one another and have 9' ceilings. Interior spaces are defined with lowered wrapped beams and columns, rather than view-blocking internal walls. Lowered ceiling soffits are used for dimension and in areas where a more intimate feel was desired. Hidden dimmable rope up-lighting is used to provide beautiful diffused ambient light. Skylights are also used throughout the main level to bring in healthy natural daylight. Combined with the original home's light-colored bamboo floors, and the choice of light colors on the walls, the house feels airy and light even on overcast days. The laundry room is located conveniently in the center of the home between the main level bedrooms.

The master suite takes up one whole side of the main level. The bedroom itself is kept simple and clean, and is placed to take advantage of the rear view. A spacious master bath with walk-in shower is directly adjacent to the master bedroom. It is used to separate it from a walk-in dressing area, which has been placed at the non-view end of the home. An optional skylight above this dressing area allows in natural light without the need for windows.

A key feature and the focus of the main level of this home is the large covered rear deck. This provides an additional 530 square feet of outdoor space to sit, relax and enjoy the view, while being protected from the weather. On the original home this deck faced west towards the view. In that instance the large covered area also provided plenty of afternoon shade, reducing the need for mechanical cooling in summer. This orientation also allowed for the addition of a glassed-in sunroom on the south side of the home, creating the potential for passive solar heating in the winter. High placed operable windows as well as proper length roof overhangs, facilitate shading and venting in summer to prevent overheating the main home. Depending on climate and orientation, this sunroom can be converted to a screen porch, a covered porch, or even removed altogether if desired.

The versatile upper loft level of Mountain Sun is tucked in below the peak of the roof, making maximum use of the volume within the home's modest footprint. The wide shed-style dormers at both the front and rear increases ceiling height, and is what gives the upper level its dramatic ceiling height variations. A large sliding glass door opens onto a rear facing upper balcony, which is recessed into the line of the roof above the covered rear porch. With space for a powder room in the upper level, this adaptable area can become a library, office, studio, media room, guest bedroom, or even the home's third bedroom. On the opposite side of the stairway from this open loft is a bonus/storage area. Though the steep slope of the roofline in the outer corners makes for lower "duck under" ceiling heights (exactly like the corners over the desks in the photos), this clever arrangement makes for excellent use of this space for storage. Shelves are built into the spaces between the trusses, and the raised long narrow area is large enough for a nap space, or a grandkid's bed.

Note: Our Mountain Light Home is a small 950 square foot Accessory Dwelling Unit designed to complement Mountain Sun. Click to lean more about Mountain Light.