Mountainside, as the name suggests, was originally designed for a sloped lot in a hillside setting. This beautiful shingle sided home, packs a lot of features into a relatively small footprint. It is a spacious and elegant split-level design with numerous windows along the view side of the home. The windows bring abundant and healthy natural sunlight deep into the home, as well as opening the view to that direction. A large elevated deck on that side capitalizes on the view.

The entry into Mountainside is via a gable-covered porch on the corner of the home. Immediately upon entering you are greeted by an elegant yet playfully curving wall. This simple architectural element is no accident. It is designed so that its curve leads your eye into and through the hall, then to the matching arched entry of the living room. You feel pulled into the interior of the home and compelled to explore further.

The spacious living room, dining room, kitchen and study areas are all sunken 2 steps below the level of the hall and mudroom, essentially mimicking the slope of the lot. The lowered side of the home has 9' ceilings, and the ceilings of the living and dinning rooms are visually divided with simple painted low-profile decorative wood beams. These areas are all open to one another, and a fireplace in the living room serves as a visual anchor in this large space. A study on main level could easily serve as a dedicated media or music room as well as a guest bedroom. The kitchen is a generous but still functional size. It is spacious enough for several people to be working at the same time, but not so big that it is inconvenient to get around in. A playfully angled counter between the kitchen and the dining area works as an informal eating area. The pantry is conveniently close to the kitchen, and it has plenty of storage space. It is also next to the home's utility/work area for even more storage, and is conveniently close for unloading groceries. This multi-function work area is designed for daily use, with space for computers, sewing, and even a sitting area.

The upper level contains the home's three bedrooms. The master bedroom is both spacious and efficient. It is also placed to take advantage of the same view direction as the living room below. It has a large walk-in closet and dressing area. The large master bath has a raised tub and a convenient walk-in shower. The two other upper level bedrooms are both quite large. They feature built in shelves and closets, as well as large side windows and dormer windows also facing the view direction. They share a full bath, and a sitting loft/study area.

Because of the slope of the original lot, Mountainside was designed to be built above a modified basement foundation. The best option for parking, as with many sloped lots, was below the home. A square two car garage is in the center of the lower level below the living and dining rooms, and below the deck area. To one side of the garage is a large workshop or storage area. To the other side is an optional playroom or studio that is roughly 450 square feet. The simple square shape of the garage is easily sealed airtight from the main home. Combined with 3 weather-stripped sealed doors between it and the studio, Mountainside is an excellent and rare example of how this arrangement can be done properly to preserve good indoor air quality. Additionally, both the workshop and the studio are designed with large windows, and double walk-out doors.

Sunnyside is very similar in general design and layout to this Mountainside home. It is built on a crawlspace foundation, and has a detached garage. Click for more photos and examples of alternative exterior finishes on our Sunnyside home.