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TUSCAN CLASSIC
IN THE HEART OF LOS ALTOS
"We wanted to hire a firm that shared in the excitement of creating our unique dream home...Sundquist met all of our objectives... we wouldn't consider using anyone other than Sundquist"
Barry and Jody Turkus
Los Altos
(Published in Northern California Home & Garden and Los Altos Town Crier)
Before 1,700 square foot ranch-style house was torn down.
Client Needs The owners moved from the hills to be in more of a neighborhood and community for their young child. They had dreams of building an Italian country villa, a dream that began when they studied and lived in Italy. They fell in love with the old-world Italian style and ambience, but also wanted the modern amenities San Francisco Bay Areans are accustomed to.
Approach This was a project rich in detail and major client input. The client wanted the house to look heavy and weathered, as if it had been standing at least 100 years. We used accepted and traditional construction techniques in novel ways to obtain one-of-a kind results. Our approach blended styles: wire brushed western cedar windows and doors to obtain texture and character. The interior plaster and exterior stucco are bullnosed into the jams of the windows and doors, to create an old-world look without mouldings, baseboards, crown, or casings. The doors and windows are recessed in the double thick walls, and twelve-foot high ceilings add to the substantial look of the home while emphasizing its quality and integrity.
After 4,600 square foot home, with a partial 2nd story that serves as a guest suite with bedroom and balcony.
Downstairs: At the front door is an entry gallery extending into a great room that combines the dining and living areas. Three pairs of French doors with graceful arched tops lead to the back garden. One side of the house is designed for the service areas - kitchen, family room, butler's pantry, office, and wine room. The other side has two children's bedrooms and the master suite with the retreat-style bathroom. A double fireplace opens on one side to the master bedroom, and on the other to the master bath. The master bath is elegantly appointed with a spa tub and steam shower.
Exterior: The stucco walls have an integral color finish that's modeled rather than uniform like a standard painted house. Short overhangs and an antique clay tile roof complete the look and feel of an Italian "old world" home.
Interior: We installed Italian plaster over a base primer using a technique that resulted in a modeled, dimensional look.
To complement the Pennsylvania Amish distressed pine cabinetry in the kitchen, we created massive hand hewn beams in the ceiling that look as if they're structural but are in fact decorative. The overall effect is of an Italian country farm house.
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