Lark
Collaborators
Originally built in 1955 by case study architect Kemper Nomland Jr., the Lark home was an extensive addition/ renovation done in collaboration with Linda Taalman and Terremoto Landscape. The team transformed the original 1 bedroom 850 sq. ft home sited on an extensive, .28 acre lot with soaring mountain views into a 2 building compound for a family of five. The addition served to add two more bedrooms, a bathroom and a family room. The garage/ recreation room was converted into a 550 sq. ft. ADU. Terremoto designed the 40' pool built by JVP. The team carved out patios, decks, paths and stairs that poetically link the house, adu, and pool.
In the main house, KM and Taalman preserved the original beams, stone fireplace, and iconic circle window. Taalman designed the 800 sq. ft. addition to play homage to the mid century roots of the house, but playfully shifted the rhythm and sizing of the beams to a tighter 2' spacing vs. the originial 10'. In this way the addition subtly calls itself out, adding a fresh perspective on a familiar architectural language.
KM selected Warm-toned finishes in keeping with the original era of the home. Cork floors lend both softness and practicality to the demands of indoor outdoor living.
KM aspired to build a kitchen to last 100 years. Durable soapstone countertops are both elegant and low maintenance. White oak cabinets with solid fronts and pulls are both hardworking and refined. Unlacquered brass fittings add warmth and patina that elevates the original rusticity of the home.
The family room features cherry bookshelves and cabinets that stylishly provide storage for the families toys and treasures.
In the kid's bath, cobalt blue fittings pop against the plywood and brick colored Heath tile.
The primary bath sits open to the sleeping area and faces a patio framed by a large Chinese elm. The shower features a skylight that washes the tile (also Heath) walls in light, subtly shifting color throughout the day from green, to grey to gold. The unlacquered brass Vola fittings are like the jewelry of the room.
Taalman and KM approached the ADU as a blank slate in conversation with the main house. The ceiling mirrors the Taalman-designed beaming in the main house’s addition. KM clad the walls in douglas fir plywood and selected wide plank douglas fir for the floor. By using a single wood species, the interior is both minimal and dynamic. The bath’s large-format terrazzo is a playful reflection of the grain patterns of the plywood.
