Deck & outdoor step

A large patio adjacent to the living areas offers an idyllic setting for outdoor gathering.

Friends and family hang out on the back patio. “It’s kind of a fugly house, but we don’t care,” Caleb says.

In Oakland, the weather allows for indoor/outdoor living most of the year.

The covered patio creates an indoor/outdoor flow conducive to the PNW climate. The table is surrounded by Blu-Dot chairs and the hanging light is from Urban Electric.

The previous homeowners had cultivated a large, Asian-inspired garden. The courtyard centers around this towering, bushy tree.

Although Leah, a landscape designer, often travels to project sites and works on the go, she draws inspiration from working outside on the days she is home. “When I’m home and working on actual designs, I love to work out back where it’s peaceful and sunny,” Leah says. “It helps me be productive.”

The large backyard space extends the home’s 1,378 square foot interior, with a Milgard bifold door creating fluidity between indoors and out.

Landscape studio Moody Graham collaborated on the garden design, planting mostly edibles and a riot of flowers. The steel trellis crowns the built-in limestone bench and lavender-filled planters.

The Jerusalem limestone extends from the inside out, creating continuity between the great room and terrace.

twilight patio

Exterior in the spring

A snapshot of the cabin looking towards the Pacific Ocean with Whangarei Heads on the horizon.

Kabn 2

Recycled plastic living room chair in Kabn 2

he aim of the project was to achieve a seamless connection between the inside and the outside. The dining floor and the terrace have a flush connection, so when the rear slider is open the outside and the inside merge together. The profiles of the sliders are also very thin and minimal, visually dissolving the barriers between the internal spaces and the garden. Outside, t

The home’s expansive terrace and garden tows the line between privacy and connection. “You'll feel more in tune with nature—embracing sunlight, wind, and the sky—and loosely connected to the urban landscape,” shares Nakamura.

“The glass facade and expansive windows create a sense of spaciousness and depth, surpassing the actual living area,” the couple shares. “Privacy is fully maintained, granting us the freedom to revel in a newfound sense of space.”