Exterior

"Fantastically secluded, the house is surrounded by rolling countryside,

The “Casita” gave the family 1,095 square feet of extra space, and has multiple functions, including flexible space for guests, a home office where they can host firm meetings, and an exercise area with a traditional Finnish sauna.

The view from the courtyard at the Casita, added in 2020.

The rebuilt “Idea House,” designed by Holly Freres and David Horning of JHL design. The driveway is permeable to encourage good drainage: crushed granite gravel is installed over a stabilization mat. James Hardie exterior siding is painted in Benjamin Moore ‘White Dove,’ with reclaimed wood used for the entry and garage.

Nicknamed the Floating Farmhouse, this 200-year-old home inspired one former copywriter to delve into architecture as a living. Inside, renovator and owner Tom Givone mixes vintage and industrial decor. Photo by Mark Mahaney.

The transformed facade features dark gray stained-masonry.

A small addition on the back of the home created additional space for the kitching and living area, and accommodated a new guest suite on the lower level.

“Watching the sunrise and moonrise from the living room is gobsmacking,” says James.

The reading nook corridor has a sizeable sliding glass door that pockets into more glass, with thresholds flush between the cork floors on the interior and the large format porcelain tile on the exterior. The center of the atrium is filled with raked 1/8” Desert Gold crushed granite.

Modern Farmhouse in Santa Clarita

Modern Farmhouse in Santa Clarita

exterior front

The cabin is orientated north to ensure the solar panels soak up as much light as possible during summer and also those low lying sun winter months.

Black corrugate was used instead of timber cladding for efficiency, longevity and ease of maintenance with all weathers been thrown at this cabin throughout the year.

twilight patio

Exterior in the winter