Distinctive Retreats (109)Enter the Venice, Calif. home of John and Linnea, who renovated their 1923 Craftsman and blurred the line between indoor and outdoor space. Their radical redesign created one large breathing room by demolishing inside walls and opening up their first floor all the way through to their backyard.
Next, travel to Boulder, Colo. to meet Alan Snyder. When Snyder and his wife, Polly, seek quiet time for meditation at home, they retreat to their private "deep breathing room."
Finally, meet businessman Mark Goldman, who found inspiration from the Santa Monica Mountains to create a special patio for his Southern California home. Goldman’s home and memorable breathing room were designed by his architect father to take full advantage of California’s unique beauty.
Venice Indoor/Outdoor Room Facts:
- The original design for the home was sold through Sears in Santa Monica, Calif.
- The glass storage shelf in the kitchen is made from sandblasted Lexan taken from a bank teller’s booth.
- The flooring in the kitchen is fiberboard, which looks like concrete, but is a lot easier to install.
- The overhang on the back porch is made from Lumacite. It was chosen because it doesn’t yellow from sun exposure.
- John and Linnea work in a backyard studio, which is separate from the house.
Resources:
Houses by Mail: A Guide to Houses from Sears, Roebuck and Company
by Katherine Cole Stevenson, H. Ward Jandl (Contributor)
BONTEX
bontex@bontex.com
www.bontex.shoeglobal.com
Environmentally-friendly structural building materials
Lexan® Thermoclear® Roofing
www.stereon.com
Deep Breathing Room Facts:
- The mediation room’s design is based on the Tassajara Retreat near Monterey, Calif.
- The Tassajara Retreat is famous for being the first Buddhist monastery outside of Asia.
- Traditional Japanese elements are used in the home, including the fountain and foot bench near the entry.
- Zen is considered very influential in the development of the Japanese poetry form of haiku.
Resources:
Zen Meditation in Plain English
by John Daishin Buksbazen, Peter Matthiessen
An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life
by Dalai Lama
The Tassajara Retreat
www.zendo.com
Santa Monica Mountain Home Facts:
- Mark Goldman has mountain and ocean views from his home.
- Glass windows and doors help define the space and its purpose, without conventional barriers like walls.
- Goldman’s father incorporated the element of surprise into the design of the house.
- The use of natural materials, including slate and wood, helps unify the house with the outdoors.
Resources:
Mountain Biking Santa Monica Mountains' Best Trails
by Jim Hasenauer, Mark Langton
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
www.nps.gov
Santa Monica Mountains Conservatory
www.ceras.ca.gov
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