“I incorporated a wide, covered veranda around the entire perimeter [of this Los Molinos, Calif., home] so you could go to any spot and look out across the 27,000 acres of working ranchland,” says builder and designer Rodney Friedrich. With such an impressive hilltop site, it made sense to turn the whole house inside out. Facing west for dazzling sunset views, the fireside dining area sits adjacent to an exterior kitchen that moves directly into the indoor version. A breakfast alcove, private bedroom porticos, and a spa complete the outdoor footprint. Oversized 12-by-10-foot windows strengthen indoor-outdoor ties. Friedrich recommends recessed lighting for a warm ambiance. “You should see the effect but not the source,” he says. Friedrich mirrored the 19th-century California Mission style with authentically patterned archways and columns finished in integrated colored stucco. Radiant heating warms limestone floor tiles and the hearth, while hand-cut alder wood on the ceiling and trim finalizes a cozy aura. Only the spa is left unsheltered. This allows bathers to gaze up at the stars while the lion’s-head fountain softly serenades. “One key element of outdoor design is a comfortable place to gather around a big fireplace,” reflects Friedrich, “and the other key is the sound of water.” Builder/Designer: Friedrich Company, Los Molinos, Calif.
Photographer:Tom Rider.
