Inside a Modernist Family Home That’s Designed to Evolve

For a young family from Boston just arriving in Sebastopol, California, architect Amy A. Alper had the unique challenge of developing a house that felt like home but could still be flexible and evolve over time as the family’s needs change. A fully curated and formal interior didn’t work for homeowners with two young children, so she developed a home with a clean architectural backdrop, numerous adaptable spaces, and plenty of room to grow.

Set on one of the last available parcels within city limits, the 2,250-square-foot home is biking distance to downtown Sebastopol and walking distance to schools. Alper placed the main level of the home on the property’s “sweet spot” where the views of the nearby mountains and city were optimized.

Photo: Eric Rorer
The home’s two-story window wall is the architectural set piece of the building and surpassed expectations once constructed. It engages the beautiful views and light outside while also creating an intimate area inside for relaxing together or simply looking up and taking everything in.

Photo: Eric Rorer
Another view of the window wall—and how it encourages you to look up.

Photo: Eric Rorer
The master bedroom was designed as a loft space. The open volume in front of the large windows—and the skylight above—act as a natural ventilation path to evacuate warm air and capture cool breezes, so that air conditioning is needed only on the hottest days.

Photo: Eric Rorer
The upper level family room separates the parents from the kids’ room, which is currently shared. It was designed so that with the addition of two walls and a door, it can be transformed into a fourth bedroom in the future. It was originally set up as a reading spot but then quickly became a play area for the kids.

Photo: Eric Rorer
The extended stair landing is another example of a space that can naturally change as the family grows. Right now it can be used as a play space for the children, while in the future, it can be outfitted with a desk for the parents or used as a light-filled reading nook.

Photo: Eric Rorer
The dining room is also designed to evolve with the family. With the table moved to the main level guestroom, the whole area can be transformed into a play space that opens to the front deck and rear yard.

Photo: Eric Rorer
The overall focus of development was on more permanent items throughout the home. The bathrooms feature tilework from Clé Tile; the vanity in the guest bathroom is from Kohler.

Photo: Eric Rorer
The home’s flooring is 8” reclaimed oak from North Cal Wood Products in Ukiah. It was treated with Bona NordicSeal White Finish and then Bona Naturale. The interior design throughout is by Rochelle Silberman Design.

Photo: Eric Rorer
All the kitchen appliances are by GE Monogram. The pendant lights are Copenhagen SC6 pendants, a piece developed by Space Copenhagen for &tradition.

Amy A. Alper, Architect with ML Designs. Photo: Eric Rorer
To streamline the look of the kitchen and open up the space, the refrigerator was placed in the laundry pantry along the work aisle (to the right of the previous photo).

Photo: Eric Rorer
The choice of a monochromatic palette puts the emphasis on texture and pattern as the sun moves around the house. The irregular batten pattern moderates the scale of the tall walls and emulates the rhythm and array of the grove behind the house.

Photo: Eric Rorer
The exterior lighting is by Modern Forms, while the lighting inside the home is by Tech Lighting.

Photo: Eric Rorer