Hennessey Shadow.

Although the clients had done an earlier renovation to their existing 6,000-square-foot craftsman-style home, the interiors remained dark and disconnected from the pool, site and views. Our goal was to embrace the magnificent views of Lake Hennessey and the nearby vineyards, draw light and air into the house, and create a sense of interaction between the house and pool.

We reworked the interior layout to draw light into the kitchen, and moved the family room to a prominent space with views of the lake. To form a visual and practical connection to the existing pool, we designed a new structure and a series of contemporary steel and wood trellises. Rather than a single, two-story mass, the new structure takes the form of two separate geometric elements. Glass doors at the lower level, set back under a deep overhang that provides protection from the summer heat, peel back to open the interior spaces to the pool terrace. The upper terrace connects the living spaces on the main level with the sweeping views, and a trellis that forms a perfect cube floating above the pool.

The design solution is a bold mix of new and existing architectural elements, a purposeful contrast of craftsman and contemporary styles. We blended the disparate architectural elements by painting the exterior a uniform shade of deep charcoal – a bold gesture to match the bold lines of the new addition.