A Modern Sense of Space (continued)
A warm, modern home makes the northern California landscape part of its bright, spacious interior.
Jeffers was instrumental in guiding the selection of fabrics, carpeting and draperies, as well as materials like the terra-cotta-colored Venetian plaster covering a freestanding fireplace and an acid-green back-painted-glass backsplash in the kitchen. “The clients wanted color, but not a Mondrian canvas of reds, blues and greens,” says Jeffers, who managed to include nearly every color of the spectrum in his soft palette. There are large blocks of color, like the fireplace and backsplash, but the general palette is subtle: cream tones with muted blues, taupes, greens and peach.With music such an important part of life in the house, Jeffers had to add enough sound-absorbing materials to minimize echoes and reverberations. But he didn’t want to hide the walls of floor-to-ceiling windows. Where too much sunlight might cause fabrics to fade, the designer installed UV-protective blackout shades that roll out of sight. In the family room, he added linen sheers that filter sunlight.
The architects also brought in daylight from above with narrow strip skylights over the dining table, in the entry hall and the master bedroom, using skinny glazing and deep soffits. In the master bathroom, a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass surrounds one end of the tub, and a glass door leads to a private terrace. “Even in winter, you can take a bath drenched in sun,” enthuses the husband. “When I walk out of there, I feel like I just came from a spa.” The soothing vibe extends throughout the home. “It’s such a cheerful house because of the color and light,” he says. “Even on a dreary, foggy day, you don’t feel like leaving.”
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