Updated interior finishes and a new guest house are among the modifications that US studio Butler Armsden Architects has made to a 44-year-old, wood-clad residence that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

The holiday home, called Bluff Reach, is situated on a rocky site overlooking the ocean and dotted with cypress trees. The dwelling is located in Sonoma County's Sea Ranch development, known for its contemporary residences that take cues from nature.

Designed for a San Francisco couple who desired a secluded retreat, the project entailed refurbishing and expanding a 1974 residence designed by Ralph Matheson, and renovated in 1990 by William Turnbull Junior. The sculptural, wood-clad dwelling features sloped roofs and boxy protrusions, and interior spaces bathed in natural light.
For the latest intervention, the design team sought to retain original features while adding more space, and updating the finishes and decor. Preserving a strong connection to the surrounding landscape was a central concern.

"For the architects, as enamoured of the curving coast and soothing landscape as their clients, updating the home proved easier than expected," said a statement from Butler Armsden Architects, a San Francisco-based studio. "With its relaxing lushness, the site itself played the role of mediator."

The home was re-clad in vertical boards of cedar, which replaced redwood siding. A new two-storey volume was added to the north elevation to house an office.

Inside...