0237 Pretender front facade

Well, this is it, the front of the Pretender. We've not been avoiding it, but we've spend all our time looking at the other parts of the house that are so obviously modern. But this is the business end of the house, where all the pretending goes on, for the sake of pacifying the neighbors that are less than open minded. So you can dress this up as a farm house, or put the big fat greek columns on it if thats what it takes. Just think of this side like a traditional blank slate. Do what you have to do to make it work and don't think twice about it. Its worth it to have your cool modern house thats hiding out back. Your welcome. Continue reading "0237 Pretender front facade"

0237 Pretender dining room

One last view inside the Pretender, from the dining room looking into the family room. This casual interface between the two rooms makes it possible for the dining room to expand at holidays and family gatherings so the table can expand into the family room if needed. The adjacent kitchen also has an open door policy to the dining room, with two doorways, one from the work area and one from the table. So while its an open plan, there is still the definition of a discrete dining room. Continue reading "0237 Pretender dining room"

0237 Pretender upstairs hall

Even from the upstairs hallway of the Pretender you have this connection to the family room. Continue reading "0237 Pretender upstairs hall"

0237 Pretender the whole thing

Just come with me, to the Pretender House family room, over behind this chair - as far back as you can get into the corner. Ok, now turn around. There - there's the whole place. The living room and foyer beyond, the dining room and the kitchen peaking out through the openings. Ok. Got that? Continue reading "0237 Pretender the whole thing"

0237 Pretender take it from the top

A great part of the Pretender's design is the way the upstairs hall opens up to the 2 story living room. The  stair in this design lives in the living room, so this connection really makes this space into the central hub of the house. Continue reading "0237 Pretender take it from the top"

0237 Pretender's hidden roof deck

One of the great features of the Pretender is that the master bedroom has its own private outdoor space. But private outdoor space is hard to come by in the suburbs where your neighbors backyard is just over the fence. Most places you can't get a high fence - unless you have a swimming pool. The Pretender overcomes this challenge by offering a roof deck off the master bedroom, one that has screen walls towards the neighbor at the side, offering more than a little opportunity for privacy. Enjoy! Continue reading "0237 Pretender's hidden roof deck"

0237 Pretender outside inside

For the Pretender this double height living space really becomes the central unifying feature of the house, the reference point that all the spaces revolve around. Its flooded with daylight and at once brings daylight to the upstairs hall, as well as greats you from the front door. But the single biggest lesson of a home with a central point of reference like this, is that you should also have spaces that are not connected to it. The reason why is that the experience of spaces once removed from a central reference point like this will make the home feel larger and more expansive because there actually is a place where you can get away from the central feature of the house. Continue reading "0237 Pretender outside inside"

0237 Pretender modern inside too

You may recall the Pretender is the house that camouflages its modern look behind a more traditional front. But rest assured that on the inside the modern starts the minute you close the front door. Directly opposite the foyer is the family room, large and divided into two areas. The first a double high space which could be treated as a formal living area, and the second a cozy area with a fireplace and room for large AV equipment which can be an informal family room. Continue reading "0237 Pretender modern inside too"

0237 Pretender is not pretending to serve you well

This is the side of the Pretender where your drive way would pass back to a detached garage at the rear of your lot. There is a big window into the kitchen so you can keep an eye on the comings and goings down your driveway. And best of all there is a door right there at the drive. So you don't have to come in the back door through your family room, or going in the front door from the porch. The driveway door does not even go directly into the kitchen - it goes into a mud room, big enough for the kids to drop all their crap, and you to leave your breifcase behind. Laundry is there, so when you come in from planting those new shrubs your dirty pants can go directly in to the works. Continue reading "0237 Pretender is not pretending to serve you well"

0237 The Pretender is the modern house with a split personality

So what does that mean, the Pretender has a split personality? This house puts up a deliberate traditional front on the street, lulling your neighbors into a sense of comfort - "Hey, that new guy is one of us!" In the meantime lurking behind that mild traditional front is full bore, take no prisoners, modern box that will curl your neighbors curtain valance. But no worries, they will never spot it thanks to the Pretender's unique Suburban Camouflage. Sleep well knowing your modern house is flying under the radar. You're welcome. Continue reading "0237 The Pretender is the modern house with a split personality"