Our first project in the hills of Southwest Eugene and the Summit Terrace neighborhood was designed to take full advantage of the breathtaking views, meanwhile construct a home that utilized the lay of the land effectively. Also, we wanted to build a home that would evoke a feel of Tuscany... with a modern twist. Finally, we wanted the home to be ideal for entertaining guests, so the lay-out was designed with a few key functional elements in mind. In the end, we feel we accomplished every bit of each of our goals, even when thrown some curveballs during construction.
From the get-go, we knew the challenge would be the foundation, as the grade had two slopes - front to back and side to side. Unfortunately, we had some site challenges which made us alter our design mid-stream. After commencing the excavation, it was discovered that the property's topography was steeper than originally measured and we quickly realized that the original plan would not work - originally, the plan was to have two main levels, with the garage accessed directly off of the laundry and kitchen, and the theater above the garage would have direct access to a powder bath, open loft and wet bar. To make matters even more difficult, we came across some very large boulders that made it impossible to dig any further down. Great for stability of the eventual home, but another challenge nevertheless.
We decided that the only avenue to make the home have a functional driveway was to lower the garage to its own level, thus handling grade at a manageable level. In doing so, we added a wine cellar, room for the mechanical under the crawl, and a bevy of storage throughout the lowest level. In the end, although not originally planned, the added space turned out to be a nice compromise.
The home sprawls across the corner 32,680 square foot lot with 3 street-facing sides, allowing for view from every room in the home. The lot is perched in such a way that there are views to the east, west, and north, providing close to a 270 degree view of the city and rolling hills alike. In the summer the sunsets are remarkable.
Beige Stucco with black castle stone graces the front facing sides of the home. One of the primary focuses during design was to give the home a distinct architectural look on each of the 3 front facing sides - large picture windows and high peaks on the main front of the home that views the valley, a manor-esque look to the east wing that includes the stair tower and lower garage, and a substantial grand south facing entry with a semi-turret and dormer to add overall balance and height.
Another important detail in exterior design was to keep the garage out of primary view to give an estate type of feel, and allow for the home's architecture to be front and center without a garage breaking up the lines. The end result is a home that is one of the most prominent and original looks in the Southwest Hills, with a commanding curb appeal that many people remember.
There are some very unique elements to the interior of this home, some with a Tuscan touch and other areas designed to be more sleek and modern. When entering, the bright-blue 125 gallon see-through salt water aquarium is hard to miss - it is truly a calming spectacle, often stopping vehicles in the middle of the road for a peak through the family room windows.
When standing in the foyer, many will notice the marble mosaic centered in the floor, and upon looking up 19 feet will notice the coffered ceiling and candelabra chandelier. The wrought iron staircase and bridge finishes off the styling of the entry.
The lower level has over 1300 square feet of chiseled edge travertine, nicely accentuated by 6 columns and archways which provide a walkway to each of the open spaces. On this main level are 2 bedrooms that share a main bath. The bathroom has been featured in 2 nationwide magazine publications for it's chiseled edge travertine slab counter and glass vessel atop a black furniture-style vanity.
The dining room has views of the valley and the aquarium, and is easily accessible from the kitchen - the dark bamboo floor nicely contrasts the light colored tile in the other adjoining spaces. The kitchen features Kitchen Aid appliances, lcd tv, cherry cabinetry and granite slab countertops. To add a modern element to the kitchen, we hung glass accent shelves with cables under each section of the upper cabinets, and then installed down-lighting for additional effect. This is complemented with reeded glass doors and stainless cabinet pulls.
The theater features a 125" screen with a high definition projector, and includes professional-caliber audio components. A custom made maple entertainment cabinet was built to house and hide all of the sound equipment, and a valance hides the screen housing to make the room versatile in function and look. An illuminated arched sofit and columns are used to separate the space, as a pool table also uses a section of the room. The room also has a window seat to sit and enjoy the valley views, and includes a separate access door to the back deck.
The master suite sits at the top of the home with a sitting area, vaulted and tray ceilings, and a nicely appointed master bath. The vaulted master bath includes a 3 headed tile shower, a corner whirlpool tub, and his and hers vanities. There is a lcd tv behind a two-way mirror at one of the vanities, and the bath tub also has a separate 7 inch tv built in. The master closets feature maple finish cabinetry, and the main closet has a skylight for natural light.
Once across the bridge, the open loft and office welcome you on the other side. The loft includes a built in maple wet bar with granite and glass tile countertops, light colored bamboo floors, and another wall mounted lcd tv. There is a full bath off of this space which services guests in the loft area or theater. The space also includes a pair of beveled glass French doors which open to a covered back patio. The upper patio has a view of the rolling hills and trees off in the distance, and boasts cedar trimmed posts, silver slate tile and cable rail.
The materials, architecture, and setting make this home one of a kind. For those who enjoy European styling and larger properties with view, this residence does not disappoint.
--Dan Cooper
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