AH Remodel

Interior of a modern home with a dining area, open kitchen, and living room. Two people are dancing or practicing a move in the living room area near a colorful abstract wall art.
A large tree in front of a modern house with gray stairs and a wooden porch, surrounded by a natural garden with rocks and plants.

Remodel, Energy Retrofit

TYPE: Remodel, Energy Retrofit, Building Electrification

SIZE: XXX SF (footprint was unchanged)

LOCATION: Grass Valley, CA

DATE: 2024

DESIGN: Mela Breen + Erin Humphrey | Atmosphere Design Build

CONTRACTOR: Atmosphere Design Build

MECHANICAL: Balance Point Home Performance

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Karin Kaufman | KKLA

Photography by Kat Alves

Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, a large island, a window above the sink, and a round window showing greenery outside

Returning to the family land wasn’t part of the plan for our clients. But when a relative decided to sell their home, a possibility emerged—one that drew them back toward the rhythms of extended family and into stewardship of a property that forms part of a larger family compound where elders still live. The connection to the place ran deep but the house itself lacked connection to the land. Poorly built, aging, and inefficient, it felt disconnected from the landscape it sat above and required excessive air conditioning to remain comfortable during the heat of the summer and was cold in the winter.

Perched on a sloping site overlooking a drainage lined with California buckeye and scattered rocky outcrops, the original house had an awkward relationship to its surroundings. A failing deck clung to the back façade, high above the terrain without access to the land below the shaded oak canopy. Window openings overlooked the least compelling views, and a sequence of quirky remodels—including an incremental encroachment into the attached garage—left the home feeling sealed off from the land that held such significance for the family.

Two people, a man and a woman, are cooking and chatting in a modern kitchen with wood cabinetry, marble backsplash, and a large window. They are standing at a kitchen island with wooden chairs.

Our design approach stayed disciplined: work within the existing footprint while rethinking the way the house lived. The kitchen, dining room, and living space were reorganized to support and inspire the rituals of daily life while providing enough space for gatherings with friends and family. We focused on drawing in natural daylight without overheating the interior, and on creating both visual and physical pathways outward—to the landscape.

Living room with a beige sofa and purple pillows, a patterned armchair, large windows showing green trees, a wooden dining table with chairs, wall art, and a small round side table.
A wooden dining table surrounded by six wooden chairs in a bright room. A large white pendant light hangs over the table. Three abstract teal paintings line the wall. A vase with flowers is on the table, and sunlight creates shadows on the floor.

A functional laundry and mudroom were created, offering a space where muddy boots can be kicked off and demands of rural life can be shed before entering the heart of the home

A laundry room with wooden cabinets, a stacked washer and dryer, a wicker basket, a folded towel, and an open door leading to a balcony with greenery outside.
A wooden dining table with a white ceramic vase containing purple, green, and white flowers. Two wooden chairs with vertical back slats are placed around the table. A white window with a wooden frame is seen on the left, and a white, round, pleated pendant light hangs from the ceiling.
Modern bathroom with white walls, a wooden vanity with a marble countertop, gold fixtures, a rectangular mirror, a towel hanging on a hook, and shelves with decorative items and plants.

Natural materials anchor the remodel in warmth and craft. Tadelakt plaster walls, reclaimed redwood cabinetry, and custom marble countertops shape the bathrooms into small, tactile sanctuaries. Regionally made tile adds variation and hand-finished character. Throughout the house, salvaged Douglas fir flooring ties the spaces together, offering continuity, history, and a lived-in authenticity.

A shower with gold fixtures, a handheld showerhead, and a built-in wall niche with bottles of soap or shampoo, set against a white wall and marble countertop.
A modern bathroom featuring a glass-enclosed shower with white square tiles, a white bathtub, a marble vanity with gold fixtures, and a mirror. There is a small potted plant on the vanity and a double-light fixture on the wall. The floor has large dark tiles, and a skylight provides natural light.
A bathroom corner with a built-in bathtub, a brass faucet, a window with a wooden frame showing green trees outside, a potted cactus on a white ledge, and wooden shelves with decorative rocks and a framed piece of art.
A modern white house with wooden accents, surrounded by trees, grass, and flowers, with umbrellas and a fence in the yard.
Modern house with wooden vertical slat siding, large windows, a balcony with a metal railing, and an overhanging roof set against a clear sky and surrounded by rocks and grass.
A wooden deck with outdoor furniture, including two chairs and two umbrellas, surrounded by trees and greenery. A building with vertical wooden siding is partially visible on the left.

High Performance Highlights

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Assembly

The existing house was stripped to its studs, old critter infested insulation was removed, and the building was re-insulated with blown-in insulation in the ceiling and walls. The crawl space was incapsulated and a continuous air barrier was created with attention to the existing construction using aerobarrier.  New aluminum clad wood, low-e, windows and doors were installed and integrated into a WRB. The existing T1-11 siding was used as shear and the house was clad in cementitious, fire resistant, siding.  A new metal roof replaced a failing composition roof.  

Simple icon of a house with circular arrows inside

Climate Control

A heat pump water heater replaced the existing gas water heater. Indoor climate control is provided by a ducted mini-split system, and all the mechanical equipment was brought into the conditioned space. A small wood stove offers the ambience of a flame and the resilience of back-up heat.

Sun icon with a lightning bolt inside, representing solar energy or power.

Energy

Building electrification, with the removal of all gas fired equipment, contributes to decarbonization. An induction cooktop replaced a gas range, and all the mechanical equipment was replaced with energy efficient heat pump equipment. The 5.7 kW roof mounted photovoltaic system provides renewable energy for the all-electric home.