
Seal House
Stinson Beach, CA
Set atop a crest overlooking Cascade Bay and the forested slopes of the San Juan Islands, this home for a young couple responds to the picturesque quality of its verdant environment. Inside, a dramatic sequence of spaces, animated by the immediacy of the surrounding forest, frame telescopic views toward the bay and mountain ridges beyond.
The volume’s long, linear form and gabled roof draws from the traditional homes that dot the island. Dark planks of wood wrap the exterior, referencing the colors and textures of the towering pines and moss-covered rocky knolls that play across the site. The interior, distinctly light and airy, contrasts the surrounding forest. Painted white wood walls, built-in millwork, and carefully selected furnishings create a space that feels both open and welcoming. Large planes of glasses striated by finely articulated steel partially define a lofted sunroom on the second level. This warm, intimate space visually defines the interior, filtering diffused light onto the living spaces below.