Maritime Modern Makeover

John Lum Architecture, with interior design by NicoleHollis, reworked a spec-level Mediterranean into a design that quietly fits its spectacular bay-side setting. Referencing Sausalito’s fishing village roots, the stucco and styrofoam detailing were replaced with environmentally-conscious materials designed to weather, utilizing a palette of Kebony, cement plaster, and copper standing seam roof. 

A nod to early modernism, mullioned steel sash windows replaced vinyl for a timeless elegance. The house was gutted and reorganized, transforming a convoluted circulation and a warren of rooms into a clear, simplified open-floor plan. A dramatic, two-story, skylit entry with cantilevered staircase was cut into the building’s center. A sculptural wood sun-screen floats above a translucent-glass catwalk, casting dynamic shadows and light. Beyond, the former closed-off living, dining and kitchen were combined into a great room, opening to south-facing terraces. 

The second floor contains an owners’ suite, two additional bedrooms, and a new glass bridge that joins the formerly isolated guest quarters above the garage to the main house. The placement of art was integral to the interior design. Works by Tomas Saraceno and Jim Lambie were chosen for the central staircase to capture the remarkable light during the day and further animate the space.