Home tour: a sprawling family home balancing sustainability and material warmth in Lafayette, California

The house that emerged from these influences is a masterful blending of their strongest points. Built in Douglas fir, Honduran mahogany and custom terrazzo, Swatt employed the architectural philosophy that applies to all his projects: an abode that stands in harmonious, evolving dialogue with the land it is nestled upon.

Over three levels, the California home works in tandem with the land. The first level opens onto the swimming pool and the large, surrounding lawn, which houses a recreation and guest room, a pool bath and a mini-kitchen for outdoor entertaining. 

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Moving onto the upper level, there are unobstructed views in all directions enclosing the private bedrooms. Here, the primary suite faces north and west with a small balcony overlooking the pool, while the children's bedrooms lean hillside to the east, west and south. A floating bridge running west to east connects the primary suite to the children's wing, each traversal an adventure that the children turned into flights of fancy.

The heart of the home can be found on the middle level, where the public spaces of the kitchen, dining, living and family areas can be found. There is a seamless flow among all spaces, with one interior door for the coat closet. To create delineations, spaces are differentiated through level changes, ceiling heights, materials and built-in casework. 

Natural light permeates each corner, as seen in the circulation spine that runs three steps up from the living and dining areas and provides access into the courtyard. Bi-folding, mahogany-framed glass doors further dissolve the boundaries between the inviting indoors and the California climate outside. For their material honesty, the custom terrazzo floors and Honduran mahogany stand the test of time and create continuity throughout the home. 

Taking inspiration from the glue-laminated beams above, Swatt himself designed a corner sofa to establish its own presence in the room. Other notable furniture pieces include the Frog Chairs by Piero Lissoni and an Alonda table by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia, all of which create a space for family gatherings to unfold at a steady pace.

Art pieces also play a significant role in shaping the California family home’s design story. Each piece was chosen for its emotional resonance, from a painting of a woman by David Best presiding over the dining room to a metal collage by Ethiopian-born artist Wosene. The piece was commissioned as a family portrait, incorporating such nostalgic elements as a Venezuelan advertisement for Coca-Cola. 

Another notable piece in the home includes Dave Warnke’s Happiness in the kitchen, gifted after the couple hosted a showing of his work in their home. Finally, a lithograph called The Dream was gifted by the artist Françoise Gilot to the aunt of Swatt’s wife, representing a truly eye-catching heirloom to cherish. 

Altogether, the California family home balances its pursuit of sustainability with the irreplaceable warmth of family life. Drawing inspiration from the architectural icons of the past to meet the demands of modern living, Robert Swatt has created a truly magnificent home that will inspire and invite generations of family to find a home of their own here. 

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