Klaubert House in Arroyo Grande

Architect: Studio 2G Architects

Photography: Matthew Anderson

Perhaps only an architect could have looked at this dark, shingled 1970s house and seen Scandinavian Modern lurking within. Heidi Gibson and her team at Studio 2G Architects based their remodel of this 3,200-squarefoot, two-story home on that bold insight, as well as on the owners’ concern with wildfires.

Their worry was justified. The entire house—including the roof—was covered in wood shake shingles, which made it both vulnerable to fire and foreboding in appearance. Studio 2G removed every last shingle and applied exterior foam board insulation with an air gap for better insulation. The exterior was then covered in James Hardie cement board siding in various widths, to add character to the large, expansive façades. The roof is now a fire-resistant asphalt shingle.

The Scandinavian lines of the original house were further brought to life by squaring off gabled dormers, and expanding and adding windows throughout, including an extra dormer on the upper floor. Now the home is flooded with natural light and opened to views of the surrounding wineries, hillsides, and oak trees.

To add even more light, some interior walls were removed and steel beams installed to carry the weight. All the flooring and heavy millwork around the doors and windows was replaced with light cherry wood floors and minimalist jamb detail in the same light cherry. The stark contrast between the wood and the white walls is a signature of Modern Scandinavian design—and now a signature of this uplifting Arroyo Grande home, too.