Melding graceful Japanese design with classic Craftsman architecture, this new construction home features curvy large porch timbers and sensual cherry interior woodwork. The house is unique in design details and finishes yet is still right at home in the old neighborhood of Kirkwood. In fact, the interior features so many examples of recycled architectural salvage that most visitors believe the house to be an original 1920’s home.
Filled with loads of unique architectural detail, this California-Craftsman fusion bungalow was constructed in 2005 by Kara O’ Brien Renovations, more as an “art project” than a speculative build. This unusual home was built on the site of a house that suffered a century of water damage and was torn down piece by piece. The new house uses part of the same footprint and recycled granite foundation as a basis. However, that’s where the comparison ends.
Beginning with the theme of the dragonfly, Japanese styled carpentry, and obsession with natural materials (stone, wood, & glass), the house was designed as a habitable jewel. It is adorned with custom stained glass, sensuous woodwork, architectural antiques, and a focus on bringing the outdoors in. Following the theme, dragonflies are represented artfully in the gorgeous stained glass window, in the cherry columns inlaid with ebony & ivory (recycled piano keys), and in the cast iron plaque masoned into a welcoming granite column.
The porch was timber-framed into place and the hefty gable design was crafted to look like a Japanese letter; these large pine beams were hoisted into place using ropes and 7 strong men. The porch ceiling is fashioned from heart of pine 2×6 planks rescued from an old cotton mill, planed and V-grooved down the center.
On the interior, over 700 linear board feet of curvaceous cherry woodwork was created based on the famed Greene & Greene Brothers designs in Pasadena, CA. The wainscoting was designed to mirror the curves of tree trunks while the window skirt boards echo the front porch gable’s curves. To give the house a vintage flair, antique oak mantels, heart of pine doors, reclaimed heart of pine floors, transoms, tile, windows, and door hardware were carefully arranged and installed to complete the final ambiance.
The Dragonfly House Virtual Tour
(click on the photos to view the tour)
The first thing you'll notice upon approaching the house is the porch gable with its timber framing/ Japanese inspired porch beams.
Porch gable
Timber framing/ Japanese inspired porch beams
These beams are stout and beefy and rest on massive tapered granite columns--they set the tone for the art found within. Installing these beams was reminiscent of a barn raising, and their ability to be structural and load bearing as well as beautiful allows the ceiling of the porch to soar.
If you look up, you'll see the antique heart pine 2x6 inch lumber that composes this stunning beaded ceiling. The porch floor is poured concrete to ensure zero maintenance.
Further hinting at the interior treasures to come is the antique heart pine Craftsman front door-it has been restored with careful detail and boasts a solid brass antique lockset.
The sidelights are California Mission syle stained glass, featuring a colorful depiction of art deco tulips. They sit atop 1900's vintage thick-beveled glass sidelights from an old home in Philadelphia. The pairing creates a gorgeous effect of welcome and beauty.
The entryway light is a hand-crafted California bungalow fixture specifically chosen for the magnitude of this porch.
Upon entering the house, you will be awe-struck by the sumptuous trimwork and large, open space.
Rich with detail, the living and dining rooms are framed in cherrywood moldings, custom designed for this house. The designs were inspired by the famed Greene Brothers of Pasadena, with some original designs produced by Laughing Sun.
You'll note the unusual art of the cherry ceiling moldings and Japanese curves.
The antique grand oak mantel of the living room...
...features antique tile and energy efficient vent-free gas logs.
The vintage bookcases are heart pine with custom-crafted tapered cherry columns.
The columns are inlayed with subtle dragonflys created from salvaged antique piano keys (ebony and ivory) and walnut.
Sunlight illuminates the gorgeous stained glass sidelight panels of the front door, bringing their rainbow of gorgeous colors into the room.
The living room flows effortlessly into the elegant dining room.
Clearly, the focal point of this room is the dragonfly stained glass window inspired one of Theodore Ellison's original designs. The colors are rich and stunning.
This is art glass at its best and this window became inspiration for the many of the house's details - the tulips were the basis for the ones in the front door sidelights, and the dragonfly form was echoed in the front plaque and inlaid ebony and ivory column detail .
The cherry wainscot in this room is organic in form and brings to mind the sumptuous form of trees.There are over 700 board feet of cherry woodwork throughout the dining and living rooms, a rare work of craftsmanship for a new home.
