Marin Modernism

A Bay Tradition modernist masterpiece, designed by architect Henrik H Bull, hides away in the verdant San Rafael hills. The circa 1966 redwood home showcases a low-gabled roof bisected by a ridge skylight running the length of the building. From the expansive glass windows, the residence looks out on pastoral Marin, punctuated by Frank Lloyd Wright's landmark Civic Center. The current homeowners were fortunate to meet Bull before he passed away in 2013 when they found him wandering in their garden. It became a collaborative friendship with Bull, advising on the property's stewardship.

The occupants, an artist, her software engineer husband, and dogs Lola and Blossom, wanted to update the interiors while honoring the architect’s vision and highlighting an extensive collection of regional art. They turned to San Francisco-based design firm COUPAR. Principal Teresa Kintz and Design Associate Vita Wilson gave their clients a color palette of warm neutrals interspersing shades of indigo and rust. They juxtaposed mid-century silhouettes with artisanal furnishings.

Kintz and Wilson selected a vintage wood bench from Guatemala for the entry. They upholstered the back in Rogers & Goffigon's blue wool blend to compliment glass artist Rob Snyder's installation of amber and bronze starling birds flying toward the dining room. COUPAR grounded the dining space with a navy wool rug on which they contrasted an oblong dining table crafted from reclaimed marine wood with the sculptural Saarinen Executive Chair. A contemporary Italian chandelier of crystal pendants dances over the table. The dining area overlooks a sunken double-height living area, and Bull's low built-in redwood cabinetry serves as a room divider.

Descending into the living room, a trio of artworks pops against the pale, lime-washed wall, an abstract by Suzie Buchholz and Andrew Faulkner's paintings of the De Young and Florence. Bull's brick back wall, centering a fireplace flanked by redwood shelving, dominate the room. Kintz and Wilson opposed this with a streamlined sofa upholstered in a camel-colored performance fabric from Great Plains, accompanied by a leather Karl Hansen lounge chair. A hand-tufted taupe wool rug anchors the space, while a credenza from Model No. in walnut with scalloped carving adds extra storage.

A long glass-walled hallway, one of Bull's signature architectural elements, links public and private spaces. It functions as an art gallery with an abstract landscape by Brendan Stuart Burns, echoing the view outside. For the tranquil bedroom, artisan Terry Bryant finished the walls with Venetian plaster, and the gable windows frame a redwood grove.