2011 CHDA Custom Home of the Year House in an Olive Grove, Gey…
2011 CHDA Custom Home of the Year House in an Olive Grove, Geyserville, Calif. Cooper Joseph Studio, New York City Architect Wendy Joseph of Cooper Joseph Studio captured views and maintained privacy in this cozy bedroom with fixed horizontal glazing that suits the gaze from the adjacent built-in bed. The far wall is all glass and connects to a small balcony jutting out over the olive groves on the property. Those two carefully curated windows offer close-up and distant views of the surrounding countryside.
David Wakely Photography
The master bedroom opens onto a deck connecting it to a stand of…
The master bedroom opens onto a deck connecting it to a stand of redwood trees.
David Wakely Photography
2010 CHDA Private Residence, Sebastopol, Calif. Merit Award: C…
2010 CHDA Private Residence, Sebastopol, Calif. Merit Award: Custom Home / Less Than 3,000 Square Feet Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects, San Francisco By pulling the decks to the sides of the house, architects Mary Griffin and Eric Haesloop were able to free up the long, glass rear façade—including one wall of the bedroom—to take in mountain vistas.
Brian Vanden Brink
Alan Karchmer / Sandra Benedum
Etched glass "storefronts" allow the three bedrooms to borrow li…
Etched glass "storefronts" allow the three bedrooms to borrow light from the corridor.
Bruce Damonte
2009 CHDA Laidley Street Residence, San Francisco Grand Award: …
2009 CHDA Laidley Street Residence, San Francisco Grand Award: Custom Home / 3,000 to 5,000 Square Feet Zack / de Vito Architecture, San Francisco The home belongs to Lise de Vito and Jim Zack, who run an architecture firm as well as a construction company. A translucent window wall provides postcard views of San Francisco that serve as the master bedroom's main decoration and a source of natural light.
Credit: Michael Perlmutter
Richard Barnes
A floating staircase, with triangulated treads for strength, ris…
A floating staircase, with triangulated treads for strength, rises from the ground-floor office to a transparent penthouse and deck.
Richard Barnes
Homeowners want master bedrooms that are havens of relaxation and serenity, and architects try to give their clients those sensations through simple design and uncluttered, welcoming spaces. If there’s an opportunity to include a stunning view it can amplify the spirit of escape in the room. Incorporating a panoramic vista also creates spaciousness without increasing square footage.
Establishing a balance of protection and openness in the master bedroom is another crucial design objective, and a compact space with a big view can accomplish that effect. So despite the bedroom’s primary purpose being slumber, translucent glass walls or banks of windows typically adorn the space. It’s up to the architect to give the homeowners all the benefits of natural light and an inspiring scene to start and end each day while also generating privacy and a safe atmosphere. Focusing the outdoor connection along one wall and keeping the rest of the room’s enclosure solid often is the solution.
The accompanying slideshow presents examples of some transformative master bedrooms with walls of glass framing skylines, oceans, and wooded panoramas.
