The 2018 Sunset Magazine Silicon Valley Idea House

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful evening of design, food, and friends at the Sunset Magazine Idea House hosted by interior designer Lauren Nelson who did a wonderful job creating a gorgeous, relaxed, but highly stylish house that looks beautiful but is certainly created to live in. Constructed by De Mattei in sweet Los Gatos California, nestled at the base of the Santa Cruz mountains, this Modern Craftsman features many elements that contribute to a gracious sense of living here in Northern California.

LaCantina doors open at the front and rear of the house to let light and air through, connecting outside to inside. A very pleasing, neutral-colored French oak plank floor runs throughout the house.

A hefty black marble fireplace wall (with coordinating black marble cocktail tables!) grounds the sitting and TV area adjacent to the sleek, organic kitchen with black stainless appliances. Beautiful, simple cabinetry features sleek black finger pull door and drawer hardware.

The main floor of the house is rounded out with a powder room with a marble sink, and a fascinating, textural, plaster muslin finish on the walls...

...and a laundry room off the garage with superb state-of-the-art Samsung appliances and a floor tile pattern that elevates the experience of "doing the laundry."

A glass enclosed and sky-lit stairway in the center of the home leads to the private areas. The master bedroom's comfy bed is graced with a built-in, channel-tufted, upholstered headboard in three dusky colors that spans the wall!

The master bathroom juxtaposes restraint with luxury.

A guest bedroom and office with a subtle cross-hatch wallpaper both share a bathroom with a gorgeous sage colored floor made from Fireclay tile and a shower with an exquisite patterned tile.

A surprising element in this home is a basement level--something we don't usually have in our soft-earth, quake-prone area. Here, Nelson makes excellent use of the space by turning it into a media room/party room with a wet bar. The basement also features a separate bath and bedroom.

If you'd like to visit the Sunset Magazine Silicon Valley Idea House, the final weekend is this Saturday September 29 and Sunday Septmeber 30, 2018. Purchase $20.00 tickets from Eventbrite here. Tours are from 11:00am - 4:00pm. Tickets will be valid all day for the date listed on your ticket. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Stroke Awareness Foundation.

If you miss it, the home will be published in Sunset’s November 2018 120th Anniversary Special Collector’s Edition issue.

Happy designing!