![Sea Ranch House by Butler Armsden](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/04/sea-ranch-house-butler-armsden-architecture-interior-renovation-california-usa_dezeen_2364_hero-852x479.jpg)
Butler Armsden overhauls 1970s coastal home in northern California
Updated interior finishes and a new guest house are among the modifications that US studio Butler Armsden Architects has made to a 44-year-old, wood-clad residence that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
![Sea Ranch House by Butler Armsden](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/04/sea-ranch-house-butler-armsden-architecture-interior-renovation-california-usa_dezeen_2364_col_25-852x637.jpg)
The holiday home, called Bluff Reach, is situated on a rocky site overlooking the ocean and dotted with cypress trees. The dwelling is located in Sonoma County's Sea Ranch development, known for its contemporary residences that take cues from nature.
![Sea Ranch House by Butler Armsden](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/04/sea-ranch-house-butler-armsden-architecture-interior-renovation-california-usa_dezeen_2364_col_15-852x1137.jpg)
Designed for a San Francisco couple who desired a secluded retreat, the project entailed refurbishing and expanding a 1974 residence designed by Ralph Matheson, and renovated in 1990 by William Turnbull Junior. The sculptural, wood-clad dwelling features sloped roofs and boxy protrusions, and interior spaces bathed in natural light.
![Sea Ranch House by Butler Armsden](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/04/sea-ranch-house-butler-armsden-architecture-interior-renovation-california-usa_dezeen_2364_col_20-852x1136.jpg)
For the latest intervention, the design team sought to retain original features while adding more space, and updating the finishes and decor. Preserving a strong connection to the surrounding landscape was a central concern.
![Sea Ranch House by Butler Armsden](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/04/sea-ranch-house-butler-armsden-architecture-interior-renovation-california-usa_dezeen_2364_col_17-852x636.jpg)
"For the architects, as enamoured of the curving coast and soothing landscape as their clients, updating the home proved easier than expected," said a statement from Butler Armsden Architects, a San Francisco-based studio. "With its relaxing lushness, the site itself played the role of mediator."
![Sea Ranch House by Butler Armsden](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/04/sea-ranch-house-butler-armsden-architecture-interior-renovation-california-usa_dezeen_2364_col_24-852x1137.jpg)
The home was re-clad in vertical boards of cedar, which replaced redwood siding. A new two-storey volume was added to the north elevation to house an office.
![Sea Ranch House by Butler Armsden](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/04/sea-ranch-house-butler-armsden-architecture-interior-renovation-california-usa_dezeen_2364_col_23-852x1138.jpg)
Inside, windows of varying sizes frame views of the picturesque landscape. In the dining room, a sliding glass door opens onto a wooden deck, where the clients can relax and gaze upon the ocean. Wide steps lead down to a verdant lawn.
Rooms feature contemporary decor and an earthy colour palette, helping create a serene atmosphere. Light-toned wood was used to sheath ceilings and walls.
![Sea Ranch House by Butler Armsden](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/04/sea-ranch-house-butler-armsden-architecture-interior-renovation-california-usa_dezeen_2364_col_7-852x1139.jpg)
"The white-washed, vertical planks of Douglas fir that wrap the interior spaces recall the cedar covering the exterior of the home," the architects said.
![Sea Ranch House by Butler Armsden](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/04/sea-ranch-house-butler-armsden-architecture-interior-renovation-california-usa_dezeen_2364_col_19-852x642.jpg)
The husband and wife's distinct personalities are most evident in their offices. His is located on the upper floor of the new volume, and is accessed via a powder-coated-steel spiral staircase.
![Sea Ranch House by Butler Armsden](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/04/sea-ranch-house-butler-armsden-architecture-interior-renovation-california-usa_dezeen_2364_col_4-852x1134.jpg)
"In his office, a desk surface custom-made of star-fire glass sits atop two blackened steel bases that call to mind the fins of a turbine engine," the architects said. "In hers, a made-to-fit taupe window seat leaves anyone sitting in it suspended over the Pacific Coast."
![Sea Ranch House by Butler Armsden](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/04/sea-ranch-house-butler-armsden-architecture-interior-renovation-california-usa_dezeen_2364_col_12-852x603.jpg)
Other residential projects in northern California include a gabled home by Feldman Architecture that overlooks a vineyard, and a T-shaped residence by Schwartz and Architecture with a design inspired by tree lichen.
Photography is by Joe Fletcher Photography.
Project credits:
Architect: Butler Armsden Architects
Team: Lewis Butler and Reba Jones (architecture); Matthew Leverone (interior design)