River Road Renovation is a riverside house in the woods designed by Peninsula Architects, in Moreland Hills, an affluent suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. The lot is very secluded, nestled across from the Chagrin River. The 3 acres are mostly wooded, with trails, ridges and plenty of wildlife, so they asked the architects to draw up plans that showed off the Chagrin Valley.

A glass room addition led to a full house remodel that kept a family of three out of the house for a year while work continued. The challenge was to incorporate elements created in the new room into the existing spaces and rooms in the house.

The family room addition is the part of the home in which the family spends most of their time, which they have dubbed the “Tree House” because of how its wooden ceiling and open space complement the wooded view. Blurring the boundaries between indoors and out was the center focus to this bright and airy family room and adjoining dining room, which was constructed to simulate a farm silo.

A modern day tree house vibe was achieved with a high-arched, wooden beam ceiling and walls of windows all around.

This masterful design scheme was carried out by builder Dennis Baughman, who crafted an elaborate design without a framework. The mix of high wood beamed ceilings, large expanses of glazing and galvanized I-beams, the interiors feel like they are apart of nature.

The client’s also went to great lengths to make their renovations of this riverside house as sustainable as possible. Geothermal heating was installed, low VOC paint and reclaimed wood or FSC-certified wood was used. The interior design was all about merging clean, traditional and contemporary looks into one space.

The designers main focus of the project was on the local architecture dictating the look and feel of the home, with materials selected to enhance the country living experience. The barn siding used on the exterior of the home and on the fireplace surround is typical to the region of Ohio where the home is located. The pebbles used on the fireplace are what you would discover in the river situated across the street. These material selections are what gave the home its character and personality.

Photos: Courtesy of Peninsula Architects