Seattle-based Ueda Design Studio has designed this gorgeous modern family home nestled in Eola Hills, a range of hills northwest of Salem, Oregon. The home’s location, atop the Eola Hills. boasts views of breathtaking mountains and the city of Salem to the east, and rolling hills and wine country to the west. 

When low clouds descend over the valley in the morning, the house appears to be on top of the world. The client’s brief was simple, create a comfortable home for their family (a couple with two young children and two German Shepherds), that takes advantage of the site’s spectacular views and that serves as a refuge from work life—a home that balances a sense of retreat with functionality and durability.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT & INTERIOR DESIGN Ueda Design Studio STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Bykonen Carter Quinn BUILDER Cellar Ridge Construction LANDSCAPE  Groundworkshop, GT Landscape Solutions

Accessed via a mile-long winding driveway with fleeting views of mountains, hills, and the house emerging at each turn, the sequence conjures the qualities of an approach to a traditional Japanese tea house.

Upon arrival, a garden featuring a water fountain made of local boulders formally signals the shift from work life to family life.

The home’s design takes inspiration from Japan, emphasizing relationships between inside and outside, and framed views. Spaces shift from cozy intimacy to large open rooms.

The entrance is a modest, minimal space featuring framed, woodblock prints. Turning and walking through the foyer to the east, the visitor is presented with dramatic views of Mt. Hood and Salem.

Earthy-hued materials and wood and metal screens admit light subtly define the spaces. Dark walnut cabinets celebrate the richness of the materials, while concrete floors reinforce the continuity between the outside and inside.

The kitchen opens to both the living and dining areas so that they can watch their kids play while they are cooking. Cooking and entertaining with friends is easily accommodated. A corner window in the space provides a view of the driveway so that they can see a car on their long winding driveway approaching their house.

What We Love: This gorgeous home in Oregon offers a family a stylish living environment that invites the outdoors inside. The large walls of glazing help to flood the interiors with natural light while framing the mesmerizing views. We especially love the dual-height dining area, not only is it airy and spacious but provides a seamless connection with the outdoor patio thanks to large window walls and the concrete flooring.

Tell Us: What details in the design of this family home do you find most appealing? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below!

Note: Have a look at a couple of other fabulous home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Oregon: A beautiful Oregon home offers breathtaking views over Hood River Valley and Beautiful midcentury dream house renovation on a wooded site in Oregon.

The focal point for the 8,000-square-foot home is the combined living, dining, and kitchen: the perfect combination of spaces in which to enjoy country life with their young family and friends.

The living room sits between the dining room and affords mountain views on the east and views through the lounge to the west. The glazed screen pocket doors between the living room and lounge provide access to views even when the doors are closed. The six-foot-long fireplace and dark walnut cabinets define the cozy space.

The dining area is topped with a 26-foot-high ceiling and window walls on three sides.

The concrete floor extends to the outside patio, and the plywood ceiling is extended to become the roof overhang as if the interior space continues to the exterior and the view.

The west side of the main living space includes a lounge with lift-and-slide corner pocket patio doors. Once these doors open and disappear into the wall, the boundary between the inside and the outside dissolves. The view of the wineries and rolling hills comes into the space with a nice breeze. The clients use this space to decompress and enjoy the views with music and wine.

The suspended, open-tread stair leads to the private space on the upper level. Its origami-like stringer folded from a single piece of steel provides elegant structural stability. Solid wood treads cantilever off the stringer and bring warmth to the design. Vertical steel rods act as the primary structure for the stairs. And animate the space through their shadows. The minimal structure allows for unobstructed views out to the landscape, drawing nature and light into the space.

The upper floor holds bedrooms. They are facing west, enjoying the view of the winery in the soft hazy sunset. On the contrary to the high ceilings on the main level, relatively low ceilings create cozy private space. The narrow hallway leads us to a large open mezzanine area above the living /dining to enjoy the big view to the east, then, another narrow hallway takes us to the roof deck with 270-degree views.

This covered roof-top deck with a fireplace provides a comfortable entertaining space in all seasons with views to both the east and the west.

The basement holds a wine room, sauna, media room, fitness, and playroom.

Sustainability was a driving force for the design of this project. The goal was to create a high-performance, energy-efficient building which can last for the next 100 years. Outside, the material palette relies on simple and timeless materials, including cedar siding, fiber cement board, concrete, and steel—materials requiring little to no maintenance.

The house is wrapped with continuous exterior insulation and a rain screen system with metal roofing on top.

High-performance aluminum windows and doors. A state-of-the-art HVAC system includes high-efficiency heat pumps and a hydraulic radiant heat system.

Awning windows atop the dining window wall open to cool down the space minimizing the need for air conditioning. Automatic exterior sunshades reduce solar heat gain from the strong summer sun.

PHOTOGRAPHER Kevin Scott

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