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To be a part of nature, Treetops was designed to maximize views and daylight.<\/p>\n
MM Visuals, courtesy of TONO Group<\/p>\n
Views and light<\/p>\n
To be a part of nature, Solyak came up with ways to maximize views and daylight.<\/p>\n
For big views, that meant windows larger than standard in private spaces like bedrooms. In gathering spaces, like the open concept kitchen\/living\/dining room, the windows stretch from floor to ceiling. Having windows one and a half stories tall helps the space \u201cfloat\u201d instead of feel like its sitting on earth, Solyak says.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a mix of operable windows and bi-fold sliding doors to move into nature. The openings also help cool the space thanks to cross ventilation.<\/p>\n
To amp up sunlight in a wooded property, Solyak took into account details such as the angle of the sun. To prevent too much sun and glare, there are large roof overhangs and automated shades that can be adjusted manually.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is a time of day that the sun is too much, the shades can automatically come down,\u201d Solyak says. \u201cOr vice versa, if they want to open it up more, they have the ability to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
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One wall in the living\/dining room folds off to the side, creating a wall-sized door to a fire pit and pool, blending indoors and outdoors.<\/p>\n MM Visuals, courtesy of TONO Group<\/p>\n Connecting inside and outside<\/p>\n Big windows help broaden the views. There are other ways to blend indoors and outdoors.<\/p>\n One wall in the living\/dining room folds off to the side, creating a wall-sized door to a fire pit and pool.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the key features we did was try to make sure that the flooring inside the house matched the flooring or the tile of the pool,\u201d Solyak says.<\/p>\n The porcelain tile looks the same from inside to outside. The outdoor version, which extends around the pool, is thicker to handle the elements.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
The home\u2019s mechanical systems, lights, fridge and more can be controlled the traditional way by flipping a wall switch. They also can be automated and work from far away.<\/p>\n MM Visuals, courtesy of TONO Group<\/p>\n Programming a smart home<\/p>\n The home\u2019s mechanical systems and lights can be controlled the traditional way by flipping a wall switch. They also can be automated and work from far away.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom your thermostats to your refrigerators, everything goes through one app,\u201d says Dantinne, with PROTO Construction, a contracting company that\u2019s part of TONO Group. That includes HVAC, security and a sound system.<\/p>\n Programs can turn off all lights with one tap, create scenes such as party lighting and play music everywhere or just one room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Treetops’ design and construction teams came up with a gabion fence (far left) made from galvanized steel baskets filled with landscape stone. In between are sections of composite \u201cwood.”<\/p>\n MM Visuals, courtesy of TONO Group<\/p>\n An industrial fence in the woods<\/p>\n While Treetops has special features, the construction was straightforward with few hiccups, Dantinne says.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the most part this is a wood frame home utilizing the majority of types of construction that would being done by any typical residential home builder,\u201d Solyak says. \u201cIt\u2019s just designed and configured in an atypical fashion. It\u2019s got a unique roofline. It\u2019s got unique massing to the structure. It\u2019s got larger openings, things of that nature. It sort of pushes the envelope of conventional home building.\u201d<\/p>\n Another feature of note: The homeowners asked for a gabion fence. Gabions are steel baskets filled with rock, typically used to make retaining walls, often in industrial settings.<\/p>\n This was something new for the design and construction teams but they came up with a fence made from galvanized steel baskets filled with landscape stone. In between the baskets are sections of composite \u201cwood,\u201d which should retain its brown color over time, Solyak says.<\/p>\n This fence provides privacy on level ground and includes the traditional retaining wall. The wall stretches over about 200 feet and transitions to a metal picket fence that allows even more views into the woods.<\/p>\n Want seasonal gardening articles and tips sent to your inbox weekly? Sign up for our Gardening newsletter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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