Two people I can hang with anytime: Don and Linda Gascoigne

I see a lot of houses. A lot. Everything from partial remodels to ground-up custom builds, and everything in-between. “Familiarity breeds contempt”, or so the old saying goes, and as the years go by I tend to be less and less impressed by what I see. Good design, even really good design, seldom affects me the way it once did. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the process of transformation, it’s just that eventually the awe and wonder become routine. 

Somewhere in the book A Pattern Language (a book deserving of its own blog post) the authors describe the folly of designing for design’s sake, without considering individual taste and personal significance. I am a strong proponent of lifestyle over trends, and heirlooms over rules, which means my own style is never truly current, but there are those who share my sentimental leanings and somehow manage to remain fashionable. The Gascoignes are like that.

Doggo passes the vibe check. Blend in and chill.

Initially drawn to their home by the location, and the stellar view, from the beginning they intended a major remodel. The original house had a little soul, here and there, and so a few spots survived the demolition. Still, practically speaking, it was a ground-up kind of thing. To get what they really wanted, including a sweet flat for dad downstairs, required a Herculean effort from all quarters.

Restricted by city ordinances, and slowed by myriad changes, the Gascoignes found it challenging to keep their vision intact. From the outside, it seemed to me that their process was exceptionally smooth considering the scope of the project, but apparently that was not the case at all.

Gascoignes and doggo.

 For the Gascoignes, this remodel was a daily project, and one which required their full and undivided attention. And they insist that having Roger Kirby and Kirk Friesz (contractors extraordinaire) on their side was essential part of their ultimate success in getting their home finished well. According to Don and Linda, they are nothing less than an artists. Their expertise, coupled with their devotion to their project, resulted in an outcome that at times seemed unattainable. I regularly emphasize the importance of good, licensed contractors to my clients, and this type of situation is exactly why.

Can you see what they mean by “the view”? Not a bad place to spend time, at all.

One of the cooler choices (in my opinion) these two lovebirds made was to use a high-quality, Italian porcelain tile for the flooring of the main room and deck. Their surname being Gascoigne, they have an affinity for Gascogne blue limestone, and have used it in the past. For pragmatic reasons, they chose a porcelain that approximates the same look, and do not regret doing so. As you can see in the pictures, from the front door to the edge of the deck one continuous porcelain surface enhances the sensation of openness, while being easy to maintain and perfectly colorfast. These days, with the photo-realistic quality of new materials, sometimes it’s wise to look into synthetic options that improve not only the appearance of a home but also its livability. Easy to clean and requiring little maintenance, the tiles they chose were the perfect choice for their chill and relaxed lifestyle.

A few pictures of the old house, pre-Gascoigne.

 

I love the simple strength of the front entry; the door is handsome, and the Schluter cuts are clever.

Another thing I really enjoy about their home is that everywhere you look sentimentality reigns. Little keepsakes, family photos, and the like are all over, but their personalities and family history even show up in a lot of the building materials. You can see in the photos how striking the apron of their island is, along with the matching tabletop and vanity counter. The wood they used, so-called “Monkey Pod”, they sourced from Mike at American Wood Importers (Mike also gave credit to Perspective Constructive & Designs). These wood slabs have deep meaning for Don and Linda, as they have a ranch in Costa Rica where the those trees grow. Mike color-matched the resin you see in the fissures of the wood to that fantastic slab of quartzite topping the island. Believe me, the photos do not do justice to the harmony of those surfaces in real life. It’s literally stunning.

Fabulous Monkey Pod slab, so rich. Note the resin work, custom-matched to the stone countertop.

Below, the matching living room tabletop, and—below that— the powder bath vanity top. I really love these types of thematic elements in a home.

     

One advantage they gained from striking while the iron was hot was that they were largely able to stay ahead of Covid, in the sense that their material costs were comparatively affordable when looked at in retrospect. According to Don, had they started later, they would not have been able to finish their home in the same way. Yet another lesson in doing the thing when the thing should be done, and avoiding needless hesitation. Budgeting responsibly is square one, but moving forward when you know you should is also important. Like I’ve heard many times before (and I paraphrase), luck is the often the sum of opportunity and preparedness.

That said, if any of you have a time machine, kindly let me know!

A very tasteful tile accent. Their local pier, immortalized on glazed ceramic, set flush and tight with agreeable glass mosaic.

Before I left after my last visit, I asked the Gascoignes what advice they would offer to another family embarking on a similar journey. The following was their response:

“Don’t be afraid to solve problems on the way. At a certain point, we realized we wanted a wall to be moved… it was much easier to just let it be, but it bugged us, and so we insisted it be moved. Moving that wall paid off huge, and we don’t regret it for a minute. In the end, being forthright with our team about what was important to us resulted in us actually getting the house we wanted.”

Good words, Gascoignes, good words.

Straight up I just included this photograph because I envy her appliances.

While it will likely be a while until they’ve got their pad totally and completely dialed in, nevertheless I think they’re off to a darn good start, don’t you? I was just happy to see how well everything turned out in person, and also to have met some new buddies.

I hope you enjoyed reading this, and I apologize for having not posted in so long. Before you sign out, make sure and check out the remaining photos below. If you find some inspiration in them, my job has been done. 

Ultra sweet Spanish porcelain, fashioned to look like old half-timber plaster or whatever. So cute. Note the rad wooden ceiling, one of the more soulful elements deliberately retained from the house’s previous architecture.

I am a sucker for a good bath, what a setup. And how sweet is that textured porcelain wall tile? Also, notice the jams and sills, all fashioned from the same quartz surface as the countertop off-screen.

Below,  Don and his daughter (with a friend) hard at work. Not too bad for a home office, eh?