With backgrounds in architecture, software, automotive, and aerospace, Cover thoughtfully designed a home that blends the inside with the outside with floor-to-ceiling windows throughout.
The List’s Project Spotlight column features unparalleled projects created by our forward-thinking List members. By going straight to the source—and having the designers demystify the methods behind their designs—we hope to enlighten and inspire our creative audience to further push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of design.
With floor-to-ceiling windows evokes the glamour of Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House, this prefabricated home in Highland Park ventures beyond midcentury sensibilities. Situated on a lush hilltop, the scandinavian-esque dwelling comprises a compact yet luxurious suite of accoutrements for a family seeking all the amenities without the waste. The sleek living quarters are bolstered by the appliances handpicked by Cover, paving the way for a healthy habitat, energy savings, and easy living.
Below, the creative team at Cover unpacks their latest project.
Description: The location already had views overlooking the existing home towards Highland Park, which became an important element of the design. “In our minds, it would afford us to market it as a one bedroom with an office or a two bedroom unit to potential renters. As for the layout, capitalizing and celebrating the Californian indoor-outdoor living is key. We splurged on the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, kitchen, and wraparound deck to maximize the use of space. It was the best thing we did.” says the interior designer Oni Lazarus.
Inspiration: This project came with a fully featured kitchen and island with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, including a full-height, built-in refrigerator, induction cook-top with range-hood, and oven. All of the appliances are integrated with the same cabinet faces and handles to match the built-in storage throughout the home. Sustainable features include hydronic heating and cooling, FSC certified woods, bamboo plywood, windows with low-emissivity coating, and ultra-low flow fixtures such as the Nebia showerhead—which affords 65% water savings compared to a traditional showerhead.
Blueprint: The floor plan features a three-pane slider at the front, providing natural light throughout the day to the open living and dining area. The bedroom and home-office are located towards the rear of the unit and enjoy ambient light and privacy. The customizability of the layout while maintaining its prefab nature was possible due to the versatility of the building system and design process to create a floor plan tailored to this property and the homeowner’s needs.
Takeaways: The project came with a fully featured kitchen and island with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances such as a full height built-in fridge freezer, induction cook-top with range-hood, and oven. All of the appliances are integrated with the same cabinet faces and handles to match the built-in storage throughout the home. Sustainable features such as hydronic heating and cooling, FSC certified woods, bamboo plywood, windows with low-emissivity coating, and ultra-low flow fixtures such as the Nebia showerhead which boasts 65% water savings compared to a traditional showerhead were delivered with this home.
Challenges: Because of access difficulty due to the build location being at the top of the steep property, we took a prefabricated approach where most of the construction was done to not greatly disrupt the client. “The land at the top of our property has always been an unused space and we wanted the process to be a simpler and quicker process than conventional construction” says Lazarus.
We used our patent-pending, panelized building system that consists of an all-steel structure, floor-to-ceiling windows, hydronic heating and cooling, and custom-milled, integrated storage. “Because our building system is designed from the start with form and function considered, we’re able to integrate features such as flush outlets and recessed window frames seamlessly from the outset” says the lead designer Thomas Heyer.
