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Morse Remodeling & Custom Homes, in Davis, Calif., and a team of designers and subcontractors joined forces to transform this house from a 1960s ranch to what company owner Marty Morse says was dubbed “California contemporary with Asian influences.”

The customer’s request for a great room with high ceilings to replace the original 8-foot ceilings, as well as additional windows and some seismic upgrades, meant that it was more cost-effective to replace the existing structure with new walls and a new roof. Once the decision was made to add a center cathedral gable to the originally flat roof, the team also added gables to either side of the home to maintain its symmetrical look.

Morse and architect Ron Vogel completed the layout and design. The details and finishes were a collaborative effort between Morse’s company, the owner’s niece — who is also a designer — and a team of subcontractors.

Launch Slideshow

Ranch Dressing

Ranch Dressing

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    The spaces under the gabled areas on both sides of the front door are bedrooms.

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    Stucco is a common finish in California, so the exterior remodel fits the neighborhood. The African slate used for both the exterior and interior front entry floor was also used for the caps on the stone wall and in the backyard.

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    The front door opens into a 1000 sq. ft. great room that is divided into zones. The homeowners' art piece--a Japanese screen--separates the front door from the great room. Morse Remodeling built a frame to hold the art.

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    The focal point of the great room is a fish tank that separates the living room and sitting area. The homeowners added this detail after the initial planning, so the team had to regroup to design the detail, including pouring a new foundation to support the weight of the structure.

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    To separate the adjacent rooms from the great room, the designers chose opaque sliding glass commercial doors that mimic shoji screens. The doors are from an Italian company.

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    The simple lines of the cherry kitchen cabinetry fits the Asian-influenced design of the house. The designers used flat, black crown molding to match the black accents used around the interior and exterior doors and baseboards. 

The stucco exterior finish, cement tile roof, and slate flooring enhance the simple, clean lines of the house. To help make these design decisions, the remodeling company created a specification board to show how the materials would look together.

Morse says that, as with most ranch remodels, these homeowners wanted a more open feel for how they live today, with a great room and a kitchen at the heart of the home. And this remodel delivers.

Nina Patel, senior editor, REMODELING.