Evening Sky

Warm minimalism, modern touches influence vineyard home’s design

The Evening Sky Residence is a vineyard home in the foothills of McMinnville, Oregon. The house is placed in a natural clearing at the vineyard’s highest point, sited to overlook the Willamette Valley to the East and the Coastal Mountain Range to the West. The architecture’s linearity, contextualized materials, and indoor-outdoor living create a place that is inviting and timeless. Interiors promote a warm minimalism, with elevated finishes and tailored moments responding to the clients’ vision. Views from the residence connect those who reside here with their vines and the surrounding landscape, composing a daily life that is deeply intertwined with the working vineyard and Oregon wine country.

Location
Yamhill County, OR

Size
5,325 sf

Year
2023

The road to the Evening Sky Residence winds its way up a gentle slope through mature evergreens. As the driveway reaches the top of the ridge, the trees open to reveal a refined, cedar-clad home, vines, and views. The house’s form is simple, with two perpendicular, single-story volumes intersecting at one end. The main volume contains the living and sleeping quarters, and the second volume contains the garage, gym, and breezeway.

To reach the main entry to the home, one walks along a long, linear path that, in a year or two once they have been planted and matured, will be framed by vines, immersing the approach in the vineyard. Ahead, a flat roof plane appears to float above the main volume, clerestory windows hinting at the view beyond the house’s subtle entry. The path parts a concrete retaining wall lined with lavender frequented by the vineyard’s bees and pollinators, and a welcoming front door beckons.

Backyard with a long row of lavender to attract bees — The clients worked with The Best Bees Company to introduce bees into their vineyard. The company discusses how ideal the vineyard setting is for pollinators, sharing that “there is plenty for the bees to forage on and great biodiversity.”

Upon entering, floor-to-ceiling windows unveil the view of the valley, and a custom-made bench in the entryway overlooks a tranquil Koi pond on the other side of the glass. The entryway bisects the quiet wing and the active wing of the home.

View of a exterior koi pond and water feature from inside — The Koi pond was a key element of the project vision. The pond is recessed within the house’s form, protected on three sides. The clients have had some of the Koi fish for over 20 years, and creating a safe habitat was important.

View of a exterior koi pond and water feature from outside

The active wing is an open concept great room with the kitchen, dining, and living spaces, and an outdoor covered patio well-suited for entertaining. 12-foot ceilings and three walls of windows create a space that is bright and airy and connected to the surrounding landscape.

Two people enjoying back covered patio — The outdoor patio connects to the great room, an arrangement ideal for entertaining, a client priority. The outdoor space is influenced by the hospitality of wineries, envisioning a time in the future when the clients may host tastings showcasing their vineyard’s wines.

Backyard with large garden planters and bocce ball court

A board-formed concrete fireplace anchors one end of the great room, a sleek and modern kitchen the other. The architecture and interior design integrate seamlessly, with linearity, cantilevering planes, and a restrained material palette of concrete, steel, glass, and cedar applied throughout. Concrete floors and the cedar ceiling flow uninterrupted from the interior to exterior, a gesture informed by the clients’ desire for an indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

SEA’s design included FF&E, with selections aligning with the clients’ active lifestyle, aesthetic preferences, and presence of three resident rescue dogs.

Dog looking out from window with wood walls

There is an aerodynamic, minimalist quality to the home’s design solutions, a nod to the clients’ experience in the engineering industry. There are no steps or abrupt thresholds in the home, and no pulls on cabinets or drawers. Smart home technology is subtly integrated within the residence, with a house-wide sound system, a hidden in-ceiling projector, and a dishwasher that you knock on to open.

Man in kitchen with gray and wood cabinets and marble countertop — The kitchen is designed in alignment with the golden ratio, promoting visual balance in the space. The large island features a slab countertop hand-selected by the client and interior designer, and a walnut butcher block coffee bar for morning cappuccinos.

The quiet wing includes a primary suite, two guest bedrooms, a wine cellar, an office, a mudroom, laundry, and access to the breezeway, gym, and garage. The bedrooms are organized along the facade facing the valley view, while the service spaces are placed along the entry side of the house for privacy and to shield the interior from the harsh evening sun in the summer.

The primary suite is furthest from the active wing, serving as a quiet retreat for the residents. The interior is washed in natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows. Handblown glass pendants illuminate bedside tables.

bedroom with floor to ceiling window wall

Materials used in the bathroom, like the pebble flooring, are reminiscent of a spa, as are integrated amenities like the steam shower.

Large walkin shower with gray walls and tiled floors

Bathroom with wooden cabinets and large mirror — The primary bathroom’s flush shower transition, integrated lighting, and custom Cement Elegance vanity with seamless sinks and ledge serve to create a calm environment for respite.

Prior to purchasing the site, the clients asked Scott Edwards Architecture to help them evaluate potential options. Their vision for their future home included a residence, vineyard, and long-term, perhaps a tasting room or outdoor space capable of hosting patrons or events centered on wine. SEA determined that this site is zoned appropriately to meet these needs and optimally placed to produce wine grapes. The design of the Evening Sky Residence and its location within the site are planned to support the clients’ present and future vision for their home.