![A modern home with a pitched ceiling and exposed wood beams.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-house-design-architecture-040524-1147-01.jpg)
Studio VARA has shared photos of a new home they’ve completed for a couple and their three children, who wanted a highly energy-efficient house that is also fire-resistant.
![A modern home with a pitched ceiling and exposed wood beams.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-house-design-architecture-040524-1147-02.jpg)
Tucked away, down a windy road outside of Healdsburg, California, the home is positioned to take advantage of views in every direction.
![A modern home with a pitched ceiling and exposed wood beams.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-house-design-architecture-040524-1147-03.jpg)
The home snakes along the ridge of the hilly terrain, where generous porches blur the lines between inside and out.
![A modern home with a pitched ceiling and exposed wood beams.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-house-outdoor-space-040524-1144-01.jpg)
![A modern home with a pitched ceiling, exposed wood beams, and expansive outdoor living spaces.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-house-design-040524-1129-02.jpg)
Louvers provide much-needed shade, while the windows take advantage of daylighting, cross-ventilation, and frame the views.
![A modern home with a pitched ceiling, exposed wood beams, and expansive outdoor living spaces.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-house-design-040524-1129-01.jpg)
![A modern home with a pitched ceiling, exposed wood beams, and expansive outdoor living spaces.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-living-room-040524-1117-01.jpg)
The outdoor spaces include a partially covered deck and a poolside patio.
![A modern home with a pitched ceiling, exposed wood beams, and expansive outdoor living spaces.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-swimming-pool-040524-1129-01.jpg)
![A modern home with a pitched ceiling, exposed wood beams, and expansive outdoor living spaces.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-house-swimming-pool-040524-1128-01.jpg)
Nearby, there’s an outdoor dining area with a covered pavilion with a kitchen including a BBQ and wood-fired oven.
![A modern home with a pitched ceiling, exposed wood beams, and expansive outdoor living spaces.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/outdoor-dining-bbq-040524-1129-01.jpg)
![A modern home with a pitched ceiling, exposed wood beams, and expansive outdoor living spaces.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-deck-outdoor-dining-bbq-040524-1133-01.jpg)
Inside the home, there’s a great room with a living area, dining area, and kitchen, which also features a pitched ceiling and exposed wood beams.
![Inside this modern home, there's a great room with a living area, dining area, and kitchen, which also features features a pitched ceiling and exposed wood beams.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/great-room-interior-design-040524-1125-01.jpg)
![Inside this modern home, there's a great room with a living area, dining area, and kitchen, which also features features a pitched ceiling and exposed wood beams.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-kitchen-dining-040524-1118-01.jpg)
Inside the living room, the high ceilings provide a sense of spaciousness and grandeur.
![Inside this modern home, there's a great room with a living area, dining area, and kitchen, which also features features a pitched ceiling and exposed wood beams.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-living-room-040524-1126-02.jpg)
![Inside this modern home, there's a great room with a living area, dining area, and kitchen, which also features features a pitched ceiling and exposed wood beams.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-living-room-040524-1126-01.jpg)
The dining area separates the living room from the kitchen, which includes wood cabinets, an island, and a separate walk-in pantry.
![This modern kitchen includes wood cabinets, an island, and a separate walk-in pantry.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-kitchen-with-island-040524-1114-01.jpg)
![This modern kitchen includes wood cabinets, an island, and a separate walk-in pantry.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-kitchen-040524-1115-01.jpg)
![This modern kitchen includes wood cabinets, an island, and a separate walk-in pantry.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-walk-in-pantry-040524-1114-01.jpg)
Connected by an open-air breezeway, all the bedrooms are located in a separate wing of the house, offering privacy and tranquility.
![A modern bedroom with exposed wood beams.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-bedroom-040524-1113-01.jpg)
The ensuite bathroom off the main bedroom features a wood vanity that runs the length of the wall, while a freestanding bathtub is positioned outside of the shower.
![This ensuite bathroom features a wood vanity that runs the length of the wall, while a freestanding bathtub is positioned outside of the shower.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-bathroom-040524-1110-01.jpg)
![This ensuite bathroom features a wood vanity that runs the length of the wall, while a freestanding bathtub is positioned outside of the shower.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-bathroom-040524-1110-02.jpg)
Another bathroom has a dark accent wall matching the countertop, mirror frame, and basin.
![This bathroom includes a dark accent wall that matches the countertop, mirror frame, and basin.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-bathroom-040524-1110-03.jpg)
Another bathroom has walls covered in vertical tiles which contrast the wood details.
![This bathroom has walls covered in vertical tiles which contrast the wood details.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/modern-bathroom-040524-1112-01.jpg)
Photography by Matthew Millman | Architecture, Interior Design, and Landscape: Studio VARA | Studio VARA team – Architecture: Chris Roach, Maura Abernethy, Andy Drake, Nick Brown, Luis Tilano / Landscape: Graham Quinn / Interior Design: Maura Abernethy, Zoe Hsu, Jacqueline Lytle, Yennifer Pedraza, Gail Avila | Lighting Design: Tucci Lighting | Structural Engineering: Strandberg Engineering | Contractor: Fairweather and Associates | Landscape Contractor: Oxbow Landscape Contractor | Pool Contractor: Blue Revolution | Civil Engineer: Adobe Associates | Mechanical Engineer: Monterey Energy Group | Audio Visual Design: Audio Visual Engineering
Source: Contemporist