Sabbath House

A private residence transformed into a tranquil retreat center, Sabbath House is a story of vision, perseverance and incredible faith. And the story is still unfolding! This eight-bedroom, six-bathroom home had seen several additions . . . each new owner building on to the existing structure. My first visit was like walking through style history . . . 1970's, '80's, 90's. The design challenge was a little intimidating: scrap most of the existing interiors and start fresh with a cohesive look throughout that exudes peace, minimizes distraction, and in every corner cultivates retreat.

the nook

Even with its dark pealing paint, old ceramic tile floor and dim lighting, we could see that this little room off of the kitchen was a cozy nook just waiting to be discovered. New bright paint on walls and fireplace, dark oak floors, and proper lighting helped make this an inviting spot for reading, sharing, or just "being."

the great room

This extra large L-shaped room required some imagination!
Banks of windows and a tall paneled wall housing a wood stove presented a challenge. How do you create a gathering area with seating for large groups that still feels like a comfy, intimate living room? The answer is to create two small living rooms in one space that can easily transform to accomodate a group listening to a speaker,
or watching a presentation on the smart/art TV.

the sanctuary

Talk about repurposing! Once a massive master bedroom suite, complete with hotel-esque built in TV desk, this space transformed to become the sanctuary. The sanctuary needed to provide individual space for personal respite and private reflection time; but also allow for large group gatherings. The result: four comfy booths created with room dividers that can easily fold up and be removed to a storage area when not needed. The furnishings in each booth coordinate so they also work together when the room is used as a gathering spot.