RAZORBACK RIDGE HOUSE
Great Cacapon, WV

What began as a modest, claustrophobic cabin perched on a West Virginia ridge has evolved into a modern mountain home offering beautiful views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. The original cabin was not conducive to the lives of the homeowners, who work from home and have two young children. The clients wanted to transform the cramped, rustic cabin into an open, modern home that met their professional and familial needs.

The existing two-story living area was converted into a primary bedroom and bathroom, and another bedroom was added upstairs by constructing a second floor over the two-story space. As a result, the existing cabin volume was reworked to contain four bedrooms. An addition combines the living, dining, and kitchen areas into a single space, with a family/ media/ playroom located on the floor below. A new flat-roofed entry hyphen, which extends to a screened porch and elevated deck, connects the gabled forms of the bedroom and living volumes. The existing cabin was reclad in a dark gray composite siding on the exterior, while the new living wing was clad in black prefinished corrugated metal. The brick red color from the interior of the hyphen volume reveals itself on the exterior.

Natural light and the scenic beauty of the Appalachian Mountains pour into the house through the expansive north-facing windows in the primary bedroom and living / kitchen / dining areas. To keep the view as the central focus, the interiors of the living area fade into the background through the use of neutral materials and colors. Light-stained plywood walls, black sheet steel, and IKEA cabinets with Fenix fronts keep the interiors harmonious, neutral, and straightforward. In the entry hyphen, a rich brick red paint on the halls and ceiling contrasts with the neutral materials used throughout the rest of the house.

With these comprehensive renovations and additions, the original, small, dark cabin was transformed into a new residence with modern, airy interiors that allow the family to enjoy the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains