A pristine bayside perch. Sweeping bay and city views. Architect Rob Wilkinson knew the proverbial real estate stars aligned when he stumbled upon this choice Mill Valley site along California’s central coast. He and his business partner were casually searching for a north bay property to design and build a luxury move-in ready home for sale.
Tucked along Richardson Bay, the homesite is located just north of San Francisco between the upscale and picturesque hamlets of Sausalito and Tiburon. The sloped terrain offers incredible views of the San Francisco Bay and city skyline to the southeast. “The views are spectacular, and in a lot of cases better than some of the views as you get further into Tiburon because they’re more panoramic,” says Wilkinson. The homesite is also near the main highway yet set back from the thoroughfare, offering privacy and quiet.
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Unveiling the beauty of the San Francisco Bay with our series 7600 multi-slide door, seamlessly pocketed to maximize the stunning views.
To take advantage of the views, Wilkinson designed the home so all primary and functional living spaces orient toward the back of the structure to face the bay. With his inclusion of the Series 7600 Multi-Slide Door, the living room gives way to the sparkling waters of both the infinity pool and bay, verdant rolling hills, and soft blue skies. “I wanted it to feel like [the pool] was part of the living space and that the outdoors was very usable and literally could draw you out there.” The pool’s edge appears to vanish into the bay itself and anchors the upscale and serene indoor-outdoor living experience.
The sliding door system’s generous opening and the panels’ ability to disappear into the wall helped him achieve his vision for an expansive and effortless flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces. Further afield, the Salesforce tower in the San Francisco skyline is centered in the glass sliding door and infinity pool. “Western Window Systems has a great system for these large pocket sliding doors that disappear into the wall. That gave me the confidence that I could make this a true indoor-outdoor space by literally creating this opening that works with the scale of the space that I had in mind.”
At the start of the project, Wilkinson found himself in a unique position that provided him intimate insight into the property, which inspired his design. It so happened his own home was in the middle of an extensive remodel, so he and his family moved into the older existing home on the new property prior to its demolition.
Savoring every meal with a side of breathtaking views through the dining room window.
The ability to work on the new home’s design while living onsite afforded him around-the-clock access to its rhythms, sights, and sounds. He walked the property extensively, experienced all the views, and witnessed how the light looked at all times of the day and across the seasons. “Sun angles and natural light into spaces . . . they were the things that changed my initial ideas after living there and using the site in different ways,” says Wilkinson.
Expansive fixed windows frame another captivating view of the Bay.
His experience informed his approach to the new home’s size, layout, and orientation. “It was also important when figuring out exactly where on the site to place the building to maximize the best views,” says Wilkison. He selected the Performance Line for all of the home’s windows and most exterior doors. Their slim profiles and modern style enhanced the home’s contemporary architectural style and detailing.
With views as a highlight of the home, Wilkinson’s choice of a window supplier was pivotal to achieving his vision for the property. “This was a very difficult site and a very big house, and so I feel thankful that I was connected with Western on this [project].”
The home frames bay and city views from every room. Large vertical windows and floor-to-ceiling windows were installed in all bay-facing rooms, including secondary bedrooms, the dining room, and home office. In the primary suite, a second sliding glass door was installed that opens to a private deck. Even the stairwell’s two-level glass wall offers views and drenches the space in natural light.
Wilkinson also wanted the home’s entry to make a statement and command a sense of arrival. He credits his Western Window Systems representative for the design idea — a dramatic glass front door surrounded by glass panels spotlights a wide open sightline to the home’s rear windows and an expansive bay view. The entry creates an unforgettable moment all its own and hints at the visual delights that await beyond the threshold.
Dramatic pivot door sets the stage for a grand entrance.
Architects commonly have their favorite spaces in their designs, and Wilkinson is no different. In this home, he particularly likes the casita-style space next to the pool. A breezeway disconnects it from the primary dwelling for a sense of privacy, and the upper level is accessible by a second-level loggia flanked by windows on each side. “It feels like a separate little building that’s attached by this glass bridge.”
Wilkinson’s contemporary design epitomizes the carefree and relaxed luxury that defines California coastal living. The home offers an exceptional one-of-a-kind living experience for a lucky Bay Area buyer.
Dealer West Coast Window Co.
Builder Wilkinson Architectural Group
Photographer Peter Lyons Photography
