Yellow Wood

L3: Guest Quarters

Overview

The third floor of Yellow Wood serves as a retreat for guests—a quiet realm under the eaves with four bedrooms, a generous parlor, and a spacious bath. When Cara and Michael purchased the home, this level was cloaked in wall-to-wall carpeting and burdened by an outdated heating system.

In the redesign, Cara revealed the house’s bones—exposing original floorboards and painting them black to create a graphic foundation. The result is a floor that balances comfort with character, offering visitors both privacy and immersion in the home’s layered aesthetic.

Design Approach

The central parlor connects both staircases, acting as a social hinge for the floor. Its ceiling, clad in glossy black tin, integrates a large attic fan that quietly cools the house in summer. A sculptural cream chandelier anchors the room—a touch of eccentric elegance against the black-and-white contrast that threads through Yellow Wood.

The bathroom was reimagined from the studs up: plumbing and electrical systems modernized, a prefabricated shower replaced with a custom-built ceramic and stone enclosure, and a freestanding tub added for balance. A salvaged stained-glass door marks the entry, transforming a threshold into an artwork of light and privacy.

Atmosphere & Materials

The guest floor combines modest materials and bold gestures—painted pine, tin, ceramic, and salvaged glass—each speaking to reuse and restoration. The black floors and reflective ceiling amplify daylight and shadow, giving the space an architectural rhythm that shifts with the hours.

Realized in collaboration with local contractor Dusty Horn, the design preserves the home’s humility while extending its language of contrast, ritual, and delight.