Hoot Owl Ranch

Yucca Valley California.

A California Homesteader’s Cabin Turned Modern Ranch House

Rehab of a 1958 homesteader’s property in the California desert near Joshua Tree that mimics its boulder strewn landscape. Strong, natural, and architecturally innovative, the ranch house was created to blur the boundaries between indoors and out via a peaked roof, open floor plan, abundant windows, and the creative upcycling of salvaged wood from its original good bones. We took inspiration from a family ranch we loved as children, and created this desert outpost on 10 unique acres dotted with iconic Joshua trees, cholla cactus and creosote, and the boulder fields outside its door and windows.

LOGO BY CODY HUDSON
EXTERIOR
EXTERIOR - Metal roof seamlessly wraps over the eave and becomes the wall.
MAIN BEDROOM - 750 square foot vaulted plywood suite, with polished concrete terrazzo floors, clerestory views of the nearby boulder spires, and floor to ceiling windows looking out to the Mojave desert and the twinkling city lights far below.
MAIN BATHROOM TUB - The main bedroom has an alcove with a freestanding tub in front of a floor to ceiling window looking out onto a desert cove.
EXTERIOR - We call this a Mullet style addition, where the new architecture grows out of the original 1958 Concrete Block building.
SPA AND OUTDOOR SHOWER - We could have saved a lot of time and effort by just plopping a hot tub out back near the outdoor shower and calling it good, but we wanted to show reverence for the Mojave and we designed it to be flush with the ground.
SPA AND OUTDOOR SHOWER - We could have saved a lot of time and effort by just plopping a hot tub out back near the outdoor shower and calling it good, but we wanted to show reverence for the Mojave and we designed it to be flush with the ground.
FRONT PATIO - This picnic table is made from upcycled lumber, formerly the old roof's joists.
FRONT PATIO - Outdoor seating is made from upcycled lumber, formerly the old roof's rafters and joists.
ENTRYWAY - the cladding in the entryway is made from the tongue and groove from the original ceilings.
DINING - We designed a lot of the furniture including this 12 person custom made white oak table.
DINING & KITCHEN - We created a dine-in kitchen to make the most of the space and to accommodate the communal feeling of modern kitchens.
DINING - We designed a lot of the furniture including this 12 person custom made white oak table.
KITCHEN - We designed this buffet intentionally clashing the 1" Plywood with our white oak cabinetry.
KITCHEN - Built-in wall ovens and Refridgerator. We usually try and hide the refridgerator whenever possible.
KITCHEN - No gas in the entire house, including the induction cooktop.
KITCHEN - Sink with a view.
KITCHEN - BX ceramics made us this vessel and trivet.
Cozy nook
LIVINGROOM - Intentionally dense and intimate separated from the dining area by custom shelving with our curated knick nacks.
LIVING ROOM - The obligatory hanging chair.
IMG_2521.jpg
LIVING ROOM - The living room is framed by custom floor to ceiling shelves housing a collection of art, games and tchotchkes brought together for this house. There’s a hanging chair to take in the desert views.
LIVING ROOM - The living room is framed by custom floor to ceiling shelves housing a collection of art, games and tchotchkes brought together for this house. There’s a hanging chair to take in the desert views.
LIVING ROOM - The living room is framed by custom floor to ceiling shelves housing a collection of art, games and tchotchkes brought together for this house. There’s a hanging chair to take in the desert views.
LIVING ROOM - The living room is framed by custom floor to ceiling shelves housing a collection of art, games and tchotchkes brought together for this house. There’s a hanging chair to take in the desert views.
NOOK - Off of the kitchen there is a window reading nook overlooking the scenery. This bench also doubles as extra seating to make five more seats at the dining table.
LIVING ROOM - The living room is framed by custom floor to ceiling shelves housing a collection of art, games and tchotchkes brought together for this house. There’s a hanging chair to take in the desert views.
ENTRYWAY - Stepping into the house there is a closet with the laundry and pantry. The sculpture above the door is made out of interesting wood scraps found during construction.
ENTRY - This bench was a proof of concept study for the main bed, we liked it enough to keep it in the entry for storing shoes.
MAIN BEDROOM
MAIN BEDROOM
MAIN BEDROOM - Sitting area
MAIN BEDROOM - Loft Space
MAIN BEDROOM - Looking through the house.
MAIN BEDROOM - Evening Mojave views
MAIN BEDROOM - Bath views.
MAIN BATHROOM - Custom plywood vessel sink.
MAIN BATHROOM - Two person shower.
MAIN BATHROOM - Two person shower.
GUEST BEDROOM - We designed the plywood furniture for this room and added an ensuite bath.
GUEST BEDROOM
GUEST BEDROOM - We designed the plywood furniture for this room and added an ensuite bath.
GUEST BATHROOM - Custom concrete sink and cabinet.
GUEST BATHROOM - In-wall toilet.
GUEST BATHROOM - View from the shower.
BUNK ROOM - We designed these plywood bunk beds.
BUNK ROOM - We designed these bunk beds.
BUNK ROOM - We designed these stacking tables and chairs that also make a great shelf.
SHARED BATHROOM
SHARED BATHROOM - We designed the Lightbox as well as the shelf and cupboard.

Energy saving features

This house has several energy efficient features built in that go beyond California’s strict title 24 energy code. First is the passive solar heating, the south and west facing windows absorb the low winter sun’s warmth while the high summer sun is shielded by the pergolas, so there is very little need for heating or cooling during the fall and spring. The house is designed with air passages to allow air to circulate through the rooms even with all the interior doors closed. Also this is an all electric house, with an on-demand electric water heater, induction stove and a quad zone heat pump. The metal ‘cool roof’ doesn’t store heat like a traditional roof and is insulated with sheet foam above the decking and traditional fiberglass underneath. Nearly all of the lumber and concrete from demolition was reused as framing and also as cladding and furniture.

Credits

Jared Eberhardt
Architect/Designer

Cody Hudson
Logo/Designer