The Stillwater House

• Renovation

• Interior Design

• Decorating

A Japanese–West Coast Hideaway

Tucked behind a lush garden and koi pond on the edge of Indian Arm, this Brian Hemingway–designed home feels less like a house and more like a secret. Years of ill-fated renovations had dulled its original clarity, and it was ready for renewed energy. Barely visible from the street, the architecture never sought attention, and the interiors carry that same quiet sensibility: intimate, layered, and enduring.

Inside, each space leans into its character. In the kitchen, which felt overly large, natural cedar cabinetry and chiseled basalt counters set the tone, while the island’s irrigated trough, home to an indoor kitchen garden, became the true star. Downstairs, the windowless family room is wrapped entirely in wood. Rather than fight its sunken quality, the design embraces it as a moody, sculptural gathering space grounded by an oversized tatami rug.

Upstairs, the primary bedroom opens directly onto the water and is surrounded in glass, ceiling included. Conceived as a private onsen, tea table and all, it gains intimacy from retractable shoji doors and low-slung, plush furnishings. Throughout, the goal was a home that feels collected over time and never overly precious: relaxed, welcoming, and lived in.