To maximize seating in the living room, interior designer and homeowner Holly Hollenbeck designed a zig-zag built-in sectional sofa that was fabricated by Natural Edge Saw Works

• Objectives: Known as the “Little Owl” A-frame, this vintage home built in 1962 was purchased by Holly Hollenbeck, principal of HSH Interiors, for her own family as a remodel project. One of the original homes built in a small neighborhood on the west side of Donner Lake, the A-frame had location and charm in spades, but needed a full upgrade with modern systems. It also required a brighter palette of materials to bring light and a more contemporary feel to the home.

• Special and Unique Features: The design team’s inspiration from day one was to create a “Nordic bento box” combining the efficiency of storage and compartmentalization of a Japanese bento box with the blonde woods of Nordic homes. Residing within a compact 1,200 square feet of space are two bedrooms, two full baths and a sleeping loft, plus a laundry-mudroom. Every space possible was cleverly used for storage, from under-bed drawers in the millwork primary bed to a niche for a fridge/freezer and pantry. 

• Why it Won an Award: The Little Owl A-frame is a creative reimagining of a vintage A-frame for the modern family. All the best in modern conveniences are incorporated into the original footprint using a tightly edited palette of materials in bleached oak floors, baltic birch plywood and terrazzo accented with color pops of black, blush and mustard. This home is a new vision for A-frame living, showcasing innovative space, efficient built-in furnishings and millwork with a bright, welcoming interior.

While the exterior is all black, the interior is bright and cheerful

Merit Award: A-frame

Building Design: Unknown

Builder: Daniel Fraiman Construction

Interior Design: HSH Interiors

Landscape Design: HSH Interiors

Square Feet: 1,200