Flash 8 Required
Kern Tea House
Castle Rock, COThis very special teahouse, a remote retreat in the yard of a larger main house, responds to the phenomenal landscape design surrounding it by respecting the gardens and creating a balance between nature and shelter. The simplicity of the Japanese palette infuses the structure with a rich yet understated ambiance, and that simplicity is balanced with carefully crafted wood features, including Honduran mahogany floors, western red dear trim and paneling and lightly stained wood panel walls that balance the simplicity with richness and sophistication. The teahouse echoes the architectural vocabulary used in the residence structure and adds other, more traditional Japanese materials, such as plaster exterior walls and exterior shoji screens, that provides a Zen-like interior. Situated 100 feet from the main house via a granite bridge that appears to float across the pond, the 110-square foot structure presents the homeowners with a serene retreat that's ideal for relaxing.