The Humboldt Homestead: A Second Look

Sunburst window in loft

Welcome again to another glimpse of my father-in-law’s beautiful handcrafted homestead. Here he creates art in everyday objects and everyday objects become art. (Part 1 is here)

Above, a series of beveled windows fan out in ever longer rays–the sun motif illuminating the sleeping loft on even the darkest days. Outside the sleek wood lines pull your eyes upward adding contrast and beauty to the rough simplicity of handmade adobe bricks.

outside sunburst window

The other end of the house moves away from wood and into a favorite material of my father-in-law–wrought iron. Here he takes the dragonfly’s wings as his motif and the rippled glass, the triangular shape of the window, as well as the scalloped curves of the black metal create an amazing replica in spirit even more than in form. Unfortunately, my photo doesn’t do it justice.

dragonfly wings window

The dragonfly windows look toward the greenhouse which again is crafted of wrought iron, glass, and adobe brick. The last post I did on this shows several views of the incredible building but I couldn’t resist this one taken from inside looking up at the vent that allows the building to be cooled through a remarkable system including an underground tunnel and a hand crank that opens this glass roof.

Greenhouse vent

Nearly every item in the homestead is unique and imaginative especially those items connected with the greenhouse.

round bench and table

Here is a round table and bench centered above the greenhouse vent in the floor and below the vent in ceiling. The series of circles spiraling from the sky into the earth connects the whole building with an almost spiritual significance.

Another shot from the inside shows the bathing area.

handcrafted bathtub

When even the bathtub is handcrafted and artfully entwined with plants, simplicity and beauty seem not only obtainable but as necessary as breathing.

The door pictures didn’t turn out as well as I would like so I’ll go back again but here is my favorite door. This one is located in the guest house. The door has an almost Art Nouveau quality to it. The graceful swoop of the decorative iron lines look as though a musical staff arched ecstatically in mid note to form the tuning pegs of ancient guitar-like instrument. The wood is gold and warm and yet, the glass is dimpled and as fogged as though the door opened into a crisp frosty morning

handcrafted door

Here is a detail of the doorknob. I don’t think he crafted this himself but I believe choosing beauty is almost as important as creating it. . .

Doorknob
At least, I hope so because perhaps that way I’ll gain some credit for choosing to include his incredible gift on this blog.
____________
For another angle of the whole homestead see here.
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35 Comments
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Dan
Guest
Dan
16 years ago

That’s just stunning.

I think I know who I’ll ask to build my cabin in Maine. Do you think he could build it to look like Serenity??

Bob
Guest
Bob
16 years ago

What an amazing place. I’m jealous of the creative mind that go into imagining such things, and even more the skill necessary to bring it to fruition. I’ve wondered how adobe would do here. Coming from the SW where it was fairly common, I assumed the Humboldt wetness would simply melt the mud & straw back to the earth too quickly.

Bob
Guest
Bob
16 years ago

What an amazing place. I’m jealous of the creative mind that go into imagining such things, and even more the skill necessary to bring it to fruition. I’ve wondered how adobe would do here. Coming from the SW where it was fairly common, I assumed the Humboldt wetness would simply melt the mud & straw back to the earth too quickly.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
16 years ago

What no sunrise?

Your father in law shows great attention to detail. How many people would have insisted on beveled glass in that sunburst configuration? It must cast beautiful patterns of light in the room that the sun shines into.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
16 years ago

What no sunrise?

Your father in law shows great attention to detail. How many people would have insisted on beveled glass in that sunburst configuration? It must cast beautiful patterns of light in the room that the sun shines into.

Staff
Member
16 years ago

Dan, he hates pop culture so I’d avoid all mention of Serenity;>

Bob, He is amazing, isn’t he? That Adobe building has been standing at least 30 years and shows no sign of wear in part because of the deep porches that surround the building (someday I’ll have to show the rock work in those porches) and in part because of the mixture he used. Most of his buildings are made with some sort of adobe-like substance–the chicken house, the shop, even the cobb guest house has an adobe like plaster to it (at least to my uneducated eye.)

Ernie. the sunrise wasn’t much to crow about this morning. The winds were whipping seriously. My guess–rain’s coming.

The loft is my favorite part of the house (and the whole house is beautiful) and that is completely due to the windows. The light is gorgeous.

Dan
Guest
Dan
16 years ago

No Serenity. Got it. It’s a small price to pay for craftsmanship like that.

Dan
Guest
Dan
16 years ago

No Serenity. Got it. It’s a small price to pay for craftsmanship like that.

humboldturtle
Guest
humboldturtle
16 years ago

No rain predicted this week. At least the wind is keeping the fog off the coast.

Kudos to the thoughtful design and execution of a beautful home! Absolutely stellar!

humboldturtle
Guest
humboldturtle
16 years ago

No rain predicted this week. At least the wind is keeping the fog off the coast.

Kudos to the thoughtful design and execution of a beautful home! Absolutely stellar!

Jennifer McKenzie
Guest
16 years ago

Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. I really want that table. It’s just beautiful AND practical.

Jennifer McKenzie
Guest
16 years ago

Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. I really want that table. It’s just beautiful AND practical.

Staff
Member
16 years ago

Dan, When you get that place in Maine. . .

Turtle, I was never so glad to be wrong. Isn’t the sunshine delightful!

Jen, I’ll have to take a picture of the kitchen table next time!

headwrapper
Guest
16 years ago

Everything he does shows a special eye and touch. The gates the doors the windows. My fave is the greenhouse. I really like that a lot.

headwrapper
Guest
16 years ago

Everything he does shows a special eye and touch. The gates the doors the windows. My fave is the greenhouse. I really like that a lot.

Staff
Member
16 years ago

Me, too;>

bluelaker4
Guest
bluelaker4
16 years ago

He does absolutely beautiful work.

bluelaker4
Guest
bluelaker4
16 years ago

He does absolutely beautiful work.

Chris
Guest
16 years ago

What a house! Very impressive.

Chris
Guest
16 years ago

What a house! Very impressive.

Carol
Guest
16 years ago

Lovely, lovely home! Thank you so much for sharing!

Happy Valentines Day!

Carol
Guest
16 years ago

Lovely, lovely home! Thank you so much for sharing!

Happy Valentines Day!

bluelaker4
Guest
bluelaker4
16 years ago

I showed Mike the pictures of [the] home and he is very impressed.

bluelaker4
Guest
bluelaker4
16 years ago

I showed Mike the pictures of [the] home and he is very impressed.

alaskasteve
Guest
16 years ago

Oooohhhh, more porn . . . . . wow. He’s done things that guys dream of doing to their houses and never get done and his execution is perfect, each component contributing to an exquisite cohesive whole. Wonderful job and thanks so much for posting them for us, he is quite a treasure.

alaskasteve
Guest
16 years ago

Oooohhhh, more porn . . . . . wow. He’s done things that guys dream of doing to their houses and never get done and his execution is perfect, each component contributing to an exquisite cohesive whole. Wonderful job and thanks so much for posting them for us, he is quite a treasure.

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[…] he wants tomatoes in winter, he builds a glorious greenhouse. The other day, he wanted sausage and invited us to help. He butchered the day before we got there […]

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[…] he wants tomatoes in winter, he builds a glorious greenhouse. The other day, he wanted sausage and invited us to help. He butchered the day before we got there […]

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[…] more on this beautiful place, look here and […]

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[…] more on this beautiful place, look here and […]