They say if you create something for yourself, you do a better job. Ron Molen proved the point. This is not simply a Ron Molen home, it is the Ron Molen home. Designed and built as his own personal residence, this exceptional property in the Upper Avenues represents the architect at his most considered and uncompromising. Every decision made here was made for keeps. Molen was known for his rough-sawn timber interiors, but for himself, he reached further. Philippine mahogany, rich and warm, lines the interior in place of the expected. Seagrass wallpaper adds texture and tactile sophistication in equal measure. The result is a Molen home that feels simultaneously familiar and elevated, like hearing a favorite song performed by a string quartet.
The approach sets the tone immediately. An entry path cuts through a lush, layered garden with just enough zig in its zag to let you know this residence is going to be special. The signature entry courtyard -- a Molen hallmark -- unfolds as an outdoor living room on one side and a private garden moment on the other. Birds are drawn here in numbers. The current owners are such nice folk, they even have the resident blue jays eating out of their hands, so to speak. It is that kind of place.
Inside, the post-and-beam construction soars. Open-air corridors. Floating stairs. Custom built-in furniture. Sweeping horizontal lines that move you through space, while keeping you connected. A tree that rises through the central atrium like a living architectural element. The home was strategically sited to capture views from the main entry level, while the lower level opens to a flat, parallel patio and yard. Every level has its purpose; every detail has its reason.
This pad has been prized by everyone who has ever had the privilege of calling it home. That is not an accident. It is the inevitable consequence of an architect building exactly the home he wanted to live in. Ron kept the best one for himself. Wouldn't you?