The Navaho

 

The Navaho is a Ranch design of modern flavor. Its unique roof lines permit a row of windows beneath the peak of the slanted section to give the combined living area the rare benefit of quadruple exposure.

Blending with the countryside, the vertical cypress siding and adobe brick of this contemporary home becomes part of any location. Outdoors also merges with indoors through a wall of windows that enclose the dining, living and sun room.

Inside, the outdoor personality is reflected in the natural wood panel walls; in the bedroom by the huge wall of built-in closets; in the large living room by the hospitable fire- place and the bright burst of windows in the sun room. Throughout the house, the roof rafters and sheathing are exposed. Yet with this rustic background, The Navaho is modern in all conveniences and is efficient to maintain. Like most contemporary homes, the basement has been omitted, and the heating unit placed in the utility or storage room.

The home is actually divided into two sections by the design of the roof. The kitchen, dining-living room and sun room are located under a shed roof and in addition to the regular windows, this area receives light and ventilation from five windows under the peak of the shed. The bedrooms and bathroom are under the flat portion of the roof.

Entering from a sheltered flagstone porch, one approaches an almost square, wood-paneled living room. A feature of this room is the large adobe brick fireplace. Since the dining area and sun room open on the living room, you receive an impression of really spacious living.

The kitchen is separated from the living room by a seven-foot built-in bookcase and from the dining room by a bar with shelves underneath. This kitchen is scientifically designed to save the homemaker time and extra steps. The sink, range and work cabinets are organized compactly along one wall. The refrigerator is opposite the sink and next to the dining room opening. A Dutch door at the rear of the kitchen leads to the backyard and the barbecue terrace.

In the hall off the living room is the bathroom. Beautiful ceramic tile covers the floor and the lower section of the side-walls. Wood paneling covers the upper portion of the sidewalls and the ceiling.

The two bedrooms are accessible from the central hall. Each bedroom has two large windows and cross ventilation. The outstanding feature of each bedroom is the 11-foot closet with a built-in wardrobe.

Since a car is virtually a necessity for any home owner today, a car port is especially essential for homes built for country areas. The utility or storage room is just off the car port and in addition to containing the heating unit, allows room for storage and a laundry.

Except for the concrete-slab construction, conventional construction methods are used for building this home. Pipes are imbedded in the cement slab to provide radiant panel heating.