31st Annual Carmel House Tour 

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HOUSE DESCRIPTIONS

Banyan House

An architectural gem just up the street from downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, Banyan House is the first home designed by Mark Mills in Carmel. After Mills was an apprentice at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin Fellowship from 1944-48, Banyan House was financed by Mrs. Clinton (Della) Walker, the owner of Frank Lloyd Wright's only seashore designed house ever built. Banyan House was sold to Mark Mills' father. From 1954 to 1957 Mark lived in the house, which is a significant example of Wrightian principles or organic architecture combining the use of "desert masonry" with local building materials. Other highlights include a custom iron gated entry, living room with fireplace, geometric windows flooding the spaces with natural light, and meticulously manicured grounds with pathways to explore. Mills' imaginative skill at successfully integrating such an abstract plan comfortably into its landscape setting is in keeping with the Carmel tradition. With gorgeous woodwork and interesting details around every corner, this architectural innovation is a work of art.

Pine Gates 

Nestled among towering pines, Pine Gates is a charming chalet-style cottage with a name that honors both its natural surroundings and its history. The land was once owned by Amelia Gates, who gifted the property to her cousin, Lore Wurzmann. In 1941, Lore had this unique home moved to its current location—a feat that required rolling the entire structure up the hill from the heart of downtown Carmel. 

Built around 1929, the cottage originally served as Ella’s Southern Kitchen, a restaurant in Carmel’s business district. One can almost picture the cozy great room filled with tables and the sound of clinking dishes. The kitchen remains notably large for a home of this size—a nod to its culinary past. 

Upon its relocation, the house was placed on a foundation made with beach sand—an oversight that led to erosion issues over time. Just last year, the foundation was replaced, ensuring the home’s stability for years to come. 

The current owner has lived here since 1972, purchasing the home from Lore Wurzmann’s brother, Fritz. Soon after moving in, he added a bedroom, transforming the space to include a sleeping area, a music nook for practicing cello, and a small office. Friends had mixed reactions when he considered buying the home, coining the memorable phrase: “It’s horrible; it’s adorable!” 

The property spans two lots, with the garage on one and the main house on the other. Above the garage sits a rental studio with its own private entrance and a view overlooking the expansive backyard. 

As you step inside, imagine the cottage’s former life as a bustling eatery. Today, it showcases an eclectic collection of art and personal treasures—including playful nods to Santa Claus. The owner, a longtime Carmel resident, has brought joy to many holiday events in full Santa attire and has even authored a book about his experiences as the jolly figure. 

Skysweep

Original Builder/Owner - Handley Lumber merchant/builder in Carmel. House (1946). Guest House (1960’ish). Art Studio (2017). 1.6 acres. Views / Inspiration Point Lobos / Carmel Bay / Santa Lucia Mountain Range / Carmel Valley. Bernard Trainor and his family (Melanie, Mattie, and Sydney) remodeled the house and created a completely new garden starting in 2012. HOUSE / GUEST HOUSE / INTERIOR The design and implementation is ongoing. Builder - Stocker and Allaire Collaborated on the design and completed the implementation (BT note - Special thanks to Pancho / interior woodwork Tomas / stonework Emilu / garden apprentice Antonio / garden maintenance). GARDEN Overall design vision - climate appropriate planting and hardscape materials. Experimenting with material combinations of compelling beauty - Plant durability / resilience in this eco—type. Research and Development opportunities that inform other landscape design and also themes with my fine art. Testing / Taking risks with a plan for these ideas to lead or “filter” into my fine art or my landscape designs. Learning from the successes and the struggles. Extremely important for me to be touching the plants and the Earth - Staying grounded in my work. Planned and implemented a garden with No Automated Irrigation System. I Hand water new plants in first month they are planted, then they are reliant on natural rainfall from there on Growing and Building up genetic stock of unique plant varieties/selections - propagation basis of select plants.  

Benjamin Turner House

The Turner House was originally constructed in 1898 by Benjamin Turner for himself and his family. It was the first brick house and one of the earliest homes in the city. Turner, a native of England and a mason by trade, came to San Francisco in the 1860s, working on notable structures such as the first Palace Hotel. Upon moving to Carmel, he built this brick house, including a river rock garden wall in front, which showcased his skill as a mason.

Turner went on to work with his son, Harry, on other notable Carmel structures, including the stone tower of what is now the La Playa Hotel. Harry’s two sons continued the tradition, becoming third-generation builders in the community.

In 2020, DYAR Architecture, together with De Franco Construction, restored the historic section of the home and added a new addition behind the original, almost completely hidden from the street. The addition encloses a new open kitchen and family room, with divided-lite glass windows opening to a south-facing courtyard.

The primary suite is positioned at the rear of the property, stepping up with the topography and incorporating a stone terrace that naturally separates this private wing from the rest of the home and courtyard. The design aims to set an example of how to maintain the historic integrity of a small cottage while adding a complementary addition that makes the home exceptionally functional for contemporary living.

Carmelo House

This newly completed home by DYAR Architecture, with interior design by Studio Nostromo and built by Northstar Construction, was inspired by the many significant modernist homes in the city. While the rational plan and flat roof plane of the design recall Carmel’s mid-century heritage, the materiality of the board-and-batten wood siding links the home in a visceral way to the similarly clad, single-wall wood cottages of early Carmel. The contrast between the home’s traditional materiality and its formal modernity creates a complementary and harmonious dialogue between past and present.

The house carefully nestles itself within the existing oak trees, using them as a dramatic, natural foreground to the more subtle architecture. Set on a small, irregular lot with restrictive height limits, the house is organized with a reverse floor plan. The guest bedrooms, media room, and garage are partially lowered below grade, while the upper level features an open layout of kitchen, living, and dining spaces that lead to an expansive deck with filtered views toward Carmel Bay.

The primary bedroom, located toward the street to the east, uses west-facing operable clerestory windows to bring in the sounds of the surf. Reflecting the architecture, the interior finishes and furnishings are heavily influenced by mid-century design. A mix of contemporary designer pieces and antiques pays homage to the rich history of West Coast modernism.

Vista Lobos

This 2023 project, designed by DYAR Architecture and constructed by Carmel Building and Design, is an extensive transformation of what was once a rather awkward-looking, ill-proportioned mid-century house.

A dramatic board-form concrete wall was inserted in front, stretching across much of the lot’s width. This creates a unifying base for the main level and the courtyard above, with the materiality of the concrete nicely complementing the dark-stained horizontal wood siding of the house. This strategic move also provides a deck in front of the living and dining spaces, extending the upper terrace for a fire pit and improved views toward Point Lobos and Carmel River Beach.

Below, large openings in the concrete with wood-slat screens help soften the mass of the wall and visually unify the lower front elevation, which features a single-car garage next to a separate living unit. The existing eaves were simplified to create more elegant, well-proportioned roof forms, emphasizing horizontality across the main level.

Much of the original L-shaped organization of the home has been maintained, with the side entry and a unique large courtyard allowing for true indoor-outdoor living. An inconvenient existing wall was removed from the front of the living and dining rooms, opening up expansive views to the west. The kitchen was enlarged and reconfigured.

The primary bedroom is accessed by stepping up and features a wide window seat with sliding glass windows overlooking the courtyard and views. Extensive custom white oak cabinetry and hot-rolled steel–clad fireplaces are integrated throughout the remodeled home.

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