Cooking Light FitHouse 2004

Everyone's washroom

The bright laundry room, just off the kitchen and adjacent to a plant-potting area outside, combines practicality and good looks best exemplified by the tiled, step-up shower, which makes pet washing, not to mention watering potted plants, easier. The tiled floor is easy to maintain, whether the room is used to care for pets or kick off muddy boots.

Alfresco living

Enjoying a meal outside is a breeze. A sheltering roof supported by 16 x 16–inch fir posts extends fresh-air living across much of the year. The outdoor kitchen features a full complement of all-weather stainless steel appliances inset in a stucco-and-tile island. The dining furniture is made with teak harvested in an ecologically sustainable manner.

A room of quiet ease

Guests, like family, are treated to bed linens made from organic cotton, which is produced without synthetic chemicals and in muted colors created with low eco-impact dyes. In the bath, guests can unwind in a deep tub surrounded by tumbled taupe and beige stone tiles, accented with small squares of quartz and marble.

Breathing rooms

Behind the workout room on the lower level are a bedroom and meditation room that form a refuge within a refuge. The meditation area is an acoustically isolated space for yoga, relaxation, or quiet contemplation. Glass pocket doors between the rooms call to mind Japanese shoji screens, and in both spaces, soothing celery green walls complement floors made of bamboo, an ecologically fit alternative that's at home in the FitHouse.

A daily escape

The master bath walls reflect the natural shades found just outside. The light caramel tumbled stone and dark green marble tiles enhance the effect.

Restful refuge

Step into the master bedroom–with its palomino beige walls and perhaps a fire in the gas fireplace beyond the foot of the bed–and right away you start to unwind. On the far side of the bed is a cozy area for letter writing with a bay of windows that takes in an evergreen view.

Fit for a Family

A turn on the elliptical trainer, the step machine, or the home gym feels like a climb in the mountains thanks to a 10-foot-wide expanse of glass with doors that slide open to the view. Wall mirrors at the back of the room double the view, reflect daylight, and encourage good posture. On the tight, closed-loop carpet–an ideal surface for bodywork and stretching–you'll find exercise balls, yoga mats, and other workout props.