The mudroom serves as a contemplative threshold as one enters the house from the backyard. Warm wood tones denote three "portals" between exterior and interior through which one enters the house, sits to remove their shoes, and then continues into the kitchen.

The deep doorways, dark slate flooring, minimal cabinetry details, and single secluded window reinforce this calming transition from the stress of the exterior world to the refuge of the home.

In the basement, the cracked concrete foundation was structurally underpinned and reinforced to extend the house’s lifespan. Close attention was paid to the circulation spaces of the YZ House to bring in light and create transition between public and private spaces. The basement uses a custom in-house CNC milled screen to frame a feature moment at the stair landing and maximize light from the glass side door, while the main floor stairs employ subtle material accents to compliment the existing trims and reinforce the privacy of the upper floor bedrooms.

The master bathroom serves as the focal point of the private upstairs programs. A luxurious shower room features a skylight and space for plants, creating an immersive and near-tropical retreat as part of one’s daily routine.