A bleak and impersonal presence on the street with a mixture of industrial buildings and houses gives no hint of the warmth within this house by Henri Cleinge.

The comfort of a wall of books and a view out into a secret garden is part of the sense of a warm and sheltering cave.

Double height living room glazing on the south side floods the interior with sun.

A clear view of the sky greets you as you climb the stairs.

This skylight continues out over the living room and washes the wall with a cool and meditative light.

The use of large expanses of wood paneling, on ceilings and walls creates a restful sanctuary.

Upstairs soft white bedding and a warmed polished black granite floor forms a sumptuous contrast to the rustic warmth of the wood and the unyielding gray concrete wall.

In the kitchen, only the food preparation surfaces and floor are not wood.

The softness of these ceilings and cabinets of walnut and cedar form a lush contrast with the harsh concrete shell.

So in the midst of all this wood, the sober and elegantly simple bathroom is actually refreshingly cool and minimal.

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