To bring an existing 6,680 square foot Malibu hillside home up to it's potential required a thorough re-conception from the outside in. Initially, the home had no ocean views, so the structure had to be taken down to the studs to open it up to its exhilarating setting. Balconies, a courtyard and fountain were added. A stone tower created a new front entrance, and honest, untreated materials delineate finishes both inside and out. Floors are of unfinished quarter-sawn white oak, and antique Douglas fir beams replaced old ceiling soffits. There weathered doors of mesquite, pine and hand-distressed cedar, a new melded plaster fireplace surround and a mixture of rustic hardware to add contrast and patina. Door heights were raised and windows added to increase light and volume. The fragrant ocean breeze sweeps through every room. The house is now a textural, authentic element of the landscape, spectacular in crafted simplicity, subtle in a bow to nature.