Zen House

Below is an excerpt from an article about a Japanese inspired house designed by an architect who is also a Zen priest. Click here for the full article, which  is accompanied by almost two dozen great pictures. Take a look; it'll be worth your while.

Description: This Japanese-inspired country house, built in 1994, was one of the few private residences created by renowned Bay Area architect and Zen priest Paul Discoe.

The property's wood-fenced entrance opens to a stone path leading past towering bamboo trees and a Japanese-style garden. The airy home has custom-milled wood floors throughout, built using traditional woodworking and joinery techniques.

The main living room features 12-foot redwood ceilings supported by whole, cantilevered logs and a wood-burning stove. Also featured are a modern kitchen with a Wolf range, concrete countertops, a custom sink and a Bosch dishwasher. The property sits on a secluded 14,000-square-foot lot west of Skyline Blvd., 20 minutes from access to Interstate 280.

What you'll love about it: Watching the sun set over the Ocean from the main living room and deck. Views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve aren't bad, either.

Size: The main house features two bedroom suites spanning 1,250 square feet, not including the attic/loft. A 500-square-foot addition from 2006 houses an office, a meditation room and a half-bath.