A home designed for living life fully
By Courtney Ferguson
12:01 a.m. PT Aug 11, 2007
Lucky me! I get to visit fascinating Nevada County homes, and meet equally fascinating people, including
Ryan and Ruth Boudreaux and their daughter, 2-year-old Adrienne, as well as their family dog, Kika.
By way of background, Ryan Boudreaux is a contractor, committed to quality, resourceful creativity and long-
lasting environmental advantages. His wife, well-known artist Ruth Chase, shares his commitment. He handles
the construction aspects; she handles the colors and design — and together, they have created a home for life.
“Our home is for living … and children, pets and play are always welcome here.”
That’s the way Ruth describes their home’s purpose. “It’s no accident that the design
is open and inviting, so the boundary between indoors and out is as covert as possible.”
Take the floors, for example. The subtle orange floor tiles in the kitchen are reminiscent of our local red dirt.
“If you can’t fight it,” Ruth Boudreaux explains, “camouflage it, and clean it later.” And camouflage is what
the downstairs floor colors do.
“I want to enjoy the children’s visits on play-group days, and not be distracted by the dust and dirt they
sometimes track in.”
The great room, corridor, foyer and stairs feature dramatically grained white oak.
“These floors offer years of use,” Ryan Boudreaux emphasizes. “Sure, they’ll need to be refinished from time
to time, but their beauty and durability will last for the lifetime of the house.”
Initial impressions
As you pull up, you can’t help but notice how the shingles and putty-colored siding blend with the
surrounding countryside. For example, the shingles complement the bark on the many cedars nearby. The
paint colors complement the woodland tones.
Even the masonry mirrors nature, making the home blend beautifully in its setting.
The initial impression is one of earthy elegance, especially in the home’s design.
Gables, as well as a tower-like ‘tranquility room’ at the top, add height and shape to the home’s relaxed-and-
subtle drama.
Ryan and Ruth Boudreaux have taken great care to make the most of window sizes and placement. “Every
part of our home has its own woodland view,” Ryan Boudreaux points out, “including Ruth’s studio off the
kitchen.”
“It’s an artist’s dream come true,” Ruth Boudreaux said. “An environment like this inspires me to discover
new dimensions in my painting. More important, I’m inspired to enjoy every minute with our daughter, her
friends, their families and pets.”
Ruth Boudreaux’s engaging portraits and interpretive landscapes are strategically placed throughout the
house. As you enter, you’ll see her portrait of Dorian Gray on one wall, and an enchanting portrait of her
mother on another. Look up, and you’ll see a mystical portrait of Shanti Nilaya Sanskirt on the landing. (She’
s the goddess of dream time and the after-life.) Unframed, each harmonizes with the relaxed simplicity that
prevails throughout the home.
Kitchen creativity, dining room funk
The kitchen is warm, combining those pale-orange floor tiles with granite counter tops, a huge sink, open
shelving and floor-to-ceiling cupboards. It’s also an accessible kitchen. Generous work surfaces provide
plenty of food preparation room,
yet all appliances are close and convenient. Stainless steel and rich wood live
happily together, combining beauty with practicality.
The kitchen bar is discreetly curved. Just behind it is a stylish coffee-corner unit, so guests can help
themselves and feel perfectly at home.
Tucked in the dining room is a funky, full-of-character table-and-chair set. “Yes, we like quality, but not
everything has to be brand-new, designer stuff,” Ruth Boudreaux laughs. “Look at our leather sofas in the
great room. They’re attractive and lived-in, as well as incredibly comfortable. If someone spills a glass of
wine or a child spills cranberry juice on them, it’s no big deal.”
She’s right. A trip down the corridor reveals a door to what’s known as the “Kiddie Clubhouse.” It’s a little
like Harry Potter’s ‘under-the-stairs’ address, except that when you open the door, it’s colorful, inviting and
fun. What a great secret play area for AdrienneBoudreaux and her friends to be fairy princesses — or simply
celebrate being children. It’s a tea house, a kitchen, and a play house all in one.
Informal elegance reaches new heights
The home encourages you to breathe and look up at the expressive, colorful portraits … at the decorative
ceiling fans … and mahogany-colored beams, made from cedar forested from their 7.5-acres of surrounding,
terraced land.
Ryan Boudreaux took great care to incorporate extra insulation in the home’s construction, and it’s paying
dividends in terms of energy, efficiency and comfort. Although the 3,400 sq. ft. home is air conditioned, they
rarely have to turn it on.
Instead, a gentle breeze circulates throughout. In typical low-maintenance fashion,
Ruth Boudreaux has chosen simple, window shades. “They’ve got a great ‘R’ value,” she explains, “and all I
have to do to keep them clean is vacuum them occasionally.
Yet they keep this area remarkably comfortable and cool in summer and warm in winter.”
A whole-house fan, as well as an attic fan are also helpful, and the large overhangs provide welcome
summertime shade. Concrete siding also contributes to the home’s natural comfort and efficiency.
Other environmentally aware extras
Besides the upgraded insulation and foil-backed plywood under the roofing, three tankless water heaters
provide plenty of hot water for the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home. “They are 90 percent efficiency
heaters,” Ryan says, “and they are both efficient and economical.”
From the tonal shades inside to the textures, gables and use of stone outside, I have to agree, this is one
home that truly is made for life. Just like its residents, the Boudreaux family home combines artistry, earthiness
and fun — and it’s a joy to visit.
By Courtney Ferguson
12:01 a.m. PT Aug 11, 2007
Lucky me! I get to visit fascinating Nevada County homes, and meet equally fascinating people, including
Ryan and Ruth Boudreaux and their daughter, 2-year-old Adrienne, as well as their family dog, Kika.
By way of background, Ryan Boudreaux is a contractor, committed to quality, resourceful creativity and long-
lasting environmental advantages. His wife, well-known artist Ruth Chase, shares his commitment. He handles
the construction aspects; she handles the colors and design — and together, they have created a home for life.
“Our home is for living … and children, pets and play are always welcome here.”
That’s the way Ruth describes their home’s purpose. “It’s no accident that the design
is open and inviting, so the boundary between indoors and out is as covert as possible.”
Take the floors, for example. The subtle orange floor tiles in the kitchen are reminiscent of our local red dirt.
“If you can’t fight it,” Ruth Boudreaux explains, “camouflage it, and clean it later.” And camouflage is what
the downstairs floor colors do.
“I want to enjoy the children’s visits on play-group days, and not be distracted by the dust and dirt they
sometimes track in.”
The great room, corridor, foyer and stairs feature dramatically grained white oak.
“These floors offer years of use,” Ryan Boudreaux emphasizes. “Sure, they’ll need to be refinished from time
to time, but their beauty and durability will last for the lifetime of the house.”
Initial impressions
As you pull up, you can’t help but notice how the shingles and putty-colored siding blend with the
surrounding countryside. For example, the shingles complement the bark on the many cedars nearby. The
paint colors complement the woodland tones.
Even the masonry mirrors nature, making the home blend beautifully in its setting.
The initial impression is one of earthy elegance, especially in the home’s design.
Gables, as well as a tower-like ‘tranquility room’ at the top, add height and shape to the home’s relaxed-and-
subtle drama.
Ryan and Ruth Boudreaux have taken great care to make the most of window sizes and placement. “Every
part of our home has its own woodland view,” Ryan Boudreaux points out, “including Ruth’s studio off the
kitchen.”
“It’s an artist’s dream come true,” Ruth Boudreaux said. “An environment like this inspires me to discover
new dimensions in my painting. More important, I’m inspired to enjoy every minute with our daughter, her
friends, their families and pets.”
Ruth Boudreaux’s engaging portraits and interpretive landscapes are strategically placed throughout the
house. As you enter, you’ll see her portrait of Dorian Gray on one wall, and an enchanting portrait of her
mother on another. Look up, and you’ll see a mystical portrait of Shanti Nilaya Sanskirt on the landing. (She’
s the goddess of dream time and the after-life.) Unframed, each harmonizes with the relaxed simplicity that
prevails throughout the home.
Kitchen creativity, dining room funk
The kitchen is warm, combining those pale-orange floor tiles with granite counter tops, a huge sink, open
shelving and floor-to-ceiling cupboards. It’s also an accessible kitchen. Generous work surfaces provide
plenty of food preparation room,
yet all appliances are close and convenient. Stainless steel and rich wood live
happily together, combining beauty with practicality.
The kitchen bar is discreetly curved. Just behind it is a stylish coffee-corner unit, so guests can help
themselves and feel perfectly at home.
Tucked in the dining room is a funky, full-of-character table-and-chair set. “Yes, we like quality, but not
everything has to be brand-new, designer stuff,” Ruth Boudreaux laughs. “Look at our leather sofas in the
great room. They’re attractive and lived-in, as well as incredibly comfortable. If someone spills a glass of
wine or a child spills cranberry juice on them, it’s no big deal.”
She’s right. A trip down the corridor reveals a door to what’s known as the “Kiddie Clubhouse.” It’s a little
like Harry Potter’s ‘under-the-stairs’ address, except that when you open the door, it’s colorful, inviting and
fun. What a great secret play area for AdrienneBoudreaux and her friends to be fairy princesses — or simply
celebrate being children. It’s a tea house, a kitchen, and a play house all in one.
Informal elegance reaches new heights
The home encourages you to breathe and look up at the expressive, colorful portraits … at the decorative
ceiling fans … and mahogany-colored beams, made from cedar forested from their 7.5-acres of surrounding,
terraced land.
Ryan Boudreaux took great care to incorporate extra insulation in the home’s construction, and it’s paying
dividends in terms of energy, efficiency and comfort. Although the 3,400 sq. ft. home is air conditioned, they
rarely have to turn it on.
Instead, a gentle breeze circulates throughout. In typical low-maintenance fashion,
Ruth Boudreaux has chosen simple, window shades. “They’ve got a great ‘R’ value,” she explains, “and all I
have to do to keep them clean is vacuum them occasionally.
Yet they keep this area remarkably comfortable and cool in summer and warm in winter.”
A whole-house fan, as well as an attic fan are also helpful, and the large overhangs provide welcome
summertime shade. Concrete siding also contributes to the home’s natural comfort and efficiency.
Other environmentally aware extras
Besides the upgraded insulation and foil-backed plywood under the roofing, three tankless water heaters
provide plenty of hot water for the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home. “They are 90 percent efficiency
heaters,” Ryan says, “and they are both efficient and economical.”
From the tonal shades inside to the textures, gables and use of stone outside, I have to agree, this is one
home that truly is made for life. Just like its residents, the Boudreaux family home combines artistry, earthiness
and fun — and it’s a joy to visit.
The home of Ruth and Ryan Boudreaux near the top of Banner Mountain. The Union photo/John Hart |
| A small play room for the Boudreaux's 2-year-old daughter, creatively tucked into a closet. The Union photo/John Hart |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| The kitchen and entryway give a lovely first impression. The Union photo/John Hart |