Also known as the Nash/Shelton Residence, this vacation house is nestled amidst forty rolling acres in the foothills of the Sierras about three hours northeast of Los Angeles. The design of the house is inspired by its majestic setting, by the intellectual curiosity and openness of the clients, and by the precedent of early California modernist William Wurster’s Gregory House with its traditional gable form and ranch style infused with warmth and timelessness. Stepping and turning, following the site's natural contours, granite boulder outcroppings, native flora and dropping down to a seasonal stream, the house is intimately sited in its natural surroundings. The interiors of the house provide an array of intimate views of nature as well as a magnificent panorama of the Sierras from the primary living space. While the architect wasn’t afforded his usual oversight during construction and thus some finish details are less than optimal, the photos of the project in the framing stage are testimony to the sensitive relationship created between the house and its natural setting. Furthermore, as the clients and their family and friends have continued to make the house their home away from home, and as they’ve added their personal touches to the interiors and landscaping, the house is now all the more intertwined with their lives and with nature. On a recent visit to the ranch with his family, architect Jesse Bornstein was reminded that every project is a gift and that architecture is ultimately about supporting and enhancing the quality of people’s lives.