At six on a Tuesday, the family enters the Ivie Road house through the attached shop, setting their bags down on the tile floor just inside the main living area. From this spot, the soaring ceilings and the double-sided brick and river rock fireplace immediately define the space. The fireplace stands between the great room and the bar area, its masonry anchoring the open plan but also interrupting sightlines. The deep red, decorative wooden lattice ceiling overhead draws attention downward, contrasting with the pale tile underfoot. The bar, carpeted in red, feels set apart from the rest of the central space, while the billiard table zone and the office/game room, both visible from the living area, signal the house’s origins as an indoor riding arena, now converted to a custom brick home. This project is for the family in this specific house: to connect the rooms and soften the transitions, while keeping the brick, fireplace, and barn-scale character that make this Herald property unique.
The fireplace, ceiling, and main living space
This 1992, single-story barndominium on nearly five acres has a main living area that is both vast and visually complex. The double-sided fireplace in the center is original to the arena conversion, constructed of brick and river rock, and serves as a divider between the great room and adjacent bar and dining areas. For this house, the fireplace should remain as the organizing feature, but the furniture layout around it needs to be reconsidered so that people in the great room and the bar can see and hear each other. Reducing the visual bulk of the fireplace surround, by modernizing the mantel or refining the masonry, could help, but the goal is to clarify circulation and conversation, not erase the house’s history.
The ceiling’s deep red lattice, a signature of the early 1990s conversion, currently absorbs light and makes the room feel lower than it is. Replacing this lattice with a lighter or more modern finish would brighten the room and better complement the cathedral ceiling. The main living area’s central heating, multiple heating and cooling units, and ceiling fans must be considered in any ceiling or lighting update, since these systems keep the large space comfortable year-round. The composition roof, visible from the exterior, is in good condition and does not require changes for this interior plan.
The bar area, set off by red carpeting, is the clearest opportunity to unify the flooring. Swapping the carpet for tile that matches or complements the great room’s existing tile would create a seamless transition and make the bar feel more integrated. The polished wood bar, with its vintage look, should remain; it brings warmth to the brick and helps define the bar as a social space within the larger room. The kitchen, with its granite counters, island, and breakfast area, already supports family gatherings without needing to become the sole landing spot for every activity.
Plumbing, electrical, and county rules for this lot
This house relies on a private well and a septic system, with three bathrooms serving four bedrooms. Sacramento County Environmental Management Department regulates any changes to the onsite wastewater system, and a construction permit is required before modifying or expanding the septic system (Sacramento County Environmental Management Department; Sacramento County Code). For this remodel, keeping the bathrooms and kitchen plumbing in their current locations is the most practical approach, as it avoids triggering new capacity reviews or system upgrades. The tankless water heater and the well both support the existing fixture locations, so the plan is to work with, not against, these systems.
Electrical service in the house is 220 volts, with central and multi-unit heating and cooling. Any new lighting, whether to highlight the main room’s height or to add task lighting in the office/game room, should be planned with the current electrical system in mind. If the remodel adds or relocates electrical circuits or outlets, or removes or alters any wall, Sacramento County requires a permit and plan review (Sacramento County Department of Community Development). The existing open plan in the main living area means the focus can remain on improving flow and comfort, not on removing more walls.
The house on its land: transitions and use
The Ivie Road house sits on 4.79 acres of flat San Joaquin silt loam, with mature trees providing shade and windbreaks, and a year-round pond visible from the main rooms. The main footprint covers about 9,226 square feet, with additional structures including a guest house, workshop, and outbuildings. The concrete driveway, circular and paved, leads directly to multiple entrances, making the attached shop a practical entry point for everyday use. The fenced lot, auto sprinklers, and landscaped gardens all point to a property designed for both privacy and outdoor living. The Title 24 building climate zone 12 and minimal FEMA flood risk (zone X) mean that the house is well-sited for Herald’s weather, though the 8/10 heat factor and 10/10 air quality risk suggest that interior comfort and air handling should always be part of the design.
On a Tuesday evening, after these changes, the family would move easily from the kitchen to the great room, bar, and office/game area, with the fireplace still anchoring the space but not blocking sightlines. The lighter ceiling, unified flooring, and improved lighting would make the brick and wood feel welcoming rather than heavy. The house’s barn-scale structure, brickwork, and outbuildings would remain central to its identity, but the interior would finally match the openness of the lot.
If your home in Herald has the scale, brickwork, and barn history of this Ivie Road property, and you want a remodel that connects your rooms without losing what makes them special, I’d love to help you plan it.
