Standing Wave
Perched unusually close to the cliff edge at Sea Ranch—just before the Lodge, with uninterrupted views of whales, dolphins, sea lions, and seabirds—Ivy Ross’s home, Standing Wave, is a rare site with sweeping ocean views in a community where most houses sit farther inland.
Suchi Reddy served as interior architect, working in close collaboration with Ivy to reimagine the house from the inside out. The structure was gutted, the layout shifted, and walls reconfigured, while the floors and ceiling remained the same. Spaces were re-proportioned and views reoriented to strengthen the connection to the ocean, rocks, and sky. Neuroaesthetics—the science of how environments affect our emotions and well-being—guided the design approach, continuing a conversation Ivy and Suchi began over a decade ago about the power of sound, vibration, and resonance. Over the years, they explored stone and sound healing, collaborated on A Space for Being at Milan Design Week (with Google, Muuto, and the IAM Lab at Johns Hopkins), and co-created Google’s first-ever retail store in NYC. Those projects underscored how intentional design can induce calm, creativity, and wonder—principles that carried directly into this home.
The reconfiguration placed the primary bedroom and study in opposite corners of the house, moved the kitchen to become a subtle backdrop for communal gatherings, and expanded the guest bedroom for comfort. A large, light-filled study was designed to frame sweeping views and to showcase Ivy’s crystal collection—pieces acquired during a Tucson crystal showcase trip , and various expeditions—bringing the natural world’s geometry and energy into the heart of the space. The kitchen features Henrybuilt cabinetry, while a custom crystal display becomes its focal point.
Throughout the home, materials, light, and art serve as sensory triggers. Ivy personally selected all the artworks, including pieces from the Waste No More project by Eileen Fisher, which appear in the foyer and living room. The fireplace was modernized and integrated into the wall, creating a niche for sculpture. In the primary bathroom, a Japanese soaking tub with a view of the ocean and sauna offer physical restoration. In the guest bathroom, Suchi designed a custom wood light fixture for the ultra-tall ceiling height, with a colorful plexiglass insert that creates a soft shifting glow and right-sizes the space.
Other thoughtful features include a foyer cut-out/window positioned to frame the ocean the moment one enters, and drawings by Lawrence Halprin, Sea Ranch founder and landscape architect. In the study, Ivy installed a sound tube instrument designed by Wolfgang Deinart, who was inspired to create these works by his deaf son to illustrate the difference between listening and hearing and the vibratory resonance of sound.
The guesthouse was also fully updated, with a new kitchen and bath, making it a welcoming retreat for visitors. The result is a home that is both deeply personal and deeply connected—to place, to nature, and to the ongoing dialogue between design, healing, the senses, and the elements.