When Pam and Andrew Ferko open their front door, visitors get an immediate sense of what makes this River Park home special.
The view extends from entry through dining area and living room, across a patio and into the backyard. It’s an uninterrupted sightline that makes the 1,400-square-foot house feel much bigger.
“That’s our favorite thing about the home,” Pam says.
Built in 1953, the three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath house has been Pam and Andrew’s home since 2002. They gradually remodeled, creating a colorful interpretation of midcentury-modern that emphasizes natural light, open space and indoor-outdoor living.
The couple designed the home and garden themselves, with inspiration from Palm Springs home tours and trips to Barbados.
“We wanted an open feel for optimizing entertaining with authentic bright colors of the midcentury-modern style,” Pam says. Caribbean colors bring shades of turquoise, orange and green.
Colors announce themselves at the front door where deep green siding pairs with brilliant orange and red. When the exterior was remodeled in 2018, the eaves were extended to emphasize the low, horizontal roofline. Teak siding brings a warm accent around the garage.
Landscaping reinforces the architecture with sculptural agaves, cactus and other drought-tolerant plants around the curving brick walkway.
Inside, the kitchen provides the most dramatic expression. A 2021 remodel removed a wall, opening the kitchen to the living spaces. Turquoise-painted cabinetry meets white countertops and backsplash, and creates a backdrop for colorful accessories.
The peninsula provides seating and space for food preparation and entertaining.
An early project transformed the front atrium into a dining room, increasing the house from its original 1,200 square feet. The room retains a strong indoor-outdoor feel with brick flooring, large windows and a skylight.
A simple wood dining table and midcentury chairs sit beneath a globe pendant. Artwork and textiles keep the room from becoming too serious or period perfect.
That balance carries into the living room. Original hardwood floors, vintage-inspired furnishings, contemporary pieces and bold artwork create a comfortable space rather than a midcentury-modern showroom. Windows and glass doors bring the garden into the room.
“We like having a space that is calm and peaceful with a minimalist feel,” Pam says.
The primary bathroom was remodeled in 2013. The tub was removed and replaced with a walk-in shower enclosed in frameless glass. Turquoise tile and multicolored accent tiles continue the color palette.
The couple remodeled the laundry in 2024, creating a half bath, pantry and space for stacked washer and dryer.
Outside, the backyard is as important as the interior. Solinsky Gardens completed the landscaping in 2010. In a nice neighborhood connection, Will Solinsky was one of Pam’s former students at nearby Caleb Greenwood School.
Andrew built the backyard pizza oven and barbecue. It’s a gathering spot for neighborhood pizza parties.
Community is important to this family. Pam once lived in East Sacramento and Andrew grew up in West Sac. From the start, the couple loved the home’s location in an established neighborhood filled with mature trees.
For Pam, there was another advantage. “I could walk to my teaching job at Caleb Greenwood.”
Both are deeply involved in Sacramento. They volunteer as ushers at B Street Theatre and Sacramento Children’s Home. Pam is a docent at Crocker Art Museum and ushers for Broadway at Music Circus. They belong to the River Park Neighborhood Association and River Park Garden Club. Their garden was on the River Park Garden Tour.
Over 24 years, the Ferkos created a house that reflects their enthusiasm for midcentury design and the way they live.
Bright and playful without being fussy. Carefully designed without feeling overdone. Most important, the home is connected to the garden, the neighborhood and the people who come through that bright front door.
Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. To recommend a home or garden, contact cecily@insidepublications.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
