Living Inside a Sculpture: Ken Kellogg’s Masterpiece in the Hills

Tucked into the hills northeast of San Diego, the Bailey House is part sculpture, part sanctuary. Explore Ken Kellogg’s organic architecture masterpiece.

When Dr. Joe and Barbara Bailey bought a piece of land northeast of San Diego in 1972, they had modest plans: a straightforward ranch house functional enough to build with their own hands and a few extra helpers. But then they met architect Ken Kellogg—a native San Diegan with a flair for sculpture, a devotion to nature, and a design philosophy that can only be described as “go big or go home… or build your home into a hilltop sculpture.”

The Baileys didn’t just get a house. They got a living, breathing piece of art.

A House That Was Never Meant to Be Ordinary

Ken Kellogg’s work doesn’t just sit on a lot—it grows out of it. Think: hand-shaped wood, local stone, sweeping curves, and a complete disregard for conventional right angles. Raised between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains, Kellogg fused mid-century modernism with natural energy.

Let’s take a moment to talk about the front door. Yes, the door. Designed by artist John Vugrin, the same craftsman who worked with Kellogg on the iconic Doolittle House. Functional? Absolutely. But also? A showstopper.

The kitchen in the Bailey House isn’t just where the food happens. It’s the literal and metaphorical center of the home. The design points inward and upward, drawing the eye to a stunning skylight. Every cabinet and edge has been softened and curved in a design style dubbed the “California Roundover.” Nothing touches the ground unnecessarily. Everything floats. Everything breathes.

Stone, Glass, and the Floating Fireplace

One of Kellogg’s signature moves was deliberately blurring the line between interior and exterior. Glass walls let light and landscape flow freely through the house. Cabinetry extends through walls, appearing both inside and out. The structure is half nestled into the hill, half opening out to the sky. It’s grounded and airy, ancient and futuristic.

Kellogg believed in the power of a good fireplace. But in his world, it’s not just a cozy nook—it’s a sculpture. The fireplace is a beast in the Bailey House: free-standing, surrounded by glass, and split across two levels. Inside and outside blur together as the stone mass anchors the living space above while warming bedrooms below.

A Legacy

The Bailey House doesn’t feel like a one-off experiment—it feels like the culmination of something. It is a refinement of everything Ken Kellogg had been exploring in his architecture: circular forms, sculptured stone, honest materials, and a childlike joy in using glass to break rules and expand space.

This isn’t just a home. It’s a place where structure meets nature and every inch whispers, “You’ve never seen anything like this before.”

And honestly? You haven’t. Find out about all of these details and more – watch the Architechtural Digest feature below:

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