The owners of this Palo Alto, California, home have always been quite excited about their house, a midcentury tract home built by visionary developer-builder Joe Eichler. But they needed more space for hanging out as a family.
Enter John Klopf, an architect experienced in working with Eichler homes, who helped his clients expand their home in a way that respected the home's design and history. Here's how he did it.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: An outdoorsy family with 2 kids
Location: Palo Alto, California
Size: 2,418 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
The family room is entirely visible and connected to the remodeled kitchen and an informal eating area.
(Photos courtesy of Klopf Architecture, original photo on Houzz)
A NanaWall glass wall opens the family room to the pool area, bringing the outdoors in and expanding the living space.
A new bathroom was added, creating a master suite. Klopf heeded the homeowners' request to swathe the walls and ceilings in minimalist white.
Klopf and his contractor created a new wing by filling what used to be a concrete patio. The addition houses the heart of the home: the family room and the kitchen. It "blurs indoor-outdoor living and is completely in line with Eichler's lifestyle philosophy," says Klopf.
The addition carries over the original home's post-and-beam construction, ceiling and modern look, and capitalizes on its different ceiling heights. The living room has a 10-foot ceiling, and the rest of the home has an 8-foot ceiling. "We used the 10-foot ceiling height in the kitchen, then carried that height over the family room as well," says Klopf.
The remodeled kitchen replaces the old kitchen and a bathroom. Custom wood cabinetry, Caesarstone concrete countertops, a snowy glazed tile backsplash and flushed stainless steel appliances help keep things simple and sleek.
The property setback line was on a pretty sharp angle from the house, so Klopf created a sawtooth-shaped addition instead of a rectangular addition, giving the homeowners a small bathroom and a separate vanity room next to the bedroom. The bathroom's rear door opens up to the pool area, giving the clients immediate access to the outdoor area.
Now the adults can retire to the living room for peace and quiet while the kids use the new family room, allowing for some separation between the generations — something Klopf says is essential to consider in an open-plan house like this.
// This article was originally published on Houzz.
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