A project that started as a simple plan to install an elevator evolved into an overhaul from the foundation-up. Issues that had plagued the homeowners for three decades melted away while special requests for space, light, and accessibility were the guiding principles of the redesign. Read on to get acquainted with this picturesque, age-in-place sanctuary.
This is a 2,100 square foot new residence that replaced a former 1940s workman’s cottage. The owners requested a modern single open kitchen, living and dining area that would open onto the back yard. The narrow lot required the building be two stories. The second story is smaller and fits under a single gable roof set back from the street. This gable slopes away from the neighbors and minimizes shadows cast by the structure. Exterior materials include aluminum roofing and window system, Western Red Cedar siding, Integral color stucco.
The open living dining and kitchen space welcomes in the view to the back yard. Large aluminum sliding doors complete the indoor outdoor feeling.
Doug Fir cabinets and Heath Ceramic tile. The high windows let in the natural light while providing privacy from the close neighbors.
Wood cladding on the ceiling drops down the wall at the stairs. The skylight puts natural light into both levels. Water jet cut steel guardrail.
In this renovation of a traditional 1950s house in San Mateo, we removed the unnecessary walls to create a flowing kitchen/living/dining space bathed in natural light from added skylights (five in all). The re-worked entry created organized storage areas for school supplies, coats, phones, keys and pet supplies. We also designed and built three custom furniture pieces for the clients.
We vaulted the ceiling and added skylights to increase the open feel and natural light of the dining room. This room is the knuckle connecting all the spaces together.
In the kitchen we added a big skylight over the new island. Beyond is the homework station.
This is a remodel of a 1903 Victorian house which had long dark hallways, broken up rooms and no kitchen as far as we could tell. The design provided a spacious functional kitchen with lots of natural light. We inserted a powder room into an under used hallway, preserved the living areas with their original details and re-configured a bathroom to function in this century.
In the kitchen we built an addition but kept the double hung windows and traditional materials. The skylight and transom were added for natural light. In the bathroom, we designed a custom vanity.
