This space-conscious renovation added a partial third floor to the home, giving the teenage twins of the family their own bedrooms and providing a family room for the kids and their friends to gather while handing back dad his intimate office space on the main level. A cozy sleeping loft, sitting above the new light filled bathroom, is accessible via a ladder from the double height family room. To the east, the family room opens with a window wall onto a balcony perch with breathtaking views of the Berkeley hills.

Window seats on two levels create spaces to congregate in both kitchen and the living areas and double as daybeds or overnight sleeping spots.

On the main level, the large welcoming kitchen with outdoor dining deck gives the family a place to get together and share food with their many friends. Close collaboration with the owner led to cost-saving solutions on a customized IKEA kitchen, with walnut cabinet faces balancing the dark finish of the original woodwork in the front of the house. We restored the redwood wainscoting and trim in the original living room and complemented it with new built-ins, window seat, book shelves and cabinetry, finished to match the existing woodwork.

At the exterior, the third story addition is set back from the front facade to not impose on the street and it is clad in warm grey metal siding and roofing that is long-lasting and virtually maintenance free. On the main and lower levels, orange-red integral color stucco exterior and dark bamboo siding and decking match the warm feeling of this home.

All new fixtures and appliances are electric in preparation for this home to become fully electric in the near future and to take full advantage of the new solar PV array and battery storage.

General Contractor: Alward Construction

Photos: Open Homes Photography

Photo Editing: Bénédicte Lassalle Photography & Box Brownie

After living in their 1,225-square-foot home for two decades, the owners needed room for a growing family, and they wanted a rooftop perch to capture views of San Francisco Bay.  The final design solution was an intricately crafted 3-D puzzle of library, stairs, and railings leading up to a new 650-square-foot rooftop addition containing bedrooms and a viewing deck. The original 1920’s house was preserved below, and kitchen was remodeled in a modern style.  Large doors, trellises and an outdoor kitchenette give the feeling of a café that has opened for lunch on the roof. From the kitchen, a dumbwaiter extends up to the deck, to facilitate dining and entertaining above the landscape of surrounding rooftops. Sustainable features include photovoltaic electric panels, rainwater recycling, recycled construction materials from the original house and preservation of the original home’s impervious footprint.

An exciting merging of old and new, this project was featured on the AIA East Bay 2012 Home Tour.

Photos by Shawn-Paul Luchin

This remodel transforms three small, crowded rooms into an expansive, open kitchen connecting directly onto a new backyard deck. The coziness of a former breakfast nook is re-created with a built-in bench with discreet storage, and a pre-existing island is re-imagined with a new marble surface and complementary marble slab installed above the counters. The new modern kitchen, combines bamboo, white, and glass cabinet materials and integrates an original Wedgewood range stove providing a spacious, open environment.

Outside, the new deck design addresses a previous basement flooding problem and brings together the upper and lower floors with a floating “crow’s nest” balcony, maximizing available outdoor space for use by both couples. To avoid the need for a support post, the balcony is supported by steel beams cantilevered into the house itself. Its custom rail system is galvanized steel and stainless steel cable, leaving as much space open as possible, and a steel awning overhead protects the new door from potential rain damage. The deck itself, as well as its railings and trellis structure, are built in durable ipe, a smooth barefoot-friendly hardwood. Stairs and seating create a smooth transition from the elevated deck down into the yard, where the new owners installed flagstones and setup their own bee hives.

Photo credit © Benedicte Lassalle

This Oakland-based project showcases the transformation of a non-conforming shed into an elegant Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). Completed before ADUs were formally defined, this project epitomizes creative problem-solving and sustainable design.

Originally intended as a home for Rohan’s mother, “Nallie’s Nest” preserves the charm of the original structure while incorporating modern upgrades. The existing shed—situated in a picturesque garden setting—required special permitting to extend its height, retain its property line wall and roof, and upgrade its foundations.

Sustainable Features:

Passive Solar Design: Thoughtfully placed windows and doors create a climate-responsive structure with minimal energy needs. Clerestory windows act as high vents and prevent overheating.

High-Efficiency Heating: A single high-efficiency stove provides warmth and ambiance while meeting local energy requirements.

Stormwater Retention: Rain chains and splash blocks direct rainwater into the garden for stormwater retention, enhancing sustainability.

Indoor-Outdoor Living: French doors at the living and bathroom open onto a private cedar deck, fostering a seamless connection to nature.

Architectural Character: Cedar shingles honor the shed’s original design, blending harmoniously with the shared garden setting.

Versatility and Community Impact:

Though originally designed as a home for Rohan’s mother, the ADU quickly proved its adaptability. During the Santa Cruz fires, it became a refuge for Gina’s father after losing his home. During the pandemic, it transformed into a home office and continues to serve as a guest house and venue for family gatherings. Looking ahead, it has potential as a rental unit in Oakland, addressing the city’s critical housing shortage.

This innovative ADU was featured in the AIA East Bay Home Tours: Shelter 2021, highlighting its unique design and community-oriented approach.

Photo credit © Benedicte Lassalle

A collaborative project with an architect friend of mine who has since changed careers, this remodel maximizes the use of small spaces and features a precise design of natural light.

We opened a large light well to illuminate the living area and differentiate it from the connected dining room and entry. These “rooms” all share the same space and the distinct treatment of light awards them their own discreet quality.

Placement of the range and other elements in the kitchen were chosen for function and ease of maintenance. It is a high-efficiency family kitchen with seamless steel countertops and integral sink itself as well as a conduction cooktop that visually blends into the surface. White upper cabinets make the space feel larger, and floating wood shelves and an antique tea cabinet bring in warmth.

In the bathroom, we worked with minimal details for a clean and uncluttered look that creates a feeling of spaciousness.

We replaced an older, more cumbersome deck and stair with two distinct yet connected spaces: a top perch for smaller gatherings that smoothly leads down to a lower deck area that, in turn, opens into the garden, which can now be used as a second, outdoor living room.

Photo credit © Benedicte Lassalle

Part of a multi-phase remodeling project, Pomona is a new addition that creates a spa-like master bathroom for its fully work-from-home owners, and incorporates a new laundry room, separate toilet room, and direct access to the outdoors. In reconfiguring the original master bedroom, the old bathroom was transformed into a second closet.

The clients had a very clear vision and were very involved in the choice of materials, which informed the design of the spaces. The encaustic floor and the faceted wall tiles were chosen in advance of the project. A clean, crisp and light aesthetic guided the design.

Wherever possible, materials meet flush and seamlessly. The floating shower bench matches the stone of the countertop. The shower is separated by a single pane of glass from the vanity area and the floor slopes barrier-free from the freestanding tub to the linear drain. Clerestory windows wash the sloped ceiling in light and open the view to the sky. The ceiling line, mirrors, tile and glass all align to contribute to the serene feeling of the space. Solid hardwood drawer fronts on the custom floating vanity are carved in lieu of applied pulls.

Hidden electric features include outlets inside the center drawer, electric floor heat and towel warmers.

Landscape designer Cat Chang, of Madrone Design Studio designed the outdoor spaces and collaborated on a hot tub deck (not shown).

Photo credit © Benedicte Lassalle

The kitchen, once a feature of the enclosed interior, the kitchen was moved to the rear of the house and opened up to the backyard. With a flourish of light and space, floor to ceiling windows and doors create a seamless connection with the outdoors. Minimalist steel handrails and terracing, along with a deck, bench and stairs, create an “outdoor room” for year-round use.

Photos by Kerstin Hellmann

Shifting the front door to the center of this home transformed the flow of its interior spaces. A new entry welcomes guests into this very introverted house. The interior the large living room for entertaining and simultaneously offers residents easy access to other sections of the house. The previously separate kitchen and dining areas were connected, and the addition of large windows and glass doors now bathes the entire area in natural light, allowing a smooth transition to a rear deck and garden. A small window between cabinet and countertop brings light onto the work surface and provides extra ventilation.

Two remodeled bathrooms feature carefully placed skylights, reflective wall tiling, limestone flooring, and wood paneling that curves from ceiling to wall. In the bedroom, custom furniture and built-in cabinetry maintain a clean contemporary line.

Photos by Langdon Clay

This project is a reconfiguration of the entry approach, where a beautiful live oak tree had lifted stairs and landings. The new guardrails are composed of a system of substantial, contemporary steel and wood railings supported by low perimeter walls. This design complements the visual weight of the house, integrating the Edwardian style of the home with the contemporary taste of the owners. The garage was rebuilt to carry the rooftop deck and received a new façade.

Photos by Langdon Clay