Design Discoveries The landscape has changed tremendously since this picture and I feel have added to the overall Architecture. A new owner has purchased the house and has taken the ideas that we originally incorporated into the design but funds did not allow it to be finished. One major change is that the Two very large trees have been removed and low landscaping retaining walls have been added along with low maintenance plants. Here is an updated photo. As for the color of the door I don't know that name.

Design Discoveries The color of the house is a bright white almost a swiss coffee. The color in the second photo was taken on my iphone so the color came out a bit yellowish. As for taking out the shrubs up against your home, just do it, you will not be disappointed with the outcome. As for the two previous trees, they were making many problems along with the serious mess and root issues. We planted two Pepper trees that will do very nicely in the years to come. Thanks for your comments Anita.

Design Discoveries I hope your plans to remodel come to fruition and that you keep me in mind. My office is actually out of Livermore so we are closer than you think. Since you are interested in the contemporary style you might like a house that I just finished but don't have any photos of yet, only this rendering that I did. Thanks again and I look forward to talking with you some day.

anitageary Sounds good! Please share photos on Houzz once you finish, would love to check it out, nice design! Maybe we will work together some day. Stranger things have happened! Take care! Anita

Design Discoveries First thing, get rid of that stone, the stone dates the house. Use a material such as a James Hardie solid panel with 1X3 batts over top or a stucco to replace the stone. Also consider adding a GAble centered over the front door and have it come forward of the house with two columns. This will break up the long continuous run of the main roof.

Sheila Haugen can we just cover the stone with stucco or do we need to actually remove the stone first?

Kevin Patrick O'Brien Architect, Inc. Sheila, the technique I was talking about "covers" the existing stone with a slurry coat of stucco. This "look" is not for everyone! The closest example I can think of is looking at photos of stone cottages in England and Ireland. I have done this finish on projects in the USA, and it gives an "old world" look to the buildings. In your case, it would give the appearance of an old Ranch house if you cover the other exterior walls with the board & batten as suggested in an early post.

Design Discoveries That is a "Regency" HZ42 gas Fireplace surrounded by Porcelanosa 8X22" tiles and a concrete hearth