Dear clients of ours asked us to design a partial renovation of their newly purchased, Mario Corbett designed home. This gorgeous house had been designed in 1955 and had barely been touched since. Much of the interior of the home is clad in old growth redwood veneer, infusing it with a warm glow. Our design goal was to not take away from Mario’s work, but to carefully tweak it to the way our clients envisioned living in it, while imbuing it with a quiet earthiness.

We were asked to re-imagine the kitchen, whose center was occupied by full-height cabinetry, opening it up for entertaining. The clients also wanted to rejuvenate the foyer and dining room, as well as an adjacent powder room. We replaced the center cabinetry with an island, cladding it with marble, to provide a delicious contrast to the redwood walls. The surrounding counters are clad in black Andesite. We replaced existing cabinetry with HenryBuilt, utilizing their custom finishes to create a neutral background. We replaced the existing flooring with 18” x 18” ceramic tile invoking limestone. The redwood veneer was not easily matched, so we carefully saved it where we removed it and re-applied it where needed. We used accent lighting to bring a playful vibe into the beautiful spaces and mix natural and artificial light during some of the day. We also restored and replaced some of the original windows, being careful to replicate Mario's details.

We hope that if Mario were to walk into this house now, he would be pleased with the work we did to it. Being a team of architects, designers, and interior designers, we always strive to respect the work done by our predecessors. We feel fortunate to have been able to work on such a beautiful home.