Houzz Tour: Midcentury Modern Home Revived, Roots Intact
Architects found on Houzz breathe new life into a family’s San Francisco-area Eichler home
When this couple purchased a midcentury house just south of San Francisco, they were as enamored with its great flow and views as they were with the ideals it represents: It’s part of a subdivision of homes built by post-World War II developer Joseph Eichler, who made modern design accessible to middle-class California families. But while its bones were solid, the house hadn’t been touched since it was built in 1956 — and it had the deterioration to show for it. So after reading a story on Houzz about Gast Architects’ sensitive renovation of an Eichler in Marin County, California, the couple hired the firm to return vitality and function to theirs while remaining true to Eichler’s vision.
Beyond the front door, the home opens to a light-filled central courtyard with views straight through an atrium out to the backyard.
That reveal sealed the deal for the couple, who were returning from a stint abroad.
“Really, the moment we stepped through the courtyard door was the moment I wanted to buy the house,” the homeowner told Budd’s fellow principal Eric Hartz in a postrenovation conversation. “It was April when we first saw it, and so there were lush green hills beyond. We said to ourselves, ‘We’re in California, and this is the life we had envisioned after coming back to California after a cold, dark winter in London.’ ”
At around 2,200 square feet, the home also met their desire for a “right-size” home for someday raising a family.
That reveal sealed the deal for the couple, who were returning from a stint abroad.
“Really, the moment we stepped through the courtyard door was the moment I wanted to buy the house,” the homeowner told Budd’s fellow principal Eric Hartz in a postrenovation conversation. “It was April when we first saw it, and so there were lush green hills beyond. We said to ourselves, ‘We’re in California, and this is the life we had envisioned after coming back to California after a cold, dark winter in London.’ ”
At around 2,200 square feet, the home also met their desire for a “right-size” home for someday raising a family.
This view of the rear of the house reveals other Eichler signatures, including an open floor plan and huge panes of glass that bring in light and connect the home to its natural surroundings.
The kidney-shaped pool is original too, though it was refinished and grommets were installed for a high-strength custom safety cover.
The kidney-shaped pool is original too, though it was refinished and grommets were installed for a high-strength custom safety cover.
A nook for coat and shoe storage leads from the garage to the kitchen.
Here you get a first glimpse of one of the home’s most dramatically transformed elements: the floor.
By the time renovations started, the original radiant flooring system had failed, the pipes were leaking and the concrete was spalling, or breaking off. Eichler floors are notorious for leaking heat through their concrete floors and foundations, and having to jackhammer and remove the original floor ended up creating an opportunity for improving the home’s efficiency with a new zoned heat system.
“The new hydronic heating system, using a high-efficiency boiler, was installed with a new slab that is insulated,” Budd says. A beautiful cream-colored terrazzo floor — among the homeowners’ favorite elements — was poured and polished throughout the home.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Here you get a first glimpse of one of the home’s most dramatically transformed elements: the floor.
By the time renovations started, the original radiant flooring system had failed, the pipes were leaking and the concrete was spalling, or breaking off. Eichler floors are notorious for leaking heat through their concrete floors and foundations, and having to jackhammer and remove the original floor ended up creating an opportunity for improving the home’s efficiency with a new zoned heat system.
“The new hydronic heating system, using a high-efficiency boiler, was installed with a new slab that is insulated,” Budd says. A beautiful cream-colored terrazzo floor — among the homeowners’ favorite elements — was poured and polished throughout the home.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
After: Custom white oak cabinetry, built-ins and paneling were installed throughout the home, including the kitchen, which is now open to the living spaces. The terrazzo floor, white counters and white paint give the whole space a clean, bright look.
Scroll to the bottom of the story to compare the before-and-after floor plans.
Cabinetry and millwork: Strong Cabinetry
Scroll to the bottom of the story to compare the before-and-after floor plans.
Cabinetry and millwork: Strong Cabinetry
A built-in desk with shelves is behind the island’s counter stools, just out of view in the previous photo.
Zoom in to appreciate the view across the pool and the tree-covered ridge beyond.
Zoom in to appreciate the view across the pool and the tree-covered ridge beyond.
To the south, the kitchen opens to the living room, which has a midcentury-modern-meets-contemporary vibe and a restrained, light-toned palette that doesn’t compete with the views.
“Our client has a knack for design, so there wasn’t an interior designer involved, just him,” Budd says. “We took the lead until he had the comfort level to pick out door hardware, fixtures [and] tile and chart a direction for oak stain colors, decorative lighting and choosing the terrazzo aggregate mix. They furnished it beautifully with new and vintage pieces.
“It is a different and joyful experience to collaborate with owners who have a design flair,” he adds.
Shop for living room furniture on Houzz
“Our client has a knack for design, so there wasn’t an interior designer involved, just him,” Budd says. “We took the lead until he had the comfort level to pick out door hardware, fixtures [and] tile and chart a direction for oak stain colors, decorative lighting and choosing the terrazzo aggregate mix. They furnished it beautifully with new and vintage pieces.
“It is a different and joyful experience to collaborate with owners who have a design flair,” he adds.
Shop for living room furniture on Houzz
After: Although the home’s footprint was basically unchanged, Gast Architects expanded it by 68 square feet. Now it’s large enough to accommodate a dining and family room, and it opens to courtyards on both sides for a whole-house cross-breeze.
As important as it was to the design, all of that glass — an Eichler signature — was another reason the original homes weren’t very energy-efficient.
“Because Eichlers have so much glazing, the energy improvements achieved by replacing the old single-pane glazing with insulated glass was dramatic,” Budd says.
As important as it was to the design, all of that glass — an Eichler signature — was another reason the original homes weren’t very energy-efficient.
“Because Eichlers have so much glazing, the energy improvements achieved by replacing the old single-pane glazing with insulated glass was dramatic,” Budd says.
Here’s the opposite view, facing the private wing. The new white oak paneling pays homage to the original mahogany paneling seen in the “before” photo, which, unfortunately, was badly discolored and damaged in places.
“We retained the feel of the Eichler by expanding the wood paneling to all of the entry spaces — not just the opposing entry walls,” Budd says. “We allowed panelized millwork to flow into the kitchen, primary bedroom and kids’ rooms, and I feel it was more in keeping with the spirit of an Eichler.”
“We retained the feel of the Eichler by expanding the wood paneling to all of the entry spaces — not just the opposing entry walls,” Budd says. “We allowed panelized millwork to flow into the kitchen, primary bedroom and kids’ rooms, and I feel it was more in keeping with the spirit of an Eichler.”
The dining area opens to the primary suite, which also overlooks the pool.
The new primary bathroom has a separate zone for the tub and rainfall shower, with a toilet niche (not pictured) at the other end and a double vanity in between.
As in the rest of the house, transom windows let natural light pour in, which reduces the need for artificial lighting.
As in the rest of the house, transom windows let natural light pour in, which reduces the need for artificial lighting.
The homeowners also requested an office space and guest suite separate from the main home.
Accessed from the front courtyard, the room has a built-in double-size Murphy bed and its own bathroom.
Between the primary and guests suites are two kids’ bedrooms. They’re accessible from the hallway and are also connected by a bathroom, which you can glimpse through the door at the back of this photo.
The kids’ tub features a cheerful, California-made tile reminiscent of fish scales.
Although the remodel was planned with a growing family in mind — the homeowners learned they were expecting their first child after they bought the house — they learned a few things about parenthood the hard way.
“The thing that we underappreciated — because we didn’t spend that much time with children — are things like: You never expect your daughter is going to play in the bathroom and just pour water out of the bathtub directly into the nicely finished cabinetry and under the wood kicks on the floor,” he told Hartz. “Or having gone with a cabinet design that doesn’t feature handles, only hardwood that you are in contact with, and then not being mindful of dirty hands. I’m telling myself that we’re in a six-year period where everything will just be grubby and covered with fingerprints, and we’ll get through it!”
Although the remodel was planned with a growing family in mind — the homeowners learned they were expecting their first child after they bought the house — they learned a few things about parenthood the hard way.
“The thing that we underappreciated — because we didn’t spend that much time with children — are things like: You never expect your daughter is going to play in the bathroom and just pour water out of the bathtub directly into the nicely finished cabinetry and under the wood kicks on the floor,” he told Hartz. “Or having gone with a cabinet design that doesn’t feature handles, only hardwood that you are in contact with, and then not being mindful of dirty hands. I’m telling myself that we’re in a six-year period where everything will just be grubby and covered with fingerprints, and we’ll get through it!”
Fingerprints notwithstanding, raising two young kids during the pandemic made the couple especially grateful for the sanctuary Gast Architects helped them create behind their courtyard door. They also appreciate the sense of community they’ve built with other newcomers and original homeowners in their storied neighborhood.
“We are incredibly happy with how things turned out,” the homeowner told Hartz. “If Joseph Eichler were to build a house today, I think this might be what the end result would be.”
“We are incredibly happy with how things turned out,” the homeowner told Hartz. “If Joseph Eichler were to build a house today, I think this might be what the end result would be.”
‘After’ floor plan
Structural engineering: Daedalus
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Hire a local design professional
Shop for your home
Structural engineering: Daedalus
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Hire a local design professional
Shop for your home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young daughters
Location: San Mateo, California
Size: 2,205 square feet (205 square meters); four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
Designers: Gast Architects (architecture) and Site Studio (landscape architecture)
Contractor: Starburst Construction
Joseph Eichler lived in a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house as a child, which inspired his interest in bringing modern architecture to the masses. To carry out his plan, he worked with multiple architecture firms, including A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons, who designed this house. Six decades later, Gast principal and project architect Dennis Budd took up the mantle.
Among the design elements common to Eichler houses is a discreet, low-profile facade, as you see here.
Exterior paint: De Nimes, Farrow & Ball
Find a local architect on Houzz