Conceived of as a C-shaped house with a small private courtyard and a large private rear yard, this new house maximizes the floor area available to build on this smaller Palo Alto lot. An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) integrated into the main structure gave a floor area bonus. For now, it will be used for visiting relatives. One challenge of this design was keeping a low profile and proportional design while still meeting the FEMA flood plain requirement that the finished floor start about 3′ above grade. The new house has four bedrooms (including the attached ADU), a separate family room with a window seat, a music room, a prayer room, and a large living space that opens to the private small courtyard as well as a large covered patio at the rear. Mature trees around the perimeter of the lot were preserved, and new ones planted, for private indoor-outdoor living. C-shaped house, New home, ADU, Palo Alto, CA, courtyard, KA Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova, Lucie Danigo
Structural Engineer: ZFA Structural Engineers
Landscape Architect: Outer Space Landscape Architects
Contractor: Coast to Coast Development
Photography: ©2023 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2022 Location: Palo Alto, CA

Contemporary style four-season sunroom addition can be used year-round for hosting family gatherings, entertaining friends, or relaxing with a good book while enjoying the inviting views of the landscaped backyard and outdoor patio area. The gable roof sunroom addition features trapezoid windows, a white vaulted tongue and groove ceiling and a blue gray porcelain paver floor tile from Landmark’s Frontier20 collection. A luxurious ventless fireplace, finished in a white split limestone veneer surround with a brown stained custom cedar floating mantle, functions as the focal point and blends in beautifully with the neutral color palette of the custom-built sunroom and chic designer furnishings. All the windows are custom fit with remote controlled smart window shades for energy efficiency and functionality.

The primary bedroom and bathroom are the showstoppers of this phase! Unused and awkwardly located closets in both the bedroom and bathroom were removed to make way for additional square-footage in the bath and replaced with a sizable and functional reach-in closet in the bedroom. A dated and cramped shower stall was removed in favor for an expansive step in shower spanning the width of the bathroom and a new transom window washes the room in natural light. While the previous bathroom was only able to accommodate a single vanity, the new layout allowed us to create double matching vanities mirrored across from each other - a much appreciated addition for a primary bath. Floating walnut vanities boast impressive storage and are capped with tower cabinets with hidden outlets for charging and storing electronic bathroom tools. While the color palette is restrained - black, white, gray, and brown - the result is a timelessly modern and masculine space that is at once striking and warm. Modern geometric patterns play with each other throughout the material selections.

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Huka Falls Modern Retreat in Greenville, South Carolina, effortlessly balances modern architecture with natural elements. Inspired by the natural grandeur of New Zealand’s Huka Falls, this custom 2,265-square-foot house plan is engineered to showcase architectural volume and a unique natural light ambience. The main living space is defined by dramatic vaulted and soaring cathedral ceilings that stretch across both the kitchen and the central great room, creating a vast, open-concept feeling. Massive, striking trapezoid windows flood the interior with sunshine and accentuate the home's connection to its surroundings. This organic flow extends smoothly to the exterior via a covered porch located directly off the great room, establishing a premium indoor-outdoor living space perfectly suited for relaxing and enjoying nature. The thoughtful, nature-inspired architecture continues into the private quarters of the home. The primary owner’s retreat features its own soaring cathedral ceilings and signature trapezoid windows, maintaining a bright and airy atmosphere throughout the bedroom. For quiet moments of relaxation, the deluxe owner's bath serves as a spa-like escape, completely appointed with a double vanity sink, an expansive walk-in closet, a custom tile and glass-enclosed walk-in shower, and a premium free-standing soaking tub designed to help you unwind after a long day.

Cleverly concealed shades mitigate a double dose of light into this dining perch from undulating water mirroring changing skies // Image : John Granen Photography, Inc.

Mountain style family room photo in Salt Lake City

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Huka Falls Modern Retreat in Greenville, South Carolina, effortlessly balances modern architecture with natural elements. Inspired by the natural grandeur of New Zealand’s Huka Falls, this custom 2,265-square-foot house plan is engineered to showcase architectural volume and a unique natural light ambience. The main living space is defined by dramatic vaulted and soaring cathedral ceilings that stretch across both the kitchen and the central great room, creating a vast, open-concept feeling. Massive, striking trapezoid windows flood the interior with sunshine and accentuate the home's connection to its surroundings. This organic flow extends smoothly to the exterior via a covered porch located directly off the great room, establishing a premium indoor-outdoor living space perfectly suited for relaxing and enjoying nature. The thoughtful, nature-inspired architecture continues into the private quarters of the home. The primary owner’s retreat features its own soaring cathedral ceilings and signature trapezoid windows, maintaining a bright and airy atmosphere throughout the bedroom. For quiet moments of relaxation, the deluxe owner's bath serves as a spa-like escape, completely appointed with a double vanity sink, an expansive walk-in closet, a custom tile and glass-enclosed walk-in shower, and a premium free-standing soaking tub designed to help you unwind after a long day.

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Huka Falls Modern Retreat in Greenville, South Carolina, effortlessly balances modern architecture with natural elements. Inspired by the natural grandeur of New Zealand’s Huka Falls, this custom 2,265-square-foot house plan is engineered to showcase architectural volume and a unique natural light ambience. The main living space is defined by dramatic vaulted and soaring cathedral ceilings that stretch across both the kitchen and the central great room, creating a vast, open-concept feeling. Massive, striking trapezoid windows flood the interior with sunshine and accentuate the home's connection to its surroundings. This organic flow extends smoothly to the exterior via a covered porch located directly off the great room, establishing a premium indoor-outdoor living space perfectly suited for relaxing and enjoying nature. The thoughtful, nature-inspired architecture continues into the private quarters of the home. The primary owner’s retreat features its own soaring cathedral ceilings and signature trapezoid windows, maintaining a bright and airy atmosphere throughout the bedroom. For quiet moments of relaxation, the deluxe owner's bath serves as a spa-like escape, completely appointed with a double vanity sink, an expansive walk-in closet, a custom tile and glass-enclosed walk-in shower, and a premium free-standing soaking tub designed to help you unwind after a long day.

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Huka Falls Modern Retreat in Greenville, South Carolina, effortlessly balances modern architecture with natural elements. Inspired by the natural grandeur of New Zealand’s Huka Falls, this custom 2,265-square-foot house plan is engineered to showcase architectural volume and a unique natural light ambience. The main living space is defined by dramatic vaulted and soaring cathedral ceilings that stretch across both the kitchen and the central great room, creating a vast, open-concept feeling. Massive, striking trapezoid windows flood the interior with sunshine and accentuate the home's connection to its surroundings. This organic flow extends smoothly to the exterior via a covered porch located directly off the great room, establishing a premium indoor-outdoor living space perfectly suited for relaxing and enjoying nature. The thoughtful, nature-inspired architecture continues into the private quarters of the home. The primary owner’s retreat features its own soaring cathedral ceilings and signature trapezoid windows, maintaining a bright and airy atmosphere throughout the bedroom. For quiet moments of relaxation, the deluxe owner's bath serves as a spa-like escape, completely appointed with a double vanity sink, an expansive walk-in closet, a custom tile and glass-enclosed walk-in shower, and a premium free-standing soaking tub designed to help you unwind after a long day.

Built by Schumacher Homes, America's Largest Custom Home Builder, this stunning Huka Falls Modern Retreat in Greenville, South Carolina, effortlessly balances modern architecture with natural elements. Inspired by the natural grandeur of New Zealand’s Huka Falls, this custom 2,265-square-foot house plan is engineered to showcase architectural volume and a unique natural light ambience. The main living space is defined by dramatic vaulted and soaring cathedral ceilings that stretch across both the kitchen and the central great room, creating a vast, open-concept feeling. Massive, striking trapezoid windows flood the interior with sunshine and accentuate the home's connection to its surroundings. This organic flow extends smoothly to the exterior via a covered porch located directly off the great room, establishing a premium indoor-outdoor living space perfectly suited for relaxing and enjoying nature. The thoughtful, nature-inspired architecture continues into the private quarters of the home. The primary owner’s retreat features its own soaring cathedral ceilings and signature trapezoid windows, maintaining a bright and airy atmosphere throughout the bedroom. For quiet moments of relaxation, the deluxe owner's bath serves as a spa-like escape, completely appointed with a double vanity sink, an expansive walk-in closet, a custom tile and glass-enclosed walk-in shower, and a premium free-standing soaking tub designed to help you unwind after a long day.

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