Set on a narrow hillside lot overlooking the San Francisco Bay in Point Richmond, California, Bay Heirloom is a Mid-Century Modern family home restored, modernized and adapted for contemporary living. Oriented south-southwest toward the Marin Headlands, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the residence captures shifting Bay light throughout the day, from fog-muted mornings to vivid, glowing sunsets. The home was built by Karlyn Neel’s grandfather, the owner of the construction company Flo-Crete, one of the Bay Area’s early concrete pumping firms. Flo-Crete completed the foundation and structural concrete work, with family photographs documenting the original cinderblock walls and pours. The firm also contributed to major regional infrastructure projects, including the Transbay BART tube and Candlestick Park, situating the house within a broader legacy of Bay Area construction. Growing up, Neel spent considerable time in the home, developing an early appreciation for mid-century modern principles. Instead of parting with this family heirloom, she purchased the home from her grandfather’s estate. While her grandfather continued to live in the Point Richmond house, Neel purchased a Mid-Century Modern residence in Palm Desert. In contrast to the Bay Area’s cool temperatures, salt air, and persistent winds, the desert home is shaped by heat and sun and requires a different material response. A substantial renovation she led there emphasized thermal performance, filtered light, and restrained detailing. The experience later informed the restoration of her Bay Area family home. What began as a modest Mid-Century Modern update expanded when decades of exposure to marine conditions revealed leaks and significant structural and seismic deficiencies. Neel was determined to honor her grandfather’s perseverance and without hesitation pivoted to a much more intensive project. Addressing these challenges required close coordination between Neel, Klopf Architecture and Kasten Builders, with architectural restraint and construction precision guiding each intervention. Rather than alter the home’s defining features, the project focused on reinforcing the structure from within. Discreet beams were embedded along the rear facade and in an upstairs wall, strengthening the building while maximizing the wall of glass facing the Bay and opening the wall between the kitchen and the living space. These structural interventions allowed the space to open fully to the Bay without visual interruption, with the kitchen repositioned as the social and functional core of an open, continuous living space. The building envelope was updated using weather- and corrosion-resistant materials appropriate to the marine environment. The house unfolds vertically from the street, beginning with a modest garage level and workshop, with the main living spaces located below. Original slate flooring at the entry was preserved, along with select furnishings and artwork collected by Neel’s grandfather, anchoring the restored interior in its past. A restrained palette of black accents and pale, natural finishes replaces darker wood tones, reinforcing openness and calm. A naturally illuminated stair connects to the lowest level, where a former basement was transformed into a guest suite and family room opening onto a deck. From there, steps lead directly to a small concrete boat ramp at the water’s edge. Throughout the project, decisions were guided by continuity rather than transformation for its own sake. Lessons drawn from both desert and coastal climates informed a material strategy rooted in performance and restraint. Bay Heirloom stands as a measured evolution of a family house, structurally renewed and carefully modernized, grounded in the discipline and care that first shaped it. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova and Fernanda Bernardes Landscape Architect: Huettl Landscape Architecture General Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2022 Location: Point Richmond, CA

Multi-purpose home office with functional workspace and Murphy Bed for guests Bernard Andre
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The owners hail from Europe and were looking for a home built of materials that would last. The steel frame, cementitious siding, concrete and glass making up the structure will endure for many years, making the house more sustainable. Built over a basement, the two story home uses two large glass lanterns, or light tunnels, to bring in daylight to all levels. One functions as the stairwell and both exhaust heat through operable skylights at the top. The basement is also daylit by a large exterior light well that creates a small walk-out patio. The bedrooms open onto a roof deck. Downstairs the secondary bedroom suite is used as a full-time office. The open plan living space and kitchen open to the rear yard to bring in light and view. The front of the house is shaded by an ancient oak tree that was carefully preserved throughout construction. Klopf Architecture Project Team: Geoff Campen, John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova, Ethan Taylor, Fernanda Bernardes, Sherry Tan
Structural Engineer: Holmes Structures
Heating and Plumbing Engineer: Monterey Energy Group
Ventilation Engineer: Pxt Consulting
Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2022 Location: Palo Alto, CA

Victor Boghossian Photography www.victorboghossian.com 818-634-3133 Miranda Bernard, ASID www.thebernardcompany.net 310-470-0140
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Bernard Andre
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“Recline to dine by design” Based on a book by Bernard Rudolfsky: "The name derives from the ancient custom of reclining to dine, something very familiar to biblical scholars and ancient artists, but completely lost in Medieval and Renaissance depictions of the Last Supper.” The metallic fabric on the side walls and metal rug refer to the metal threads used in roman clothing.

Bernard Andre
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This Eichler home was strategically expanded and reconfigured to strengthen the connection between interior and exterior spaces while also adding a more spacious primary suite, formalized entry space, and an expanded bedroom and hallway bathroom. The entry sequence is now defined by custom storage, a large glass wall at the light-filled atrium, and a mid-century-inspired geometric screen. The sense of connection between indoor and outdoor spaces is heightened by a large, multi-panel sliding door system spanning the full width of the main living spaces. The outdated kitchen was relocated adjacent to the new door system, flowing into a spacious great room overlooking new landscaping. Indoor/outdoor floor tile extends the living spaces out onto patios at the atrium and rear yard to further fade the boundary between this Eichler’s interior and exterior. Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, Ethan Taylor, and Fernanda Bernardes Structural engineer: BASE Design Interior Designer: Lucile Glessner Landscape Designer: Bonnie Brock Landscape Design General Contrator: Starburst Construction Photography: © 2022 by Mariko Reed Completion year: 2021

Bernard Andre
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Bernard Russo
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Bernard Russo
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The owners hail from Europe and were looking for a home built of materials that would last. The steel frame, cementitious siding, concrete and glass making up the structure will endure for many years, making the house more sustainable. Built over a basement, the two story home uses two large glass lanterns, or light tunnels, to bring in daylight to all levels. One functions as the stairwell and both exhaust heat through operable skylights at the top. The basement is also daylit by a large exterior light well that creates a small walk-out patio. The bedrooms open onto a roof deck. Downstairs the secondary bedroom suite is used as a full-time office. The open plan living space and kitchen open to the rear yard to bring in light and view. The front of the house is shaded by an ancient oak tree that was carefully preserved throughout construction. Klopf Architecture Project Team: Geoff Campen, John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova, Ethan Taylor, Fernanda Bernardes, Sherry Tan
Structural Engineer: Holmes Structures
Heating and Plumbing Engineer: Monterey Energy Group
Ventilation Engineer: Pxt Consulting
Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2022 Location: Palo Alto, CA

This home is set on a relatively flat 1 acre lot with a beautiful view of the Blue Ridge mountains. From classic Granite countertops to refinished barn wood Oak floors this home is the perfect balance of sophistication and rustic mountain appeal. Photography by Bernard Russo

Photographer: Bernard Andre
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Photography by Bernard Russo
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Bernard Andre Photography
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This Eichler home was strategically expanded and reconfigured to strengthen the connection between interior and exterior spaces while also adding a more spacious primary suite, formalized entry space, and an expanded bedroom and hallway bathroom. The entry sequence is now defined by custom storage, a large glass wall at the light-filled atrium, and a mid-century-inspired geometric screen. The sense of connection between indoor and outdoor spaces is heightened by a large, multi-panel sliding door system spanning the full width of the main living spaces. The outdated kitchen was relocated adjacent to the new door system, flowing into a spacious great room overlooking new landscaping. Indoor/outdoor floor tile extends the living spaces out onto patios at the atrium and rear yard to further fade the boundary between this Eichler’s interior and exterior. Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, Ethan Taylor, and Fernanda Bernardes Structural engineer: BASE Design Interior Designer: Lucile Glessner Landscape Designer: Bonnie Brock Landscape Design General Contrator: Starburst Construction Photography: © 2022 by Mariko Reed Completion year: 2021

Blaine Johnathan Photography
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