Our busy Silicon Valley clients asked us to convert their tight-quartered 1960’s ranch house to a gracious family home that would meet their long term needs. Ease of living was paramount, both in functionality and in ordered design. The project was completed on a moderate budget.While retaining most of the structure of the existing house to avoid costly structural changes, we opened walls to improve the sight lines and flow of the house and bring in more light. We made small additions at the front and back bedrooms to gain space for the family and relatives. An existing underused patio area was improved with a simple outdoor kitchen and overhang to extend the living space to the outside. Costs were kept down with choices of modest materials. Everything was made to be functional. Ample storage has been built into the right places. The details of the kitchen were carefully worked out to accommodate all the wishes of the various cooks in the family. The house is set up to be easy to keep clean. Acoustic walls separate living from bedroom spaces so adults can enjoy time together while children sleep. The outdoor kitchen has easy access to the indoor kitchen and the garage, and its setup promotes socializing while cooking outdoors. A large part of the narrow back yard was previously unusable space due to a steep slope up to a neighbor’s higher fence. With a new retaining wall and some re-grading we took back more of the yard for the patio and play space on a new lawn. The remodeled house is a mix of contemporary and traditional elements. Cool colors have a calming effect. Traditional items such as prairie style windows, trellis, mosaic tiles, and Shaker style cabinets, break down the scale in an otherwise streamlined, contemporary design. A new gabled roof with a broad arch at the front of the house marks the entry and resolves a challenging form where the central entry is set back from walls on both sides. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-ranch/

This award-winning whole house renovation of a circa 1875 single family home in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC provides the client with an open and more functional layout without requiring an addition. After major structural repairs and creating one uniform floor level and ceiling height, we were able to make a truly open concept main living level, achieving the main goal of the client. The large kitchen was designed for two busy home cooks who like to entertain, complete with a built-in mud bench. The water heater and air handler are hidden inside full height cabinetry. A new gas fireplace clad with reclaimed vintage bricks graces the dining room. A new hand-built staircase harkens to the home's historic past. The laundry was relocated to the second floor vestibule. The three upstairs bathrooms were fully updated as well. Final touches include new hardwood floor and color scheme throughout the home.

The owners of this cheery and bright kitchen and dining room are a young family with a busy and active life. They approached KMI because they needed an updated kitchen that functionally served their needs better and allowed for more connection to the dining room for entertaining. Where the peninsula stands currently, there once stood a wall completely segmenting the two spaces. We worked with a structural engineer to help our clients eliminate that wall so we could create the open floor plan they were dreaming of. We also helped our clients think creatively about maximizing storage in their small but mighty kitchen. In smaller spaces, good organization is all the more important. We added a pantry cabinet, utilized dead space by the fridge for open shelves, and added storage drawers to the built-in bench seat in the breakfast nook – not for storing serveware, but for their two boys' Lego collection that once lived on the table. When it came to the finishes and the design, we knew this kitchen needed to fit into the historic craftsman home. We chose colors and fixtures that honored the age and style of the home while allowing the kitchen to also fit the aesthetic of a modern family. Wood accents, brass hardware, and the pop of deep blue in the peninsula were chosen to add warmth and character to the space, while the creamy off-white cabinets add an air of lightness and brightness to the kitchen, ultimately creating an effortlessly balanced design.

Installing pyramidal evergreens that can not only survive but thrive in the shade was the first order of business. Next, planting dwarf variegated shrubs that flower addressed the need for color in addition to the shade loving, quick growing groundcover which provided screening for the concrete window wells, helps suppress weeds, and adds color all summer long. This "low-maintenance" garden is not only attractive, it provides cohesiveness this long narrow garden bed area needed.

Our busy Silicon Valley clients asked us to convert their tight-quartered 1960’s ranch house to a gracious family home that would meet their long term needs. Ease of living was paramount, both in functionality and in ordered design. The project was completed on a moderate budget.While retaining most of the structure of the existing house to avoid costly structural changes, we opened walls to improve the sight lines and flow of the house and bring in more light. We made small additions at the front and back bedrooms to gain space for the family and relatives. An existing underused patio area was improved with a simple outdoor kitchen and overhang to extend the living space to the outside. Costs were kept down with choices of modest materials. Everything was made to be functional. Ample storage has been built into the right places. The details of the kitchen were carefully worked out to accommodate all the wishes of the various cooks in the family. The house is set up to be easy to keep clean. Acoustic walls separate living from bedroom spaces so adults can enjoy time together while children sleep. The outdoor kitchen has easy access to the indoor kitchen and the garage, and its setup promotes socializing while cooking outdoors. A large part of the narrow back yard was previously unusable space due to a steep slope up to a neighbor’s higher fence. With a new retaining wall and some re-grading we took back more of the yard for the patio and play space on a new lawn. The remodeled house is a mix of contemporary and traditional elements. Cool colors have a calming effect. Traditional items such as prairie style windows, trellis, mosaic tiles, and Shaker style cabinets, break down the scale in an otherwise streamlined, contemporary design. A new gabled roof with a broad arch at the front of the house marks the entry and resolves a challenging form where the central entry is set back from walls on both sides. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-ranch/

The owners of this cheery and bright kitchen and dining room are a young family with a busy and active life. They approached KMI because they needed an updated kitchen that functionally served their needs better and allowed for more connection to the dining room for entertaining. Where the peninsula stands currently, there once stood a wall completely segmenting the two spaces. We worked with a structural engineer to help our clients eliminate that wall so we could create the open floor plan they were dreaming of. We also helped our clients think creatively about maximizing storage in their small but mighty kitchen. In smaller spaces, good organization is all the more important. We added a pantry cabinet, utilized dead space by the fridge for open shelves, and added storage drawers to the built-in bench seat in the breakfast nook – not for storing serveware, but for their two boys' Lego collection that once lived on the table. When it came to the finishes and the design, we knew this kitchen needed to fit into the historic craftsman home. We chose colors and fixtures that honored the age and style of the home while allowing the kitchen to also fit the aesthetic of a modern family. Wood accents, brass hardware, and the pop of deep blue in the peninsula were chosen to add warmth and character to the space, while the creamy off-white cabinets add an air of lightness and brightness to the kitchen, ultimately creating an effortlessly balanced design.

This project consisted of remodeling an existing master bath and closet. The owners asked for a functional and brighter space that would more easily accommodate two people simultaneously getting ready for work. The original bath had multiple doors that opened into each other, a small dark shower, and little natural light. The solution was to add a new shed dormer to expand the room’s footprint. This proved to be an interesting structural problem, as the owners did not want to involve any of the first floor spaces in the project. So, the new shed was hung off of the existing rafters (in a sense this bath is hanging from the rafters.) The expanded space allowed for a generous window in the shower, with a high window sill height to provide privacy from the back yard. The Strasser vanities were a great value and had the desired finish. The mirror frame and center shelves were painted to match the cabinet finish. The shower can easily function for two, allowing for their busy morning schedules. All of the fixtures matched nicely in a brushed nickel finish. Toto Eco Dartmouth toilet; Farimont undermount Rectangular sinks; Toto widespread lav faucet; Toto multispray handshower and showerhead Photography by Emily O'brien

Our busy Silicon Valley clients asked us to convert their tight-quartered 1960’s ranch house to a gracious family home that would meet their long term needs. Ease of living was paramount, both in functionality and in ordered design. The project was completed on a moderate budget.While retaining most of the structure of the existing house to avoid costly structural changes, we opened walls to improve the sight lines and flow of the house and bring in more light. We made small additions at the front and back bedrooms to gain space for the family and relatives. An existing underused patio area was improved with a simple outdoor kitchen and overhang to extend the living space to the outside. Costs were kept down with choices of modest materials. Everything was made to be functional. Ample storage has been built into the right places. The details of the kitchen were carefully worked out to accommodate all the wishes of the various cooks in the family. The house is set up to be easy to keep clean. Acoustic walls separate living from bedroom spaces so adults can enjoy time together while children sleep. The outdoor kitchen has easy access to the indoor kitchen and the garage, and its setup promotes socializing while cooking outdoors. A large part of the narrow back yard was previously unusable space due to a steep slope up to a neighbor’s higher fence. With a new retaining wall and some re-grading we took back more of the yard for the patio and play space on a new lawn. The remodeled house is a mix of contemporary and traditional elements. Cool colors have a calming effect. Traditional items such as prairie style windows, trellis, mosaic tiles, and Shaker style cabinets, break down the scale in an otherwise streamlined, contemporary design. A new gabled roof with a broad arch at the front of the house marks the entry and resolves a challenging form where the central entry is set back from walls on both sides. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-ranch/

Designed by Daniel Altmann of Reico Kitchen & Bath's Bethesda, MD location, this transitional master bath features Merillat Classic cabinets in the Portrait door style in Maple with a Cotton finish along with Cambria Praa Sand engineered quartz vanity countertops. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC / www.btwimages.com

Meal preparation & clean-up is a group activity for this family of 5, and full days are spent baking, cooking & canning together. They needed more functional storage and wished for a spacious and beautiful place to congregate and work seamlessly together. The peninsula and non-structural arch that divided the kitchen from the family room were removed in order to create a large open area. Also removed were the dated soffits which instantly created the feeling of higher ceilings and allowed a feature wall of beautiful encaustic tiles to run all the way up behind the custom plaster hood. Turning and positioning the new island along the width of the window wall gave the family twice as much counter space and seating. The space that was once a hallway became the perfect place to position a dining table. The new 8' window washes the space in an abundance of inviting natural daylight, showcasing views to the greenbelt adjacent to their property. The hand distressed hickory cabinet run - custom designed to house a 5' Galley Workstation - has a furniture feel and its own distinctive hardware. Classic patterned encaustic tiles and favorite colors were incorporated to reflect the family's preferences for a modern Spanish colonial feel. Wood grain porcelain tile floors make for easy cleanup for an active family with kids and dogs and a pool. Photo credit: Fred Donham of Photographerlink

Our busy Silicon Valley clients asked us to convert their tight-quartered 1960’s ranch house to a gracious family home that would meet their long term needs. Ease of living was paramount, both in functionality and in ordered design. The project was completed on a moderate budget.While retaining most of the structure of the existing house to avoid costly structural changes, we opened walls to improve the sight lines and flow of the house and bring in more light. We made small additions at the front and back bedrooms to gain space for the family and relatives. An existing underused patio area was improved with a simple outdoor kitchen and overhang to extend the living space to the outside. Costs were kept down with choices of modest materials. Everything was made to be functional. Ample storage has been built into the right places. The details of the kitchen were carefully worked out to accommodate all the wishes of the various cooks in the family. The house is set up to be easy to keep clean. Acoustic walls separate living from bedroom spaces so adults can enjoy time together while children sleep. The outdoor kitchen has easy access to the indoor kitchen and the garage, and its setup promotes socializing while cooking outdoors. A large part of the narrow back yard was previously unusable space due to a steep slope up to a neighbor’s higher fence. With a new retaining wall and some re-grading we took back more of the yard for the patio and play space on a new lawn. The remodeled house is a mix of contemporary and traditional elements. Cool colors have a calming effect. Traditional items such as prairie style windows, trellis, mosaic tiles, and Shaker style cabinets, break down the scale in an otherwise streamlined, contemporary design. A new gabled roof with a broad arch at the front of the house marks the entry and resolves a challenging form where the central entry is set back from walls on both sides. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-ranch/

Camel Back in Black is the quintessential “mullet house,” which is the common name for a renovated historic home in the front (business) with a modern addition in the rear (party). In this case the existing structure was an early 20th century New Orleans Shotgun Duplex Home that was adapted to be shorter due to both site constraints and an existing carport addition, which was removed. The design strategy was to create a distinct new entry to the main unit of the home along the side of the property. This was achieved through a clear delineation of a modern massing of a second story addition (called a Camelback in New Orleans) with a roof that wraps to frame an exterior gate. The gate leads to a raised rear yard, which was filled in to be the same height as the main home to make it more of an extension of some of the public spaces rather than a small sunken pit, which can often be a lifeless space. Many time you will see new Camelback additions in the city that take a more blended approach, but in this case because of the corner lot and the desire to create a prominent entry (along that side) a clear line is delineated between old and new. This was done intentionally to clearly represent the original form with appropriately renovate historic details true to the original, without creating a false sense of history through an addition that would have not represented a proportion that was standard for the time the original structure was built. The existing home was the childhood dwelling of the owner, who inherited it years after it fell into disrepair. There was mold, rot and structural disrepair, but it was important to the owner that NFA preserved as much of the existing portions of the home as possible; so where there was flooring that could be preserved (and refinished) it was, where there were historic interior and exterior trim detailing that could be preserved it was and if not it was replicated in kind to the original. On the other hand, there were certain modern needs and updates that were desired and didn’t want the design to feel overly constrained by certain replicas of historic troupes. So, the addition and many of the interior finishes were intentionally contemporary.

Our busy Silicon Valley clients asked us to convert their tight-quartered 1960’s ranch house to a gracious family home that would meet their long term needs. Ease of living was paramount, both in functionality and in ordered design. The project was completed on a moderate budget.While retaining most of the structure of the existing house to avoid costly structural changes, we opened walls to improve the sight lines and flow of the house and bring in more light. We made small additions at the front and back bedrooms to gain space for the family and relatives. An existing underused patio area was improved with a simple outdoor kitchen and overhang to extend the living space to the outside. Costs were kept down with choices of modest materials. Everything was made to be functional. Ample storage has been built into the right places. The details of the kitchen were carefully worked out to accommodate all the wishes of the various cooks in the family. The house is set up to be easy to keep clean. Acoustic walls separate living from bedroom spaces so adults can enjoy time together while children sleep. The outdoor kitchen has easy access to the indoor kitchen and the garage, and its setup promotes socializing while cooking outdoors. A large part of the narrow back yard was previously unusable space due to a steep slope up to a neighbor’s higher fence. With a new retaining wall and some re-grading we took back more of the yard for the patio and play space on a new lawn. The remodeled house is a mix of contemporary and traditional elements. Cool colors have a calming effect. Traditional items such as prairie style windows, trellis, mosaic tiles, and Shaker style cabinets, break down the scale in an otherwise streamlined, contemporary design. A new gabled roof with a broad arch at the front of the house marks the entry and resolves a challenging form where the central entry is set back from walls on both sides. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-ranch/

The owners of this cheery and bright kitchen and dining room are a young family with a busy and active life. They approached KMI because they needed an updated kitchen that functionally served their needs better and allowed for more connection to the dining room for entertaining. Where the peninsula stands currently, there once stood a wall completely segmenting the two spaces. We worked with a structural engineer to help our clients eliminate that wall so we could create the open floor plan they were dreaming of. We also helped our clients think creatively about maximizing storage in their small but mighty kitchen. In smaller spaces, good organization is all the more important. We added a pantry cabinet, utilized dead space by the fridge for open shelves, and added storage drawers to the built-in bench seat in the breakfast nook – not for storing serveware, but for their two boys' Lego collection that once lived on the table. When it came to the finishes and the design, we knew this kitchen needed to fit into the historic craftsman home. We chose colors and fixtures that honored the age and style of the home while allowing the kitchen to also fit the aesthetic of a modern family. Wood accents, brass hardware, and the pop of deep blue in the peninsula were chosen to add warmth and character to the space, while the creamy off-white cabinets add an air of lightness and brightness to the kitchen, ultimately creating an effortlessly balanced design.

The owners of this cheery and bright kitchen and dining room are a young family with a busy and active life. They approached KMI because they needed an updated kitchen that functionally served their needs better and allowed for more connection to the dining room for entertaining. Where the peninsula stands currently, there once stood a wall completely segmenting the two spaces. We worked with a structural engineer to help our clients eliminate that wall so we could create the open floor plan they were dreaming of. We also helped our clients think creatively about maximizing storage in their small but mighty kitchen. In smaller spaces, good organization is all the more important. We added a pantry cabinet, utilized dead space by the fridge for open shelves, and added storage drawers to the built-in bench seat in the breakfast nook – not for storing serveware, but for their two boys' Lego collection that once lived on the table. When it came to the finishes and the design, we knew this kitchen needed to fit into the historic craftsman home. We chose colors and fixtures that honored the age and style of the home while allowing the kitchen to also fit the aesthetic of a modern family. Wood accents, brass hardware, and the pop of deep blue in the peninsula were chosen to add warmth and character to the space, while the creamy off-white cabinets add an air of lightness and brightness to the kitchen, ultimately creating an effortlessly balanced design.

Our busy Silicon Valley clients asked us to convert their tight-quartered 1960’s ranch house to a gracious family home that would meet their long term needs. Ease of living was paramount, both in functionality and in ordered design. The project was completed on a moderate budget.While retaining most of the structure of the existing house to avoid costly structural changes, we opened walls to improve the sight lines and flow of the house and bring in more light. We made small additions at the front and back bedrooms to gain space for the family and relatives. An existing underused patio area was improved with a simple outdoor kitchen and overhang to extend the living space to the outside. Costs were kept down with choices of modest materials. Everything was made to be functional. Ample storage has been built into the right places. The details of the kitchen were carefully worked out to accommodate all the wishes of the various cooks in the family. The house is set up to be easy to keep clean. Acoustic walls separate living from bedroom spaces so adults can enjoy time together while children sleep. The outdoor kitchen has easy access to the indoor kitchen and the garage, and its setup promotes socializing while cooking outdoors. A large part of the narrow back yard was previously unusable space due to a steep slope up to a neighbor’s higher fence. With a new retaining wall and some re-grading we took back more of the yard for the patio and play space on a new lawn. The remodeled house is a mix of contemporary and traditional elements. Cool colors have a calming effect. Traditional items such as prairie style windows, trellis, mosaic tiles, and Shaker style cabinets, break down the scale in an otherwise streamlined, contemporary design. A new gabled roof with a broad arch at the front of the house marks the entry and resolves a challenging form where the central entry is set back from walls on both sides. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-ranch/

Our busy Silicon Valley clients asked us to convert their tight-quartered 1960’s ranch house to a gracious family home that would meet their long term needs. Ease of living was paramount, both in functionality and in ordered design. The project was completed on a moderate budget.While retaining most of the structure of the existing house to avoid costly structural changes, we opened walls to improve the sight lines and flow of the house and bring in more light. We made small additions at the front and back bedrooms to gain space for the family and relatives. An existing underused patio area was improved with a simple outdoor kitchen and overhang to extend the living space to the outside. Costs were kept down with choices of modest materials. Everything was made to be functional. Ample storage has been built into the right places. The details of the kitchen were carefully worked out to accommodate all the wishes of the various cooks in the family. The house is set up to be easy to keep clean. Acoustic walls separate living from bedroom spaces so adults can enjoy time together while children sleep. The outdoor kitchen has easy access to the indoor kitchen and the garage, and its setup promotes socializing while cooking outdoors. A large part of the narrow back yard was previously unusable space due to a steep slope up to a neighbor’s higher fence. With a new retaining wall and some re-grading we took back more of the yard for the patio and play space on a new lawn. The remodeled house is a mix of contemporary and traditional elements. Cool colors have a calming effect. Traditional items such as prairie style windows, trellis, mosaic tiles, and Shaker style cabinets, break down the scale in an otherwise streamlined, contemporary design. A new gabled roof with a broad arch at the front of the house marks the entry and resolves a challenging form where the central entry is set back from walls on both sides. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-ranch/

Roof Deck Photo. "Business in the Front, Party in the Back" This project provided Mark with the opportunity to revisit a project from the first year of his practice. Our clients were the third owners since Mark first worked on this house in 1987. The original project had consisted of a small addition to the rear of an existing single-story (over garage) house. The new owners wanted to completely remodel the house and add two floors. In addition they wanted it to be MODERN. This was a perfect fit for where the firm had evolved to over the years, but the neighbors weren't having it. The neighbors were very organized and didn’t like the idea of a large modern structure in what was a mostly traditional block. We were able to work with the neighbors to agree to a design that was Craftsman on the front and modern on the interior and rear. Because of this dichotomy, we sometimes refer to this as the "Mullet House". We were able to minimize the apparent height of the facade by hiding the top floor behind a dormered roof. Unique features of this house include a stunning roof deck with glass guardrails, a custom stair with a zigzag edge and a guardrail composed of vertical stainless steel tubes and an asymmetrical fireplace composition. Photo by Michael David Rose

This award-winning whole house renovation of a circa 1875 single family home in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC provides the client with an open and more functional layout without requiring an addition. After major structural repairs and creating one uniform floor level and ceiling height, we were able to make a truly open concept main living level, achieving the main goal of the client. The large kitchen was designed for two busy home cooks who like to entertain, complete with a built-in mud bench. The water heater and air handler are hidden inside full height cabinetry. A new gas fireplace clad with reclaimed vintage bricks graces the dining room. A new hand-built staircase harkens to the home's historic past. The laundry was relocated to the second floor vestibule. The three upstairs bathrooms were fully updated as well. Final touches include new hardwood floor and color scheme throughout the home.