What began as a small, extremely dated kitchen in this 1929 Spanish Casa with an even tinier nook that you could hardly eat in has turned into a gorgeous stunner full of life! We stayed true to the original style of the home and selected materials to complement and update its Spanish aesthetic. Luckily for us, our clients were on board with some color-loving ideas too! The peacock blue cabinets pair beautifully with the patterned tile and let those gorgeous accents shine! We kept the original copper hood and designed a functional kitchen with mixed metals, wire mesh cabinet detail, more counter space and room to entertain! See the before images on https://houseofbrazier.com/2019/02/13/curtis-park-project-reveal/ Photos: Sacrep

Karen Palmer Photography
Mid-sized eclectic medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in St Louis with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, brick backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional backyard concrete paver and custom-shaped lap pool remodel in St Louis

What began as a small, extremely dated kitchen in this 1929 Spanish Casa with an even tinier nook that you could hardly eat in has turned into a gorgeous stunner full of life! We stayed true to the original style of the home and selected materials to complement and update its Spanish aesthetic. Luckily for us, our clients were on board with some color-loving ideas too! The peacock blue cabinets pair beautifully with the patterned tile and let those gorgeous accents shine! We kept the original copper hood and designed a functional kitchen with mixed metals, wire mesh cabinet detail, more counter space and room to entertain! See the before images on https://houseofbrazier.com/2019/02/13/curtis-park-project-reveal/ Photos: Sacrep

Home design - traditional home design idea in Chicago

From Mid-Century Classic to the Present An iconic design updated with comfort, function, and flow for today. A Remodel That Balances Past and Present What started as a desire to update a classic Eichler soon became an exploration of how Mid-Century Modern design can successfully evolve for today. The client, a tech professional with a passion for scuba diving and underwater photography, wanted a home that would both honor its original character and feel tailored to his daily life. A lifelong technology enthusiast, he still owns the very first Mac desktop he saved up for as a teenager working at Radio Shack, a detail that underscores his appreciation for design that melds function and form. Honoring Separation While Expanding Possibility Unlike many contemporary remodels where walls are opened up to create expansive living spaces, this project took a more restrained approach. The client valued the defined rooms of the original plan and wanted to preserve as much wall space as possible for displaying his large-format underwater photography. The emphasis was not on dramatic spatial reinvention, but on thoughtful refinements. Klopf Architecture shaped a gallery-like backdrop while also expanding the primary suite, modernizing materials and fixtures throughout the home, and improving the functionality and layout of the kitchen. The finished home feels at once timeless and renewed, an Eichler that continues to inspire while fully supporting the lifestyle of its present-day owner. A major turning point came mid-design. The original project brief had not included an addition, but as the reconfiguration of the primary bedroom and bath unfolded, it became clear that an expansion was the best approach to achieve the client’s vision of a more spacious suite. Fortunately, the adjustment came at a stage when revisions were still manageable and was integrated seamlessly, showing how thoughtful course corrections can strengthen a project rather than hinder it. Navigating Challenges With Precision The design development included multiple conceptual rounds, balancing preservation with subtle expansion. During construction, an existing post previously thought to be load-bearing turned out not to be. The structural engineer was able to pivot quickly, and both the post and the cross beam that had been intended to replace it could be omitted, allowing the original rhythm of the Eichler beam bays to be preserved. Sustainability was not just a checklist item, but a way to align the home with the client’s values of simplicity, efficiency, and long-term functionality. R-38 roof insulation reduced energy usage, solar panels with battery storage provided independence and resilience, and passive comfort strategies eliminated the need forenergy-intensive air conditioning. An electric vehicle charger and an on-demand hot water recirculation system (with call buttons as opposed to having constant circulation) add to the home’s long-term efficiency factors. Together, these moves created a home that is quieter, more comfortable, and better equipped for the future, qualities that supported the client’s pragmatic approach to design and living lightly. Details That Respect the Eichler DNA The remodel carries forward the Eichler’s original spirit while introducing new layers of modern livability. Originally, the house was approached along a deep, narrow walk, with the garage on one side and the house on the other, leaving the front door tucked far back within this chasm-like space. By pulling the entry forward, the design reshaped the arrival experience, creating a clearer threshold and a natural drop-off zone for bags, shoes, and keys. This shift also made room for a custom bench at the entry that extends seamlessly through the glass sidelight. The bench and drop-off zone now work together as a single, integrated sequence that supports everyday living while offering a tactile reminder of Eichler’s philosophy of connectedness. At the client’s request, Klopf reintroduced a classic Eichler gesture by extending the exterior siding into the entry and living room. The detail reinforces a sense of indoor/outdoor continuity while providing a subtle architectural surface that allows the client’s photography to take visual precedence. The signature concrete masonry wall at the front was reconstructed using blocks sourced to match the originals, now strengthened with rebar for seismic resilience while maintaining a private outdoor courtyard, visually extending the kitchen outward. A decorative trellis element, a detail borrowed from a neighboring Eichler, restores a familiar mid-century modern architectural motif. At the courtyard entry door, a custom etched glass sidelight with an ocean-themed design featuring kelp and jellyfish serves as a subtle homage to the client’s passion for deep-sea diving. Landscaping became an integral part of the overall transformation. The homeowner engaged landscape architect Randi Johnsen of Third Nature Studio to shape a series of calm, inviting outdoor rooms that read as a natural extension of the interiors. While technically outside of the core construction scope, the landscape design proved central to achieving a sense of completeness and connectedness across the property. Such whole-property considerations often emerge as design ideas take shape, underscoring the importance of flexibility in planning and budgeting, as well as close collaboration among the design team starting early in the process. The Value of Evolving Scope As with many custom residential projects, the scope evolved during the design process. What began as a targeted remodel grew to include a new/expanded primary suite, a rebuilt CMU patio wall for strength and longevity, and a solar panel array and battery storage for energy resilience and carbon-reduction. Each thoughtful decision represented a conscious investment in the home’s performance and character, rather than a cost overrun. The result was a project delivered on schedule, tailored precisely to the client’s lifestyle, and positioned to add long-term value both functionally and aesthetically. By embracing scope evolution as an opportunity rather than a challenge, and relying on good design paired with transparent communication, this remodel demonstrates how Eichler homes can be adapted for contemporary living without erasing their DNA. Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, AIA, and Klara Kevane, Elise Webb and Nicholas LaNasa. Contractor: Golden Cove Construction Landscape Design: Third Nature Studio Structural Engineer: Daniel Bastiao Design Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2024 Location: Sunnyvale, CA

This is a 20 x 50 Vinyl liner Pool. This pool is a multi level pool with 3 flat spots in the bottom. The shallow end starts with full width walk in stairs then land at 3' of water for the first level. After about 7', there is a slight step down to a 4' deep area where everyone plays basketball. After the 15', the slope begins for the 8' Diving Depth deep end. This Pool has a S.R. Smith Turbo Twister Slide along with a 8' Fiber Dive Diving Board. The Finish around the pool is a Paver Brick patio.

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless blue two-story concrete fiberboard gable roof remodel in Chicago

Mid-sized elegant blue two-story concrete fiberboard gable roof photo in Chicago

Example of a mid-sized classic garage design in Chicago

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless blue two-story concrete fiberboard gable roof remodel in Chicago

Example of a mid-sized classic blue two-story concrete fiberboard gable roof design in Chicago

Custom stained porch wooden ceiling on renovated home in Aurora, Illinois by Opal Enterprises.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional front porch design in Chicago with a roof extension.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

This stately townhouse underwent a full renovation from both the DHD Architecture and Interiors team to provide a young family with rooms to grow into. Spaces were updated with contemporary furnishings and refined architectural details, while still honoring the classic, formal elements of the historic home. The expansive outdoor space is framed by the dining area’s floor to ceiling windows and bold window treatment. DHD’s interiors team aimed to transform the room into an inviting and livable space for the family, designing a custom kitchen banquette and using playfully bright, warm color tones. While the master bedroom keeps to a soft, muted palette incorporating deep shades of purples, the children’s rooms are extravagantly fun, complete with fuchsia bedding and oversized Lucite table lamps. Photography: Emily Andrews 3 Bedrooms / 6,000 Square Feet

Example of a tuscan backyard rectangular pool design in San Francisco

20' x 60' Gunite Pool Photo Credit: Francisco Kjolseth
Inspiration for a rustic backyard rectangular lap water slide remodel in Salt Lake City

Photo by Sinead Hastings Tahoe Real Estate Photography
Example of a mountain style master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom design in Other with white walls

Debbie Schwab Photography
Small trendy enclosed concrete floor and brown floor home theater photo in Seattle with blue walls and a wall-mounted tv