Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects and Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Designed and built a new warm, modern, Eichler-inspired, open, indoor-outdoor home on a deeper-than-usual San Mateo Highlands property where an original Eichler house had burned to the ground. The owners wanted multi-generational living and larger spaces than the original home offered, but all parties agreed that the house should respect the neighborhood and blend in stylistically with the other Eichlers. At first the Klopf team considered re-using what little was left of the original home and expanding on it. But after discussions with the owner and builder, all parties agreed that the last few remaining elements of the house were not practical to re-use, so Klopf Architecture designed a new home that pushes the Eichler approach in new directions. One disadvantage of Eichler production homes is that the house designs were not optimized for each specific lot. A new custom home offered the team a chance to start over. In this case, a longer house that opens up sideways to the south fit the lot better than the original square-ish house that used to open to the rear (west). Accordingly, the Klopf team designed an L-shaped “bar” house with a large glass wall with large sliding glass doors that faces sideways instead of to the rear like a typical Eichler. This glass wall opens to a pool and landscaped yard designed by Arterra Landscape Architects. Driving by the house, one might assume at first glance it is an Eichler because of the horizontality, the overhanging flat roof eaves, the dark gray vertical siding, and orange solid panel front door, but the house is designed for the 21st Century and is not meant to be a “Likeler.” You won't see any posts and beams in this home. Instead, the ceiling decking is a western red cedar that covers over all the beams. Like Eichlers, this cedar runs continuously from inside to out, enhancing the indoor / outdoor feeling of the house, but unlike Eichlers it conceals a cavity for lighting, wiring, and insulation. Ceilings are higher, rooms are larger and more open, the master bathroom is light-filled and more generous, with a separate tub and shower and a separate toilet compartment, and there is plenty of storage. The garage even easily fits two of today's vehicles with room to spare. A massive 49-foot by 12-foot wall of glass and the continuity of materials from inside to outside enhance the inside-outside living concept, so the owners and their guests can flow freely from house to pool deck to BBQ to pool and back. During construction in the rough framing stage, Klopf thought the front of the house appeared too tall even though the house had looked right in the design renderings (probably because the house is uphill from the street). So Klopf Architecture paid the framer to change the roofline from how we had designed it to be lower along the front, allowing the home to blend in better with the neighborhood. One project goal was for people driving up the street to pass the home without immediately noticing there is an "imposter" on this lot, and making that change was essential to achieve that goal. This 2,606 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom Eichler-inspired new house is located in San Mateo in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Klara Kevane Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Contractor: Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Photography ©2016 Mariko Reed Location: San Mateo, CA Year completed: 2016

Design: kbg Design / Build: John Fuchs Properties / Cabinetry: Schmitz Woodworks / Photography: Agnieszka Jakubowicz
Bathroom - coastal mosaic tile floor, beige floor, single-sink, exposed beam, vaulted ceiling and wood ceiling bathroom idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, blue walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a floating vanity

Example of a mountain style beige tile and travertine tile pebble tile floor alcove shower design in Sacramento with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls and white countertops

INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNER. 2018 NKBA Design Competition Best Overall Kitchen. 2018 TIDA International USA Kitchen of the Year. 2018 Best Traditional Kitchen - Westchester Home Magazine design awards. The designer's own kitchen was gutted and renovated in 2017, with a focus on classic materials and thoughtful storage. The 1920s craftsman home has been in the family since 1940, and every effort was made to keep finishes and details true to the original construction. For sources, please see the website at www.studiodearborn.com. Photography, Adam Kane Macchia and Timothy Lenz

Grays add a softness to the design, whether as a primary color, shown in the kitchen here, or as a secondary color, often on an island. Gray is the perfect fit for the growing trend of Transitional design. The washed look and character of Peppercorn cherry paired with our Boardwalk door style creates a naturally calm and simple space. Designing with consistent horizontal sight lines, linear crown and a blended color palette are a few of the key elements to create a Transitional haven. Pairing gray toned finishes, such as stain and paint, allows you to showcase multiple textures and values for creating depth through a layered approach.

This room was redesigned to accommodate the latest in audio/visual technology. The exposed brick fireplace was clad with wood paneling, sconces were added and the hearth covered with marble. photo by Anne Gummerson

Danish formal light wood floor living room photo in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and no tv

Photo: Lucy Call © 2014 Houzz
Enclosed kitchen - eclectic galley enclosed kitchen idea in Salt Lake City with a double-bowl sink, open cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, wood countertops, mosaic tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Tracey Rapisardi Design, 2008 Coastal Living Idea House Entry
Example of a large beach style ceramic tile and white floor entryway design in Tampa with white walls and a white front door

Family room renovation with fireplace feature wall. Construction by Murphy General Contractors, South Orange, NJ. Interiors by Nu Interiors, South Orange, NJ. Photographer Greg Martz.

Kids' bedroom - mid-sized coastal boy medium tone wood floor kids' bedroom idea in New York with gray walls

Getting your homeowner's association board to approve your new custom garage doors can seem daunting. Dynamic Garage Door as a custom design and manufacturing firm has come across this situation quite frequently with a phenomenal success approval rate! In order to get approval for your custom garage door approval there are a few basic points you must understand. First off, your HOA is committed to preserving the neighborhood's curb appeal integrity by focusing on the impact your new custom garage doors might have on your house and the houses of your neighbors. It is important to understand that your curb appeal decisions will impact your home and neighborhood alike. Too many companies offer semi-custom wood doors without the true understanding of the client's need and the essence of their home's architectural style. The garage door design you choose needs to comply with neighborhood regulations while complement your home's architecture. At Dynamic Garage Door, our designers are well-rounded in the garage door industry and so we can suggest or develop designs that will reinforce the natural appearance of your home's style. If you can prove to your HOA that you've done your homework and that the garage door design you chose will complement not only your home but the neighborhood you'll be surprised when your proposal is marked with the approval stamp! This garage door is actually a single double-car door not two as it appears. The reason is that this garage used to have two separate doors with a post in the middle. The post in the middle made it difficult to use the garage on a daily basis so the post was removed to facilitate the use of the garage. The HOA wasn't too happy about the removal of the post as it was an essential part of the arches located right above the garage doors. You can clearly see how that would have been disruptive if the homeowner went with a regular wood door and not one custom designed and manufactured by Dynamic Garage Door. This garage door was specifically designed to address the HOA's concern about the center post removal and the effect it would have on the curb appeal of the home with the incomplete double arch look. So we addressed this by crafting the door with a false center post in the middle that was textured and painted the same color of the house to give off that illusion that the post is still there. Overall, it gives the home a complete finished appearance with two independent-looking doors and original post. The homeowner got the entire width of the opening to use at the push of a button so having a larger car won't be a problem anymore. The neighbors are all happy and no one seems to notice the center post is actually fake! Got an interesting garage door project you want our designers to review and price out for you? Give us a call at (855) 343-DOOR

David Heald
Photo of a farmhouse full sun vegetable garden landscape in New York.

Photo by Krista Cox Studio
Transitional medium tone wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted ceiling living room photo in Charlotte with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Eichler in Marinwood - In conjunction to the porous programmatic kitchen block as a connective element, the walls along the main corridor add to the sense of bringing outside in. The fin wall adjacent to the entry has been detailed to have the siding slip past the glass, while the living, kitchen and dining room are all connected by a walnut veneer feature wall running the length of the house. This wall also echoes the lush surroundings of lucas valley as well as the original mahogany plywood panels used within eichlers. photo: scott hargis

Example of a mid-sized farmhouse l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Salt Lake City with white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, subway tile backsplash and white countertops

Regis Vogt
Alcove shower - contemporary white tile multicolored floor alcove shower idea with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and white countertops

Michael Matisse
Urban white tile bathroom photo in Seattle with a wall-mount toilet

Photo Credit: Tiffany Ringwald GC: Ekren Construction
Example of a large classic master white tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile and beige floor corner shower design in Charlotte with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, marble countertops, a hinged shower door and gray countertops