This 2400 sq. ft. home rests at the very beginning of the high mesa just outside of Taos. To the east, the Taos valley is green and verdant fed by rivers and streams that run down from the mountains, and to the west the high sagebrush mesa stretches off to the distant Brazos range. The house is sited to capture the high mountains to the northeast through the floor to ceiling height corner window off the kitchen/dining room.The main feature of this house is the central Atrium which is an 18 foot adobe octagon topped with a skylight to form an indoor courtyard complete with a fountain. Off of this central space are two offset squares, one to the east and one to the west. The bedrooms and mechanical room are on the west side and the kitchen, dining, living room and an office are on the east side. The house is a straw bale/adobe hybrid, has custom hand dyed plaster throughout with Talavera Tile in the public spaces and Saltillo Tile in the bedrooms. There is a large kiva fireplace in the living room, and a smaller one occupies a corner in the Master Bedroom. The Master Bathroom is finished in white marble tile. The separate garage is connected to the house with a triangular, arched breezeway with a copper ceiling.

There were to many disjointed spaces in the existing Eichler home, and the owners didn’t like entering right into the kitchen wall. There were not enough functional spaces in the house but it was tricky to see how or where to add to the home without losing the atrium. The Klopf team re-arranged the spaces in the house to put the bedroom functions under the flat, 8-foot ceiling and the whole great room under the higher gable roof, moving the kitchen to the corner and creating a symmetrical and regular-shaped great room. A narrow band of skylights and a reduced, but still open, atrium brighten the family’s days and bring more greenery into their lives. The Klopf team turned the small front bedroom into a laundry room, powder room, and hallway to a large, added work-from-home office/family room that can double as a guest room. From the street the addition looks like it might have been there all along, but for the family members it’s a game-changer. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Lucie Danigo, and Biliana Stremska Structural Engineer: Sezen & Moon General Contractor: Keycon Inc. Kitchen Cabinetry: Henrybuilt Photography: ©2023 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2020

Indoor plants and green wall in a residential atrium with a hot tub. Photo by Green Connection.

Indoor lap pool and atrium
Pool - large indoor tile and rectangular lap and privacy pool idea in Los Angeles

Urban living room photo in New York

The owners, inspired by mid-century modern architecture, hired Klopf Architecture to design an Eichler-inspired 21st-Century, energy efficient new home that would replace a dilapidated 1940s home. The home follows the gentle slope of the hillside while the overarching post-and-beam roof above provides an unchanging datum line. The changing moods of nature animate the house because of views through large glass walls at nearly every vantage point. Every square foot of the house remains close to the ground creating and adding to the sense of connection with nature. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Geoff Campen, Angela Todorova, and Jeff Prose Structural Engineer: Alex Rood, SE, Fulcrum Engineering (now Pivot Engineering) Landscape Designer (atrium): Yoshi Chiba, Chiba's Gardening Landscape Designer (rear lawn): Aldo Sepulveda, Sepulveda Landscaping Contractor: Augie Peccei, Coast to Coast Construction Photography ©2015 Mariko Reed Location: Belmont, CA Year completed: 2015

Patio - mid-century modern patio idea in San Francisco

Inspiration for a huge mediterranean stone patio container garden remodel in Edmonton

This 2400 sq. ft. home rests at the very beginning of the high mesa just outside of Taos. To the east, the Taos valley is green and verdant fed by rivers and streams that run down from the mountains, and to the west the high sagebrush mesa stretches off to the distant Brazos range. The house is sited to capture the high mountains to the northeast through the floor to ceiling height corner window off the kitchen/dining room.The main feature of this house is the central Atrium which is an 18 foot adobe octagon topped with a skylight to form an indoor courtyard complete with a fountain. Off of this central space are two offset squares, one to the east and one to the west. The bedrooms and mechanical room are on the west side and the kitchen, dining, living room and an office are on the east side. The house is a straw bale/adobe hybrid, has custom hand dyed plaster throughout with Talavera Tile in the public spaces and Saltillo Tile in the bedrooms. There is a large kiva fireplace in the living room, and a smaller one occupies a corner in the Master Bedroom. The Master Bathroom is finished in white marble tile. The separate garage is connected to the house with a triangular, arched breezeway with a copper ceiling.

Bundy Drive Brentwood, Los Angeles modern home open volume atrium style interior. Photo by Simon Berlyn.
Hallway - huge modern beige floor and tray ceiling hallway idea in Los Angeles with white walls

With clean lines throughout the home, the architecture is thoughtfully balanced with pockets of soft green landscape bringing the outdoors in. Cascading natural light falls from the verdant atrium, flooding the dining area and adjacent living room. Artisanal craftsmanship by luxury home builder Nicholson Companies.

Example of a huge tuscan backyard stone patio container garden design in Edmonton with a roof extension

Patio container garden - huge mediterranean stone patio container garden idea in Edmonton

Inspiration for a huge mediterranean backyard stone patio container garden remodel in Edmonton with a roof extension

Built-in banquette seating transforms into a bookshelf with LED lighting. The glass goof and skylight above brightens the space with natural light.
Example of a mid-sized trendy open concept porcelain tile living room design in Chicago with white walls

The combination of glass, natural light and white walls result in a light and airy space. Tones of neutral colors and woods help warm the living room.

Open Home Office in Kitchen
1950s built-in desk white floor and wall paneling home office photo in San Francisco with multicolored walls

Located in a historic building once used as a warehouse. The 12,000 square foot residential conversion is designed to support the historical with the modern. The living areas and roof fabrication were intended to allow for a seamless shift between indoor and outdoor. The exterior view opens for a grand scene over the Mississippi River and the Memphis skyline. The primary objective of the plan was to unite the different spaces in a meaningful way; from the custom designed lower level wine room, to the entry foyer, to the two-story library and mezzanine. These elements are orchestrated around a bright white central atrium and staircase, an ideal backdrop to the client’s evolving art collection. Greg Boudouin, Interiors Alyssa Rosenheck: Photos

The Atrium is at the center of this Eichler home. Evening hours allow for outdoor living completely private from any neighbors. Atriums are the ultimate way to bring the outdoors in as you are surrounded by your home but able to enjoy the fresh air and twilight of California evenings. Contact us with any questions on what you see here. EichlerSoCal.com