Basement kitchenette and bathroom with dark cabinets and light granite counter tops. The kitchenette is the perfect addition right off the homeowner's TV room. The small bathroom features a nice tiled open shower.

Mid-sized transitional wooden straight open and mixed material railing staircase photo in New York

Brand: Onyx Onyx Walls: Stone Tile Onyx Accessory: Corner Shower Caddy Onyx Accessory: Corner Seat Color: Toffee
Mid-sized elegant master brown tile and ceramic tile alcove shower photo with beige walls

Nestled in the hills of Orinda, California, this 1951 residence is one of only seven extant homes, now known as “The Magnificent Seven”, designed by architect Olof Dahlstrand, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright. With its low-slung rooflines, natural materials, and deep integration with the sloping landscape, the home is a pristine example of mid-century modern design inspired by Wright’s organic principles. Over the years, prior homeowners have emphasized preservation, ensuring that the house remained relatively untouched. Each owner has respected the original architecture and stayed true to Dahlstrand’s intent. When a family of five—two college-aged sons and a middle school-aged daughter—acquired the property, they were captivated by its history, legacy of care, and architectural significance. While they appreciated Dahlstrand’s original vision, they also recognized the need to adapt the home for contemporary living while preserving its design integrity. The remodel was conceived as a thoughtful response to the past—an effort to bring the house into the 21st century without compromising its soul. The primary mandate was to maintain architectural continuity while improving the functionality, comfort, and livability for a modern family. The design team—architects and contractor alike—worked with a shared reverence for the original architecture, allowing that mindset to guide even the most technical or pragmatic decisions. A key objective was to increase natural light in the kitchen—a departure from Wrightian principles of enclosed, intimate cooking spaces—while maintaining the home’s architectural language. The kitchen was reconfigured to foster a stronger connection to adjacent living spaces while retaining the underlying concept of spatial separation. One of the most transformative architectural changes was the removal of a ridge beam that was originally planned to remain visible through the kitchen. During construction, the team collaborated on a better solution: a wide-flanged steel beam concealed within the roof envelope. This subtle move preserved the clean lines and ceiling continuity, a modern update carried out with utmost respect for the existing framework. The home’s original powder room, previously accessible only through the kitchen, was relocated for better flow and privacy. A new powder room was carved out of former kitchen cabinetry—a narrow, interior space that could have felt dark and enclosed. To avoid this, the design extended the line of original transom windows into the new powder room and added a skylight above the vanity. The result is a bright and airy space that feels consistent with the rest of the home. Other updates included the installation of new solid-core interior doors with veneers carefully matched to the original mahogany, enhancing the continuity of the interiors. Even smaller decisions, such as placing the door knobs at 42 inches high, mirrored the original proportions. Every choice reflected a shared belief between the architect, contractor, and client: that new work should serve the integrity of the old. The home’s extensive interior redwood millwork and paneling was meticulously restored. Where new materials were introduced—such as the replacement redwood soffit paneling—the contractor took pains to find finish nails that matched the original, rather than using modern equivalents. This level of craftsmanship and collaboration defined the project. It extended even to the detailing of a blind door to the new powder room, which had to disappear into the existing redwood board-and-batten wall. It was a team effort: the owner found a suitable handle, the architects devised the custom in-swing mechanism, and the contractor executed it so the door aligned precisely with the battens. Throughout, the homeowners were deeply engaged in the design process. One, a meticulous design enthusiast, focused on aesthetic integrity and historic detail. The other brought a practical and function-driven perspective, ensuring that new fixtures and materials would be durable and require minimal maintenance. While the home’s location posed no major site challenges, sustainability was a key concern. The team upgraded the roof insulation, installed solar panels with battery storage, and added ductless mini-split cooling systems. Lighting was another area where modern technology was woven into a historic framework: new square LED fixtures echo the original custom perimeter soffit lights, maintaining the design language while offering advanced performance. A planned expansion of a bedroom into suite with a bathroom had to be shelved due to budget constraints and the high cost of below-grade foundation work. Still, the team focused their efforts on making the most of the existing footprint, resolving constraints through design ingenuity rather than adding square footage. This renovation represents a collaborative achievement in preserving and evolving a historically significant home. Every decision was shaped by a shared ethos among clients, architects, and contractor: to maintain the home’s architectural soul while updating it for contemporary life. The result is a timeless modernist residence that continues Olof Dahlstrand’s legacy, remaining grounded in nature, craftsmanship, and human-scale design. Klopf Architecture Team: John Klopf, AIA, Klara Kevane, Fernanda Bernardes
Interior Architectural Design: Klopf Architecture
Structural Engineer: Daniel Bastiao
Contractor: Don Larwood, Larwood Construction Photography: Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2022

Reclaimed weathered barn siding wall paneling perfectly terminates into the grey limestone floor without the need of baseboards.
Small tuscan 3/4 gray tile and stone tile limestone floor bathroom photo with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble countertops, a two-piece toilet and white walls

Example of a classic home design design in Cleveland

IS Guava Waveline
Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in Phoenix

Example of a small trendy master white tile and glass tile porcelain tile corner bathtub design with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, a wall-mount toilet and white walls

Example of an eclectic staircase design in Houston

this is a detail of the tile work in the master shower using the ceramic tile from the wainscot in the water closet, the marble floor tile in a 3 x 6 format and a liner bar also made from the marble.

Neolithic Materials specializes in rare reclaimed and newly quarried limestone architectural elements sourced from across the Mediterranean. Our Southern California collection includes fireplaces, fountains, flooring, pavers, sinks, tubs, benches, antique tiles, wall cladding, and custom-made stone pieces. For inquiries, contact us at (310) 289-0414 or info@neolithicmaterials.com

Example of a transitional white tile alcove shower design in Los Angeles with dark wood cabinets

Mid-sized elegant 3/4 white tile and subway tile porcelain tile and beige floor alcove shower photo in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

Example of a large classic 3/4 mosaic tile, black tile and white tile ceramic tile alcove bathtub design in Dallas with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, a drop-in sink and tile countertops

Inspiration for a craftsman living room remodel in Minneapolis

elegant view of a stunning stair case
Example of a huge tuscan wooden curved marble floor staircase design in Chicago with beige walls and wooden risers

These Auckland homeowners wanted an industrial style look for their interior home design. So when it came to building the staircase, handrail and balustrades, we knew the exposed steel in a matte black was going to be the right look for them. ​ Due to the double stringers and concrete treads, this style of staircase is extremely solid and has zero movement, massively reducing noise. Our biggest challenge on this project was that the double stringer staircase was designed with concrete treads that needed to be colour matched to the pre-existing floor.

Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in Providence

Appearing as though this structure has stood in it's current spot for decades, this amazing pool house was created by Restoring Texas using mostly reclaimed materials harvested from local dilapidated Texas historical structures. Particularly, the siding, columns, doors, windows and many of other elements were salvaged from a Texas Craftsman style sharecropper home built in 1930. The tin was taken from the roofs of an early 1900's Texas barn. Historic signs such as the "Poss Pool Palace" sign bearing the name of its owners are reproduced and personalized by a local artist. Restoring Texas works closely with skilled builders and designers, and of course the home owners, throughout Texas to build these amazing works of art.