How do you modernize modernism on a budget? This house had charming midcentury character and lots of potential but had been neglected for many years and was sorely in need of a refresh to bring it up to modern standards of comfort, finish, and sustainability. The tight budget dictated that it would not be a down-to-the-studs, gut remodel, but more of a surgical intervention. Built in 1955, the house had settled on the downhill side, making the floors slope almost 4” from the front to the back of the house. Using an innovative and inexpensive push-pile method, the foundation was reinforced and the house was jacked back up. It now sits solidly on bedrock and the floor is level to within a half-inch throughout. Inside, the original kitchen was worn and needed replacement. This presented an opportunity to remove the walls separating it from the living and dining area and create a wide-open great room with a peninsula counter for guests to gather and an almost continuous wall of windows to take in views of the hills, trees, and bay. Throughout the rest of the house, most finishes were restored, or replaced when necessary. Wood floors were refinished, and new cork flooring, a slightly less durable but much less expensive alternative to tile and similar materials, was used in all wet areas, with the added benefit of warmth and resiliency. The existing textured walls and ceilings were skim-coated smooth with plaster, dark beams painted white, and existing wood wall paneling in the living room was cleaned and color-matched where new pieces were required. All of the existing frameless, direct-glazed windows were replaced with double pane units, and a new floor-to-ceiling window on the south side of the living room provides a key source of natural light. In the bathrooms, existing tile and vanities were saved, and a strangely colored tub and sinks were re-glazed. Flooring, toilets, lighting, double medicine cabinets, and paint in each space make these mostly unaltered rooms feel new again. Sustainability and comfort upgrades include an induction range (step one of an eventual transition to full electrification), spray foam insulation under the floor, spray-in cellulose in the walls, and warm-dim LED lighting throughout on a simple whole-house control system. Combined with a modern thermostat, the house’s systems are all accessible via app from anywhere. And the most sustainable feature of all? What we didn’t do: tear it down and start over. In a country that demolishes a million homes a year- 1% of our residential housing stock- reusing an existing home is the greenest solution of all.

A family of passionate athletes and sports aficionados embarked on a remarkable endeavor alongside our team and Studio M Merge. Their vision? To breathe new life into their outdated mid-century modern home and neglected pool, resulting in the dramatic “Sports Enthusiasts’ Hideaway.” The transformative journey focused on opening the interior spaces out toward the beautiful gardens and amenities. The renewed house features expanded open-plan living areas, a new bedroom, and a reimagined primary bath. An attached ADU added a sports bar and a flexible office space that can double as a private guest bedroom. The outdoor spaces were brought to life with the addition of expansive decks, inviting patios, a horseshoe pit, a basketball half-court, refreshing plunge pools, and a lush sports lawn. A pool house artfully frames the view from the pool to the neighboring golf course. This family of five finds themselves immersed in their expanded home and experiential outdoor hideaway. Every element has been thoughtfully designed to cater to their favorite activities, providing a peaceful haven where they can fully indulge their shared passion for sports. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova, Geoff Campen
Interior Architectural Design: Klopf Architecture
Landscape Architect: Studio M Merge
Contractor: Flegels Construction
Landscape Contractor: Frank & Grossman (phase 1), Garden Group (phase 2)
Photography: ©2013-2023 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2012 through 2020 Location: Los Gatos, CA

This client had recently moved into her “retirement home” and wanted to re-do and add on to the plantings for continual interest and beauty. There were many areas to clean up and remove years of weeds and neglect. Once that was done, new areas were established for new beds & bio-soil and boulderettes were brought in for contrast & retaining purposes.

Inspiration for a mid-sized craftsman l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in San Diego with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This home was not even visible from the street because of the overgrown and neglected landscape. There was no obvious entrance to the front door, and the garden area was surprisingly spacious once the over grown brush was removed. We added an arbored and walled patio in the rear garden, near the kitchen, for morning coffee and meditation. .

A small boutique hotel in the Grenadines overlooking the island of Mustique was an exercise in local artisanship. The hotel consists of an historic house that contained remnants of British Colonial furniture, and an old beachfront structure that was left in disrepair after years of neglect. We breathed new life into these spaces by whitewashing surfaces and commissioning local artisans to create pieces out of seashells and driftwood to give this property its simple, elegant, Island character.

In the winter months that somehow always seem to last at least forever (or even longer, if that's possible), we tend to neglect the spaces of our patios. Mostly because there is no sane reason for us to even exist there. What's the point of being there if it's way too cold to get out of the house unless getting out is absolutely necessary? No point at all. But while we sit at our homes and enjoy the warmth they provide, everything on our patios is left to die in a slow, miserable death. It doesn't probably happen over one winter season or two, but one way or the other, it's simply inevitable. Nothing lasts forever, except probably diamonds, if you believe the Bond movie. Sooner or later there will come a time when you have to dispose of your old patio furniture and get a new set. You will most likely discover it in the spring or summer when the damage is already done. If you need furniture that will last more than just a handful of years, check Toja furniture. We are well known and well liked for the qualities of our furniture which involve great durability and weather-resistance. Our sofas, chair and dining sets are meant to last for a long time and they're designed in a way that never goes out of style.

Our clients knew they wanted to live in Wicker Park, within walking distance of everything the neighborhood has to offer. They found an 1890s cottage-style home on a great street and fell in love with its charm. Unfortunately, the house had fallen into a state of serious neglect and needed significant work. Excited, but also a bit overwhelmed, our clients came to us for help with a gut renovation. We were able to guide them through the entire process from the start of demo through placement of the final decorative object. The process was fun and rewarding and, upon completion, our clients were left with a tailored and sophisticated home that is just as stylish as they are.

These homeowners relocated to Indianapolis and wanted a traditional home in the Meridian Hills area that offered family living space off the kitchen. “It’s what we were used to, but we had trouble finding exactly what we were looking for.” They spent a lot of time thinking about the possibilities of a remodel. They had space both within and outside the house that were under-utilized and decided to embark on a significant renovation project. We endeavored to completely rework the current floor plan in hopes of addressing all their needs and wants. Plans included relocating the kitchen, moving the exterior walls by a couple of feet, raising the ceiling, and moving the office. The results of these changes were dramatic. Additionally the family now enjoys a larger and updated entrance with storage and closets that is perfect for their two active daughters and two often muddy labs, a beautiful kitchen with improved functionality that is filled with tons of natural light, as well as a cozy hearth room, ideal for relaxing together as a family. The once neglected screened porch is now a unique and inviting office with workspace for everyone. Once these improvements were made the view to the back of the house was now apparent, the couple decided to enhance their outdoor living space as well. We added a new patio, a custom pergola, water feature and a fire pit. “Now it’s a private spot to relax and connect with the outdoors. It really highlights the style of the house and we love it,” says the homeowner.

Extensive or compact, no details will be neglected
Minimalist u-shaped beige floor enclosed kitchen photo in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, open cabinets, marble countertops, brown backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, gray countertops, gray cabinets and stone slab backsplash

VICTORIAN LAKEFRONT BEFORE & AFTER This neglected Victorian on the waterfront in Hudson was a perfect example of a diamond in the rough. But its new owners recognized its potential and (lucky for us) we were hired to redesign the main floor. Everything was replaced, from the uneven and mismatched floor boards, to the dilapidated, rickety old staircase. Not to mention, new windows, sexy new hot water heaters imported from England., a new kitchen and main floor bathroom. The entire house was painted Moonshine by Benjamin Moore - a watery blue-grey colour which works perfectly with all the wood and white trim. The kitchen was gutted and reconfigured to optimize the fantastic water views allowing the owners to relax at their new island (with soapstone counters). The beautiful blue backsplash tiles make this traditional white kitchen anything but boring. And we painted the adjacent dining room ceiling the same deep blue colour to add impact. Our clients had travelled all over the world for work before returning to Montreal, and their art collection, geological artifacts, wool rugs and assortment of wood furniture (collected in Chile, Mexico and Arizona to name a few places) give this updated Victorian a lived-in, eclectic look. We added some unexpected lighting with a nod to the Victorian age throughout and the back room, once the exterior porch, is now a the perfect retreat to relax, hold book club meetings or just enjoy the views from the elegant new furniture or the newly reupholstered family heirloom bench.

Our client approached us while he was in the process of purchasing his ½ lot detached unit in Hermosa Beach. He was drawn to a design / build approach because although he has great design taste, as a busy professional he didn’t have the time or energy to manage every detail involved in a home remodel. The property had been used as a rental unit and was in need of TLC. By bringing us onto the project during the purchase we were able to help assess the true condition of the home. Built in 1976, the 894 sq. ft. home had extensive termite and dry rot damage from years of neglect. The project required us to reframe the home from the inside out. To design a space that your client will love you really need to spend time getting to know them. Our client enjoys entertaining small groups. He has a custom turntable and considers himself a mixologist. We opened up the space, space-planning for his custom turntable, to make it ideal for entertaining. The wood floor is reclaimed wood from manufacturing facilities. The reframing work also allowed us to make the roof a deck with an ocean view. The home is now a blend of the latest design trends and vintage elements and our client couldn’t be happier! View the 'before' and 'after' images of this project at: http://www.houzz.com/discussions/4189186/bachelors-whole-house-remodel-in-hermosa-beach-ca-part-1 http://www.houzz.com/discussions/4203075/m=23/bachelors-whole-house-remodel-in-hermosa-beach-ca-part-2 http://www.houzz.com/discussions/4216693/m=23/bachelors-whole-house-remodel-in-hermosa-beach-ca-part-3 Features: subway tile, reclaimed wood floors, quartz countertops, bamboo wood cabinetry, Ebony finish cabinets in kitchen

This client had recently moved into her “retirement home” and wanted to re-do and add on to the plantings for continual interest and beauty. There were many areas to clean up and remove years of weeds and neglect. Once that was done, new areas were established for new beds & bio-soil and boulderettes were brought in for contrast & retaining purposes.

Here's a chimney that had been neglected for far too long. Roofers rarely assess & address the flashing needs of the chimney, and they typically just leave it. In this case, the diverter had started leaking, leaving the original 70+ year old flashing on the house. We removed the original flashing & counter flashing. Then, we framed a larger diverter, and installed a custom fabricated diverter, colored to match. Before & after pictures are outstanding!

This Dutch Renaissance Revival style Brownstone located in a historic district of the Crown heights neighborhood of Brooklyn was built in 1899. The brownstone was converted to a boarding house in the 1950’s and experienced many years of neglect which made much of the interior detailing unsalvageable with the exception of the stairwell. Therefore the new owners decided to gut renovate the majority of the home, converting it into a four family home. The bottom two units are owner occupied, the design of each includes common elements yet also reflects the style of each owner. Both units have modern kitchens with new high end appliances and stone countertops. They both have had the original wood paneling restored or repaired and both feature large open bathrooms with freestanding tubs, marble slab walls and radiant heated concrete floors. The garden apartment features an open living/dining area that flows through the kitchen to get to the outdoor space. In the kitchen and living room feature large steel French doors which serve to bring the outdoors in. The garden was fully renovated and features a deck with a pergola. Other unique features of this apartment include a modern custom crown molding, a bright geometric tiled fireplace and the labyrinth wallpaper in the powder room. The upper two floors were designed as rental units and feature open kitchens/living areas, exposed brick walls and white subway tiled bathrooms.

Neglected Garden bed and pool area resurfaced, cleaned and painted.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional full sun backyard raised garden bed in Los Angeles for summer.

Here's the after photo. A fresh coat of neutral-colored paint, a great deal of yardwork, and professional photography transformed this neglected little ranch into a prize to be won! As you can see, listings don't have to be perfect—but you do have to know which updates will make a difference.

We took this dated Master Bathroom and leveraged its size to create a spa like space and experience. The expansive space features a large vanity with storage cabinets that feature SOLLiD Value Series – Tahoe Ash cabinets, Fairmont Designs Apron sinks, granite countertops and Tahoe Ash matching mirror frames for a modern rustic feel. The design is completed with Jeffrey Alexander by Hardware Resources Durham cabinet pulls that are a perfect touch to the design. We removed the glass block snail shower and the large tub deck and replaced them with a large walk-in shower and stand-alone bathtub to maximize the size and feel of the space. The floor tile is travertine and the shower is a mix of travertine and marble. The water closet is accented with Stikwood Reclaimed Weathered Wood to bring a little character to a usually neglected spot!

A small boutique hotel in the Grenadines overlooking the island of Mustique was an exercise in local artisanship. The hotel consists of an historic house that contained remnants of British Colonial furniture, and an old beachfront structure that was left in disrepair after years of neglect. We breathed new life into these spaces by whitewashing surfaces and commissioning local artisans to create pieces out of seashells and driftwood to give this property its simple, elegant, Island character.