Design ideas for a mid-sized southwestern drought-tolerant and partial sun side yard brick garden path in Phoenix.

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

interior design by Tanya Yeung at Analogue Design Studio ; millwork by John Ozimec at Laneway Studio ; landscaping by Living Space Landscape ; art consulting by Mazarfox ; construction by C4 Construction ; photography by Arnaud Marthouret at Revelateur Studio

Large trendy master gray tile corner shower photo in New York with an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets, an undermount tub, flat-panel cabinets and white walls

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. - Architect: Charlie & Co. Design, Ltd. - Interior Design: Martha O’Hara Interiors - Photo: Spacecrafting Photography

Mike Kaskel
Example of a large ornate master carpeted and beige floor bedroom design in San Francisco with blue walls

Lawn in the front yard was reduced to add "islands" of plants to mimic a tropical feel with color that will grow in over a few years.
Photo of a mid-sized tropical full sun front yard landscaping in San Francisco.

Pebble Beach Family Room. Floating wooden shelves, white counters. Photographer: John Merkl
Family room - mid-sized coastal open concept light wood floor family room idea in San Luis Obispo with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a concrete fireplace

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, black appliances and an island

Large ornate light wood floor enclosed dining room photo in New York with blue walls and no fireplace

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional guest beige floor and carpeted bedroom remodel in Tampa with gray walls and no fireplace

From the front, we pay careful attention to the massing of the upper and lower stories. A large second floor mass is broken down to smaller elements, thereby keeping in scale with the neighborhood. The second floor is stepped back from the first floor, further reducing the impact from the street. A porch is used to transition from the public street to the private home... John Barton

Example of an urban white tile and subway tile double-sink bathroom design in Orlando with open cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, gray walls, a trough sink and a freestanding vanity

Inspiration for an industrial family room remodel in Chicago

Wooden paneling paired with hardwood floor gives this bedroom a rustic, beachy feel. We partnered with Jennifer Allison Design on this project. Her design firm contacted us to paint the entire house - inside and out. Images are used with permission. You can contact her at (310) 488-0331 for more information.

Photography by Dennis Mayer 3-D Construction / Design & Construction 829 Seminole Way Redwood City, CA 94062 Phone number (650) 367-9765
Example of a large country u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances

photo credit: John Gruen
Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in New York with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace