Joseph Eichler developed his moderately priced houses for the mass-market starting in 1949. His homes were designed using affordable materials and simple construction techniques. Nearly 70 years later these homes are in need of updating and remodeling an Eichler home today can become an imposing and costly project if you’re not careful. For this project the clients, who had undergone several previous house renovations, were determined to stick with an established budget from the beginning. Klopf Architecture helped them modernize their Eichler with a premium appearance on a reasonable budget. The clients challenged the Klopf team to create a design that had a high-end feel and nicely done while adhering to their budget. That meant not all of the initial project scope could be built. Like many other Eichler homes, the original floor plan did not meet the family’s needs leaving them feeling disconnected from one room to another. While an early goal was to expand the house into a carport and create a larger garage, it did not survive the contractor pricing phase of the project. The goals that did survive through to the end of the project included blurring some of the boundaries and opening up some of the spaces, making them more functional and creating a smoother flow in the house. The Klopf team joined the former separate kitchen and formal living room into one large space and shift the dining room where it is now connected to the kitchen. Klopf swapped the family room to the front alongside the living room, so the spaces feel more cohesive and are now better suited for family activities. The functional layout of the master bathroom was changed to include a large, curbless shower. Installing a complete IKEA kitchen including cabinets, countertops, appliances, light fixtures, and furnishings was key to staying within budget. Bath fixtures in this house are also exclusively IKEA. Klopf Architecture has designed many homes using IKEA products, which are quite compatible offering an affordable, contemporary take on Eichler homes. The clients saved additional money from the simplicity and availability of IKEA products and by orchestrating the orders and purchases themselves. Following each construction meeting, the clients would make a run to IKEA and purchase items, pick up needed spare parts, and bring them back right away to stay ahead of the contractor’s schedule and minimize the chance of delays and bottlenecks. Klopf balanced material selections by retaining some of the original woodwork and simply refinishing the mahogany paneling. They were able to retain the original windows and sliding doors which were still in good shape, avoiding some of the most costly replacement expenses. Additionally interior doors were simply refinished and the exterior siding cleaned up and repainted. Formerly dark interiors are now illuminated with new slimmer semi-recessed lighting eliminating the need for costly roof work. Attention to design details allowed the Klopf team to ensure the house ended up with a high quality feel. Key visual elements were strictly aligned and Klopf worked with the clients to select a unified materials palette throughout the spaces so the house flows seamlessly together. Aligning the tile layout with the trusses and keeping it level with the concrete slab outside allowed them to achieve a level of quality that may otherwise be missed. The clients were able to keep their budget on track by determining clear goals and making critical decisions upfront, choosing materials and furnishings wisely, working with the right design and construction teams in place and to a large part, their willingness to participate throughout the process. In the end the clients were much happier with their reconfigured Eichler home and Klopf Architecture managed to keep their remodeling costs to about $325/sf – a good amount below the average Bay Area Eichler remodel. Project Team: John Klopf, Angela Todorova, Sherry Tan Contractor: Keycon Construction Structural Engineer: Sezen & Moon Photography: Sabrina Huang Year Completed: 2020

White River granite, Honed marble granite
Example of a classic kitchen design in New Orleans

Our Nashua client needed a radical kitchen, dining room and living room re-design. The dining room was closed off from the kitchen, the living room was very dark and was dominated by lots of dark brick, and the kitchen itself had the original oak cabinets and an ineffective layout. They wanted a very sleek look, and good flow between the rooms. We started by opening up the wall between the dining room and kitchen and getting the refrigerator out of the way of the opening. In the kitchen area, we used Ultracraft frameless cabinetry with clean lines and minimalistic details to maximize storage and provide the look they were going for using maple with a melted brie with brown linen glaze finish. Framing floor to ceiling pantry cabinets with hutches on either side on the wall across from the windows provided storage and made the space flow from the living room to the dining room. New windows that climbed from the Fantasy Brown Leathered Quartzite countertop all the way to the ceiling provided tons of natural light to the space. To further simplify the design, we ran the sheetrock right to the windows without a casing, creating a nice, clean look above the countertop material we used as a windowsill. Full height Estrella Silver backsplash over the cooktop added just the right pop. By resurfacing the old brick fireplace with Golden Sand tile, replacing the hearth with a solid slab of slate, adding windows and built in cabinets on either side of the fireplace, and installing a large French door leading out to the three season room, we brightened up the living room and tied it into the kitchen itself. Creating a recess in the new fireplace for a wide screen TV created a logical furniture placement that made the space as useful as it is attractive. Wide plank, rustic oak flooring throughout the space offset the cabinets beautifully and added to the continuity of the space overall. The clients are thrilled with the look and flow of their new space.

Bathroom - small country gray tile and ceramic tile porcelain tile bathroom idea in Chicago with granite countertops

Example of a mid-sized classic guest porcelain tile bedroom design in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace

Drainboard grooves

Jason Ramsay
Inspiration for a modern home design remodel in Orange County

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional partial sun backyard mulch landscaping in Houston.

Was a big pleasure to turn this bachelor house into family home for a new weds! Tried between Shabby chic and modern to please both parties. calm colours, stone wall, wallpaper and painted wall mix. Modern bedroom, with additional storage space, organised and hotel look type!

Custom made and glazed six inch octagons with 2x2 drop-ins. Photo by North Prairie Tileworks
Inspiration for a craftsman bedroom remodel in Minneapolis

Example of a large transitional master beige tile light wood floor alcove shower design in New Orleans with flat-panel cabinets, a one-piece toilet and beige walls

5" White Oak, Live Sawn Long Length - 7' - 12' custom site finish
Inspiration for a timeless medium tone wood floor home design remodel with white walls

Herringbone patterned clay pavers by FireRock
Example of a trendy patio design in Birmingham

White Glossy Penny Round Mosaics add a punch of classic design to any design installation. For traditional design, select a grout similar to the white tile in tone and color, and for a more contemporary or modern approach, select a contrasting grout to make this backsplash tile or floor tile really pop.

Josh Kahle

After. We kept the modern finishes in the Powder Room with this “Infinity” oblong mirror from CB2 and these “Deep Ball” vanity lights from MODCREATIONSStudio on Etsy.

Garage - traditional garage idea