The client purchased this property with grand plans of renovating the entire place; from top to bottom, and from inside to outside. And while the inside canvas was very generous and even somewhat forgiving, the outside space would be anything but. We wanted to squeeze in as much seating space as possible in their limited courtyard area, without encroaching on the already compact-sized pool. The first and most obvious solution was to get rid of the trees and shrubs that separated this house from its zero-lot-line neighbor. With the addition of Lueder limestone slabs, this alone would free up nearly 120 additional square feet, which happened to be the perfect amount of space for a mobile gas fire pit and sectional sofa. And all of this would make for the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon sunset with the implementation of a custom-built metal pergola standing above it all. The next problem we saw was that around the patio area, there were too many levels of steps and stairs, which meant that it would have been difficult to have any sort of traditional furniture arrangement. Randy knew that it only made sense to bring in a wood deck that could be mated to the highest level of the patio, thus creating gaining the most continuous amount of flat space that the client was wanting. But even so, that flat space would be limited to a tight "L-shape" around the pool. And knowing this, the client decided that the larger space would be more valuable to them than the spa, so they opted to have a portion of the deck built over it in order to allow for a more generous amount of patio space. And with the edge of the patio/deck dropping off almost 2 feet to the waterline, it now created the perfect opportunity to have a visually compelling raised wall that could be adorned with different hues of plank-shaped tiles. From inside the pool, the varying shades of brown were a great accent to the wood deck that sat just above. However, the true visual crowning jewel of this project would end up being the raised back wall along the fence, fully encased in a large format, 24x24 slate grey tile, complete with a custom stainless steel, square-tube scupper bank, installed at just the right height to create the perfect amount of water noise. But Randy wasn't done just yet. With two entirely new entertaining areas opened up at opposite ends of the pool, the only thing left to do now was to connect them. Knowing that he nor the client wanted to eliminate any more water space, he decided to bring a new traffic pattern right into the pool by way of two "floating", Lueder limestone stepper pads. It would be a visually perfect union of both pool and walking spaces. The existing steps and walkways were then cut away and replaced with matching Lueder limestone caps and steppers. All remaining gaps were then filled with Mexican beach pebble, which helped to promote a very "zen-like" feel in this outdoor space. The interior of the pool was coated with Wet Edge Primerastone "Blue Pacific Coast" plaster, and lit up with Pentair GloBrite LED pool lights. In the end, the client ended up gaining the additional entertaining and seating space that they needed, and the updated, modern feel that they loved.

In today’s world of smart interiors and luxury-inspired home décor, LED Mirror backlit designs have become a defining trend. From elegant bathrooms to sophisticated dressing areas and premium commercial spaces, LED Mirrors are now more than just reflective surfaces—they are statement pieces that combine technology, style, and functionality. Whether you are renovating your home, upgrading a salon, designing a hotel, or creating a modern workspace, investing in a high-quality LED mirror can instantly elevate the atmosphere. The perfect balance of illumination and aesthetics makes these mirrors one of the most sought-after interior additions in contemporary architecture. This blog explores everything you need to know about LED Mirror backlit solutions, their benefits, applications, features, and why they are becoming essential in modern living spaces. What Is an LED Mirror Backlit Design? An LED Mirror backlit system refers to a mirror equipped with LED lighting installed behind the mirror surface. Instead of visible front-facing bulbs, the light gently radiates from the rear edges, producing a soft halo effect around the mirror. This indirect illumination creates a luxurious and ambient glow while providing practical lighting for everyday tasks such as grooming, makeup application, shaving, and skincare routines. Unlike traditional mirrors, LED Mirrors offer:

• Energy-efficient illumination
• Elegant visual appeal
• Better light distribution
• Enhanced functionality
• Modern smart features

The growing popularity of minimalist and contemporary interior styles has significantly increased the demand for these innovative mirror solutions. Why LED Mirrors Are Becoming So Popular The rise of modern interior design trends has changed how homeowners and designers view lighting and décor. Today, functionality alone is not enough—people want products that are stylish, efficient, and technologically advanced. This is exactly where LED Mirrors stand out. 1. Modern Aesthetic Appeal One of the biggest reasons people choose an LED Mirror backlit design is its sleek and luxurious appearance. The soft illumination creates a floating effect that adds depth and sophistication to any room. Whether installed in:

• Bathrooms
• Bedrooms
• Dressing rooms
• Salons
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Retail stores

LED mirrors instantly make the environment look more premium and visually appealing. 2. Superior Lighting Quality Traditional overhead lights often create shadows on the face, making grooming tasks difficult. In contrast, LED Mirrors provide even and balanced illumination. The backlit glow:

• Reduces harsh shadows
• Improves visibility
• Enhances facial clarity
• Creates a comfortable lighting experience

This makes them ideal for makeup artists, skincare professionals, and anyone who values precision grooming. 3. Energy Efficiency LED technology is known for its low power consumption. Compared to conventional lighting systems, LED lights use significantly less electricity while delivering brighter and more consistent illumination. An LED Mirror backlit setup can help:

• Reduce energy bills
• Lower electricity usage
• Support eco-friendly living
• Increase long-term savings

Additionally, LED lights have a much longer lifespan than traditional bulbs, reducing maintenance costs. Key Features of Modern LED Mirrors Today’s LED Mirrors come with advanced features that improve convenience and user experience. Touch Sensor Controls Most modern LED mirrors include touch-sensitive buttons that allow users to:

• Turn lights on/off
• Adjust brightness
• Change color temperature

This creates a seamless and futuristic experience. Adjustable Brightness Different tasks require different lighting conditions. Many LED Mirror backlit models allow users to customize brightness levels according to their needs. For example:

• Bright white light for makeup application
• Warm soft light for relaxation
• Neutral lighting for everyday grooming

Anti-Fog Technology Foggy mirrors are a common issue in bathrooms. Advanced LED Mirrors often include built-in demister pads that keep the mirror clear even after hot showers. This feature improves convenience and eliminates the need to manually wipe the mirror. Smart Connectivity Some premium LED mirrors now integrate with smart home systems and include:

• Bluetooth speakers
• Digital clocks
• Temperature displays
• Voice control
• Motion sensors

These features transform ordinary mirrors into intelligent lifestyle products. Applications of LED Mirror Backlit Solutions One of the reasons LED Mirrors are so versatile is their ability to fit into various spaces and design themes. Bathroom Interiors Bathrooms are the most common place for LED Mirror backlit installations. The ambient glow creates a spa-like atmosphere while improving daily grooming routines. Benefits include:

• Better lighting for shaving and makeup
• Enhanced bathroom aesthetics
• Increased property value
• Luxurious visual appeal

Modern hotels and luxury homes frequently use LED mirrors to create elegant bathroom experiences. Bedroom and Dressing Areas LED mirrors are increasingly popular in dressing rooms and vanity setups. The balanced lighting helps users prepare more effectively while adding glamour to the space. Fashion enthusiasts and beauty professionals especially appreciate the clarity provided by high-quality LED illumination. Commercial Spaces Businesses such as:

• Salons
• Spas
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Retail stores

use LED Mirrors to create premium customer experiences. A stylish mirror with backlit illumination can significantly improve the ambiance of commercial interiors and leave a lasting impression on clients. Fitness Studios and Gyms Modern fitness studios are now incorporating LED Mirror backlit designs to create dynamic and visually engaging workout environments. The combination of lighting and reflection enhances motivation while improving overall studio aesthetics. Choosing the Right LED Mirror With so many options available, selecting the right LED Mirrors requires careful consideration. Consider the Size The mirror size should complement the dimensions of the room and vanity area. For smaller bathrooms:

• Compact rectangular mirrors work best

For larger spaces:

• Oversized backlit mirrors create a dramatic statement

Shape Matters LED mirrors are available in multiple shapes, including:

• Rectangular
• Oval
• Round
• Square
• Custom geometric designs

Round mirrors often create softer aesthetics, while rectangular designs provide a more modern and minimalist appearance. Color Temperature Selection Lighting tone affects the mood and functionality of a room. Common options include:

• Warm White (cozy ambiance)
• Cool White (bright and crisp)
• Natural White (balanced daylight effect)

Choosing the right temperature depends on the intended use and interior style. Frame vs Frameless Designs Frameless LED Mirror backlit designs are popular for contemporary interiors because of their clean and minimalistic appearance. Framed mirrors, on the other hand, can add decorative character and complement traditional décor themes. Benefits of Installing LED Mirrors in Homes The demand for LED Mirrors continues to grow because they provide both practical and aesthetic advantages. Enhanced Interior Value Modern buyers and homeowners appreciate premium features. Installing LED mirrors can:

• Improve visual appeal
• Increase perceived luxury
• Enhance property value

This makes them a worthwhile investment for renovations and property upgrades. Improved Daily Routine From brushing teeth to skincare routines, lighting quality impacts everyday experiences. LED mirrors improve visibility and comfort, making daily tasks easier and more enjoyable. Space Enhancement The glow produced by an LED Mirror backlit design creates the illusion of larger and brighter spaces. This is particularly beneficial for:

• Small bathrooms
• Compact apartments
• Narrow dressing areas

The added light reflection opens up the room visually. LED Mirrors and Sustainable Living Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in modern design choices. LED mirrors support eco-conscious lifestyles in several ways. Lower Energy Consumption LED technology consumes far less energy compared to incandescent lighting systems. Longer Lifespan LED lights typically last thousands of hours longer than traditional bulbs, reducing waste and replacement frequency. Reduced Heat Emission Unlike older lighting systems, LEDs produce minimal heat, making them safer and more energy efficient. As more homeowners prioritize green living, LED Mirrors are becoming an environmentally responsible design solution. Current Trends in LED Mirror Design The world of interior design continues to evolve, and LED Mirror backlit trends are becoming increasingly innovative. Minimalist Designs Simple frameless mirrors with subtle lighting remain highly popular in modern homes. Smart Mirrors Technology integration is shaping the future

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects Builder: Alys Beach Construction --- “Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town. Challenges: “Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning. The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style. Solution: Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt. The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape. --- Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

u2014 ALE: Wayne Rain Garden Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association u2014 ALE: Wayne Rain Garden Terren Landscapes http://www.terrenlandscapes.com 2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence winner Category: Residential Up to $15,000 Award Level: Gold Project Description: Our company was contracted by the client to provide a creative solution to an ongoing drainage problem. Their property is located within 30 feet of a local stream that collects storm water from the surrounding area. The nearby stream and high water table caused the lawn area at the side of their home to flood and to remain waterlogged for a few days after each storm. The client not only had difficulty growing plants in the existing conditions, but also had a problem with mosquitoes due to standing water. Our goal was to design a self-contained, naturalistic rain garden that slowed storm water runoff, allowed for percolation, and promoted infiltration while permitting excess clean water to enter the nearby stream with diminished force. As designed, the rain garden allows the earth to slowly and more naturally absorb excess storm water while filtering out toxins such as excess nitrogen and phosphorous which are frequently found in the landscape, therefore reducing the contaminants entering the stream. A percolation test was conducted with criteria of absorbing a one-inch rainstorm within four hours without overflow. The one-inch storm calculation included an existing downspout from the home, which would be piped into the rain garden to reduce roof runoff. The first test failed due to a deep layer of high clay-content soil. Excavation continued until a layer of sandy loam was reached, the percolation test was repeated, and a successful test result was achieved. Next, the entire rain garden basin was excavated to the sandy loam layer and the soil amended with compost and sand to create a highly porous planting media. Geotextile fabric was placed to help reduce migration of the surface stone into the soil and allow for minimal maintenance. Gravel, river stone and small boulders were carefully placed to achieve the look of a natural streambed. A palette of mostly native plants with a few non-invasive ornamentals were chosen for their ability to survive in extreme conditions ranging from floods to drought and were placed according to their specific preferences. Wetland plants were chosen for the lowest portion of the rain garden as that area remains saturated for longer periods of time, with a Chionanthus virginicus as a focal point surrounded by irises and ferns at the lowest depth. Plants tolerant of drier conditions were chosen for the upper edges of the garden. The beautiful colors of Monarda, Ligularia, Eupatorium, Solidago, Chelone, and Rudbeckia were scattered within the upper edge, while movement and softness were incorporated by use of the graceful Nassella that lines the border. Finally, winter interest was provided with a backdrop of Cornus sericea. As built, this small rain garden creates tremendous impact by decreasing the amount of storm water runoff not only on our client's property, but also in the neighboring stream. It serves as a means of slowing the water and providing an area for infiltration back into the earth. The plants provide a habitat for birds, butterflies, and insects, working in harmony with nature and providing beautiful visual interest year-round. Photo Credit: Lisa C. Falls

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects Builder: Alys Beach Construction --- “Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town. Challenges: “Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning. The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style. Solution: Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt. The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape. --- Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects Builder: Alys Beach Construction --- “Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town. Challenges: “Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning. The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style. Solution: Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt. The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape. --- Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

Three Phases, One Family: Inside a Klopf Eichler Remodel When an executive mom and her two young children moved into their Eichler, she made a deliberate choice: to renovate the home in a way that honored, rather than erased, the qualities that make Eichlers distinctive in the first place. That decision set the tone for what would become a five-year, three-phase collaboration with architecture and interior design firm Klopf Architecture and general contractor Keycon, that touched nearly every room in the house and, along the way, turned a client-architect relationship into something closer. Living Through the Work Unlike many remodels where clients decamp to a rental during construction, this family stayed put through all three phases. That meant the Klopf team didn't just design the home, they watched it get lived in room by room in real time. Phase 1 covered the kitchen and living areas; by the time the team moved into later phases, they had already seen how the family actually used the spaces they'd designed earlier. That feedback loop and conversations with the client shaped the rest of the project directly. She said “throughout the various phases as they were completed, each day I noticed a new detail,” and shared her feedback with the design team. For instance, she loved the countertops chosen for the kitchen in Phase 1, so those same countertops appeared in the bathrooms designed in later phases. She loved the playful backsplash tile in the kitchen, so a similar sense of pattern and play carried into her bathroom in Phase 2 and a second bath in Phase 3. The result is a home where each phase speaks to the ones before it, rather than reading as a series of disconnected updates. Opening Up the Center of the House At the heart of the project was a reorganization of the home's most-used spaces. Klopf reclaimed a former dining area off the great room to build a larger kitchen, opening it directly onto the living space and freeing up room for the family to actually gather for reading, games, meals, TV, and the ordinary business of daily life with two kids and a dog. New floor-to-ceiling glass panels now connect the living space to the home's atrium, pulling light and views in from both directions, doubling down on the indoor-outdoor connection the style is known for. But more glass also meant less privacy, particularly at the entry, where a new wall of glass would otherwise open the courtyard directly to the street. Klopf's solution was a custom-designed slanted wood slat pivot gate at the front of the house: a piece that lets light filter through while blocking sight lines from passersby. It's a small architectural gesture that solves a real problem, creating privacy without sacrificing the light-filled openness the redesign was built around. Each of the children's bedrooms was custom-tailored to its occupant, a detail that mattered more with each passing year as the "young kids" in Phase 1 grew into the teenagers they became by the project's close. Five Years and Increased Capabilities A project of this length rarely survives with the same team intact, and this one didn't. Klopf’s original project leader left the firm part way through, but John Klopf and Elise Webb remained on the project from start to finish for continuity. Instead of shrinking, the Klopf team actually grew when their new interior design department was formed in 2024. The client was excited about Klopf’s new interiors capabilities, and welcomed Justine Alvarez and Ekaterina Nesterova on board to expand what had been an architectural scope into an architecture-plus-interiors effort. In the end Klopf handled the design from exterior envelope and layout down to the materials, colors, furnishings, décor, and finishing touches. What began as an architectural renovation ended up as something more comprehensive: a complete reimagining of the home's interiors as well as its bones, extending down to details as small as the containers on the bathroom counter. Carrying the Vision Through to the Furnishings Klopf's interior design department helped turn good architecture into a place a family actually lives. The interiors team worked closely with the client on furniture, fabrics, lighting, and accessories, sourcing and coordinating with makers and vendors in both the U.S. and Europe. The guiding idea was continuity: every piece needed to feel like it belonged in the house, not added to it. The custom counter stools are a good example. Intended to pick up on the cabinetry materials already in the kitchen, they were designed with carefully selected leather so the seating reads as part of the same architectural language. The sofa, rug, pillows, and other pieces followed the same logic, with material, color, and proportion all considered against the architecture they'd sit inside. Even the playful character of the bathroom tile found its way into the furnishings, translating into fun, playful accents in the textiles and finishes while staying period-appropriate to the Eichler itself. Benefitting from the feedback loop that shaped the architecture from phase to phase, the interiors team took cues from material and design decisions made in earlier phases when selecting the furnishings, so that the finished home reads as one continuous idea rather than a set of separate decisions layered on top of each other. That continuity came with its own hardships. A few months after furniture purchasing began, new tariffs took effect, affecting the overall furniture budget and adding complexity to ordering and expediting pieces. Developing custom furniture added a further layer of coordination on top of that: aligning fabric and leather samples and wood finishes with the architecture meant close, ongoing communication with makers throughout fabrication. With some pieces produced internationally, lead times, shipping, and customs all had to be carefully managed; in a few instances, that pushed the timeline out further still. In the end, the extra time was worth it: it's what allowed the team to get the materials and details right and keep the design cohesive throughout the home. A Relationship, Not Just a Project Ask the Klopf team what made this project unique, and the answer isn't really about square footage or finishes. It's about time. Over five years, the team got to know the family in a way a shorter project never allows — watching the kids head off to summer camp, meeting the foster kittens that passed through the house, getting to know the dog walker's daily routine. It became a professional relationship that was also a personal one. That closeness extended into the design process itself once the interiors team came on board. The client made a point of involving her kids in meetings about their own rooms, letting them weigh in on the vision and hopes they had for the spaces. Her daughter, in particular, was thrilled at the chance to work with an interior designer and help build her dream room, a small detail that speaks to how thoroughly this project became a family effort, not just a service delivered to one. That closeness shows up in the house itself. During Phase 1, the client asked everyone involved to sign the pony wall in the new kitchen. The Klopf team, the client, her kids, and the Keycon crew all left their names there, a permanent record of the people who built the house together. The Client said: “I am filled with joy and gratitude to be able to live in such a beautiful space and to have gotten the chance to work with such a talented team. The mark of true artistry is the attention to detail that allows one to experience the design in different ways. One might be looking at the same view, but because of the way the light moves, it’s a totally different perspective.” By the time the third phase wrapped, there was a running joke on site: nobody actually wanted the project to end, and the team half-seriously floated the idea of a "Phase 4." It's a fitting note for a project defined less by any single renovation than by five years of a family and their architects growing, quite literally, alongside one another. Klopf Architecture Team: John Klopf, AIA, Elise Webb, Yegvenia Torres-Zavala, Justine Alvarez, and Ekaterina Nesterova
Interior Design and FF&E: Klopf Architecture
Structural Engineer: BASE Design Inc.
Contractor: Keycon Inc.
Photography: ©2026 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2026
Location: Palo Alto, CA

Carpet Cleaning Pros Obtain your totally free Carpet Cleaning Quote Today! Serving all locations in Johannesburg City Your carpetings experience a lot of damage and need to be skillfully cleansed at least yearly. We clean much more than simply rugs! We can aid with furniture, mattresses, workplace chairs, deodorising and also a lot more! Carpet Cleaning Pros is Johannesburg City leading carpet cleaning company. We head out of our means to provide superb customer care and also professional carpet and furniture cleaning services. We run throughout Johannesburg City so give us a call currently! Carpet Cleaning Pros Address: Shop 8, 406 Southern Klipriviersberg Rd, Steeledale, Johannesburg City, 2197 087 250 0268 Website: https://www.carpetcleaningpros.co.za/ Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/Carpet-Cleaning-Pros-105599832051569 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb0lO04xmlg0s8X0bWSIAqQ/ https://za.pinterest.com/parpetcleaningpros/ Carpet Cleaning Pros - Carpet Cleaning in Johannesburg City. Carpet Cleaning Pros South Africa - Fast, Affordable, Free Quotes. Quick results, remove stains, restore to new. Serving all areas in South Africa, Durban, Cape Town, Joburg, Pretoria. The Carpet Cleaning Pros Special Technique Carpet Cleaning Pros uses our own unique technique for specialist carpet cleaning: Pre-clean examination. Prior to cleaning your carpets or upholstery, our experts inspect the location for discolorations, tracked-in dust and also locations of problem. Pre-clean treatment. Based on the pre-clean assessment, your carpet cleaning pro will certainly treat any kind of spots to eliminate stubborn dirt. We likewise deal with woollen carpets with a brownout solution. Specialist cleaning. This is where the magic takes place. Using our specialized equipment as well as high-tech solutions, we expertly deep clean your carpets or furniture. Rinsing. Our rinsing stage gets rid of the cleaning service and any kind of continuing to be accumulation. Deodorizing. We will deal with the location with our special ventilating option if you require your rugs or upholstery deodorised. Quick-dry. With our special method, your rugs as well as upholstery will be completely dry prior to you understand it! Carpet Cleaning Johannesburg City Did you recognize that you should have your carpetings professionally cleansed a minimum of once a year? Your rugs hold any kind of dust, dirt, germs as well as allergens that people track in, as well as specialist cleaning can remove all this. Over time, carpets can create an undesirable smell. We will skillfully clean your carpets promptly and also efficiently, and also they'll be completely dry within a couple of hours! It's less expensive than you believe so call currently for a totally free quote! Office Chair and Furniture Cleaning Johannesburg City Workplace chairs, couches and also other soft furniture can obtain very unclean. Don't enable your consumers to obtain the incorrect impact of your workplace, as well as get your carpetings and furnishings cleansed on a regular basis. Our expert cleaning will get rid of dirt, stains as well as irritants for a healthy workplace. Call us right here for a free quote! Upholstery Cleaning Johannesburg City Sofas, curtains, drapes, area rugs, and also furniture with upholstery all require normal, specialist cleaning. This not just keeps them clean and hygienic, but additionally extends their life-span. Visit this site for a totally free quote for upholstery cleaning. Bed as well as Mattress Cleaning Johannesburg City Your bed and cushion has a great deal of hidden dust that is unclean and can also make you ill. After a short while, a brand-new mattress will contain dead skin cells, sweat, dander, dirt, dirt and also various other toxic irritants. This can make your allergic reactions flare as well as supply an unclean sleeping place. The good news is that regular mattress cleaning can prevent this. Call right here to reserve a specialist mattress cleaning. Office, Church, Synagogue as well as Mosque Cleaning Carpet Cleaning Pros uses professional office, mosque, synagogue and also church cleaning. These buildings all see a lot of traffic through their doors. Rugs can soon get upholstered and unclean chairs as well as benches can become discolored and unhygienic. We provide economical prices for cleaning workplaces, mosques, churches and also synagogues. We run throughout Johannesburg City and will involve you! To reserve your professional cleaning, go here. Ventilating Carpet Cleaning Pros additionally uses specialist ventilating services. Deodorising can be very effective in a variety of circumstances: Pet dog messes. Cat pee is specifically potent-smelling as well as can be tough to get out on your own. Our expert deodorising can remove offensive family pet mess smells. Water damage. If your carpets have been water damaged, the trapped water in the carpets can end up being moudly and also smelly. Specialist deodorising can clean and then remove the scent. Old carpets. Rather of ripping them up you may desire to maintain them if your carpets are old however still in excellent adequate condition to continue making use of. A professional clean and deodorising can eliminate moldy smells from old rugs. Food splashes. Mistakenly spilt food on your carpets? Obtain them deodorised and smelling like new! Sick spaces. It will be almost difficult to remove the scent on your very own if someone has actually thrown up on your carpets. We will professionally deep clean and afterwards deodorise the location, making it as if it never happened! Obtain your totally free Carpet Cleaning Quote Today! Based on the pre-clean examination, your carpet cleaning pro will treat any kind of discolorations to remove persistent dust. Utilizing our specialist devices as well as high-tech options, we professionally deep clean your carpetings or furniture. If your carpets have actually been water harmed, the trapped water in the carpets can end up being moudly and also stinky. A professional clean as well as deodorising can get rid of mildewy smells from old rugs.

Three Phases, One Family: Inside a Klopf Eichler Remodel When an executive mom and her two young children moved into their Eichler, she made a deliberate choice: to renovate the home in a way that honored, rather than erased, the qualities that make Eichlers distinctive in the first place. That decision set the tone for what would become a five-year, three-phase collaboration with architecture and interior design firm Klopf Architecture and general contractor Keycon, that touched nearly every room in the house and, along the way, turned a client-architect relationship into something closer. Living Through the Work Unlike many remodels where clients decamp to a rental during construction, this family stayed put through all three phases. That meant the Klopf team didn't just design the home, they watched it get lived in room by room in real time. Phase 1 covered the kitchen and living areas; by the time the team moved into later phases, they had already seen how the family actually used the spaces they'd designed earlier. That feedback loop and conversations with the client shaped the rest of the project directly. She said “throughout the various phases as they were completed, each day I noticed a new detail,” and shared her feedback with the design team. For instance, she loved the countertops chosen for the kitchen in Phase 1, so those same countertops appeared in the bathrooms designed in later phases. She loved the playful backsplash tile in the kitchen, so a similar sense of pattern and play carried into her bathroom in Phase 2 and a second bath in Phase 3. The result is a home where each phase speaks to the ones before it, rather than reading as a series of disconnected updates. Opening Up the Center of the House At the heart of the project was a reorganization of the home's most-used spaces. Klopf reclaimed a former dining area off the great room to build a larger kitchen, opening it directly onto the living space and freeing up room for the family to actually gather for reading, games, meals, TV, and the ordinary business of daily life with two kids and a dog. New floor-to-ceiling glass panels now connect the living space to the home's atrium, pulling light and views in from both directions, doubling down on the indoor-outdoor connection the style is known for. But more glass also meant less privacy, particularly at the entry, where a new wall of glass would otherwise open the courtyard directly to the street. Klopf's solution was a custom-designed slanted wood slat pivot gate at the front of the house: a piece that lets light filter through while blocking sight lines from passersby. It's a small architectural gesture that solves a real problem, creating privacy without sacrificing the light-filled openness the redesign was built around. Each of the children's bedrooms was custom-tailored to its occupant, a detail that mattered more with each passing year as the "young kids" in Phase 1 grew into the teenagers they became by the project's close. Five Years and Increased Capabilities A project of this length rarely survives with the same team intact, and this one didn't. Klopf’s original project leader left the firm part way through, but John Klopf and Elise Webb remained on the project from start to finish for continuity. Instead of shrinking, the Klopf team actually grew when their new interior design department was formed in 2024. The client was excited about Klopf’s new interiors capabilities, and welcomed Justine Alvarez and Ekaterina Nesterova on board to expand what had been an architectural scope into an architecture-plus-interiors effort. In the end Klopf handled the design from exterior envelope and layout down to the materials, colors, furnishings, décor, and finishing touches. What began as an architectural renovation ended up as something more comprehensive: a complete reimagining of the home's interiors as well as its bones, extending down to details as small as the containers on the bathroom counter. Carrying the Vision Through to the Furnishings Klopf's interior design department helped turn good architecture into a place a family actually lives. The interiors team worked closely with the client on furniture, fabrics, lighting, and accessories, sourcing and coordinating with makers and vendors in both the U.S. and Europe. The guiding idea was continuity: every piece needed to feel like it belonged in the house, not added to it. The custom counter stools are a good example. Intended to pick up on the cabinetry materials already in the kitchen, they were designed with carefully selected leather so the seating reads as part of the same architectural language. The sofa, rug, pillows, and other pieces followed the same logic, with material, color, and proportion all considered against the architecture they'd sit inside. Even the playful character of the bathroom tile found its way into the furnishings, translating into fun, playful accents in the textiles and finishes while staying period-appropriate to the Eichler itself. Benefitting from the feedback loop that shaped the architecture from phase to phase, the interiors team took cues from material and design decisions made in earlier phases when selecting the furnishings, so that the finished home reads as one continuous idea rather than a set of separate decisions layered on top of each other. That continuity came with its own hardships. A few months after furniture purchasing began, new tariffs took effect, affecting the overall furniture budget and adding complexity to ordering and expediting pieces. Developing custom furniture added a further layer of coordination on top of that: aligning fabric and leather samples and wood finishes with the architecture meant close, ongoing communication with makers throughout fabrication. With some pieces produced internationally, lead times, shipping, and customs all had to be carefully managed; in a few instances, that pushed the timeline out further still. In the end, the extra time was worth it: it's what allowed the team to get the materials and details right and keep the design cohesive throughout the home. A Relationship, Not Just a Project Ask the Klopf team what made this project unique, and the answer isn't really about square footage or finishes. It's about time. Over five years, the team got to know the family in a way a shorter project never allows — watching the kids head off to summer camp, meeting the foster kittens that passed through the house, getting to know the dog walker's daily routine. It became a professional relationship that was also a personal one. That closeness extended into the design process itself once the interiors team came on board. The client made a point of involving her kids in meetings about their own rooms, letting them weigh in on the vision and hopes they had for the spaces. Her daughter, in particular, was thrilled at the chance to work with an interior designer and help build her dream room, a small detail that speaks to how thoroughly this project became a family effort, not just a service delivered to one. That closeness shows up in the house itself. During Phase 1, the client asked everyone involved to sign the pony wall in the new kitchen. The Klopf team, the client, her kids, and the Keycon crew all left their names there, a permanent record of the people who built the house together. The Client said: “I am filled with joy and gratitude to be able to live in such a beautiful space and to have gotten the chance to work with such a talented team. The mark of true artistry is the attention to detail that allows one to experience the design in different ways. One might be looking at the same view, but because of the way the light moves, it’s a totally different perspective.” By the time the third phase wrapped, there was a running joke on site: nobody actually wanted the project to end, and the team half-seriously floated the idea of a "Phase 4." It's a fitting note for a project defined less by any single renovation than by five years of a family and their architects growing, quite literally, alongside one another. Klopf Architecture Team: John Klopf, AIA, Elise Webb, Yegvenia Torres-Zavala, Justine Alvarez, and Ekaterina Nesterova
Interior Design and FF&E: Klopf Architecture
Structural Engineer: BASE Design Inc.
Contractor: Keycon Inc.
Photography: ©2026 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2026
Location: Palo Alto, CA

Three Phases, One Family: Inside a Klopf Eichler Remodel When an executive mom and her two young children moved into their Eichler, she made a deliberate choice: to renovate the home in a way that honored, rather than erased, the qualities that make Eichlers distinctive in the first place. That decision set the tone for what would become a five-year, three-phase collaboration with architecture and interior design firm Klopf Architecture and general contractor Keycon, that touched nearly every room in the house and, along the way, turned a client-architect relationship into something closer. Living Through the Work Unlike many remodels where clients decamp to a rental during construction, this family stayed put through all three phases. That meant the Klopf team didn't just design the home, they watched it get lived in room by room in real time. Phase 1 covered the kitchen and living areas; by the time the team moved into later phases, they had already seen how the family actually used the spaces they'd designed earlier. That feedback loop and conversations with the client shaped the rest of the project directly. She said “throughout the various phases as they were completed, each day I noticed a new detail,” and shared her feedback with the design team. For instance, she loved the countertops chosen for the kitchen in Phase 1, so those same countertops appeared in the bathrooms designed in later phases. She loved the playful backsplash tile in the kitchen, so a similar sense of pattern and play carried into her bathroom in Phase 2 and a second bath in Phase 3. The result is a home where each phase speaks to the ones before it, rather than reading as a series of disconnected updates. Opening Up the Center of the House At the heart of the project was a reorganization of the home's most-used spaces. Klopf reclaimed a former dining area off the great room to build a larger kitchen, opening it directly onto the living space and freeing up room for the family to actually gather for reading, games, meals, TV, and the ordinary business of daily life with two kids and a dog. New floor-to-ceiling glass panels now connect the living space to the home's atrium, pulling light and views in from both directions, doubling down on the indoor-outdoor connection the style is known for. But more glass also meant less privacy, particularly at the entry, where a new wall of glass would otherwise open the courtyard directly to the street. Klopf's solution was a custom-designed slanted wood slat pivot gate at the front of the house: a piece that lets light filter through while blocking sight lines from passersby. It's a small architectural gesture that solves a real problem, creating privacy without sacrificing the light-filled openness the redesign was built around. Each of the children's bedrooms was custom-tailored to its occupant, a detail that mattered more with each passing year as the "young kids" in Phase 1 grew into the teenagers they became by the project's close. Five Years and Increased Capabilities A project of this length rarely survives with the same team intact, and this one didn't. Klopf’s original project leader left the firm part way through, but John Klopf and Elise Webb remained on the project from start to finish for continuity. Instead of shrinking, the Klopf team actually grew when their new interior design department was formed in 2024. The client was excited about Klopf’s new interiors capabilities, and welcomed Justine Alvarez and Ekaterina Nesterova on board to expand what had been an architectural scope into an architecture-plus-interiors effort. In the end Klopf handled the design from exterior envelope and layout down to the materials, colors, furnishings, décor, and finishing touches. What began as an architectural renovation ended up as something more comprehensive: a complete reimagining of the home's interiors as well as its bones, extending down to details as small as the containers on the bathroom counter. Carrying the Vision Through to the Furnishings Klopf's interior design department helped turn good architecture into a place a family actually lives. The interiors team worked closely with the client on furniture, fabrics, lighting, and accessories, sourcing and coordinating with makers and vendors in both the U.S. and Europe. The guiding idea was continuity: every piece needed to feel like it belonged in the house, not added to it. The custom counter stools are a good example. Intended to pick up on the cabinetry materials already in the kitchen, they were designed with carefully selected leather so the seating reads as part of the same architectural language. The sofa, rug, pillows, and other pieces followed the same logic, with material, color, and proportion all considered against the architecture they'd sit inside. Even the playful character of the bathroom tile found its way into the furnishings, translating into fun, playful accents in the textiles and finishes while staying period-appropriate to the Eichler itself. Benefitting from the feedback loop that shaped the architecture from phase to phase, the interiors team took cues from material and design decisions made in earlier phases when selecting the furnishings, so that the finished home reads as one continuous idea rather than a set of separate decisions layered on top of each other. That continuity came with its own hardships. A few months after furniture purchasing began, new tariffs took effect, affecting the overall furniture budget and adding complexity to ordering and expediting pieces. Developing custom furniture added a further layer of coordination on top of that: aligning fabric and leather samples and wood finishes with the architecture meant close, ongoing communication with makers throughout fabrication. With some pieces produced internationally, lead times, shipping, and customs all had to be carefully managed; in a few instances, that pushed the timeline out further still. In the end, the extra time was worth it: it's what allowed the team to get the materials and details right and keep the design cohesive throughout the home. A Relationship, Not Just a Project Ask the Klopf team what made this project unique, and the answer isn't really about square footage or finishes. It's about time. Over five years, the team got to know the family in a way a shorter project never allows — watching the kids head off to summer camp, meeting the foster kittens that passed through the house, getting to know the dog walker's daily routine. It became a professional relationship that was also a personal one. That closeness extended into the design process itself once the interiors team came on board. The client made a point of involving her kids in meetings about their own rooms, letting them weigh in on the vision and hopes they had for the spaces. Her daughter, in particular, was thrilled at the chance to work with an interior designer and help build her dream room, a small detail that speaks to how thoroughly this project became a family effort, not just a service delivered to one. That closeness shows up in the house itself. During Phase 1, the client asked everyone involved to sign the pony wall in the new kitchen. The Klopf team, the client, her kids, and the Keycon crew all left their names there, a permanent record of the people who built the house together. The Client said: “I am filled with joy and gratitude to be able to live in such a beautiful space and to have gotten the chance to work with such a talented team. The mark of true artistry is the attention to detail that allows one to experience the design in different ways. One might be looking at the same view, but because of the way the light moves, it’s a totally different perspective.” By the time the third phase wrapped, there was a running joke on site: nobody actually wanted the project to end, and the team half-seriously floated the idea of a "Phase 4." It's a fitting note for a project defined less by any single renovation than by five years of a family and their architects growing, quite literally, alongside one another. Klopf Architecture Team: John Klopf, AIA, Elise Webb, Yegvenia Torres-Zavala, Justine Alvarez, and Ekaterina Nesterova
Interior Design and FF&E: Klopf Architecture
Structural Engineer: BASE Design Inc.
Contractor: Keycon Inc.
Photography: ©2026 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2026
Location: Palo Alto, CA

Three Phases, One Family: Inside a Klopf Eichler Remodel When an executive mom and her two young children moved into their Eichler, she made a deliberate choice: to renovate the home in a way that honored, rather than erased, the qualities that make Eichlers distinctive in the first place. That decision set the tone for what would become a five-year, three-phase collaboration with architecture and interior design firm Klopf Architecture and general contractor Keycon, that touched nearly every room in the house and, along the way, turned a client-architect relationship into something closer. Living Through the Work Unlike many remodels where clients decamp to a rental during construction, this family stayed put through all three phases. That meant the Klopf team didn't just design the home, they watched it get lived in room by room in real time. Phase 1 covered the kitchen and living areas; by the time the team moved into later phases, they had already seen how the family actually used the spaces they'd designed earlier. That feedback loop and conversations with the client shaped the rest of the project directly. She said “throughout the various phases as they were completed, each day I noticed a new detail,” and shared her feedback with the design team. For instance, she loved the countertops chosen for the kitchen in Phase 1, so those same countertops appeared in the bathrooms designed in later phases. She loved the playful backsplash tile in the kitchen, so a similar sense of pattern and play carried into her bathroom in Phase 2 and a second bath in Phase 3. The result is a home where each phase speaks to the ones before it, rather than reading as a series of disconnected updates. Opening Up the Center of the House At the heart of the project was a reorganization of the home's most-used spaces. Klopf reclaimed a former dining area off the great room to build a larger kitchen, opening it directly onto the living space and freeing up room for the family to actually gather for reading, games, meals, TV, and the ordinary business of daily life with two kids and a dog. New floor-to-ceiling glass panels now connect the living space to the home's atrium, pulling light and views in from both directions, doubling down on the indoor-outdoor connection the style is known for. But more glass also meant less privacy, particularly at the entry, where a new wall of glass would otherwise open the courtyard directly to the street. Klopf's solution was a custom-designed slanted wood slat pivot gate at the front of the house: a piece that lets light filter through while blocking sight lines from passersby. It's a small architectural gesture that solves a real problem, creating privacy without sacrificing the light-filled openness the redesign was built around. Each of the children's bedrooms was custom-tailored to its occupant, a detail that mattered more with each passing year as the "young kids" in Phase 1 grew into the teenagers they became by the project's close. Five Years and Increased Capabilities A project of this length rarely survives with the same team intact, and this one didn't. Klopf’s original project leader left the firm part way through, but John Klopf and Elise Webb remained on the project from start to finish for continuity. Instead of shrinking, the Klopf team actually grew when their new interior design department was formed in 2024. The client was excited about Klopf’s new interiors capabilities, and welcomed Justine Alvarez and Ekaterina Nesterova on board to expand what had been an architectural scope into an architecture-plus-interiors effort. In the end Klopf handled the design from exterior envelope and layout down to the materials, colors, furnishings, décor, and finishing touches. What began as an architectural renovation ended up as something more comprehensive: a complete reimagining of the home's interiors as well as its bones, extending down to details as small as the containers on the bathroom counter. Carrying the Vision Through to the Furnishings Klopf's interior design department helped turn good architecture into a place a family actually lives. The interiors team worked closely with the client on furniture, fabrics, lighting, and accessories, sourcing and coordinating with makers and vendors in both the U.S. and Europe. The guiding idea was continuity: every piece needed to feel like it belonged in the house, not added to it. The custom counter stools are a good example. Intended to pick up on the cabinetry materials already in the kitchen, they were designed with carefully selected leather so the seating reads as part of the same architectural language. The sofa, rug, pillows, and other pieces followed the same logic, with material, color, and proportion all considered against the architecture they'd sit inside. Even the playful character of the bathroom tile found its way into the furnishings, translating into fun, playful accents in the textiles and finishes while staying period-appropriate to the Eichler itself. Benefitting from the feedback loop that shaped the architecture from phase to phase, the interiors team took cues from material and design decisions made in earlier phases when selecting the furnishings, so that the finished home reads as one continuous idea rather than a set of separate decisions layered on top of each other. That continuity came with its own hardships. A few months after furniture purchasing began, new tariffs took effect, affecting the overall furniture budget and adding complexity to ordering and expediting pieces. Developing custom furniture added a further layer of coordination on top of that: aligning fabric and leather samples and wood finishes with the architecture meant close, ongoing communication with makers throughout fabrication. With some pieces produced internationally, lead times, shipping, and customs all had to be carefully managed; in a few instances, that pushed the timeline out further still. In the end, the extra time was worth it: it's what allowed the team to get the materials and details right and keep the design cohesive throughout the home. A Relationship, Not Just a Project Ask the Klopf team what made this project unique, and the answer isn't really about square footage or finishes. It's about time. Over five years, the team got to know the family in a way a shorter project never allows — watching the kids head off to summer camp, meeting the foster kittens that passed through the house, getting to know the dog walker's daily routine. It became a professional relationship that was also a personal one. That closeness extended into the design process itself once the interiors team came on board. The client made a point of involving her kids in meetings about their own rooms, letting them weigh in on the vision and hopes they had for the spaces. Her daughter, in particular, was thrilled at the chance to work with an interior designer and help build her dream room, a small detail that speaks to how thoroughly this project became a family effort, not just a service delivered to one. That closeness shows up in the house itself. During Phase 1, the client asked everyone involved to sign the pony wall in the new kitchen. The Klopf team, the client, her kids, and the Keycon crew all left their names there, a permanent record of the people who built the house together. The Client said: “I am filled with joy and gratitude to be able to live in such a beautiful space and to have gotten the chance to work with such a talented team. The mark of true artistry is the attention to detail that allows one to experience the design in different ways. One might be looking at the same view, but because of the way the light moves, it’s a totally different perspective.” By the time the third phase wrapped, there was a running joke on site: nobody actually wanted the project to end, and the team half-seriously floated the idea of a "Phase 4." It's a fitting note for a project defined less by any single renovation than by five years of a family and their architects growing, quite literally, alongside one another. Klopf Architecture Team: John Klopf, AIA, Elise Webb, Yegvenia Torres-Zavala, Justine Alvarez, and Ekaterina Nesterova
Interior Design and FF&E: Klopf Architecture
Structural Engineer: BASE Design Inc.
Contractor: Keycon Inc.
Photography: ©2026 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2026
Location: Palo Alto, CA

Three Phases, One Family: Inside a Klopf Eichler Remodel When an executive mom and her two young children moved into their Eichler, she made a deliberate choice: to renovate the home in a way that honored, rather than erased, the qualities that make Eichlers distinctive in the first place. That decision set the tone for what would become a five-year, three-phase collaboration with architecture and interior design firm Klopf Architecture and general contractor Keycon, that touched nearly every room in the house and, along the way, turned a client-architect relationship into something closer. Living Through the Work Unlike many remodels where clients decamp to a rental during construction, this family stayed put through all three phases. That meant the Klopf team didn't just design the home, they watched it get lived in room by room in real time. Phase 1 covered the kitchen and living areas; by the time the team moved into later phases, they had already seen how the family actually used the spaces they'd designed earlier. That feedback loop and conversations with the client shaped the rest of the project directly. She said “throughout the various phases as they were completed, each day I noticed a new detail,” and shared her feedback with the design team. For instance, she loved the countertops chosen for the kitchen in Phase 1, so those same countertops appeared in the bathrooms designed in later phases. She loved the playful backsplash tile in the kitchen, so a similar sense of pattern and play carried into her bathroom in Phase 2 and a second bath in Phase 3. The result is a home where each phase speaks to the ones before it, rather than reading as a series of disconnected updates. Opening Up the Center of the House At the heart of the project was a reorganization of the home's most-used spaces. Klopf reclaimed a former dining area off the great room to build a larger kitchen, opening it directly onto the living space and freeing up room for the family to actually gather for reading, games, meals, TV, and the ordinary business of daily life with two kids and a dog. New floor-to-ceiling glass panels now connect the living space to the home's atrium, pulling light and views in from both directions, doubling down on the indoor-outdoor connection the style is known for. But more glass also meant less privacy, particularly at the entry, where a new wall of glass would otherwise open the courtyard directly to the street. Klopf's solution was a custom-designed slanted wood slat pivot gate at the front of the house: a piece that lets light filter through while blocking sight lines from passersby. It's a small architectural gesture that solves a real problem, creating privacy without sacrificing the light-filled openness the redesign was built around. Each of the children's bedrooms was custom-tailored to its occupant, a detail that mattered more with each passing year as the "young kids" in Phase 1 grew into the teenagers they became by the project's close. Five Years and Increased Capabilities A project of this length rarely survives with the same team intact, and this one didn't. Klopf’s original project leader left the firm part way through, but John Klopf and Elise Webb remained on the project from start to finish for continuity. Instead of shrinking, the Klopf team actually grew when their new interior design department was formed in 2024. The client was excited about Klopf’s new interiors capabilities, and welcomed Justine Alvarez and Ekaterina Nesterova on board to expand what had been an architectural scope into an architecture-plus-interiors effort. In the end Klopf handled the design from exterior envelope and layout down to the materials, colors, furnishings, décor, and finishing touches. What began as an architectural renovation ended up as something more comprehensive: a complete reimagining of the home's interiors as well as its bones, extending down to details as small as the containers on the bathroom counter. Carrying the Vision Through to the Furnishings Klopf's interior design department helped turn good architecture into a place a family actually lives. The interiors team worked closely with the client on furniture, fabrics, lighting, and accessories, sourcing and coordinating with makers and vendors in both the U.S. and Europe. The guiding idea was continuity: every piece needed to feel like it belonged in the house, not added to it. The custom counter stools are a good example. Intended to pick up on the cabinetry materials already in the kitchen, they were designed with carefully selected leather so the seating reads as part of the same architectural language. The sofa, rug, pillows, and other pieces followed the same logic, with material, color, and proportion all considered against the architecture they'd sit inside. Even the playful character of the bathroom tile found its way into the furnishings, translating into fun, playful accents in the textiles and finishes while staying period-appropriate to the Eichler itself. Benefitting from the feedback loop that shaped the architecture from phase to phase, the interiors team took cues from material and design decisions made in earlier phases when selecting the furnishings, so that the finished home reads as one continuous idea rather than a set of separate decisions layered on top of each other. That continuity came with its own hardships. A few months after furniture purchasing began, new tariffs took effect, affecting the overall furniture budget and adding complexity to ordering and expediting pieces. Developing custom furniture added a further layer of coordination on top of that: aligning fabric and leather samples and wood finishes with the architecture meant close, ongoing communication with makers throughout fabrication. With some pieces produced internationally, lead times, shipping, and customs all had to be carefully managed; in a few instances, that pushed the timeline out further still. In the end, the extra time was worth it: it's what allowed the team to get the materials and details right and keep the design cohesive throughout the home. A Relationship, Not Just a Project Ask the Klopf team what made this project unique, and the answer isn't really about square footage or finishes. It's about time. Over five years, the team got to know the family in a way a shorter project never allows — watching the kids head off to summer camp, meeting the foster kittens that passed through the house, getting to know the dog walker's daily routine. It became a professional relationship that was also a personal one. That closeness extended into the design process itself once the interiors team came on board. The client made a point of involving her kids in meetings about their own rooms, letting them weigh in on the vision and hopes they had for the spaces. Her daughter, in particular, was thrilled at the chance to work with an interior designer and help build her dream room, a small detail that speaks to how thoroughly this project became a family effort, not just a service delivered to one. That closeness shows up in the house itself. During Phase 1, the client asked everyone involved to sign the pony wall in the new kitchen. The Klopf team, the client, her kids, and the Keycon crew all left their names there, a permanent record of the people who built the house together. The Client said: “I am filled with joy and gratitude to be able to live in such a beautiful space and to have gotten the chance to work with such a talented team. The mark of true artistry is the attention to detail that allows one to experience the design in different ways. One might be looking at the same view, but because of the way the light moves, it’s a totally different perspective.” By the time the third phase wrapped, there was a running joke on site: nobody actually wanted the project to end, and the team half-seriously floated the idea of a "Phase 4." It's a fitting note for a project defined less by any single renovation than by five years of a family and their architects growing, quite literally, alongside one another. Klopf Architecture Team: John Klopf, AIA, Elise Webb, Yegvenia Torres-Zavala, Justine Alvarez, and Ekaterina Nesterova
Interior Design and FF&E: Klopf Architecture
Structural Engineer: BASE Design Inc.
Contractor: Keycon Inc.
Photography: ©2026 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2026
Location: Palo Alto, CA

Three Phases, One Family: Inside a Klopf Eichler Remodel When an executive mom and her two young children moved into their Eichler, she made a deliberate choice: to renovate the home in a way that honored, rather than erased, the qualities that make Eichlers distinctive in the first place. That decision set the tone for what would become a five-year, three-phase collaboration with architecture and interior design firm Klopf Architecture and general contractor Keycon, that touched nearly every room in the house and, along the way, turned a client-architect relationship into something closer. Living Through the Work Unlike many remodels where clients decamp to a rental during construction, this family stayed put through all three phases. That meant the Klopf team didn't just design the home, they watched it get lived in room by room in real time. Phase 1 covered the kitchen and living areas; by the time the team moved into later phases, they had already seen how the family actually used the spaces they'd designed earlier. That feedback loop and conversations with the client shaped the rest of the project directly. She said “throughout the various phases as they were completed, each day I noticed a new detail,” and shared her feedback with the design team. For instance, she loved the countertops chosen for the kitchen in Phase 1, so those same countertops appeared in the bathrooms designed in later phases. She loved the playful backsplash tile in the kitchen, so a similar sense of pattern and play carried into her bathroom in Phase 2 and a second bath in Phase 3. The result is a home where each phase speaks to the ones before it, rather than reading as a series of disconnected updates. Opening Up the Center of the House At the heart of the project was a reorganization of the home's most-used spaces. Klopf reclaimed a former dining area off the great room to build a larger kitchen, opening it directly onto the living space and freeing up room for the family to actually gather for reading, games, meals, TV, and the ordinary business of daily life with two kids and a dog. New floor-to-ceiling glass panels now connect the living space to the home's atrium, pulling light and views in from both directions, doubling down on the indoor-outdoor connection the style is known for. But more glass also meant less privacy, particularly at the entry, where a new wall of glass would otherwise open the courtyard directly to the street. Klopf's solution was a custom-designed slanted wood slat pivot gate at the front of the house: a piece that lets light filter through while blocking sight lines from passersby. It's a small architectural gesture that solves a real problem, creating privacy without sacrificing the light-filled openness the redesign was built around. Each of the children's bedrooms was custom-tailored to its occupant, a detail that mattered more with each passing year as the "young kids" in Phase 1 grew into the teenagers they became by the project's close. Five Years and Increased Capabilities A project of this length rarely survives with the same team intact, and this one didn't. Klopf’s original project leader left the firm part way through, but John Klopf and Elise Webb remained on the project from start to finish for continuity. Instead of shrinking, the Klopf team actually grew when their new interior design department was formed in 2024. The client was excited about Klopf’s new interiors capabilities, and welcomed Justine Alvarez and Ekaterina Nesterova on board to expand what had been an architectural scope into an architecture-plus-interiors effort. In the end Klopf handled the design from exterior envelope and layout down to the materials, colors, furnishings, décor, and finishing touches. What began as an architectural renovation ended up as something more comprehensive: a complete reimagining of the home's interiors as well as its bones, extending down to details as small as the containers on the bathroom counter. Carrying the Vision Through to the Furnishings Klopf's interior design department helped turn good architecture into a place a family actually lives. The interiors team worked closely with the client on furniture, fabrics, lighting, and accessories, sourcing and coordinating with makers and vendors in both the U.S. and Europe. The guiding idea was continuity: every piece needed to feel like it belonged in the house, not added to it. The custom counter stools are a good example. Intended to pick up on the cabinetry materials already in the kitchen, they were designed with carefully selected leather so the seating reads as part of the same architectural language. The sofa, rug, pillows, and other pieces followed the same logic, with material, color, and proportion all considered against the architecture they'd sit inside. Even the playful character of the bathroom tile found its way into the furnishings, translating into fun, playful accents in the textiles and finishes while staying period-appropriate to the Eichler itself. Benefitting from the feedback loop that shaped the architecture from phase to phase, the interiors team took cues from material and design decisions made in earlier phases when selecting the furnishings, so that the finished home reads as one continuous idea rather than a set of separate decisions layered on top of each other. That continuity came with its own hardships. A few months after furniture purchasing began, new tariffs took effect, affecting the overall furniture budget and adding complexity to ordering and expediting pieces. Developing custom furniture added a further layer of coordination on top of that: aligning fabric and leather samples and wood finishes with the architecture meant close, ongoing communication with makers throughout fabrication. With some pieces produced internationally, lead times, shipping, and customs all had to be carefully managed; in a few instances, that pushed the timeline out further still. In the end, the extra time was worth it: it's what allowed the team to get the materials and details right and keep the design cohesive throughout the home. A Relationship, Not Just a Project Ask the Klopf team what made this project unique, and the answer isn't really about square footage or finishes. It's about time. Over five years, the team got to know the family in a way a shorter project never allows — watching the kids head off to summer camp, meeting the foster kittens that passed through the house, getting to know the dog walker's daily routine. It became a professional relationship that was also a personal one. That closeness extended into the design process itself once the interiors team came on board. The client made a point of involving her kids in meetings about their own rooms, letting them weigh in on the vision and hopes they had for the spaces. Her daughter, in particular, was thrilled at the chance to work with an interior designer and help build her dream room, a small detail that speaks to how thoroughly this project became a family effort, not just a service delivered to one. That closeness shows up in the house itself. During Phase 1, the client asked everyone involved to sign the pony wall in the new kitchen. The Klopf team, the client, her kids, and the Keycon crew all left their names there, a permanent record of the people who built the house together. The Client said: “I am filled with joy and gratitude to be able to live in such a beautiful space and to have gotten the chance to work with such a talented team. The mark of true artistry is the attention to detail that allows one to experience the design in different ways. One might be looking at the same view, but because of the way the light moves, it’s a totally different perspective.” By the time the third phase wrapped, there was a running joke on site: nobody actually wanted the project to end, and the team half-seriously floated the idea of a "Phase 4." It's a fitting note for a project defined less by any single renovation than by five years of a family and their architects growing, quite literally, alongside one another. Klopf Architecture Team: John Klopf, AIA, Elise Webb, Yegvenia Torres-Zavala, Justine Alvarez, and Ekaterina Nesterova
Interior Design and FF&E: Klopf Architecture
Structural Engineer: BASE Design Inc.
Contractor: Keycon Inc.
Photography: ©2026 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2026
Location: Palo Alto, CA

The Roger Lee designed house from 1962 was purchased by the current homeowners in almost original condition, as the previous owners elected to defer most maintenance projects over the years. The clients were able to see beyond the dated materials and finishes, single-paned glass and uninsulated walls and they approached Klopf Architecture to help them expand and update the entire home, one the family could settle into and enjoy for years to come. It was important that the new designs were aligned with Lee's original intent not only because of the client's appreciation for mid-century modern architecture, but also because the house was deemed historical. The Stanford Real Estate Office requires a stringent design review which safeguards the integrity of the community, which Klopf Architecture was happy to oblige going into their updated designs. As with many original mid-century modern homes, the house was scaled to the 1960s lifestyle where rooms were smaller and openings to views were limited and tightly framed. The original conditions defined the direction the family of four would take in updating the house and making it comfortable for their modern lifestyle. Klopf designed a full gut remodel and major addition to bring the house into the 21st century and provide the living area needed for the client's family. The newly expanded house added just about 1,100 sf to create an airy, comfortable and family friendly house, taking full advantage of the beautiful southwestern views that extend out to the hills beyond. The enclosed garage created an additional 240 sf of covered space for long-term storage. A cracked swimming pool created an eyesore taking up a majority of the backyard landscape, so it was one of the first elements to go during the transformation. Working with Outer Space Landscape Architects, the family asked for a mix of relaxing outdoor patio spaces that eventually blend into the native landscaping, extending their views outward toward the natural greenery of the trees beyond their property. Filling in the old pool was a smart way to expand the living spaces outward. The orientation of the house was designed to enjoy the views, but the original architecture provided the first homeowners with mere glimpses of the landscape outside. Klopf was able to broaden those views, continuing and extending on the original architecture to take full advantage of the unobstructed natural views across the rear facade of the house. Small horizontal openings in the primary bedroom and office were replaced with much taller windows that now follow the angled roof line upward, extending across almost all of the facade. We worked with Western Windows, whose designs included an oblique-shaped, operable casement that allowed our design to rise with the slope. A new corner office added to the primary suite, offers a bright and functional work-from-home solution that looks out at the distant views and added natural light from the expanded window configuration that now wraps around the corner. The existing lower level was designed by Lee as a utilitarian space, serving as a wet pool room with a drain in the center of the floor, bathroom, laundry and storage areas. Without the need for a pool room, Klopf was able to convert the area into a much more comfortable and functional living space with a new family room and guest suite. The new spaces enjoy easy access to a new outdoor patio through floor to ceiling, full-width glass sliders. Continuing along the rear facade, a previously exposed deck extending from the living room and hallway provided access to the backyard through a single set of stairs leading toward the side of the house which made sense when the pool was in place. The new deck was re-envisioned as an extension of the main living room and now serves as a second outdoor living room. A new slatted pergola above provides the homeowners welcome relief from the hot afternoon sun. A second set of stairs now creates a better connection to the redesigned lower level. Klopf was able to reconfigure the spaces, extending the living room outward toward the views, where the family now claims it as the heart of the home, spending a large majority of their time outdoors. Back inside, the original wood-burning Malm fireplace was beautifully restored and a gas burner installed to comply with California's strict air standards. It now rests in front of a wall of Heath accent tiles where a dated red brick wall used to stand. A new taller window brings more light and views into the refreshed interior living room. The original glass doors opposite the fireplace were replaced by larger sliders that when fully opened, create a seamless transition to the new outdoor living area so the two spaces feel like one connected space. The original utilitarian kitchen was needlessly tucked into the far back corner and closed-off, out of sight from the living room, so the clients asked Klopf to open it up and expand the kitchen forward so it felt more connected. Today the much larger kitchen is connected to the living area where a short wall with a cutout offers a visual glimpse into the kitchen and a handy pass-through counter for serving guests. A new breakfast nook was also added to create another spot where the family can gather for casual meals. Just outside, a new built-in outdoor grill and prep area extends the kitchen outside and connects to a new outdoor dining spot nestled amongst the trees, taking advantage of the views out back. Klopf was able to expand the other two bedrooms, add a new laundry room and half-bath and convert the carport to an enclosed garage to add more storage areas which was lost when the pool house was converted to the family and guest room. To maintain a historical connection to the original designs, the exterior siding was repeated on all exterior walls, a full-height stained glass window at the front entryway restored, and an interior slatted screen element repeated outside at the exterior entry courtyard and over the new outdoor living room to create a shade trellis. The new house stands proudly and shines against it's new landscaping features, while respecting and expanding on the original intent of Roger Lee's designs epitomizing the comforts of indoor-outdoor living in Northern California. Completion year: 2020 Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, Klara Kevane, Noel Andrade Contractor: ORB Construction, Brendan O'Reilly Structural engineer: Sezen and Moon Landscape architect: Outer space Furnishings and decoration: Urbanism Designs Photographer: Mariko Reed

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects Builder: Alys Beach Construction --- “Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town. Challenges: “Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning. The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style. Solution: Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt. The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape. --- Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

Three Phases, One Family: Inside a Klopf Eichler Remodel When an executive mom and her two young children moved into their Eichler, she made a deliberate choice: to renovate the home in a way that honored, rather than erased, the qualities that make Eichlers distinctive in the first place. That decision set the tone for what would become a five-year, three-phase collaboration with architecture and interior design firm Klopf Architecture and general contractor Keycon, that touched nearly every room in the house and, along the way, turned a client-architect relationship into something closer. Living Through the Work Unlike many remodels where clients decamp to a rental during construction, this family stayed put through all three phases. That meant the Klopf team didn't just design the home, they watched it get lived in room by room in real time. Phase 1 covered the kitchen and living areas; by the time the team moved into later phases, they had already seen how the family actually used the spaces they'd designed earlier. That feedback loop and conversations with the client shaped the rest of the project directly. She said “throughout the various phases as they were completed, each day I noticed a new detail,” and shared her feedback with the design team. For instance, she loved the countertops chosen for the kitchen in Phase 1, so those same countertops appeared in the bathrooms designed in later phases. She loved the playful backsplash tile in the kitchen, so a similar sense of pattern and play carried into her bathroom in Phase 2 and a second bath in Phase 3. The result is a home where each phase speaks to the ones before it, rather than reading as a series of disconnected updates. Opening Up the Center of the House At the heart of the project was a reorganization of the home's most-used spaces. Klopf reclaimed a former dining area off the great room to build a larger kitchen, opening it directly onto the living space and freeing up room for the family to actually gather for reading, games, meals, TV, and the ordinary business of daily life with two kids and a dog. New floor-to-ceiling glass panels now connect the living space to the home's atrium, pulling light and views in from both directions, doubling down on the indoor-outdoor connection the style is known for. But more glass also meant less privacy, particularly at the entry, where a new wall of glass would otherwise open the courtyard directly to the street. Klopf's solution was a custom-designed slanted wood slat pivot gate at the front of the house: a piece that lets light filter through while blocking sight lines from passersby. It's a small architectural gesture that solves a real problem, creating privacy without sacrificing the light-filled openness the redesign was built around. Each of the children's bedrooms was custom-tailored to its occupant, a detail that mattered more with each passing year as the "young kids" in Phase 1 grew into the teenagers they became by the project's close. Five Years and Increased Capabilities A project of this length rarely survives with the same team intact, and this one didn't. Klopf’s original project leader left the firm part way through, but John Klopf and Elise Webb remained on the project from start to finish for continuity. Instead of shrinking, the Klopf team actually grew when their new interior design department was formed in 2024. The client was excited about Klopf’s new interiors capabilities, and welcomed Justine Alvarez and Ekaterina Nesterova on board to expand what had been an architectural scope into an architecture-plus-interiors effort. In the end Klopf handled the design from exterior envelope and layout down to the materials, colors, furnishings, décor, and finishing touches. What began as an architectural renovation ended up as something more comprehensive: a complete reimagining of the home's interiors as well as its bones, extending down to details as small as the containers on the bathroom counter. Carrying the Vision Through to the Furnishings Klopf's interior design department helped turn good architecture into a place a family actually lives. The interiors team worked closely with the client on furniture, fabrics, lighting, and accessories, sourcing and coordinating with makers and vendors in both the U.S. and Europe. The guiding idea was continuity: every piece needed to feel like it belonged in the house, not added to it. The custom counter stools are a good example. Intended to pick up on the cabinetry materials already in the kitchen, they were designed with carefully selected leather so the seating reads as part of the same architectural language. The sofa, rug, pillows, and other pieces followed the same logic, with material, color, and proportion all considered against the architecture they'd sit inside. Even the playful character of the bathroom tile found its way into the furnishings, translating into fun, playful accents in the textiles and finishes while staying period-appropriate to the Eichler itself. Benefitting from the feedback loop that shaped the architecture from phase to phase, the interiors team took cues from material and design decisions made in earlier phases when selecting the furnishings, so that the finished home reads as one continuous idea rather than a set of separate decisions layered on top of each other. That continuity came with its own hardships. A few months after furniture purchasing began, new tariffs took effect, affecting the overall furniture budget and adding complexity to ordering and expediting pieces. Developing custom furniture added a further layer of coordination on top of that: aligning fabric and leather samples and wood finishes with the architecture meant close, ongoing communication with makers throughout fabrication. With some pieces produced internationally, lead times, shipping, and customs all had to be carefully managed; in a few instances, that pushed the timeline out further still. In the end, the extra time was worth it: it's what allowed the team to get the materials and details right and keep the design cohesive throughout the home. A Relationship, Not Just a Project Ask the Klopf team what made this project unique, and the answer isn't really about square footage or finishes. It's about time. Over five years, the team got to know the family in a way a shorter project never allows — watching the kids head off to summer camp, meeting the foster kittens that passed through the house, getting to know the dog walker's daily routine. It became a professional relationship that was also a personal one. That closeness extended into the design process itself once the interiors team came on board. The client made a point of involving her kids in meetings about their own rooms, letting them weigh in on the vision and hopes they had for the spaces. Her daughter, in particular, was thrilled at the chance to work with an interior designer and help build her dream room, a small detail that speaks to how thoroughly this project became a family effort, not just a service delivered to one. That closeness shows up in the house itself. During Phase 1, the client asked everyone involved to sign the pony wall in the new kitchen. The Klopf team, the client, her kids, and the Keycon crew all left their names there, a permanent record of the people who built the house together. The Client said: “I am filled with joy and gratitude to be able to live in such a beautiful space and to have gotten the chance to work with such a talented team. The mark of true artistry is the attention to detail that allows one to experience the design in different ways. One might be looking at the same view, but because of the way the light moves, it’s a totally different perspective.” By the time the third phase wrapped, there was a running joke on site: nobody actually wanted the project to end, and the team half-seriously floated the idea of a "Phase 4." It's a fitting note for a project defined less by any single renovation than by five years of a family and their architects growing, quite literally, alongside one another. Klopf Architecture Team: John Klopf, AIA, Elise Webb, Yegvenia Torres-Zavala, Justine Alvarez, and Ekaterina Nesterova
Interior Design and FF&E: Klopf Architecture
Structural Engineer: BASE Design Inc.
Contractor: Keycon Inc.
Photography: ©2026 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2026
Location: Palo Alto, CA

Three Phases, One Family: Inside a Klopf Eichler Remodel When an executive mom and her two young children moved into their Eichler, she made a deliberate choice: to renovate the home in a way that honored, rather than erased, the qualities that make Eichlers distinctive in the first place. That decision set the tone for what would become a five-year, three-phase collaboration with architecture and interior design firm Klopf Architecture and general contractor Keycon, that touched nearly every room in the house and, along the way, turned a client-architect relationship into something closer. Living Through the Work Unlike many remodels where clients decamp to a rental during construction, this family stayed put through all three phases. That meant the Klopf team didn't just design the home, they watched it get lived in room by room in real time. Phase 1 covered the kitchen and living areas; by the time the team moved into later phases, they had already seen how the family actually used the spaces they'd designed earlier. That feedback loop and conversations with the client shaped the rest of the project directly. She said “throughout the various phases as they were completed, each day I noticed a new detail,” and shared her feedback with the design team. For instance, she loved the countertops chosen for the kitchen in Phase 1, so those same countertops appeared in the bathrooms designed in later phases. She loved the playful backsplash tile in the kitchen, so a similar sense of pattern and play carried into her bathroom in Phase 2 and a second bath in Phase 3. The result is a home where each phase speaks to the ones before it, rather than reading as a series of disconnected updates. Opening Up the Center of the House At the heart of the project was a reorganization of the home's most-used spaces. Klopf reclaimed a former dining area off the great room to build a larger kitchen, opening it directly onto the living space and freeing up room for the family to actually gather for reading, games, meals, TV, and the ordinary business of daily life with two kids and a dog. New floor-to-ceiling glass panels now connect the living space to the home's atrium, pulling light and views in from both directions, doubling down on the indoor-outdoor connection the style is known for. But more glass also meant less privacy, particularly at the entry, where a new wall of glass would otherwise open the courtyard directly to the street. Klopf's solution was a custom-designed slanted wood slat pivot gate at the front of the house: a piece that lets light filter through while blocking sight lines from passersby. It's a small architectural gesture that solves a real problem, creating privacy without sacrificing the light-filled openness the redesign was built around. Each of the children's bedrooms was custom-tailored to its occupant, a detail that mattered more with each passing year as the "young kids" in Phase 1 grew into the teenagers they became by the project's close. Five Years and Increased Capabilities A project of this length rarely survives with the same team intact, and this one didn't. Klopf’s original project leader left the firm part way through, but John Klopf and Elise Webb remained on the project from start to finish for continuity. Instead of shrinking, the Klopf team actually grew when their new interior design department was formed in 2024. The client was excited about Klopf’s new interiors capabilities, and welcomed Justine Alvarez and Ekaterina Nesterova on board to expand what had been an architectural scope into an architecture-plus-interiors effort. In the end Klopf handled the design from exterior envelope and layout down to the materials, colors, furnishings, décor, and finishing touches. What began as an architectural renovation ended up as something more comprehensive: a complete reimagining of the home's interiors as well as its bones, extending down to details as small as the containers on the bathroom counter. Carrying the Vision Through to the Furnishings Klopf's interior design department helped turn good architecture into a place a family actually lives. The interiors team worked closely with the client on furniture, fabrics, lighting, and accessories, sourcing and coordinating with makers and vendors in both the U.S. and Europe. The guiding idea was continuity: every piece needed to feel like it belonged in the house, not added to it. The custom counter stools are a good example. Intended to pick up on the cabinetry materials already in the kitchen, they were designed with carefully selected leather so the seating reads as part of the same architectural language. The sofa, rug, pillows, and other pieces followed the same logic, with material, color, and proportion all considered against the architecture they'd sit inside. Even the playful character of the bathroom tile found its way into the furnishings, translating into fun, playful accents in the textiles and finishes while staying period-appropriate to the Eichler itself. Benefitting from the feedback loop that shaped the architecture from phase to phase, the interiors team took cues from material and design decisions made in earlier phases when selecting the furnishings, so that the finished home reads as one continuous idea rather than a set of separate decisions layered on top of each other. That continuity came with its own hardships. A few months after furniture purchasing began, new tariffs took effect, affecting the overall furniture budget and adding complexity to ordering and expediting pieces. Developing custom furniture added a further layer of coordination on top of that: aligning fabric and leather samples and wood finishes with the architecture meant close, ongoing communication with makers throughout fabrication. With some pieces produced internationally, lead times, shipping, and customs all had to be carefully managed; in a few instances, that pushed the timeline out further still. In the end, the extra time was worth it: it's what allowed the team to get the materials and details right and keep the design cohesive throughout the home. A Relationship, Not Just a Project Ask the Klopf team what made this project unique, and the answer isn't really about square footage or finishes. It's about time. Over five years, the team got to know the family in a way a shorter project never allows — watching the kids head off to summer camp, meeting the foster kittens that passed through the house, getting to know the dog walker's daily routine. It became a professional relationship that was also a personal one. That closeness extended into the design process itself once the interiors team came on board. The client made a point of involving her kids in meetings about their own rooms, letting them weigh in on the vision and hopes they had for the spaces. Her daughter, in particular, was thrilled at the chance to work with an interior designer and help build her dream room, a small detail that speaks to how thoroughly this project became a family effort, not just a service delivered to one. That closeness shows up in the house itself. During Phase 1, the client asked everyone involved to sign the pony wall in the new kitchen. The Klopf team, the client, her kids, and the Keycon crew all left their names there, a permanent record of the people who built the house together. The Client said: “I am filled with joy and gratitude to be able to live in such a beautiful space and to have gotten the chance to work with such a talented team. The mark of true artistry is the attention to detail that allows one to experience the design in different ways. One might be looking at the same view, but because of the way the light moves, it’s a totally different perspective.” By the time the third phase wrapped, there was a running joke on site: nobody actually wanted the project to end, and the team half-seriously floated the idea of a "Phase 4." It's a fitting note for a project defined less by any single renovation than by five years of a family and their architects growing, quite literally, alongside one another. Klopf Architecture Team: John Klopf, AIA, Elise Webb, Yegvenia Torres-Zavala, Justine Alvarez, and Ekaterina Nesterova
Interior Design and FF&E: Klopf Architecture
Structural Engineer: BASE Design Inc.
Contractor: Keycon Inc.
Photography: ©2026 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2026
Location: Palo Alto, CA

The Roger Lee designed house from 1962 was purchased by the current homeowners in almost original condition, as the previous owners elected to defer most maintenance projects over the years. The clients were able to see beyond the dated materials and finishes, single-paned glass and uninsulated walls and they approached Klopf Architecture to help them expand and update the entire home, one the family could settle into and enjoy for years to come. It was important that the new designs were aligned with Lee's original intent not only because of the client's appreciation for mid-century modern architecture, but also because the house was deemed historical. The Stanford Real Estate Office requires a stringent design review which safeguards the integrity of the community, which Klopf Architecture was happy to oblige going into their updated designs. As with many original mid-century modern homes, the house was scaled to the 1960s lifestyle where rooms were smaller and openings to views were limited and tightly framed. The original conditions defined the direction the family of four would take in updating the house and making it comfortable for their modern lifestyle. Klopf designed a full gut remodel and major addition to bring the house into the 21st century and provide the living area needed for the client's family. The newly expanded house added just about 1,100 sf to create an airy, comfortable and family friendly house, taking full advantage of the beautiful southwestern views that extend out to the hills beyond. The enclosed garage created an additional 240 sf of covered space for long-term storage. A cracked swimming pool created an eyesore taking up a majority of the backyard landscape, so it was one of the first elements to go during the transformation. Working with Outer Space Landscape Architects, the family asked for a mix of relaxing outdoor patio spaces that eventually blend into the native landscaping, extending their views outward toward the natural greenery of the trees beyond their property. Filling in the old pool was a smart way to expand the living spaces outward. The orientation of the house was designed to enjoy the views, but the original architecture provided the first homeowners with mere glimpses of the landscape outside. Klopf was able to broaden those views, continuing and extending on the original architecture to take full advantage of the unobstructed natural views across the rear facade of the house. Small horizontal openings in the primary bedroom and office were replaced with much taller windows that now follow the angled roof line upward, extending across almost all of the facade. We worked with Western Windows, whose designs included an oblique-shaped, operable casement that allowed our design to rise with the slope. A new corner office added to the primary suite, offers a bright and functional work-from-home solution that looks out at the distant views and added natural light from the expanded window configuration that now wraps around the corner. The existing lower level was designed by Lee as a utilitarian space, serving as a wet pool room with a drain in the center of the floor, bathroom, laundry and storage areas. Without the need for a pool room, Klopf was able to convert the area into a much more comfortable and functional living space with a new family room and guest suite. The new spaces enjoy easy access to a new outdoor patio through floor to ceiling, full-width glass sliders. Continuing along the rear facade, a previously exposed deck extending from the living room and hallway provided access to the backyard through a single set of stairs leading toward the side of the house which made sense when the pool was in place. The new deck was re-envisioned as an extension of the main living room and now serves as a second outdoor living room. A new slatted pergola above provides the homeowners welcome relief from the hot afternoon sun. A second set of stairs now creates a better connection to the redesigned lower level. Klopf was able to reconfigure the spaces, extending the living room outward toward the views, where the family now claims it as the heart of the home, spending a large majority of their time outdoors. Back inside, the original wood-burning Malm fireplace was beautifully restored and a gas burner installed to comply with California's strict air standards. It now rests in front of a wall of Heath accent tiles where a dated red brick wall used to stand. A new taller window brings more light and views into the refreshed interior living room. The original glass doors opposite the fireplace were replaced by larger sliders that when fully opened, create a seamless transition to the new outdoor living area so the two spaces feel like one connected space. The original utilitarian kitchen was needlessly tucked into the far back corner and closed-off, out of sight from the living room, so the clients asked Klopf to open it up and expand the kitchen forward so it felt more connected. Today the much larger kitchen is connected to the living area where a short wall with a cutout offers a visual glimpse into the kitchen and a handy pass-through counter for serving guests. A new breakfast nook was also added to create another spot where the family can gather for casual meals. Just outside, a new built-in outdoor grill and prep area extends the kitchen outside and connects to a new outdoor dining spot nestled amongst the trees, taking advantage of the views out back. Klopf was able to expand the other two bedrooms, add a new laundry room and half-bath and convert the carport to an enclosed garage to add more storage areas which was lost when the pool house was converted to the family and guest room. To maintain a historical connection to the original designs, the exterior siding was repeated on all exterior walls, a full-height stained glass window at the front entryway restored, and an interior slatted screen element repeated outside at the exterior entry courtyard and over the new outdoor living room to create a shade trellis. The new house stands proudly and shines against it's new landscaping features, while respecting and expanding on the original intent of Roger Lee's designs epitomizing the comforts of indoor-outdoor living in Northern California. Completion year: 2020 Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, Klara Kevane, Noel Andrade Contractor: ORB Construction, Brendan O'Reilly Structural engineer: Sezen and Moon Landscape architect: Outer space Furnishings and decoration: Urbanism Designs Photographer: Mariko Reed

This Houston kitchen remodel turned an outdated bachelor pad into a contemporary dream fit for newlyweds. The client wanted a contemporary, somewhat commercial look, but also something homey with a comfy, family feel. And they couldn't go too contemporary, since the style of the home is so traditional. The clean, contemporary, white-black-and-grey color scheme is just the beginning of this transformation from the previous kitchen, The revamped 20-by-15-foot kitchen and adjoining dining area also features new stainless steel appliances by Maytag, lighting and furnishings by Restoration Hardware and countertops in white Carrara marble and Absolute Black honed granite. The paneled oak cabinets are now painted a crisp, bright white and finished off with polished nickel pulls. The center island is now a cool grey a few shades darker than the warm grey on the walls. On top of the grey on the new sheetrock, previously covered in a camel-colored textured paint, is Sherwin Williams' Faux Impressions sparkly "Striae Quartz Stone." Ho-hum 12-inch ceramic floor tiles with a western motif border have been replaced with grey tile "planks" resembling distressed wood. An oak-paneled flush-mount light fixture has given way to recessed lights and barn pendant lamps in oil rubbed bronze from Restoration Hardware. And the section housing clunky upper and lower banks of cabinets between the kitchen an dining area now has a sleek counter-turned-table with custom-milled legs. At first, the client wanted to open up that section altogether, but then realized they needed more counter space. The table - a continuation of the granite countertop - was the perfect solution. Plus, it offered space for extra seating. The black, high-back and low-back bar stools are also from Restoration Hardware - as is the new round chandelier and the dining table over which it hangs. Outdoor Homescapes of Houston also took out a wall between the kitchen and living room and remodeled the adjoining living room as well. A decorative cedar beam stained Minwax Jacobean now spans the ceiling where the wall once stood. The oak paneling and stairway railings in the living room, meanwhile, also got a coat of white paint and new window treatments and light fixtures from Restoration Hardware. Staining the top handrailing with the same Jacobean dark stain, however, boosted the new contemporary look even more. The outdoor living space also got a revamp, with a new patio ceiling also stained Jacobean and new outdoor furniture and outdoor area rug from Restoration Hardware. The furniture is from the Klismos collection, in weathered zinc, with Sunbrella fabric in the color "Smoke."