Our clients were ready to update their kitchen with soft and subtle colors to blend in with the home’s recently updated interior. It was also time to improve the layout. The kitchen needed to be reconfigured in order to facilitate a three-generation family and occasional entertaining. Design Objectives -Brighten up to blend with the home’s interior and flow into the adjacent family room area -Incorporate specific storage for pantry items like bulk ingredients and small appliances -Designate areas for a coffee bar, multiple prep areas and seating while highlighting a dry bar for display -Keep clutter off of counters for a seamless design that facilitates visual flow through the entire area Design Challenges -Make a subtle statement with contrasting cabinets and countertops -Incorporate a stand-alone, statement-making dry bar just outside the main kitchen space -Design a statement hood that serves as a focal point without interrupting visual flow -Update and add lighting to add more task, accent and overhead brightness. -Have the space be usable for different tasks by different family members at the same time -Create a space that looks classy and formal but is still inviting. Design Solutions -A soft grey stain and white paint were used on all the cabinets. On only the wall cabinets flanking the window was the grey introduced on the frame to make a pop against the white paint. -The white-painted refrigerator and freezer door panel style is a custom reeded look that adds a soft contrasting detail against the main door style. Along with the open grey-stained interior cabinet above, it looks like a piece of furniture. -The same soft tones were used for the countertops and a full, high backsplash of Chamonix quartzite that tied everything together. It’s an elegant backdrop for the hood. -The Dry Bar, even though showcasing a dark stained cabinet, stays open and bright with a full mirror backsplash, wood retained glass floating shelves and glass wall cabinet doors. Brushed brass trim details and a fun light fixture add a pop of character. -The same reeded door style as the refrigerator was used on the base doors of the dry bar to tie in with the kitchen. -About 2/3 of the existing walk-in pantry was carved out for the new dry bar footprint while still keeping a shallow-depth pantry space for storage. -The homeowners wanted a beautiful hood but didn’t want it to dominate the design. We kept the lines of the hood simple. The soft stainless steel body has a bottom accent that incorporates both the grey stain and white-painted cabinet colors. -Even though the Kitchen had a lot of natural light from the large window, it was important to have task and subtle feature lighting. Recessed cans provide overall lighting while clear pendants shine down on the 2nd level of the seating area on the island. -The circular clear chandelier is the statement piece over the main island while the pendants flanking the hood emphasize the quartzite backsplash and add as accent lighting in the evening along with the interior cabinet lights. With three generations living in the home it was important to have areas that multiple family members could use at the same time without being in each other’s way. The design incorporates different zones like the coffee bar, charging station, dry bar and ­­refrigerator drawers. The softness of the colors and classic feel of the wood floor keep kitchen is inviting and calming.­­

Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master travertine floor bathroom idea in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

Tumbled Roman walkways, stairs and patios with Pisa 2 retaining walls surround a beautiful yet quaint water feature in the back of this home set on a park in SW Calgary. Mahogany entry gates a privacy screen, lighting, and colorful plantings welcome guests to this yard. Photo Credit: Jamen Rhodes

John Videler Photography
Example of a transitional home design design in New York

Tumbled Roman walkways, stairs and patios with Pisa 2 retaining walls surround a beautiful yet quaint water feature in the back of this home set on a park in SW Calgary. Mahogany entry gates a privacy screen, lighting, and colorful plantings welcome guests to this yard. Photo Credit: Jamen Rhodes

Design ideas for a small traditional full sun courtyard brick formal garden in Charleston.

Inspiration for an eclectic living room remodel in Other

This project was exciting to design as we were faced with many challenges from the beginning. Our client requested an open layout feel; yet the existing layout blocked the sight views to the living room and dining room. The original flooring also needed to be utilized in the design along with the unique soffit ceiling angles. Finally, two large columns that housed plumbing and electrical and could not be removed proved to be an obstacle that required creative planning. For these reasons, we designed a large island that encompassed the columns, matched the angles of the ceiling and covered any missing flooring. This gave our client her dream, open kitchen with a large island to gather around for cooking and socializing. The new cabinets were done in a seamless shaker door from our Kitchen Solvers Classic Collection line. The island was done in a Languid Blue color while the rest of the kitchen cabinets were done in white. We finished by installing a new Cambria Quartz Montgomery countertop. Now this homeowner has her dream kitchen.

Inspiration for a mid-century modern living room remodel in Boston

Custom Area Rug, shagreen desk and brass metal chair
Example of a classic bedroom design in San Francisco

A detail view of the pantry wall and perimeter run — the rift cut grain of the white oak reads consistently across every door face, with sleek black bar pulls adding a quiet punctuation throughout. Designed by: EKR Designs Featuring Hanstone Quartz countertops and backsplashes.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional master travertine floor bathroom remodel in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

Heather Elsworth Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal and enclosed living room remodel in Vancouver with gray walls, no fireplace and no tv

Inspiration for a timeless porch remodel in Montreal

Transitional Kitchen with (profile) Flat-Eased (stone) River White Granite Countertops & Island.
Large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen photo in Milwaukee with an undermount sink, white cabinets, granite countertops, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

© Gorini Guillaume Photographe
Inspiration for a large transitional medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Montreal with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

From Mid-Century Classic to the Present An iconic design updated with comfort, function, and flow for today. A Remodel That Balances Past and Present What started as a desire to update a classic Eichler soon became an exploration of how Mid-Century Modern design can successfully evolve for today. The client, a tech professional with a passion for scuba diving and underwater photography, wanted a home that would both honor its original character and feel tailored to his daily life. A lifelong technology enthusiast, he still owns the very first Mac desktop he saved up for as a teenager working at Radio Shack, a detail that underscores his appreciation for design that melds function and form. Honoring Separation While Expanding Possibility Unlike many contemporary remodels where walls are opened up to create expansive living spaces, this project took a more restrained approach. The client valued the defined rooms of the original plan and wanted to preserve as much wall space as possible for displaying his large-format underwater photography. The emphasis was not on dramatic spatial reinvention, but on thoughtful refinements. Klopf Architecture shaped a gallery-like backdrop while also expanding the primary suite, modernizing materials and fixtures throughout the home, and improving the functionality and layout of the kitchen. The finished home feels at once timeless and renewed, an Eichler that continues to inspire while fully supporting the lifestyle of its present-day owner. A major turning point came mid-design. The original project brief had not included an addition, but as the reconfiguration of the primary bedroom and bath unfolded, it became clear that an expansion was the best approach to achieve the client’s vision of a more spacious suite. Fortunately, the adjustment came at a stage when revisions were still manageable and was integrated seamlessly, showing how thoughtful course corrections can strengthen a project rather than hinder it. Navigating Challenges With Precision The design development included multiple conceptual rounds, balancing preservation with subtle expansion. During construction, an existing post previously thought to be load-bearing turned out not to be. The structural engineer was able to pivot quickly, and both the post and the cross beam that had been intended to replace it could be omitted, allowing the original rhythm of the Eichler beam bays to be preserved. Sustainability was not just a checklist item, but a way to align the home with the client’s values of simplicity, efficiency, and long-term functionality. R-38 roof insulation reduced energy usage, solar panels with battery storage provided independence and resilience, and passive comfort strategies eliminated the need forenergy-intensive air conditioning. An electric vehicle charger and an on-demand hot water recirculation system (with call buttons as opposed to having constant circulation) add to the home’s long-term efficiency factors. Together, these moves created a home that is quieter, more comfortable, and better equipped for the future, qualities that supported the client’s pragmatic approach to design and living lightly. Details That Respect the Eichler DNA The remodel carries forward the Eichler’s original spirit while introducing new layers of modern livability. Originally, the house was approached along a deep, narrow walk, with the garage on one side and the house on the other, leaving the front door tucked far back within this chasm-like space. By pulling the entry forward, the design reshaped the arrival experience, creating a clearer threshold and a natural drop-off zone for bags, shoes, and keys. This shift also made room for a custom bench at the entry that extends seamlessly through the glass sidelight. The bench and drop-off zone now work together as a single, integrated sequence that supports everyday living while offering a tactile reminder of Eichler’s philosophy of connectedness. At the client’s request, Klopf reintroduced a classic Eichler gesture by extending the exterior siding into the entry and living room. The detail reinforces a sense of indoor/outdoor continuity while providing a subtle architectural surface that allows the client’s photography to take visual precedence. The signature concrete masonry wall at the front was reconstructed using blocks sourced to match the originals, now strengthened with rebar for seismic resilience while maintaining a private outdoor courtyard, visually extending the kitchen outward. A decorative trellis element, a detail borrowed from a neighboring Eichler, restores a familiar mid-century modern architectural motif. At the courtyard entry door, a custom etched glass sidelight with an ocean-themed design featuring kelp and jellyfish serves as a subtle homage to the client’s passion for deep-sea diving. Landscaping became an integral part of the overall transformation. The homeowner engaged landscape architect Randi Johnsen of Third Nature Studio to shape a series of calm, inviting outdoor rooms that read as a natural extension of the interiors. While technically outside of the core construction scope, the landscape design proved central to achieving a sense of completeness and connectedness across the property. Such whole-property considerations often emerge as design ideas take shape, underscoring the importance of flexibility in planning and budgeting, as well as close collaboration among the design team starting early in the process. The Value of Evolving Scope As with many custom residential projects, the scope evolved during the design process. What began as a targeted remodel grew to include a new/expanded primary suite, a rebuilt CMU patio wall for strength and longevity, and a solar panel array and battery storage for energy resilience and carbon-reduction. Each thoughtful decision represented a conscious investment in the home’s performance and character, rather than a cost overrun. The result was a project delivered on schedule, tailored precisely to the client’s lifestyle, and positioned to add long-term value both functionally and aesthetically. By embracing scope evolution as an opportunity rather than a challenge, and relying on good design paired with transparent communication, this remodel demonstrates how Eichler homes can be adapted for contemporary living without erasing their DNA. Klopf Architecture project team: John Klopf, AIA, and Klara Kevane, Elise Webb and Nicholas LaNasa. Contractor: Golden Cove Construction Landscape Design: Third Nature Studio Structural Engineer: Daniel Bastiao Design Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2024 Location: Sunnyvale, CA

Example of a mid-sized trendy l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen design in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and green countertops

A light - filled home in the memorial area was updated with today's neutral palette. With glamour accents, such as polished nickel, and texture in floors and fabrics, such as velvets, the home exudes organic warmth.