Palo Alto Residence
A family of five moved to the Bay Area from Europe, and within a month had bravely purchased a home and embarked on a head to toe interior remodel with us. Needless to say, this family is a force of nature.
They were drawn to the lovely neighborhood and charm of the house; however, the interiors did not fit our client's lifestyle. It was important that they be able to see through the house to each other to feel more connected as a family. At the main level, interior walls were removed so that sightlines were created, while also leaving a sense of the individual rooms. Service spaces, such as a powder room and pantry, were gathered to the interior core to maximize the openness.
The kitchen layout centered around the wife's professional cooking experience and includes a 5' range and deep fryer, gathered under a custom hood. Other features include a charming computer nook with views of the street, an integrated planter for growing herbs by the sink window, and wraparound island seating for their extended family. A dining room hutch with back panels of antique mirror reflects light towards the kitchen, and the buffet is subtly curved for the fast-moving family to safely navigate. It also houses an internal hanging system for pressed linens.
The clients asked us to respect the original traditional language but to also flavor it with Art Deco moments, and that became our design language. Art Deco sensibilities can be seen in the back of the fluted walnut island, the radius edges of cabinetry, and the work center that features a cloud-like cabinet above two work stations. These two desks are some of our more creative millwork solutions. They're designed to house a pair of sewing machines, opening or closing as needed by the family for crafting. And opposite, a jewel-toned wet bar is accessible to the living room and the swimming pool in the garden.
In the living and family rooms, custom fabricated shelves are designed out of metal for their light appearance, with an almost necklace like quality, to contrast the heavier walnut millwork beneath. Circular motifs and custom pulls were applied to cabinetry throughout, to further the art deco theme. Finally, a new handrail was added to the stair using thin cold-rolled steel rods with a stained oak cap.
The rear garden boasts a new fire pit and pool with fountains for the children, but the pool's integrated wave machine was added for the adults. The perimeter of the pool is finished in Heath tile. The guest house was updated, the garage turned into a home gym, and new ensuite bathrooms were added in the main house.