Palo Alto Eichler

This home was originally developed by Joseph Eichler in the California modern style, but it did not have an open core, leaving the kitchen isolated from the rest of the house. The family hoped to rethink the kitchen layout so that it could better relate to the home. 

The solution to creating a more open floor plan was to incorporate a steel frame into the design. This allowed for removal of the interior walls, but its size required a thoughtful integration. It was decided to visibly embrace the steel and weave it into the island as a feature.

The wife, a home chef, desired a substantial area for food preparation. To address this, a large wood cutting surface was assimilated into the countertop near the sink. This would ensure efficiency between washing and chopping produce. The cooktop was located on the island for views to the back yard and includes a high BTU wok to prepare dishes native to Hong Kong. The husband, a saltwater aquarium enthusiast, envisioned his tank integrating into the architecture. We located it in a place visible from the living and dining rooms and enjoyed while the family is eating, but also accessible from the laundry room behind for maintenance.  

A beautiful modern kitchen was designed to fill the new space, utilizing dark grey and bright orange cabinetry from Arclinea, with orange being a color associated with happiness for the clients. These brighter moments are located so they are not visible from the dining and living areas, which allows for a surprising pop of color when you walk into the kitchen. The kitchen uses a combination of materials including stainless steel and laminate, that contrast with the ceramic tile floor and backsplash, and the original wood ceilings.

Winner CA Modern Best Kitchen Design Contest

“Stacy took our requirements and came back with a few different designs, each incorporating all of our requirements and adding many other features we had not considered.  We really liked Stacy’s design and felt really comfortable working with her.  She was great listening to our needs and coming up with creative ideas.”

- John and Renata (Clients)