Berkeley Hills Mid-Century

Real estate agents Matt Vance and Peter Ashbaugh discovered a rare 1964 mid-century modern home in North Berkeley, designed by architect Elwood Hanson. The floor plan was well organized and the views from the living room were exceptional, but the kitchen was enclosed by four windowless interior walls and a bulky elevator had been added between the living and dining rooms. Their goal was to reinvigorate the house while honoring what the original architect had intended. Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room required an unconventional solution: the slender roof construction could not accommodate an upturned beam, so a large beam was installed sideways instead, creating a seamless ceiling between the two spaces. Removing the elevator opened sight lines from one end of the house to the other. Glass accordion doors to the backyard and a new kitchen skylight brought light and garden connection into a previously landlocked space. Matt and Peter were willing to be bold. Black-painted cabinets, white oak accents, and quartz countertops were chosen for their dramatic contrast. Structural oddities were resolved quietly: a dry bar in the dining room conceals a bulkhead over the basement stairs, and a floating shelf called the Infinity Loop provides playful storage that engages with a wall jog. In the bathrooms, skylights illuminate the rich color of Fireclay and Heath tiles, and wall-hung fixtures maximize the sense of space. A home brought back to life on its own terms. Project Manager | Amber Baker Photographer | Mark Compton