East Bay Transitional

A family of five had outgrown their California bungalow. Every corner of the house was in use, including an enclosed porch converted into a bedroom. An isolated living room, a compact kitchen, and a bathroom poorly located in the center of the floor plan were the obstacles standing between the family and a home that actually worked. The solution came from reorganization rather than addition. The central bathroom, though recently updated, was sacrificed to allow the spaces to find their right locations. A new bedroom suite and kitchen were added to the rear of the home, meeting the program without the need for a second story. A generous corridor now connects the public and private sides of the house. Without an upper floor, skylights became the primary source of natural light, filling the corridor, offering glimpses of sky in the kitchen, and providing a venting glass ceiling over the primary shower. The budget stayed tight throughout. In the kitchen, stock cabinet boxes were fitted with custom moss-green fronts that echo the family's many plants. Light cabinets along the pantry wall bounce light back into the space. Neutral Heath tile from the overstock room was pieced together into a dappled backsplash beneath a custom hood plastered flush with the wall. The exterior weaves smooth stucco, bronze-colored windows, concrete, and celadon green horizontal siding. Project Manager | Aska Wieloch-Kim Photographer | Mark Compton