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Paiko Drive
The owners wanted a welcoming, modern façade, to replace the unattractive front entry, while also creating a stronger connection to the landscape and oceanfront setting.
We transformed the entry by relocating the garage door and installing a water feature in its place. This allowed us to develop a landscaped path leading to a new two-story entry expressed as a tall modern glass enclosure. Inside, we replaced the closed-in, carpeted stairway with an elegant wood stair as a focal point. On the oceanfront façade, a large, cantilevered roof above the master bedroom lanai provides shelter while concealing the previously uninspiring façade. We raised the sunken lanai to interior floor level, creating a larger, more accessible living space. The pool deck was replaced with a green lawn to bring the landscape closer to the home, and the upper lanai support beam was recessed to expand the ocean views and enhance the modern aesthetic.
Hawaii Kai
The owners wanted the interior of this house to be re-envisioned to maximize ocean views and to create dynamic, contemporary spaces.
Through a series of renovation projects, we dramatically transformed key spaces: the master bedroom now frames the Diamond Head view through a 20-foot-wide single glass pane; the his/hers master shower extends above the roof with a large skylight that creates a playful interaction with “soap bubble” wall tile; the kitchen was reimagined with red curving cabinetry, sophisticated black quartz counters and backsplash, and a floating glass bar-counter to add lightness; and a stainless steel-and-glass walkway connects the second-floor wings across the two-story living room.
Diamond Head
The homeowner needed space that would showcase their contemporary art collection while better integrating interior spaces with exterior gardens.
This renovation celebrates art as an integral part of daily life as the raised kitchen ceiling showcases two sculptural faces. To create the desired indoor-outdoor integration, the redesigned master bathroom opens onto a private courtyard with a hot tub, while the interior bathtub sits in a bay window with garden views. Throughout the house, we used color strategically to define each room and to complement the artwork, fulfilling the owner’s vision for a home that creates harmony between living space and gallery.
Chestnut Hill
This 1913 Craftsman-style home needed additional space for the breakfast room and second-floor bathrooms while maintaining the historical Arts and Crafts aesthetic.
We designed a bright, airy breakfast room addition by enclosing a seldom-used porch, carefully incorporating natural and hand-wrought materials consistent with Arts and Crafts principles: quarter-sawn oak, slate, copper, leaded glass, and quarry tile. Above this renovation, we captured previously unused eave space to enlarge two existing second-floor bathrooms, addressing the space needs while honoring the home’s architectural heritage featured in a 1913 House and Garden magazine.
Russian Hill Residence
This turn-of-the-century San Francisco home needed updating to reflect the young owners’ lifestyle while maintaining its historic character and adding new functional spaces.
We carefully excavated the ground level to create an artist’s studio and enlarged the 2-car garage that was originally designed for horses. A new open interior staircase now connects all four floors from street level to a new roof-top deck with San Francisco Bay views, addressing the owners’ desire for modern functionality while preserving the historic elements that survived the great fire.
