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Home Renovations
Paiko Drive
A key design goal for this renovation project was to transform an extremely unattractive front entry into a welcoming modern facade. To achieve this, the garage door was relocated, and a water feature was installed in its place. With the relocated driveway, we were then able to develop a landscaped path leading to the new two-story entry, expressed on the exterior as a tall modern glass enclosure. Inside, an elegant wood stair became the focal point, replacing the former closed-in and carpeted stairway. The clean modern look was also applied to the oceanfront facade. The master bedroom lanai was given a large, cantilevered roof, providing a sheltered area while also offering a strong modern look that concealed what had been an uninspiring facade. On the ground floor, the sunken lanai was raised to the interior floor level to create a larger and more accessible living space. As with the front entry, the landscape was brought close to the home by replacing the tired looking pool deck with a green lawn. To further enhance the modern look, and to expand the ocean view, the upper lanai support beam was recessed into the existing floor framing.
Hawaii Kai
After a series of renovation projects, the interior of this house has been completely re-envisioned. The master bedroom window now frames an oceanfront view of Diamond through a 20-foot-wide, single glass pane. The master shower extends above the roof, where a large skylight allows light to wash across the “soap bubble” wall tile. The kitchen has become a dynamic space defined by red curving cabinetry, a counter and backsplash fabricated from white-veined black quartz, and a floating glass bar-counter. A stainless steel-and-glass walkway now connects the two second-floor wings, spanning the two-story living room.
Diamond Head
The primary goal of this renovation was to showcase a contemporary art collection. The kitchen clearly reflects this goal as the ceiling was raised to accommodate two large “face” sculptures. Another goal, to integrate the home with the exterior, is shown with the redesigned master bathroom. This space now opens onto a private courtyard with a hot tub. The bathtub is also positioned in a bay window with views of the courtyard. Throughout the house, color plays an important role in defining each room and in complementing the artwork.
Chestnut Hill
This bright and airy breakfast room was designed for a residence once featured in a 1913 House and Garden magazine for its Craftsman style. In keeping with the Arts and Crafts aesthetic, the renovation makes use of natural and hand- wrought materials including quarter-sawn oak, slate, copper, leaded glass, and quarry tile. Additional space was added to the breakfast room and pantry by enclosing a seldom-used porch. Above this first floor renovation, unused eave space was also captured to enlarge two existing second-floor bathrooms.
Russian Hill
The renovation of this turn of the century San Francisco home (that survived the great fire) focused on updating the home to reflect a young couple’s lifestyle while still maintaining its historic character. The goals included excavating the ground level to create an artist’s studio and enlarging a 2-car garage originally intended for horses. A new open interior stair was created to connect the four floors from street level to a roof-top deck with views of the San Francisco Bay.
