FROM THE HOMEOWNER:
“We appreciate the rear stairs, bathroom tile, stone shower, and floors; removal of library door (absence of extraneous features is a positive feature), matching of superstructure to the existing foundation (non-square issues); beautiful, stained wood window/door frames and molding—all mitered, all perfectly-matched. The overall solidity of construction- there’s nothing “fake” in the house— it’s all rock-solid and exactly what it appears to be— something we’re still discovering and appreciating every day.”
SEE PHOTOS AND PROJECT DETAILS
The owners of this 1930 mountain cabin in Woodside loved how their floor-to-ceiling greenhouse window opened the space with a panoramic view of the redwoods, but they wanted more. They asked us to extend that feeling of openness throughout the entire 1,100 square-foot home while bringing the structure up to modern standards.
The solution turned out to be brilliantly simple: we added a clerestory that runs the entire length of the house.
This architectural feature floods every room with natural light throughout the day, provides natural ventilation, and makes the whole house feel airy and spacious.
We paired it with an innovative automated window system that creates an “air chimney” effect, using the canyon’s natural air currents to ventilate the entire home.
But that was just the beginning.
In the process of renovating the home, we identified – and solved – problems the homeowners didn’t even know they had.
The original plans from another firm kept the kitchen in its cramped 5′ x 7′ footprint. We suggested moving just two interior walls to gain three feet and create an 8′ x 7′ galley kitchen.
It might seem like a small change, but it completely transformed how they cook, gather, and live in their home.
To make the home work smarter, we incorporated energy-efficient materials throughout—from the “Cool Roof” standing-seam metal to fiber cement siding, foam insulation, and high-performance windows and HVAC systems. The only addition to the original footprint was a modest 63-square-foot bump-out that created a proper foyer transition.
At the annual National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Silicon Valley chapter awards competition, the project earned the following awards: Meta Platinum for superior design and craftsmanship, Judges’ Choice for the Most Outstanding Overall Project, and Best Whole House Remodel Green Project. But what we’re most proud of is that we created a serene, light-filled home that works beautifully for how these homeowners actually live.
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