Houzz Tour: Remodel Honors Original Eichler Architecture
Converting the carport and bringing the den up to code help make a California home fun and safe for a family
Strong Structure
The strong presence of the structural posts and beams is a key feature of Eichler architecture. Unfortunately, the original work was not up to current safety standards. Blaine worked with structural engineer Kurt Fischer to make the structure meet code yet still look essentially the same. His thoughtful solution was to add embedded steel plates in the post-and-beam connections with concealed bolts. Blaine had the posts and beams painted black to provide a strong contrast to the white ceilings, highlighting the building’s structure.
The back facade of Eichler homes often opens to expansive views outdoors, and this house was no exception, with mostly plate glass and a glass sliding door. “The plate glass wasn’t safe for kids, and it was hard to get in and out of the single slider with the dining room furniture in the way,” Blaine says. She replaced the original wall of glass with NanaWall accordion doors that open the dining room completely to the deck and backyard. The beams over these doors and a second set on the other side of the kitchen are new, but Blaine had them trimmed to match the originals. A clerestory window keeps the views of the ceiling beams open.
The strong presence of the structural posts and beams is a key feature of Eichler architecture. Unfortunately, the original work was not up to current safety standards. Blaine worked with structural engineer Kurt Fischer to make the structure meet code yet still look essentially the same. His thoughtful solution was to add embedded steel plates in the post-and-beam connections with concealed bolts. Blaine had the posts and beams painted black to provide a strong contrast to the white ceilings, highlighting the building’s structure.
The back facade of Eichler homes often opens to expansive views outdoors, and this house was no exception, with mostly plate glass and a glass sliding door. “The plate glass wasn’t safe for kids, and it was hard to get in and out of the single slider with the dining room furniture in the way,” Blaine says. She replaced the original wall of glass with NanaWall accordion doors that open the dining room completely to the deck and backyard. The beams over these doors and a second set on the other side of the kitchen are new, but Blaine had them trimmed to match the originals. A clerestory window keeps the views of the ceiling beams open.
Transforming the Entry
Before: “From the front of the house, there was no visible front door. You had to walk through the dark carport, and then it was tucked to the left side,” Blaine says. Since the homeowners never used the tight carport for their cars, they were on board with putting this area to better use. The window at the back was the only window in the kitchen.
Before: “From the front of the house, there was no visible front door. You had to walk through the dark carport, and then it was tucked to the left side,” Blaine says. Since the homeowners never used the tight carport for their cars, they were on board with putting this area to better use. The window at the back was the only window in the kitchen.
After: Blaine transformed the carport into an entry atrium (that big new hole in the ceiling is open to the sky). A second set of Nanawall accordion doors replaced the small kitchen window.
To the right of the accordion doors is a small office. “One of the homeowners has to make late-night calls for work and found he had a hard time finding a spot in the house where he wouldn’t wake everyone or the kids weren’t making noise in the background,” the architect says. “The office is tiny, but he can look directly outside its picture window up to the sky from his desk, which makes it feel larger.”
Although much has changed in this part of the home, one thing that was worth saving was the vintage George Nelson clock, which was hanging in the house the day the couple moved in. Now it sets a classic midcentury modern tone at the front door.
To the right of the accordion doors is a small office. “One of the homeowners has to make late-night calls for work and found he had a hard time finding a spot in the house where he wouldn’t wake everyone or the kids weren’t making noise in the background,” the architect says. “The office is tiny, but he can look directly outside its picture window up to the sky from his desk, which makes it feel larger.”
Although much has changed in this part of the home, one thing that was worth saving was the vintage George Nelson clock, which was hanging in the house the day the couple moved in. Now it sets a classic midcentury modern tone at the front door.
After walking through the front door at the opposite end of the atrium, the family enters the main part of the house through the door on the right; the other doors fold to the left when the family wants to open the kitchen to the atrium.
From front to back, the doors down the hallway on the right lead to the new office, a reconfigured laundry room and a new second bathroom.
From front to back, the doors down the hallway on the right lead to the new office, a reconfigured laundry room and a new second bathroom.
This new playroom is also part of the finished carport. “These homeowners love to have friends with kids over, and they love to cook. But in the old kitchen, kids would try to run through all the time, and it wasn’t safe,” Blaine says.
To mitigate this, she created a playroom within view of the kitchen, which she also opened up to create a better flow. “Kids want to be in the middle of everything, not shut off in another part of the house,” she says. “They can open the doors between the kitchen and the atrium, and the playroom and the atrium, and have this whole big place to play within view of their parents in the kitchen.”
To mitigate this, she created a playroom within view of the kitchen, which she also opened up to create a better flow. “Kids want to be in the middle of everything, not shut off in another part of the house,” she says. “They can open the doors between the kitchen and the atrium, and the playroom and the atrium, and have this whole big place to play within view of their parents in the kitchen.”
This is the opposite view, looking from the kitchen through the atrium to the new front door. Ipe wood suits the indoor-outdoor feeling of the atrium. The office window is in the foreground on the left, and the playroom is just beyond it.
Entering the home is now a dynamic experience. And the house has a front entry that faces the street.
Entering the home is now a dynamic experience. And the house has a front entry that faces the street.
Improving the Kitchen Layout
Before: Eichlers have many charms, but their original kitchens usually need updating. This kitchen was dark, and its only window looked out on the carport. Although the walls didn’t extend to the ceiling and the kitchen is somewhat open to the dining room, the flow between the rooms was awkward. It’s easy to see how having toddlers underfoot while cooking was unsafe.
But in terms of the Eichler spirit, the placement of the kitchen worked well, the open concept was a step in the right direction, and the blocky hanging shelf provided some good inspiration.
Before: Eichlers have many charms, but their original kitchens usually need updating. This kitchen was dark, and its only window looked out on the carport. Although the walls didn’t extend to the ceiling and the kitchen is somewhat open to the dining room, the flow between the rooms was awkward. It’s easy to see how having toddlers underfoot while cooking was unsafe.
But in terms of the Eichler spirit, the placement of the kitchen worked well, the open concept was a step in the right direction, and the blocky hanging shelf provided some good inspiration.
After: The dining area remained in the same space, but with the peninsula gone, it is now completely open to the kitchen. The accordion doors provide easier access to the backyard and fully open up the house to the outdoors. The couple already had the glass dining table and the midcentury modern chairs.
This view also provides a peek into the cozy den. That room was rebuilt to meet building code, but Blaine kept the original Eichler spirit alive by tracking down mahogany panels for the walls that were an exact match to the original paneling in the house. The room serves a guest room as well: It’s next to the new second bathroom, and the sofa pulls out to make a bed.
This view also provides a peek into the cozy den. That room was rebuilt to meet building code, but Blaine kept the original Eichler spirit alive by tracking down mahogany panels for the walls that were an exact match to the original paneling in the house. The room serves a guest room as well: It’s next to the new second bathroom, and the sofa pulls out to make a bed.
Before: The view from the dining room to the kitchen was uninspired.
After: Blaine turned the kitchen layout 90 degrees, with a central island dividing a cooking area, left, from a cleanup and prep area, right. The flow is much better and safer for the kids, and now that it looks out to the accordion doors on both ends, it feels light and open, even though it’s in the middle of the house.
Painting the blocky sections that bookend the kitchen space white prevents them from feeling oppressive, the way they did before.
Midcentury modern detail: Blaine set the baseboards flush with the walls, adding a small reveal in between.
Painting the blocky sections that bookend the kitchen space white prevents them from feeling oppressive, the way they did before.
Midcentury modern detail: Blaine set the baseboards flush with the walls, adding a small reveal in between.
Before: The original kitchen layout left little counter space for prep work close to the range. The original flooring was 9-by-9-inch vinyl composition tiles. “This was a great material because it wasn’t broken up by grout lines,” Blaine says. What wasn’t so great: It contained asbestos. She replaced it with 18-by-18-inch solid vinyl tiles that have a similar monolithic look.
Now the fridge and range are concentrated on one wall, and an island with a sink in it completes the work triangle. “This family cooks a lot — they have three ovens,” Blaine says. She placed the steam and convection ovens on the opposite wall because they don’t require the attention that the stovetop does during cooking. But otherwise this side is for prep and cleanup and contains its own sink (there are two in the island) and the dishwasher.
Midcentury modern detail:PH5 pendant lights over the island are another iconic midcentury modern touch. They were designed by Danish architect Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen. “The PH5 pendants in the kitchen were chosen for the period design, and the colors lend themselves perfectly with the walnut kitchen cabinets, and they have some green and blue accents,” says designer Pamela Lin. “These clients like color, and these are so fun.”
Learn more about iconic Danish modern designs
Midcentury modern detail:PH5 pendant lights over the island are another iconic midcentury modern touch. They were designed by Danish architect Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen. “The PH5 pendants in the kitchen were chosen for the period design, and the colors lend themselves perfectly with the walnut kitchen cabinets, and they have some green and blue accents,” says designer Pamela Lin. “These clients like color, and these are so fun.”
Learn more about iconic Danish modern designs
“This couple got really into the kitchen design and planned out the cabinets themselves. They even flew to Seattle to visit theKerf Design factory,” Blaine says. “They did a perfect job of balancing the walnut and white veneers. And one of the cool things about Kerf cabinetry is that everything is outfitted for specific uses.” This meant they planned out where the bar cabinets and shelves, cookware, utensils, and everything else that needed to be stored would go.
The blocky new cabinetry in the gutted kitchen has midcentury modern style that maintains the Eichler vibe. Simple finger pulls in lieu of hardware suit the style as well. “The cabinetry is very playful,” Blaine says.
There was extra space for ductwork and utilities like the gas line behind the range wall, which left room for an appliance garage. Although most of the cabinet doors are wood veneer, the appliance garage doors are glass that’s back-painted in white to match the backsplash behind the range. This gives the garage the look of a backsplash when the doors are closed.
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One side of the dining room is open to the living room.
Living Room Remix
Lin kept the home’s original era in mind when choosing the furnishings. “With all the beautiful mahogany walls, classic midcentury modern was the design concept for the living room. I wanted it to feel simple and effortless,” Lin says. The shelves came with the house and have midcentury modern style. The graphic prints on the pillows and rug have the era’s flair — some of the pillows are made from textiles designed by Charles and Ray Eames. And the molded plywood coffee table is also by the midcentury design team.
Browse sofas by style in the Houzz Shop
Lin kept the home’s original era in mind when choosing the furnishings. “With all the beautiful mahogany walls, classic midcentury modern was the design concept for the living room. I wanted it to feel simple and effortless,” Lin says. The shelves came with the house and have midcentury modern style. The graphic prints on the pillows and rug have the era’s flair — some of the pillows are made from textiles designed by Charles and Ray Eames. And the molded plywood coffee table is also by the midcentury design team.
Browse sofas by style in the Houzz Shop
A New Bathroom
Adding a second bathroom had a major impact on the way the family functions, and the room was designed with the kids in mind. A custom step stool fits under the vanity so that the kids can reach the sink. A wall-hung toilet and a wall-mounted faucet are space savers.
Shop for wall-mounted toilets on Houzz
Adding a second bathroom had a major impact on the way the family functions, and the room was designed with the kids in mind. A custom step stool fits under the vanity so that the kids can reach the sink. A wall-hung toilet and a wall-mounted faucet are space savers.
Shop for wall-mounted toilets on Houzz
After: Now there’s a more welcoming entrance to the house that includes the new front door, atrium, playroom, office and Nanawall entry to the kitchen. The other reconfigured spaces to note are the new second bathroom and the reconfigured laundry room, both at the top of the plan.
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Check out other stories about renovating Eichler homes
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More on Houzz
Check out other stories about renovating Eichler homes
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for home products
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: San Jose, California
Size: 1,825 square feet (170 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designers: Megan Blaine of Blaine Architects and Pamela Lin of Urbanism Designs
This young couple were unfamiliar with California developer Joseph Eichler’s homes, but they fell in love with one in San Jose, California. They bought it and decided to live in it for a while to assess their needs. And after they had two children, those needs changed dramatically. “They wanted to be able to adjust the house to suit their family long term while staying true to the house,” says architect Megan Blaine. They hired Blaine to bring a structurally unsound den addition up to code and to create space for a second bathroom and a small office. But as renovations tend to do, the project grew.
“They got really into Eichlers,” Blaine says. They used Houzz to research the style and find interior designer Pamela Lin, who specializes in Eichler homes and lives in one herself. Lin helped them with the finishes in the new bathroom, the lighting, the furniture and the fabrics, while Blaine tackled the architecture. The couple got so involved in designing the kitchen that they visited the Kerf Design factory in Seattle to see how the cabinets they considering were made.
The priorities of the project were to make the house safe and playful for the kids, to maintain the original midcentury modern Eichler style and to gain a few modest spaces that would ease family life and improve the entry experience. Blaine brought the original structure and the addition up to current building code; transformed the carport into an entry atrium, playroom and office; found space for a second full bathroom; reconfigured the laundry room and kitchen; and found a vinyl that resembled the original flooring. Although some foundation areas were added in the renovation, the footprint essentially stayed the same — all the new spaces fit beneath the original roofline. The usable square footage increased by a mere 325 square feet, yet it completely transformed the way the house functions for the family.
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