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Pro Spotlight: A Guide to Creating a Timeless Modern Home
A San Francisco architect offers advice on building a livable home that will last for generations
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Who: John Lum
Where: San Francisco
In his own words: “We want to expand a house’s capabilities while creating a warm, modern environment that’s livable and enjoyable while staying within a budget.”
Humans aren’t perfect, so our homes don’t need to function as pristine museums, architect John Lum says. “Our spaces should give us a good structure to live in now and in the years to come,” says Lum, the principal of John Lum Architecture in San Francisco. “We like to help our clients curate their dreams while building in the ability for their families to grow and change.”
Where: San Francisco
In his own words: “We want to expand a house’s capabilities while creating a warm, modern environment that’s livable and enjoyable while staying within a budget.”
Humans aren’t perfect, so our homes don’t need to function as pristine museums, architect John Lum says. “Our spaces should give us a good structure to live in now and in the years to come,” says Lum, the principal of John Lum Architecture in San Francisco. “We like to help our clients curate their dreams while building in the ability for their families to grow and change.”
A lifelong passion. Lum says he wanted to be an architect from a young age. “I grew up in a house that was extremely messy, so I had to imagine order,” he says. “I love creating and imagining spaces; it’s extremely satisfying to see ideas realized and built. My inspiration includes early modernist architects; I love the simplicity and straightforwardness of their plans and their determination to minimize the extraneous.”
Warm modernism. Lum emphasizes simple design elements for a big impact. “Creating a home for our clients is a combination of rationality and intuition,” he says. “Our style and design are based on the concept that making the simplest of statements can create the most poetic environment.”
Keep reading for Lum’s tips for a functional, beautiful home that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Keep reading for Lum’s tips for a functional, beautiful home that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
1. Forgo Extra Space
If it’s not necessary to expand, don’t. “Envision leaving a legacy of the life lived in your home, rather than the house as a monument,” Lum says. “A smaller house reduces consumption and emphasizes each space serving a purpose.”
The owners of this contemporary home in Larkspur initially approached Lum to see if they should add square footage. “They dreamed of a modern design that would open onto their garden and pool terrace,” he says. “Our solution was to leave the footprint of the house, but rip off the entire roof and raise it to capture the southern sun. It also opened up a lovely bay view that was originally closed off.”
See more of this project
If it’s not necessary to expand, don’t. “Envision leaving a legacy of the life lived in your home, rather than the house as a monument,” Lum says. “A smaller house reduces consumption and emphasizes each space serving a purpose.”
The owners of this contemporary home in Larkspur initially approached Lum to see if they should add square footage. “They dreamed of a modern design that would open onto their garden and pool terrace,” he says. “Our solution was to leave the footprint of the house, but rip off the entire roof and raise it to capture the southern sun. It also opened up a lovely bay view that was originally closed off.”
See more of this project
2. Focus on Gathering
Lum believes purpose is more important than space in a home. “Outdated homes were designed in an era when Americans had different priorities,” he says. For example, “new structures that current inhabitants and the next generation find relevant focus on the kitchen as a gathering point. That sense of being together as a family in the kitchen and great room isn’t going to change.”
In the Hillsborough home seen here, a family with three children wanted to create a space to entertain friends and family comfortably. “The home is a contemporary take on a Craftsman-style home that encourages a warm family environment,” Lum says. “The great room has an attached large, open kitchen, breakfast nook, outdoor sitting room and kids’ study. The space will grow with the children and sustain the owners well into old age.”
See more of this project
Lum believes purpose is more important than space in a home. “Outdated homes were designed in an era when Americans had different priorities,” he says. For example, “new structures that current inhabitants and the next generation find relevant focus on the kitchen as a gathering point. That sense of being together as a family in the kitchen and great room isn’t going to change.”
In the Hillsborough home seen here, a family with three children wanted to create a space to entertain friends and family comfortably. “The home is a contemporary take on a Craftsman-style home that encourages a warm family environment,” Lum says. “The great room has an attached large, open kitchen, breakfast nook, outdoor sitting room and kids’ study. The space will grow with the children and sustain the owners well into old age.”
See more of this project
3. Bring In Natural Light
Often the most significant changes occur when you make simple, smart decisions about light and space. “Always allow in as much natural light as possible,” Lum says. “It provides a natural guide to help you progress through spaces and really changes your overall mind-set.”
The owner of the contemporary Menlo Park home seen here had lived there for 20 years. “It was dark, cold, gloomy and depressing, so we gutted the interior to create a free-flowing space with boundless light,” Lum says. “We built a dramatic skylit steel staircase that floods the house with natural light and guides guests from level to level.”
See more of this project
More: For more information on John Lum and examples of his work, visit John Lum Architecture’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Often the most significant changes occur when you make simple, smart decisions about light and space. “Always allow in as much natural light as possible,” Lum says. “It provides a natural guide to help you progress through spaces and really changes your overall mind-set.”
The owner of the contemporary Menlo Park home seen here had lived there for 20 years. “It was dark, cold, gloomy and depressing, so we gutted the interior to create a free-flowing space with boundless light,” Lum says. “We built a dramatic skylit steel staircase that floods the house with natural light and guides guests from level to level.”
See more of this project
More: For more information on John Lum and examples of his work, visit John Lum Architecture’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
John Lum Architecture is a boutique San Francisco-based architecture firm known for striking designs, innovative... Read More
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Review by Noz Design:
I've worked closely with Bret Walters at John Lum Architecture for the past 2+ years on what was effectively a new construction house in San Francisco, and while I'm thrilled for the client to have mo...More
John Lum's work is amazing, as are these homes. Wow!
John Lum is in my brain. I love what he did here ... and it just reinforces how much I love the choices I made when we remodeled 5 years ago. Serendipity!
I thank you everyday at sunrise!