Klopf Architecture and Outer space Landscape Architects designed a new warm, modern, open, indoor-outdoor home in Los Altos, California. Inspired by mid-century modern homes but looking for something completely new and custom, the owners, a couple with two children, bought an older ranch style home with the intention of replacing it. Created on a grid, the house is designed to be at rest with differentiated spaces for activities; living, playing, cooking, dining and a piano space. The low-sloping gable roof over the great room brings a grand feeling to the space. The clerestory windows at the high sloping roof make the grand space light and airy. Upon entering the house, an open atrium entry in the middle of the house provides light and nature to the great room. The Heath tile wall at the back of the atrium blocks direct view of the rear yard from the entry door for privacy. The bedrooms, bathrooms, play room and the sitting room are under flat wing-like roofs that balance on either side of the low sloping gable roof of the main space. Large sliding glass panels and pocketing glass doors foster openness to the front and back yards. In the front there is a fenced-in play space connected to the play room, creating an indoor-outdoor play space that could change in use over the years. The play room can also be closed off from the great room with a large pocketing door. In the rear, everything opens up to a deck overlooking a pool where the family can come together outdoors. Wood siding travels from exterior to interior, accentuating the indoor-outdoor nature of the house. Where the exterior siding doesn’t come inside, a palette of white oak floors, white walls, walnut cabinetry, and dark window frames ties all the spaces together to create a uniform feeling and flow throughout the house. The custom cabinetry matches the minimal joinery of the rest of the house, a trim-less, minimal appearance. Wood siding was mitered in the corners, including where siding meets the interior drywall. Wall materials were held up off the floor with a minimal reveal. This tight detailing gives a sense of cleanliness to the house. The garage door of the house is completely flush and of the same material as the garage wall, de-emphasizing the garage door and making the street presentation of the house kinder to the neighborhood. The house is akin to a custom, modern-day Eichler home in many ways. Inspired by mid-century modern homes with today’s materials, approaches, standards, and technologies. The goals were to create an indoor-outdoor home that was energy-efficient, light and flexible for young children to grow. This 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom new house is located in Los Altos in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, and Chuang-Ming Liu 
Landscape Architect: Outer space Landscape Architects 
Structural Engineer: ZFA Structural Engineers 
Staging: Da Lusso Design 
Photography ©2018 Mariko Reed 
Location: Los Altos, CA
 Year completed: 2017

Liz Nemeth

John Woodcock Photography

In the shared kids’ bedroom, colorful accents from IKEA and Serena & Lily add a touch of whimsey. Framed Hermès scarves above the children’s beds double as graphic artwork.

The Solar System inspired toddler's room is filled with hand-painted and ceiling suspended planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and other exciting objects.

Julie Soefer

Photo by Alexandra DeFurio. Aidan is a 12-year-old girl who lives with her father half of the time. Her parents are divorced and her father wanted his daughter to be at home in his new bachelor house. He wanted her to feel “understood” and validated as a girl entering into her teen years. The room therefore is sophisticated, yet still young and innocent. It may have “grown up” attributes such as chic English paisley wallpaper by Osborne and Little and a sassy “Like Forever” poster, but it is still comfortable enough to hang out on the flokati rug or on the vintage revamped chair. Aidan was very involved in providing the design inspiration for the room. She had asked for a “beachy” feel and as design professionals know, what takes over in the creative process is the ideas evolve and many either are weeded out or enhanced. It was our job as designers to introduce to Aidan a world beyond Pottery Barn Kids. We incorporated her love of the ocean with a custom, mixed Benjamin Moore paint color in a beautiful turquoise blue. The turquoise color is echoed in the tufted buttons on the custom headboard and trim around the linen roman shades on the window. Aidan wanted a hangout room for her friends. We provided extra seating by adding a vintage revamped chair accessorized with a Jonathan Adler needle point “Love” pillow and a Moroccan pouf from Shabby chic. The desk from West Elm from their Parson’s collection expresses a grown up feel accompanied with the Saarinen Tulip chair. It’s easier for Aidan to do her homework when she feels organized and clutter free. Organization was a big factor is redesigning the room. We had to work around mementos that soon-to-be teenagers collect by the truckloads. A custom bulletin board above the desk is a great place to tack party invitations and notes from friends. Also, the small Moda dresser from Room and Board stores books, magazines and makeup stored in baskets from the Container Store. Aidan loves her room. It is bright and cheerful, yet cheeky and fun. It has a touch of sass and a “beachy” feel. This room will grow with her until she leaves for college and then comes back as a guest. Thanks to her father who wanted her to feel special, she is able to spend half her time in a room that reflects who she is.

Photography by Blackstone Studios Decorated by Lord Design Restoration by Arciform This room was designed for a teenage girl and it was a blast!

Алексей Довгань

How cool is this bonus room - turned - teen tech station & hangout? Our designers custom made the blackboard wall, and designed a computer workstation built-in, creating not only a functional room - but the coolest hangout!

Raleigh, Wake County NC Hurst Home Company

Tracy Simas

Having two young boys presents its own challenges, and when you have two of their best friends constantly visiting, you end up with four super active action heroes. This family wanted to dedicate a space for the boys to hangout. We took an ordinary basement and converted it into a playground heaven. A basketball hoop, climbing ropes, swinging chairs, rock climbing wall, and climbing bars, provide ample opportunity for the boys to let their energy out, and the built-in window seat is the perfect spot to catch a break. Tall built-in wardrobes and drawers beneath the window seat to provide plenty of storage for all the toys. You can guess where all the neighborhood kids come to hangout now ☺