A well-worn, midcentury modern home, originally designed by John Bolles (who went on to design Candlestick Park, among other notable buildings) was in need of a revitalization.

The goals were simple – modernize the house, open it up and give better access to the outdoors while giving the home a touch of Japanese feel, harkening back to the owner’s home country. The original kitchen was an odd L-shaped space and cut off from the rest of the house – making it part of the public spaces of the house was paramount. The rear deck was also oddly designed, as the only portion on the same level with the house was directly off the kitchen – the main deck was half a level down and there was no direct access from the living room. Resolving these issues was the crux of the design challenge.

The front of the house also needed some readjustment, as the primary bedroom and closet shared a large window, with a wall abutting one of the main mullions. A large bay was added, giving emphasis to the bedroom, while letting the newly-placed primary bathroom to take a secondary role.

Handcrafted wood details, an amorphous-shaped island with a hand-troweled concrete counter and a simplicity of detail throughout make this house comfortable yet modern. Custom designed soaking tubs, a tatami room and the clean wood details work together to give the house a modern, warm feel without feeling too over-designed.