On the Boards – From Caterpillar to Butterfly
Our clients, a family of four, were living in an uninspiring mid-century row house that wasn’t working for their needs as a family. The existing layout presents a series of challenges: small bedrooms, a confined living room, and an absence of a dedicated office space for dad, who worked from home, all of which created a sense of claustrophobia. On top of that, the house doesn’t take advantage of the surrounding views.
With this renovation we want to breathe new life into the space – we know the house has potential even if it’s being masked by its cramped and outdated interior. So we put together a plan for the home featuring an expansion and reconfiguration, focusing on maximizing space, light, and connection.
Our first step was a thoughtful remodel of the lower level to include two updated bedrooms for the kids. This level will connect to the rest of the house with an open floating stair, allowing light and space to cascade through the entire house.
On the main level, we’ve gotten rid of the compartmentalized layout that previously included bedrooms to create an open, light-filled space with an updated kitchen in the rear of the floor. With these changes, this part of the house will become a place for family time and entertainment. We’ll finish the redesign with a floating bridge over the lightwell that illuminated the lower bedrooms, providing access to the yard from the kitchen.
The last piece of this renovation is a third floor vertical addition. This expansion, crowned by a new soaring butterfly roof, features a dedicated home office with access to a new deck to take advantage of the surrounding views, and a master suite at the rear of the house. Lastly, we’ve created an open courtyard at the center of the third floor, which helps us meet Bernal Heights’ mass reduction requirements.
To finish off this project, a complete facade remodel will breathe new life into the home’s exterior.
The result creates a brand new space that works for the specific needs of our clients and shows how thoughtful design can transform a cramped row house into a bright, spacious family home!