Eichler

Tiny Craftsman Bungalow Stays Tiny After Big Makeover

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Tiny Craftsman Bungalow Stays Tiny After Big Makeover

The 1920s Craftsman bungalow was 1,450 square feet when the family of three moved into the house. And after a significant remodel and another baby, it hasn’t grown a square foot. But with creativity and style, it works beautifully for this young family.

Kitchen - Tiny Craftsman Bungalow Stays Tiny After Big Makeover

The biggest change Jamey Graham and his wife Sharon Kojima made was converting a family room and laundry room that spanned the back of the house into a master bedroom on one side and a master bathroom and closet on the other. With a central hallway dividing the two spaces, plus a glass door leading to the back yard at the end, visitors walking in the front door can see clear through to the back yard. For a small house, the light at the end of the tunnel goes miles in making the bungalow feel larger.

Back Hall - Tiny Craftsman Bungalow Stays Tiny After Big Makeover

The only problem? “We violated Feng Shui” principles by being able to see through the house, Jamey said. But the couple installed a door to close off the master suite from the rest of the house — and keep the good spirits inside.

They installed hardwood floors into the two children’s rooms in the bedroom wing, and in the main living area, they tore down a wall that separated the kitchen from the dining and living rooms. Walk in, and you feel one big open, inviting, living, dining and kitchen space, plus a peek to the back yard. All were put together with quality and care by “Paradise Art and Garden” on Park Avenue in San Jose and J.P. Novotny Construction.

Front View - Tiny Craftsman Bungalow Stays Tiny After Big Makeover

The San Jose house was the smallest on the Hanchett Park Home tour in late May. But it made a big impact.

Julia - lookiloos.com

Related stories:
Watch the Favorite Spots Regaled at Hanchett Park Home Tour
More Hanchett Homes on the Tour
Front Porch, River Rock Sells this Craftsman Home
New Craftsman Home, Just the Right Size
Craftsman in Los Gatos

Here’s the complete slideshow:

Oakland Hills: Mid-Century Modern “Sky House” Restored

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Oakland Hills: Mid-Century Modern Sky House Restored

Maybe it’s because Bennett Hall grew up in a mid-century Eichler tract home. Or maybe it’s because his wife, Helen, immediately felt the feng shui of the house. Or maybe it was the view.

But within five minutes of setting eyes on this 1960 modern house perched on an Oakland hillside with a wall of windows overlooking the San Francisco Bay, the couple knew they had to have it.

Cantilevered from the hillside on steel beams and concrete pillars, the house reminded Bennett of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water house that is perched over a waterfall. The Oakland hills house also had the feeling of floating in air (and also had its own waterfall). The Halls called it “Sky House,” and began a faithful restoration.

Waterfall - Oakland Hills: Mid-Century Modern Sky House Restored

The house had been owned by the same family since it was built. They heard from neighbors it had been quite a party house, with music and laughter coming from the expansive deck. (Bennett found a full, unopened bottle of Crystal buried in the yard while relandscaping. One can only imagine how it got there. It will remain a mystery since the label rubbed off, leaving no proof of a date.)

One of the first projects for the Halls was restoring the huge waterfall next to the entrance. It had deteriorated into little more than a mud puddle against the house. Not only did it create a grand entrance from the outside, but it remained a focal point once inside the living room. With the waterfall to the left, the living room fireplace in the middle and the expansive deck to the right, the feng shui principle of water, fire and air lay before them in all its glory.

Fireplace - Oakland Hills: Mid-Century Modern Sky House Restored

The original owners seemed to understand this ethos and carried the Asian influence throughout the house. Shoji screens pull out from within the walls to separate the dining room from the kitchen. The Halls leave the screens open most of the time so they can see from the kitchen sink over the dining room table and out to the expansive view.

And what a view it is: on even a hazy day they can see the Golden Gate and the high rises of downtown San Francisco. They overlook Oakland and Berkeley below and off to San Mateo to the south and Mount Tamalpais to the north.

The couple has spent the last two years reworking the landscape. They repoured the concrete switchback ramp leading from the street to the front door, decorating it with interesting textures and lines, as well as pieces of “found art”.

Deck - Oakland Hills: Mid-Century Modern Sky House Restored

Bennett considers Sky House a piece of art in itself. They still have projects left to do and “we’d like to share the property as a way to preserve it.” The couple rents Sky House for special occasions and executive retreats.

Julia - lookiloos.com

You might also enjoy these stories:

Rose Garden Mid-Century Modern
Mid-Century Modern from California Ranch: A Town and Country Life
Los Altos Contemporary
Modern Cocktail Lounge Party

(Photos by Desiree Northend)

Here’s the complete slideshow:

Eichler Living = California Living

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

Eichler Living = California Living - Dining Room

This past week I was thrilled to photograph this wonderful Eichler home in Palo Alto. It is a mid-century modern designed to bring the outdoors right in to your living room, dining room, well every room.  This home has been completely remodeled.  The stone floor is gorgeous. 

Living Room - Eichler Living = California Living

The color variations of the floor have a warm tone.  Every light fixture has a unique modern flair.  The homeowners took their time in choosing every detail and it shows.  

Kitchen - Eichler Living = California Living

This house will be on the market soon. If your interested you can contact the realtor Karen Lemcke at 650.387.4856.

Oh and by the way, Sunset Magazine just named Palo Alto one of the top small cities to live in and it said Palo Alto is also eco-friendly as well.

Desiree - lookiloos.com

You might also enjoy these stories:
Rose Garden Mid-Century Modern
Mid-Century Modern from California Ranch: A Town and Country Life
Los Altos Contemporary
Modern Cocktail Lounge Party

Sonya Paz – Art Out of this World

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Sonya Paz - Art Out of this World - Issues: Blue StilettoSonya Paz - Art Out of this World - Sax in the City

With art pieces named "Sax in the City", "Issues:Blue Stiletto" and "Pouring it Out on the Green", this lookiloo knew that Sonya Paz was something special.  Her use of bright colors and shapes is what drew me in and has propelled her nationally as a leader in the new "pop art" movement.  A regular on the local art and wine festival circuit, one would be hard pressed in Santa Clara county to find someone who does not know Sonya Paz or has not seen her lively work.   With a cubist and modern art perspective, Sonya breathes life into everyday objects, from wine glasses to the Golden Gate Bridge adding a touch of whimsy and the unexpected into your home or office.

Sonya Paz - Art Out of this World - Watch
To push the unexpected even further, Sonya has also created a line of wearable art, so you can take her vibrant perspective with you wherever you go.   Last year her watches were part of the much coveted "VIP Goodie Bags" at the Academy Awards and Sundance Film Festivals. One could catch Samuel Jackson and Quentin Tarantino in one of her fashionable watches ($85.00), or buying ceramics and clocks.  In addition, she recently created pendants ($40.00) and silver jewelry ($55.00) that carry her images. 

Sonya Paz - Art Out of this World - Sami Pendant
According to Paz, "my art reflects my life", which is apparent in the range of her subjects.  For example, her love of her dog Sami has inspired her to get involved with animal charities.  Her art is often a fundraising vehicle for these local causes for example, she moved both art and animal lovers to become new donors to the Santa Clara County Humane Society at the recent "Fur Ball". 

This week Sonya and five other artists kick off a new exhibit this weekend, Cosmic Art of Robots and Space. With artists from California to Arizona, this eclectic group will highlight various pieces that were inspired by robots and the cosmos.   Sonya remarked that what sets this apart from other exhibits is that "you get to meet and talk with all the artists in one space" and that one can actually buy space age style art and add it immediately to their home collection.

Sonya Paz - Art Out of this World - Robots and Space
"I grew up in an Eichler home, and was inspired by that sense of style.  Some of the pieces available will be like Eames meets Herman Miller.  Come to the show and you can ‘atomically’ decorate your home,"  encourages Paz.  With artists including Christine Benjamin, Tracy Cox, Doug Horne, Paul Loughridge, Sonya Paz and Shaunna Peterson, the show is sure to be out of this world!

Opening reception:
Saturday, October 4, 2008, 5:00-9:00 p.m. 
Open to the public. This exhibit runs through October 17th.

Sheila - lookiloos.com
Sonya Paz Fine Art Gallery
1793 Lafayette Street, Suite 100 
Santa Clara, CA 95050

Photos courtesy of Sonya Paz.

Update:
Lookiloos featured in the San Jose Mercury News
This post is featured in the San Jose Mercury News Home and Garden section here.