The owners purchased a two-story five bedroom home with large lot in the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood of Orinda. They wanted to work within a budget, so the strategy was to keep as many existing walls in-place as possible. A new larger entry and cool open stair was also on their wish list, and were willing to give up a bedroom space to achieve this goal. All rooms were cleaned up and simplified to better express their function, and awkward level changes were gracefully incorporated into the design. The living and dining rooms, previously separated by a wall were visually joined with new openings between the two and a new gas fireplace with pre-cast concrete fascia was added. All new windows were installed in mostly existing openings and the new enlarged kitchen features a peninsula bar, built-in breakfast banquette with concrete-topped table and new walnut cabinets. Outdoors a new landscape scheme with concrete steps welcomes you and pavers take you to the front door past a monolithic concrete fountain. The backyard pool was maintained with new retaining walls, hillside steps and wood deck play area around an existing oak tree.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: DCI Dettaglio Construction
LANDSCAPING: Shades of Green
PHOTOGRAPHY: Paul Dyer