A 1960s ranch house located in San Mateo, California, was thought to be a complete tear-down renovation by its owners. “The house lacked flooring, raising concerns about its “livability.’ Wallpaper covered every possible surface, and the bathrooms were original—complete with blue oval tubs and linoleum. Asbestos lurked in the tiles, and the electrical system was outdated knob and tube,” explained Feldman Architecture Owner and Managing Partner Steven Stept who acted as the project principal who oversaw the remodel.
In addition to the dated and unfinished attributes, the home also lacked insulation, making for incredibly hot summers and freezing cold winters. This was highlighted by the original and non-tempered windows. “The kitchen was closed off from the living room, the hallway felt cramped with its low ceiling, and the foyer was dark and awkwardly connected to the office,” Steven added.
“But there was so much to love about the home—the living room featured an elegant, vaulted ceiling and large windows overlooking a lush yard and an open space reserve,” wrote Sarah Yang of Sunset Magazine. “The owners, Katie and Kyle Morgenroth, saw its potential and loved that the home was unassuming, private, and surrounded by lush trees and native landscaping.”
According to Sunset, The goal was to create a home that is an oasis, a retreat from the clients’ busy lives. Katie and Kyle wanted the home to be fun and social, with plenty of space for play and entertaining, both indoors and outdoors. And since the couple has two young sons, functionality was important. Easy cleaning was a priority—they needed ample space for laundry and kitchen activities. In short, the home needed a flow that made doing household chores easier so there was more time for family time and relaxing.
Making sure the house was connected to the nature outside was important as well. “The house has a unique history—it was originally owned by the developers of our neighborhood,” says Katie, who is also well-versed in design thanks to her role as Head of Sustainable Design for Google Hardware. “Of all the lots they developed, this was the one they chose for themselves. While it lacks the valley views of some homes higher up the street, it offers incredible privacy and sweeping views of the nature preserve behind it. Tucked into the hillside, it’s protected from the wind, creating a special sense of place. We wanted to integrate the mature olive and oak trees surrounding the property into the design.”
Photo credit: Adam Rouse of Adam Rouse Photography.
