Publication Date: Friday, March 18, 2005
Clean, simple and 'charming'
Clean, simple and 'charming'
(March 18, 2005) Five homes delight in Mills College annual house tour
by Carol Blitzer
The lines of the one-story home, tucked away on a Crescent Park cul de sac, are low and clean. Designed in the early 1970s by William Wurster, a follower of Frank Lloyd Wright, the 1,600-square-foot house is a sharp contrast to the more traditional homes on this year's Charming Cottages of Palo Alto tour in mid April.
The exterior is gray stucco, the roof relatively flat, supporting solar panels. The front doors, located on the side, offer privacy through glass blocks.
The owner wanted more light and an illusion of more space without pushing out the walls, when she contacted Palo Alto architect Robert Peterson. His response: Tear down interior walls -- even in the master bathroom.
He began with the tiny kitchen, which was boxed in and boasted only one small window. By removing the walls and adding a bank of 8-foot-tall glass sliding doors, the space now opens to the back yard. The owner's response: "What a difference!"
Unhealthy asbestos tile was removed from the floor, throughout the house. The owner loved the exposed concrete underneath and had it finished to emphasize the cracks. The cracks even coordinate with the gray-and-white granite of the high kitchen counter.
Most of the counter tops are stainless steel, with a black granite backsplash behind the cook top. The owner considers this the only error because it creates a dark space. "I leave a light on 24/7," she said.
The new kitchen demanded modern appliances, including Gaggenau stove and cook top, Sub-Zero refrigerator and a built-in Miele espresso machine. A pair of Fisher & Paykel dishwasher drawers sit in the lower plastic laminate cabinets, flanking the stainless-steel sink. Brushed nickel pulls and faucets complete the modern look.
The biggest challenge in the living room was dealing with an off-center "tiny and brick" fireplace. Moving it to the middle of the wall would run about $30,000, the owner said, so she pursued alternative solutions. Soon she spotted a black granite and stainless-steel fireplace surround in a magazine and handed it off to Peterson. He took the idea and ran with it, creating an asymmetrical facade that ran closer to $15,000. "I do love my fireplace," the owner acknowledged.
Once the kitchen was opened up, Peterson was asked to take on the master bedroom and bath. Again, walls came down, this time creating a walk-through bathroom with no doors. The shower floor is slate, as are the surrounding walls. No shower curtain is required to protect spillover onto the plastic laminate cabinets and stainless-steel counter top. And if a little water splashes on the black toilet, no problem. The owner keeps the lid down.
Boxy closets were replaced with a wall of closet space, behind translucent glass doors. One wall is set at an angle: On one side is the bed, on the other is the shower.
To bring in even more light, skylights were added to the kitchen and master bathroom.
So far, the second bedroom is virtually untouched, just painted gray to blend with the rest of the house. In the future, a planned second-story addition will supply a third bedroom.
Before the house was built in the 1970s, it was part of a larger Pedro de Lemos-designed estate. Remnants still exist in brick walls, a gate and a barbecue with inlaid Mexican tiles. The owner inserted a more state-of-the-art grill into the de Lemos brick façade. "I like the old with the new," she said.
Landscape designer Nancy Favier brought in metal fencing that is corroding over time to blend with the bricks. Metal sculptures and a birdbath, along with a red canvas shade, highlight the outdoor room outside the kitchen.
"Every room has access to a courtyard," the owner said. "In this climate, who could ask for anything more?"
Other homes on the annual tour include:
** an updated 1927 Spanish-style house with coved ceilings and hardwood floors, a family room carved from an old laundry room, and both a lady's and a gentleman's study;
** a completely remodeled home with modern, yet warm kitchen, bonus room with a stone floor and master bedroom with a Juliet balcony;
** a home that balances tradition with today's living needs, with touches such as new wainscoting, custom molding and French doors, as well as contemporary square sinks in the master bath;
** a renovated 1950s ranch, with comfortable furnishings reflecting the owners' taste and collections. Even the master bedroom boasts collectibles and distressed cabinets.
The house tour is a fund-raiser for the Palo Alto Area Mills College Club, and proceeds benefit the students of Mills College.
Assistant editor Carol Blitzer can be reached at cblitzer@paweekly.com.
What: Charming Cottages of Palo Alto 2005 House Tour
When: Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Five houses in Palo Alto; to purchase tickets at the door, begin at 570 Chaucer St.
Cost: $25 before April 8 (send check payable to PAAMCC, c/o Bishop, 555 Laurel Ave., #211, San Mateo, CA 94401-4177; include SASE) or $30 at the door.
Info: (650) 325-2990
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