By Michael McCarthy By Michael McCarthy | February 3, 2025 | Home & Real Estate, Feature,
A young Los Altos couple with kids forges a fresh start by redesigning a treasured family home.
Blending indoor and outdoor spaces offers a boon to the family, especially for entertaining.
THE PROJECT
There’s a reason we adore the homes we experienced as children. They often hold cherished memories that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. For a Los Altos couple with two children under five, an opportunity to renovate a childhood home loomed large in their lives.
The wife grew up in the 3,200-square-foot house, where her parents planted a birch tree so she and the sapling could grow together. Today, the now-mature birch stands sentinel over two smaller trees planted by her and her husband to mark the births of their sons.
While the home boasted excellent bones and had undergone several renovations over the years, it felt boxy. It needed a complete renovation to open up rooms to light and functionality.
Natural light bathes a dining space accented with lighting from Visual Comfort.
THE TEAM
The couple selected Brownhouse Design (brownhousedesign.com) for the ambitious project. Founded by Julie Brown, the CEO and principal designer, the firm boasts an impressive and eclectic portfolio. It tailors its design concepts to each client’s needs.
“For this home, longevity quickly became a recurring theme, which inspired using sustainable, natural materials and ensuring durability,” says Brown. “We built this house for our client’s family now and for future generations. I design homes that stand the test of time physically and aesthetically. I want each project to stand on its own, allowing me to challenge myself and my team and create something perfect for our clients.”
The kitchen features white oak cabinets from The Village Collection and lighting from Urban Electric.
THE GOALS
Brown says the homeowners are a graphic designer and a stay-at-home dad, so it was critical to design spaces to inspire creativity and withstand the tumult of two rambunctious boys.
“They were looking for an open, bright home for their family’s history and needs. We designed [spaces] so every inch could be used year-round for friends and family gatherings,” says Brown, whose team removed walls to open up the kitchen, family, and dining rooms. The moves ushered in plenty of natural light into each area.
“We also built a roofed patio with fans and heaters, enabling the backyard to be enjoyed no matter the season, which was exciting for their sons—and their dogs,” says Brown. “The house was designed to be their forever home, and we planned for the future with curbless showers, wide hallways and lots of blocking in bed, bath and hallway walls to have accessibility features installed in the future.”
The room’s focal point is the fireplace and its surround, a mix of natural elements. “Rough-faced stone, polished black steel and soft walnut complement the outdoor landscape without repeating finishes,” says Brown, whose team custom-designed the surround. Her team added furniture from Arhaus (arhaus.com) and lighting from Visual Comfort (visualcomfort.com).
Designer Julie Brown of Brownhouse Design notes that the family is extremely well-organized, so storage and functionality are essential in every space. These built-ins sit adjacent to the couple’s primary suite, offering space for a mini-refrigerator, morning coffee and plenty of square footage for everyday essentials.
DINING ROOM
“The homeowners’ extended family lives nearby, so they frequently host family dinners,” says Brown. “We chose an extension table that can seat up to 14. The dining room flows into the living room to create a connected and casual environment.” Standout elements include lighting from Palecek (palecek.com) and tables and chairs from Arhaus.
Built-in cabinetry adds critical storage space to a guest bedroom.
KITCHEN
Browns says her clients are meticulous and organized, so she prioritized easily maintainable materials and abundant storage. She also splurged on Caesarstone (caesarstoneus.com) counters from Carmel Stone Imports (carmelimports.com) and an island topped with Calacatta Extra Borghini marble with a waterfall edge.
Other flourishes include fixtures from California Faucets (californiafaucetssupply.com), hardware from Belmont Hardware (belmonthardware.com), engineered rift and quartered white oak herringbone flooring from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors (wideplankflooring.com), white oak cabinets from The Village Collection (thevillagecollection.net) and lighting from Urban Electric (urbanelectric.com).
The Brownhouse Design team custom-designed the fireplace surround, which complements furniture from Arhaus and lighting from Visual Comfort.
PRIMARY SUITE
“Our clients needed a quiet, relaxing environment. Serenity was a must,” says Brown, who created extra space for the couple to practice yoga daily. The Brownhouse team incorporated a Whisper Leather pendant from Ngala Trading Co. (ngalatrading.com), furniture from Mario Bellini (bellini.it), wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries (phillipjeffries.com) and fixtures from Graff Plumbing (graff-designs.com).
For the primary suite’s gorgeous and spalike bath, Brown chose hex shower tile from New Ravenna (newravenna.com), fixtures from Perrin & Rowe (houseofrohl.com) and lighting from Sonneman (sonnemanlight.com).
A spalike bath graces the primary suite.
HOW THE HOME IS LIVING
“Our clients loving their home is our ultimate goal for any project, and we are overjoyed and grateful that the home surpassed their expectations functionally and aesthetically,” says Brown. “We hoped to build a home where many birch trees could be planted in the coming years.”
New Ravenna hex shower tiles with Perrin & Rowe fixtures add allure to the primary bath. photographed by AGNIESZKA JAKUBOWICZ
DESIGN DETAILS
Type
Single-family
Location
Los Altos
Millwork
Brownhouse Design
A gorgeous light fixture from Ngala Trading Company sets a quiet tone for the primary suite.
RESOURCES
Arhaus
Furniture, living room; tables and chairs, dining room
Belmont Hardware
Fixtures, kitchen
Caesarstone via Carmel Stone Imports
Counters, kitchen
caesarstoneus.com,carmelimports.com
California Faucets
Fixtures, kitchen
Carlisle Wide Plank Floors
Flooring, kitchen
Graff Plumbing
Fixtures, primary suite
Mario Bellini
Furniture, primary suite
New Ravenna
Tile, primary suite bath
Ngala Trading Co.
Lighting, primary suite
Palecek
Lighting, dining room
Perrin & Rowe
Fixtures, primary suite bath
Phillip Jeffries
Wallpaper, primary suite
Sonneman
Lighting, primary suite bath
The Village Collection
Cabinets, kitchen
Urban Electric
Lighting, kitchen
Visual Comfort
Lighting, living room
Photography by: AGNIESZKA JAKUBOWICZ