Information on home design, including new home design, remodeling, mid-century modern architecture, sesimic upgrades and other home improvements.

Designing Through the Unexpected: How AplosGroup Created an ADU to Call Home

When Wendy set out to build an addition on her property in San Rafael, she knew it would take the right architect to turn her vision into reality. She found that partner in AplosGroup’s Sharon Kovalsky — and the result is a space that feels both beautiful and ideally suited to her family’s needs. “I

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Smart Splurges: Where to Spend (and Where to Save) in a Major Home Remodel

You may have waited years to tackle an extensive home remodeling project. If you’ve decided now is the time, you may be feeling excited and cost-conscious. Every choice you make comes with a price tag and a trade-off. As an architect, I often work with clients who ask: “Where should we spend to get the

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Eichler vs. Alliance Homes: What Homeowners Need to Know Before Remodeling

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you may be familiar with Eichler homes and their close cousins, Alliance homes. Of the 10,600 homes Eichler designed, approximately 10,000 are in the Bay Area. Marin County warmly embraced the architect’s designs, buying and maintaining more than 1,700 homes in San Rafael, Mill Valley,

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Five Ideas for Cooling Your Mid-Century Modern Home

This post first ran in 2018. Summer is just around the corner, and while many of us are looking forward to lazy days by the pool with a good book (and lots of sunscreen), we’re also thinking about how we’re going to keep cool without breaking the bank or destroying the earth. Cooling

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Porcelain Countertops in the Kitchen: A Design-Savvy Material with Surprising Benefits (and a Few Tradeoffs)

Porcelain is no longer just for fine dinnerware. In recent years, it's made a stylish and highly functional entrance into kitchens as a countertop surface, especially among architects and designers seeking durability without sacrificing beauty. But is it the right material for every remodel? Here's what to consider Remodeling a kitchen can be an exciting

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A Beautiful Eichler Home Renewal: A Journey of Design and Transformation

All photography © Rob Martel, Rob Martel Photography  When it comes to making changes to a home, especially one with such a rich architectural history as an Eichler, every detail matters. For Roz and Ken, the project was more than just a remodeling project—it was a deep dive into preserving the beauty and spirit of the

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How Do I Know if My Home Has Lead Pipes and What Can I Do?

In October 2024, the U.S. government announced a harder push to remove lead pipes from all water delivery systems. As noted by The New York Times: “The new rule, issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, sets the most aggressive restrictions on lead in drinking water since federal standards were first set decades ago. Utilities will

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Does Your Home Qualify for an Earthquake Retrofit Grant?

Worried about earthquakes? If you live in California, the answer is probably a resounding "yes!" And there is good reason to be concerned. There is a greater than 99 percent chance that California will experience a quake of a magnitude 6.7 or greater. For reference, that was the size of the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which

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