The Carriage House

Author:Lindsey Shook

Verner Architects reconfigures a historic Tudor home in the Bay Area that once served a nearby estate

“Conceiving spaces is perhaps the quintessential skill of architects—the main reason we have some job security in this AI everything world—and a trait which has always come easily to me. It is like an additional multi-modal sense incorporating light, proportions and materials among other things. In custom residential, the process of spatial discovery and creation is further heightened by each unique client relationship and the shared language we develop together in conceiving their new home,” says Stephen Verner of Verner Architects about his firm’s approach to architectural projects that stretch across Northern California.

He along with designer KH Interiors, were hired by the clients to reconfigure a Tudor Revival (ca. 1904) that was originally built as the Carriage House for a nearby estate. The top three goals were to open up the layout, form a deeper connection to the outdoors and update the interiors to accommodate modern living while honoring the original characteristics. “The existing stair was the main challenge,” says Verner. “It was steep, narrow and located in the front of the living room. We guessed that this was a former hay or maintenance access hatch converted into something passing as a stair. Finding a new location for a stair to connect all three floors within the existing envelope of this historic home was the primary design challenge.”

The reorganization continued in the kitchen that originally faced the wrong way, creating for bad circulation. The team restructured the ceiling which allowed them to orient the space toward the garden. “This created a unified look and feel within the kitchen and seating area,” he notes. “The saturated color palette absorbs the abundant daylight and creates a counterpoint to the green gardens just outside.”

The finished result is an architectural gem that proves the old can feel new through thoughtful, appreciative design. When asked how the clients felt about their home Verner remarks, “They are thrilled by the results including the improvements to the livability of the home, with vastly improved daylight, views and circulation. The many design elements, hidden wet bar and thoughtful detailing add to their appreciation of the home.”