2025 Home Tour

The Owners of the Slant House came to us with the request to design a new house for their growing family. They envisioned their new home as a minimalist modern, light and bright home that would be well-suited for casual, indoor/outdoor living and entertaining. They were also interested in incorporating creative details and accents.

The property presented several challenges, typical of urban/suburban developments on the peninsula. The small, narrow lot is heavily constrained by city zoning ordinances and design guidelines including setbacks, height limits, daylight planes, neighborhood context, scale, etc. Furthermore, the property is located in a FEMA designated flood zone requiring the first floor level to be located approximately 30” above grade. This reduced the available useable building height and compressed the daylight plane.

Working within the various constraints and the Owners’ design program, the house was conceived as a geometric sculptural composition of intersecting and overlapping simple, three- dimensional volumes and planes. Some of these volumes were carved out to reveal an inner layer of fenestration punctuated by stain grade wood siding, a warm complement to the smooth cement plaster finish.

A prominent feature of the exterior form is a two-story slanted volume on the driveway side of the home. The dynamic slanted volume evolved in response to the otherwise grounded orthogonal forms of the house and as an articulation of, and coordination with, the slope of the shed roof forms. On the interior, the slanted wall provides about a foot of additional, much appreciated elbow room in both second floor bathroom showers.

Central to the project design is an architectural axial feature wall, originally requested by the Owners as exposed concrete, but ultimately clad in porcelain tile for budget reasons. This feature wall was established to both separate the private and service spaces from the public spaces, as well as to define a circulation axis through the house. The living room is positioned to connect the interior living space to the outdoor living area and rear yard. The layout is strategically configured so there is no second floor space over the living room allowing for a 12 foot high ceiling with the incorporation of clerestory windows on two sides, filling the large living space with natural light.

This spectacular remodel blends luxury and lifestyle in every corner. With an infinity pool, jacuzzi, game areas, playground, home cinema, and seamless indoor-outdoor living, it is an entertainer’s paradise. Elegant finishes, tranquil views, and thoughtful amenities make this home a rare sanctuary designed for both relaxation and unforgettable moments.

Prepare to be amazed by this luxurious home remodel! Not only has it transformed the entire house, but it’s a haven for endless entertainment and activities. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the jacuzzi or infinity pool, challenge your friends to a game of jeu de boules or test your putting skills on the range. Plus, there’s a playground, a basketball court, and an ADU pool house for even more fun.

The backyard is a true oasis, complete with a tranquil waterfall and glass walls that open up to merge the indoor and outdoor living areas. This creates the perfect atmosphere for entertaining guests, hosting events, or just relaxing in your own private paradise. Whether you’re grilling up a feast for family and friends or enjoying a quiet evening under the stars, the outdoor experience at this luxury home is simply unmatched.

Inside, you’ll find a state-of-the-art home cinema, stunning views of the backyard, a grand library, and a unique play area. Whether you’re looking to cozy up with a book, lounge with a movie, or let the kids run wild in their own domain, this home has it all. With elegant finishes and top-of-the-line features throughout, this is no ordinary home – this is a dream come true. Come experience luxury living at its finest!

Blending the family’s South Indian heritage with California Spanish Colonial tradition, this home centers around a sacred pooja space and axial organization rooted in Vastu. Thoughtfully shaped by the site’s heritage oaks, the home offers a graceful procession through layered vestibules, courtyards, and richly detailed materials inspired by cultural memory.

This home is a deeply personal expression of cultural heritage, family identity, and site-responsive design. Blending the clients’ South Indian roots with the architectural language of California’s Spanish Colonial tradition, the home honors both memory and place. It is designed strictly according to Vastu Shastra principles, making it a rare and authentic example of this ancient spatial system adapted for contemporary American living. A central pooja (prayer) room—anchoring the main east-west axis—is the spiritual and symbolic heart of the home, immediately visible from the entry and carefully composed with built-in display shelving and storage, heirloom artwork, and space for a hand-drawn Rangoli on black stone slab.

The plan evolved around a narrow, oak-filled lot in the Menlo Oaks neighborhood in Menlo Park. Site constraints—including the preservation of mature heritage oaks—shaped the home’s layout and massing. While the clients initially envisioned a traditional courtyard house, tree protection requirements inspired an adaptive approach: a series of spatial thresholds, private tree-framed outdoor rooms, and an open air wrapping colonnade. The design echoes the elegance of California Spanish Colonial homes, with a formal, symmetrical street-facing façade that conceals a more relaxed, indoor-outdoor lifestyle in the back.

Material choices and detailing speak to layered cultural references and thoughtful reinterpretations. Decorative tilework—referencing Rangoli patterns—is placed throughout the house, offering each room a distinct identity while maintaining a cohesive palette of warm neutrals, oak woodwork, and soft plaster walls. The entry sequence is particularly ceremonial, with a gated vestibule and custom bench for removing shoes, echoing Indian domestic customs.

Inside, a series of archways, a curved stair banister, and paneled Chettinad-inspired doors bring historical Indian motifs into a modern context. Niches for oil lamps and brass artifacts are integrated into the architecture, creating opportunities for the family’s rich collections to live at the center of daily life. The kitchen, with a Calacatta Viola marble island and a tall arched window framing a protected oak, blends utility with grace. Custom cabinetry and spice storage—including gold mesh-front cabinets—and a subtly concealed hood reinforce the home’s highly tailored functionality.

The home is layered and formal in front, casual and sunlit in back. Tall ceilings with clerestory windows, French doors to a wrap-around porch, a shaded alcove for a jhoola (outdoor swing), and a courtyard-style patio off the dining room speak to a life lived in connection with nature. The design honors the spirit of traditional Indian homes—structured, ceremonial, and built to last—while embracing the climate, lifestyle, and craftsmanship of Northern California.

Custom Single Family Home and Junior ADU – New Construction, Menlo Park, California

Main House     2,974 Square feet.

JADU                  310 Square feet

A straightforward kitchen renovation was the initial intent for this project, but with further conversation with the client and coming to appreciate the dramatic views of the site, the project kept developing. We ultimately deconstructed the single-story house down to the subfloor, keeping the foundation intact, and reconstructed and expanded the house on the original footprint. A warm, inviting modern home maximized the views to the horse grazing field behind and the Santa Cruz mountains beyond.

While the house uses the original footprint, we organized the massing of the house to minimize its presence on the street. As you meander down the street, the total stepping up the house unfolds.

The interior organization of the house was designed with aging in place in mind. The primary suite is located on the main floor, flowing directly onto the rear yard and fire pit.