Backyard Designs & Ideas
![Beautiful Small Landscape](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/pictures/patios/beautiful-small-landscape-southview-design-img~f361144e0f161e7f_7546-1-8e81a35-w360-h360-b0-p0.jpg)
![Southview Design](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/2313b9da0f065717_9337-w32-h32-b0-p0--.jpg)
A paver patio (Anchor Afton, walnut color) to gives the homeowners the entertainment and dining space they wanted. The blended colors of the pavers pull together the colors of the roof shingles (brown) and the New York Bluestone (blue/gray). The smaller pattern of the pavers defines the space, inviting guests to sit. Plus, the plant bed between the wall and the patio gave the homeowners a space to plant seasonal color and an edible garden.
Find the right local pro for your project
![Los Altos New Residence](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/pictures/exteriors/los-altos-new-residence-klopf-architecture-img~b5c1310b0bc4cf66_0854-1-1eea009-w360-h360-b0-p0.jpg)
![Klopf Architecture](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/81733be708d328b7_2872-w32-h32-b0-p0--.jpg)
Klopf Architecture and Outer space Landscape Architects designed a new warm, modern, open, indoor-outdoor home in Los Altos, California. Inspired by mid-century modern homes but looking for something completely new and custom, the owners, a couple with two children, bought an older ranch style home with the intention of replacing it.
Created on a grid, the house is designed to be at rest with differentiated spaces for activities; living, playing, cooking, dining and a piano space. The low-sloping gable roof over the great room brings a grand feeling to the space. The clerestory windows at the high sloping roof make the grand space light and airy.
Upon entering the house, an open atrium entry in the middle of the house provides light and nature to the great room. The Heath tile wall at the back of the atrium blocks direct view of the rear yard from the entry door for privacy.
The bedrooms, bathrooms, play room and the sitting room are under flat wing-like roofs that balance on either side of the low sloping gable roof of the main space. Large sliding glass panels and pocketing glass doors foster openness to the front and back yards. In the front there is a fenced-in play space connected to the play room, creating an indoor-outdoor play space that could change in use over the years. The play room can also be closed off from the great room with a large pocketing door. In the rear, everything opens up to a deck overlooking a pool where the family can come together outdoors.
Wood siding travels from exterior to interior, accentuating the indoor-outdoor nature of the house. Where the exterior siding doesn’t come inside, a palette of white oak floors, white walls, walnut cabinetry, and dark window frames ties all the spaces together to create a uniform feeling and flow throughout the house. The custom cabinetry matches the minimal joinery of the rest of the house, a trim-less, minimal appearance. Wood siding was mitered in the corners, including where siding meets the interior drywall. Wall materials were held up off the floor with a minimal reveal. This tight detailing gives a sense of cleanliness to the house.
The garage door of the house is completely flush and of the same material as the garage wall, de-emphasizing the garage door and making the street presentation of the house kinder to the neighborhood.
The house is akin to a custom, modern-day Eichler home in many ways. Inspired by mid-century modern homes with today’s materials, approaches, standards, and technologies. The goals were to create an indoor-outdoor home that was energy-efficient, light and flexible for young children to grow. This 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom new house is located in Los Altos in the heart of the Silicon Valley.
Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, and Chuang-Ming Liu
Landscape Architect: Outer space Landscape Architects
Structural Engineer: ZFA Structural Engineers
Staging: Da Lusso Design
Photography ©2018 Mariko Reed
Location: Los Altos, CA
Year completed: 2017
![San Roque Get-a-Way](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/pictures/patios/san-roque-get-a-way-margie-grace-grace-design-associates-img~e3c1ff9501af6aab_0088-1-5e0b066-w360-h360-b0-p0.jpg)
![Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/d573753e0f4d204d_2504-w32-h32-b0-p0--.jpg)
Naturalist, hot tub with flagstone, Stone Fire Pit, adirondack chairs make a great outdoor living space.
Holly Lepere
![Thistle Hill Farm](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/pictures/exteriors/thistle-hill-farm-northworks-architects-planners-img~07117685009d1ffa_5342-1-af3bdb4-w360-h360-b0-p0.jpg)
![Northworks Architects + Planners](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/412371ce00632d8a_7470-w32-h32-b0-p0--.jpg)
Located upon a 200-acre farm of rolling terrain in western Wisconsin, this new, single-family sustainable residence implements today’s advanced technology within a historic farm setting. The arrangement of volumes, detailing of forms and selection of materials provide a weekend retreat that reflects the agrarian styles of the surrounding area. Open floor plans and expansive views allow a free-flowing living experience connected to the natural environment.
Backyard Designs & Ideas
![Blanco House](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/pictures/pools/blanco-house-larue-architects-img~2d0103620ec28474_3523-1-2e24a7e-w360-h360-b0-p0.jpg)
![LaRue Architects](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/2393cb530de558b7_3869-w32-h32-b1-p10--.jpg)
The glow of the lantern-like foyer sets the tone for this urban contemporary home. This open floor plan invites entertaining on the main floor, with only ceiling transitions defining the living, dining, kitchen, and breakfast rooms. With viewable outdoor living and pool, extensive use of glass makes it seamless from inside to out.
Published:
Western Art & Architecture, August/September 2012
Austin-San Antonio Urban HOME: February/March 2012 (Cover) - https://issuu.com/urbanhomeaustinsanantonio/docs/uh_febmar_2012
Photo Credit: Coles Hairston
1