Mill Valley Interior Renovation
Richardson Architects reversed the normal layout to maximize square footage of this contemporary family home in Mill Valley, California.
This family of five needed to find space in their existing house for four separate bedrooms. They tapped Heidi Richardson, Richardson Architects, to help them maximize the space and create a well-functioning floor plan to accommodate their busy lifestyle. In a reversal of the normal layout, the design team kept the three boys upstairs with a shared bath and communal area, very similar to a college dorm suite. Downstairs, the challenge was to get a Master Suite as well as a powder room in 260sf without the master bedroom appearing as an afterthought. High ceilings plus tall windows along with small closet space added up to success.
The rest of the main level was opened up, updated, and simplified in a black and white palette as a nod to the client’s Scandanavian roots. The overly large entry hall remained as a symbol of the age of the house and functions as storage/mudroom/music room. The galley-like kitchen opens to the family room which spills onto the porch for extra gathering space.
The result? Clearly a family house for contemporary lifestyle without a square inch of extraneous space.
Architecture: Richardson Architects
Photography: Jonathan Mitchell Photography
