The lovely owners of this bayfront residence approached me to improve their home, though unsure of what they were after. It became clear that the existing window and door placement did not take advantage of this unique location. The house is on the SF bay, within earshot of large numbers of migrating and local bird populations. Views of the bay from within were constricted, and access to the backyard was limited. Expansive views of the bay and City skyline were … Read More
An existing garage was stripped down to its wood framing in order to create a new Studio ADU in its place and location. A kitchen wing was added, complying with current setbacks. Before:
A family of four with growing boys needed additional rooms and did not want to leave the neighborhood. A second story was added to their corner lot house, linking up split levels. The ground floor living spaces were reconfigured for better flow opening up to a new kitchen at the rear. The new upstairs wing added two bedrooms and a bathroom. The new skylit stair was tucked in without an inch to spare. Before: Canivet Construction
Construction by Gordon Hirano of Shigoto Ya As retirement approached, a couple decided to add an office to their small cottage to maintain occupation, creativity and additional personal space. Before:
Located on a steep hillside near the Hayward fault, this residence consisted of four half levels which did not take advantage of the views. The remodel consisted of adding a centrally located skylit stair to vertically connect and unify the layers of the house. A new kitchen and great room were added, providing views and light, and to accommodate large family gatherings. A family room created at the bottom level could be used as an independent studio apartment by a … Read More
In order to add square footage to this historic one bedroom cottage while preserving its integrity, a tower was added at the rear giving onto a new deck. The tower built for a child’s room adds whimsy and preserves as much garden space as possible. Cement board siding provides a durable finish to match the house’s original painted board and batten siding, while reducing maintenance and providing fire resistive qualities. Salvaged and shop made windows play w/ scale and window … Read More
As two girls grew into their teenage years, their parents decided to give them full reign over the upper level while adding a new master bedroom suite below within steps of the garden and jacuzzi. The new bedroom and sitting area, complete with a full bathroom and walk-in closet, became their refuge. Before: Robert Cruz Construction