When homeowners Jonathan Halderman and Jackie Brooks wanted to renovate their dilapidated 1960s Quincy Jones-designed Eichler ranch, they called Curt Cline at Modern House Architects. In order to get the house they wanted, Cline would have to rebuild the home up from the slab work. The A-frame house was badly in need of repair, but Cline honored the original aesthetic, taking cues from other Quincy Jones homes and keeping the original floorplan intact. The plan was striking, its most notable feature being a large central atrium. For the remodel, Cline highlighted the floorplan’s open-air feel by replacing many of the walls with glass. He used flagpoling to achieve the large expanses of sheer glass, sinking 4-inch steel columns into the footing to support it.
The glass and the neutral grey tones that predominate on the exterior draw attention to the home’s structure. A grey palette with white accents heightens the contrast between the signature Eichler walls and posts. “The [Eichlers] that are done right,” Cline says, “remain delicate in appearance.” Inside the home, the white beams contrast with the natural wood ceiling. “That’s the magic of post and beam houses—it’s a shame when they try to hide the beams and try to blend the color of the beams and the ceiling together. It’s nice to see that range,” Cline says.
Stay tuned to see how Cline tackled landscaping this Eichler in drought-ridden California and get a glimpse at the most stunning home on the block.
