Designed by HKB Interior Design, this renovation reimagines a 1970s split-level home in Kentfield for a couple with teenagers at home. With a vision that emphasized both sophistication and comfort, the team introduced a monochromatic palette and bespoke furnishings that bring cohesion and a sense of ease to spaces meant for entertaining. The transformation was beautifully documented by photographer Stephanie Russo.
From HKB Interior Design…We had to come up with a way to modernize a 1970s-era, split-level home situated on a steep hillside with a chopped-up layout to capitalize on the views while maintaining warmth and intimacy. While the clients had already renovated the private spaces of the 3,700-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom home, it took a number of years before they felt ready to tackle the main area. Located downstairs from the primary entrance, the living room, dining room and family room were all separate, and the kitchen was dated and buried into the center of the floor plan.
Our first task was to remove the dividing walls — a feat that required structural modifications due to the unique architecture of the home. We also reprogrammed the kitchen, including removing an awkward pass-through window, to better connect it to the other spaces on the main floor and reveal the views through the dining room’s newly enlarged floor-to-ceiling windows. A new island features a distinctive one-quarter waterfall design crafted with Calacatta marble, which is also used for the countertops and backsplash in the kitchen and adjacent bar, as well as for cladding the range hood. Clever storage solutions abound inside the new custom rift-sawn white oak cabinets built by Gary Arrigo of Design Line Cabinetry, including a push-latch niche next to the Wolf range; a large walk-in pantry; and a dumbwaiter that descends to the garage on a lower level — one of the home’s original features that the owners wanted to preserve. Unassuming flush mount lighting above the island illuminates the workspace without detracting from the views. The kitchen looks sleek, but it’s also very functional.
The family room also received an upgrade. The focal point is now the fireplace, which was relocated from the far corner to the center of the room, wrapped in limestone and flanked by two floating benches — another structural feat — and large windows. Furnishings include custom sectionals with dual chaises that are designed to be visually appealing from all angles in the newly opened space and custom coffee tables.
The windows were also enlarged in the living room, where Bernstein softened the hard angles of the architecture and honed travertine-clad fireplace with rounded furnishings, including a curved custom sofa, bubbly Design Within Reach chairs, sinuous Souda fiberglass-reinforced concrete side table, custom cylindrical ebonized wood side table and recycled copper OHLA Studio floor lamp.
One of the biggest challenges to renovating the space arose when the team uncovered a giant boulder at the base of the stairwell buried beneath a stone planter added by a previous owner. Unable to remove the rock, which was part of the original architecture, they came up with a creative solution. We essentially worked around it by creating a built-in reading nook over the rock and manipulating the stairs. Now, the cozy, sunny sunlit space is one of the owners’ favorite spots in the home.
Discover the talent behind the story… Interior Design: HKB Interior Design · Photography: Stephanie Russo · General Contractor: Dan Gillies Construction · Architect: Kirley Architects
