Hallway

A see-through entry hall joins the living areas with a bedroom wing.

The den was transformed into the children’s wing, with two bedrooms and a bath, and several lengthened windows to overlook the backyard. Exterior windows and doors are framed in oiled white oak.

The wall with the circular motif defines the entry and provides separation of the living spaces, but still allows sightlines from the front door to the backyard. It “really sets the tone for the house,” says Blake. And doubles as an excellent play area for the kids to chase each other around, adds Berg: “They can run for a mile and you still see them the whole time.”

Glass walkways allow family members to feel like they’re walking through a grove of olive trees while still being indoors.

Although the original layout largely made sense, the low ceilings and choppy spatial divisions inhibited cohesion and flow, according to homeowner Tamara Murray. “The biggest areas of the home that were not working were the segmented family, kitchen, and dining rooms,” she says. “We really wanted to be able to move seamlessly between the rooms.”

A view from the top of the main residence’s staircase reveals a serene internal courtyard situated between the garage and the home.

The "bridge-like link element" that connects the original structure to the new extension also sits between the street-facing garden and a linear pool tucked behind.

Custom millwork units are strategically located in every space—including hallways—to provide ample storage for the growing family.

In the bedroom hallway, a window is placed specifically in front of each door. “It’s like you have your own personal relationship with the window as you come through,” says Andrew Ashey, co-principal at AAmp Studio.

Ian Wrightson and Steven Stewart, working with architect Barbara Bailey, focused on bringing light and ventilation to both structures and made deft use of joinery to provide seating and storage.