There’s a certain appeal to a neighborhood that can tell a good story. When owners Caroline and Julie bought their house in 2012, they were drawn to it being part of the famed communities built by real estate developer Joseph Eichler. It was set at the intersection of two historic “berry” streets in San Rafael, California, where his penchant for clean corners were framed by not-too-distant rolling hills.

Before: Entryway

After: Entryway

“A few original homeowners are still in the neighborhood, alongside families with older kids, empty-nesters, and new influxes of young families who are drawn to living in such an idyllic environment,” says interior designer Diona Polito.

Kitchen: Before

Kitchen: After

By the time Polito was hired by the couple eight years later, they had established careers and two young children—but they also had a major problem. Lingering health issues made them dig into their walls for answers, and they found it in the form of pervasive mold. “Most of the homes in the neighborhood have been transformed since their original post-war construction,” Polito says. “Some have changed with additions, some show signs of dilapidation, but many have been preserved and enhanced. This issue was clearly a sign of age.”

The family moved out temporarily as clean-up was underway, and since they were already absent, the owners wondered if Polito would be interested in a renovation. “But the removal process was more extensive than they anticipated,” Polito says. Every inch of the house had been affected by mold, prompting all of the flooring to be removed and the slab to be fixed. The roof, windows, and many of the walls needed repairs, too—including the tongue-and-groove ceiling that’s typical of Eichler properties.

“Aside from the post-and-beams, kitchen pantry, and tall glass windows framed in bronze, there were no other redeeming architectural elements left in the home after the former owners did an upgrade in the ’80s,” Polito says. “The quality, or lack thereof, of that construction, paired with the age of the original build, led to the mold.”

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

Caroline and Julie understood the gravity of the situation—which was unfolding right at the start of a global pandemic as well—but they also saw an opportunity to construct a house that better suited their needs. They wanted a floor plan with much better flow—that ‘80s construction happened to chop it all up—which meant wider hallways and a brighter living space that embraced the original floor-to-ceiling windows. They were fine with condensing the size of the dining room to make for a bigger entryway, and sought to streamline the kitchen with more storage, prep space, and new appliances. Lastly, they asked for two offices and general upgrades to the three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Before: Bathroom

After: Bathroom

“When I was in design school many moons ago, I fell in love with midcentury architecture while studying all the greats. Then I moved to San Francisco to start my career and fell in love with their work even more,” Polito says. “The owners felt the same way, and the ultimate goal was to design with the intention to honor that era.”

Before: Bedroom

After: Bedroom

Given that much of Caroline and Julie’s budget had to go to those aforementioned big-ticket remedies, Polito had to be creative with the ways in which she achieved their wishlist. She designed custom storage lockers for each family member in the entryway, and swapped a peninsula for an island in the kitchen for extra seating to compensate for the smaller dining room. They couldn’t afford to move the plumbing in the kitchen, so Polito accommodated the sink’s existing spot with symmetrical walnut cabinets and sustainable appliances. “Japanese porcelain for the backsplash really grounded the space,” she says. “The geometric shape of the tile is also a reference point to the midcentury style of the original home.”

Before: Hallway

After: Hallway

"All of the closet doors in the hallway were custom built with matte-black hardware to match the black accents in the kitchen and living room area," Polito says." layout="" credit="Photo by Amy Bartlam" photoUserId=""/>

In the living area, Polito knocked out a wall to open it to the kitchen, and turned one guest bedroom into an office with another semi-private one leading to it. The midcentury details of the kitchen were mirrored in the bathrooms’ tiles and walnut details, and the enlarged hallway got custom closet doors with hardware to match those in the other common spaces. “Every light fixture selected throughout the home also plays into the ’50s and ’60s,” she notes. “It was important to carefully integrate elements that speak to this as an Eichler home, but also have function and flow.”

The renovation was completed last fall, and Polito feels that she fulfilled her personal objective to make this a safe and welcoming place for Caroline, Julie, and their two kids to return to. The house now tells a story of its own, in a neighborhood that’s full of them. “I think our patience and perseverance paid off,” Polito says.

More Before & After:

A Typical Suburban Home in Calgary Sloughs Off Its ’70s Hangover

A Spanish-Style Home in the Hollywood Hills Gets a Sunny California Makeover

Project Details:

Builder: EC Home Repair LLC, Elias Chavira; Fritz Building

Structural Engineer: Brian Spring Engineering

Waterproofing Contractor: Division 7

Interior Design: Diona Polito

Interior Stylist: Tracy Scollan

Cabinetry Design: Charlesworth Custom Cabinetry

Other: Artistic Stone; Helen Wen

Other: Abril Roofing; Rick Abril