By the time Jessica Rae Sommer and Erin Costello—the creative director and senior designer at Maverick Design, a Redondo Beach–based firm—set foot in this 1962 Eichler in Orange, California, they were happy to see that it had retained many of its signature features, including the interior atrium, exposed post-and-beam system, and vaulted ceilings in the living room.

This was despite the work of previous homeowners’ remodels. The design team looked past old carpet, outdated cabinetry, and a non-permitted rear addition to start planning how to bring the Eichler back to life. “This iconic, mid-century Eichler was love at first sight for our team,” say Sommer and Costello. “We immediately became inspired with plans for enhancing the open spaces and focusing on emphasizing the home’s distinctive connection to the outdoors.”

Before: Front Façade

After: Front Façade

“Unlike many of these classic midcentury homes that remain a time capsule of the original design, this home has been modified many times over the years by prior homeowners,” says the design team at Maverick. As the design arm of the parent company of Wedgewood, a residential development company, the firm specializes in readying iconic homes for buyers across price points.

For this Eichler remodel, the objective was to respect the original bones with more thoughtful updates than what had come before. “Our goal was to design a beautiful mix of finishes that respected the timeless design intention of Eichler homes,” say Sommer and Costello. “Rather than focus purely on historical renovation, we wanted to update the finishes and layout to ensure it lives on for the next generation.”

Before: Atrium

After: Atrium

The 1,660-square-foot home has four bedrooms and two baths. The design team made minor changes to the floor plan, including opening up the wall between the living room and kitchen, expanding the footprint of the kitchen, and removing a non-permitted addition off the master bedroom. Attention was poured into finishes and furnishings that feel current and well-balanced. “To balance the iconic Eichler ceilings, we selected flooring as our main application for bold design choices,” say Sommer and Costello.

Before: Living Room

After: Living and Dining Room

One challenge to renovating Eichlers, with their post-and-beam construction and dramatic ceilings, is modifying ceiling lights or HVAC systems, say the designers. For that reason, “We used as many original lighting locations as possible and added wall sconces throughout as needed,” say Sommer and Costello.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

Before: Guest Bath

After: Guest Bath

Before: Master Bedroom

After: Master Bedroom

Before: Master Bathroom

After: Master Bathroom

Before: Back Living Space

After: Back Living Space

A key decision in the remodel was the elimination of the illegal rear addition. By removing it, the designers created more outdoor hangout spaces and restored the Eichler to its intended form. “Our challenge was to revive the essence of the original home while reimagining it with our own design sensibilities,” say Sommer and Costello.

Before: Backyard

After: Backyard

Related Reading:

16 Renovated Eichlers That Epitomize Midcentury California Cool

Before & After: An Architect Couple Expand a Coveted Eichler For a Growing Family

Project Credits:

Builder: Avatar Property Services

Landscape Design Company: Corona Tree & Yard

Interior Design: Maverick Design (@maverick_design)

Cabinetry Design: Gilbert Sojo

Other Company: Wedgewood Investments

Photography: Mol Goodman

Appears In

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