Oakland, California, is a city of dichotomies—like the way its humming downtown borders laid-back Lake Merritt, a beloved spot to unwind. And just east of the lake, one home embodies these contrasts.

Interior designer Diana Blanco Taylor and her husband, Joshua, a product designer for start-ups, bought their over-100-year-old home in 2016. Diana believes the two-bedroom, one-bathroom home used to be a carriage house, and the land it sits on may have been an orchard. Today, a row of palm, eucalyptus, maple, and citrus trees frames a winding, red brick path that leads to the front porch. Set back from the street and shrouded by trees, the house gives the impression of an unexpected respite in an urban environment.

The family left the home untouched at first, observing how they used the space. Then, in 2019, Diana had an opportunity to work on new build projects for her family who lived in Costa Rica. They had planned to stay for a year and a half, but the pandemic hit and they ended up living there for almost five years. While in Costa Rica, they enlisted architect Sky Lanigan, who started on a 195-square-foot addition. The goal was a space that represented her family’s love for the unique and whimsical.

$16,440 Site Work	$16,400 Foundation	$57,950 Structural
$35,838 Wall Finishes	$8,500 Flooring	$5,800 Roofing/Gutters
$3,677 Hardware	$43,300 Electrical	$22,775 Plumbing
$19,600 HVAC Equipment	$15,000 Landscaping	$4,794 Kitchen/Bath Fixtures
$11,723 Lighting	$56,950 Cabinetry/Millwork	$12,500 Countertops
$18,569 Appliances	$37,800 Windows & Glazing	$18,100 Doors
$21,837 Tilework	$1,250 Metalwork	$24,833 Furnishings & Decor
$17,932 Permitting	$66,506 Contractor Fee	$73,400 Architect/Design Fee
$9,480 Demolition	$51,000 ADU Office	$28,000 Brick Driveway
Grand Total: $699,954

“ I don’t like making new stuff that looks old. I like creating interesting relationships between them,” says Lanigan. Jutting out from the traditional, lapped white siding are clay-colored cedar shingles that delineate a bump out. And encased inside is a new primary bedroom and en suite bathroom in what was formerly a garage, allowing their daughters their own bedrooms and a private retreat upstairs.

The pair wanted to distinguish the addition while retaining the original farmhouse and Victorian elements. This led them to the rustic shingles that clad the new space and serve as a visual contrast. Together, they experimented with different shapes and patterns. “We didn’t want to just stick a square thing on it. It felt like that would be a disservice to the house,” says Diana. Inspired by Costa Rican ocean views, Diana was drawn to round shingles, which reminded her of a mermaid’s tail. Lanigan, too, borrowed from the mythical, which fits in with the fairy-tale feel of the farmhouse. “I’m a big film person, and I love Miyazaki. I was thinking about this little thing on the front as a creature and the shingles as fur,” says Lanigan.

“ I’ve always really liked the idea of a dynamic awkwardness that can really bring life to a thing. If a thing is too perfect, it can feel very rigid.”
—Sky Lanigan, architect

Look closely and you’ll notice the pattern is intentionally inconsistent; small breaks mimic a texture that seems alive. “Whenever I have clients who are into doing something that has a little humor and fun to it, I always latch on to that,” says Lanigan. The porthole window even resembles an eye, and circular pier blocks look like feet.

“Something that we love is things that are a bit quirky. Differentiation is something that is worth spending more on,” says Diana. “We’re not trying to make an architectural statement. We’re trying to create a home for ourselves.”

Project Credits:

Architect of Record, Cabinetry Design: Sky Lanigan Studios / @skylaniganstudios

Builder: EcoLogic Construction & Design

Structural Engineer: St. Onge & Associates

Interior Design: Ordinary Home Studio

Architectural Metal Fabrication: Cjay Roughgarden

—

Head back to the March/April 2026 issue homepage

Also Appears In

Budget Breakdown: Mermaids and Miyazaki Inspired This $699K Fairy-Tale Bay Area Home