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The new kitchen, part of the reconstructed extension, takes advantage of ample glass.

Schoolhouse Luna Cord pendant lights hang above the square island in the kitchen.

Lighting floods into the space during the day through many, many windows on the main floor. A Herman Miller Nelson Saucer Bubble pendant light above the dining table helps illuminate the room come nightfall.

Torontonians Dan and Diane Molenaar head north to Drag Lake when they need a weekend away from urban life—though they brought some of the city with them. The mirrored windows that circle the cottage were recycled from two office towers in Toronto.

A house in Greenmeadow, a Joseph Eichler development in Palo Alto.

Brick stairs lead to the entrance of the midcentury abode.

A close-up of the home's elegant wood siding.

Clean lines and a sleek black exterior welcome you to this North Highland Park hilltop home.

When Austin-based firm Matt Fajkus Architecture was tasked with renovating this classic midcentury home, they sought to open up the interior—not only by unifying the common areas into an open-plan layout, but also by literally raising the home's roof. This strategy increased the ceiling height on three sides of the home, allowing for the insertion of clerestory windows to create a bright and airy open living space. "The raised ceiling maintains the original pitched roof geometry to stay harmonious with the existing gabled roof in the private zone," explain the architects in a statement.

The high gable roofline is a hallmark of midcentury modern architecture.

The rear view of the home.

The Villacarillos freshened up the exterior with a sleek two-tone facelift. The wood siding is painted Sherwin-Williams Caviar, and the brick is painted Sherwin-Williams Pure White.

For the redesign, they recovered the exterior in stucco and painted it black for more consistency. “We wanted the exterior to really marry the lot in a way,” says Blake. “We wanted it to be unique, but to also really compliment all of the trees and open space.”

Architect Erling Berg introduced a playful circular motif at this corner, and it’s repeated inside the entry.

The designers introduced new Alaskan yellow cedar glulam beams for the updated roofline and windows by Pella. The front door is painted in Sherwin Williams "Rose Colored."