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Similar to the exterior, the interior walls are cloaked with a crisp shade of white, complementing the original black-framed windows and dark hardwoods lining the floors.

In their query letter, Ben and Sarah were clear that they wanted a home that could accommodate all of life’s messes. “We don't want a white display kitchen that only looks good when it's clean and not in use. We want our kitchen to be able to work hard. We love to cook and when we do, there are usually lots of things on the go and a mess being made.”

A coat of white paint gave the stucco exterior a fresh look. And salvaged Spanish tiles from Santa Barbara were laid in the classic Spanish style to embrace the original vernacular of the home. Architectural elements like a copper chimney and gutters add an old world look to the house.

"The kitchen upgrades include the original clear fir cabinetry refitted with custom hardware, interior cabinet upgrades and under cabinet lights, stainless steel countertops with a built-in knife caddy that includes salt/pepper & olive oil services, cooking thermometer and cutting board, a dual stainless sink with dual Blanco faucets and filtered water, a Wolf gas stove with Ventahood and Sub Zero refrigerator."

Those hammers and saws built a home for the family’s chickens, watched over by Apolo among outdoor furniture by Richard Schultz.

The home of Primo Orpilla and Verda Alexander in Orinda, in the hills east of Berkeley, California has a corridor with full glass walls and flat, glass roof and plenty of rooms that let sunlight in from many angles.

Cheng-Reinganum House floor plans