As a California native practicing in the Bay Area during the heyday of Eichler developments and Case Study Houses, modernist architect Wayne Littlejohn developed a style strongly influenced by the midcentury modern movement.

This hillside-embedded house completed in 1963 in Danville, California, bears the hallmarks of an Eichler—sweeping expanses of glass, deep cantilevered overhangs, and an embrace of indoor/outdoor living—yet it had fallen into disrepair by the time NMT financial discovered it last year.

Before: The Front Facade

After: The Front Facade

NMT Financial directed exterior paint selections and deck restoration." layout="" credit="Jean Bai / Konstrukt Photo" photoUserId=""/>

Fortunately, the damaged exterior and dismally dark 1970s interior didn’t scare away NMT Financial, who were captivated by the home wrapped around a massive oak tree embedded into the inner courtyard. Oakland-based See Arch was hired to restore the home’s modernist character while updating the dwelling to contemporary standards.

Before: The Deck

After: The Deck

“This home is an exception to the modernist mantra of form follows function and we wanted to celebrate the playfulness and dynamic quality of the layout by emphasizing its interconnectivity and indoor relationship to the outdoors,” the architects explain. “The public and private spaces, as well as the terraced separation of program, allude to a family-focused, treehouse way of life and references many concepts inherent to Loos’ Raumplan.”

Before: The Dining Room

After: The Dining Room

Littlejohn planned the 3,768-square-foot house as four terraced levels that climb up the hillside and embrace the landscape through large windows. Emphasizing the original architect’s approach to indoor/outdoor living was an important part of the renovation; the interior layout and elevations were preserved, as were other key modernist details, such as the central living room hearth.

Before: The Living Room

After: The Living Room

Many of the dated and damaged surfaces were replaced. Thermally broken folding walls of glass replaced many single-pane sliding doors to strengthen the indoor relationship to the landscape. The interiors instantly brightened once the design team swapped the distracting wood paneling for new sheetrock and wood trim.

Shop the Look

Before: The Entryway

After: The Entryway

In another nod to the midcentury roots of the property, the renovated 3,768-square-foot home was fitted with a mix of iconic midcentury furnishings from Herman Miller and the Eames design collection, and more contemporary offerings from the likes of CB2, West Elm, and All Modern.

Before: The Living Room Wall

After: The Living Room Wall

built by Greenport Designs lies across from the main entry wall and runs alongside the stairs." layout="" credit="Jean Bai / Konstrukt Photo" photoUserId=""/>

“The blend of contemporary and modernist features and use of wood built-in components are our favorite features of the project,” the architects said of the new mahogany wood millwork and custom wall paneling.

Before: The Kitchen

After: The Kitchen

“We designed many custom millwork moments into the home to weave styles, levels, and spaces together. The kitchen is at the center of the home and it's the focus of the home’s new millwork. Accent wood walls become an extension of the kitchen cabinets and extend radially to both the front and back of the home, connecting the entry to the dining, kitchen, and utility areas.”

Before: The Kitchen Backsplash

All the pictured elements were swapped out for new materials and appliances." layout="" credit="Jacob Allen Media" photoUserId=""/>

After: The Kitchen Backsplash

Before: The Bathroom

After: The Bathroom

Before: The Side Deck

After: The Side Deck

Before: The Exterior Fireplace

After: The Exterior Fireplace

The exterior fireplace wall was restored. NMT Financial selected a deep blue hue to match the repainted blue timber cladding." layout="" credit="Jean Bai / Konstrukt Photo" photoUserId=""/>

Related Reading: A Crumbling Home Is Revived Around a Massive Tree Trunk

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: See Arch. / @see.arch

Design Collaboration: NMT Financial, See Arch.

Millwork Fabrication: Greenport Designs

Staging/Interior Design: Visual Jill

Appears In

Before & After: A Midcentury Wrapped Around an Oak Tree Turns Over a New Leaf