Houzz Tour: Upping the Sophistication in a Charming Tudor

Few homeowners would willingly sacrifice a bedroom, but since the woman who owns this Tudor cottage in Palo Alto, California, a) lives by herself and b) has future plans for a second-story master bedroom suite, she took the plunge. Architect Kathleen Bost implemented the first phase of the remodel, replacing a bedroom with a living and entertaining area that opens to the backyard and the kitchen.

“From a real estate perspective, moving from a three-bedroom to a two-bedroom home might seem like a mistake,” says Bost. “But my client sees this as her long-term home and has no intention of selling the house anytime soon. Plus, we plan to build the master suite, so it will be a three-bedroom again someday.” With that in mind, the architect set out to give her client, the founder of a successful investment management company, a home that suits her in the here and now.

The exterior was not changed during the remodel. “One of the main goals was to preserve the charm of this home,” says Bost.

BEFORE:

The home originally was divided into small rooms that felt dark. A narrow corridor and a bedroom were behind this wall.

AFTER: The walls that blocked views of a lovely backyard from the living room were removed, and the hall and bedroom were combined to create a family room (you can glimpse it here behind the fireplace). Now the living room has much more natural light.

“We chose dark floors and light-colored walls for drama,” says Bost. A bench doesn’t obstruct views of the fireplace but does provide seating for guests. This is where the owner entertains.

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Houzz Tour: Upping the Sophistication in a Charming Tudor