Collaboration was at the heart of this major renovation in Kentfield, California, where Keith Kirley of Kirley Architects and Heather K. Bernstein of HKB Interior Design worked in perfect harmony. The result: a stunning fusion of timeless tradition and the ease of California living.

The home was designed for a young family who wanted a space that could grow with them. “They are family friends that I’ve known for years, but who were moving to our community, our youngest kids were in kindergarten together,” Keith explains. “They loved the community and neighborhood and wanted to create a home that had defined living spaces tailored to their family’s needs.” Heather adds, “They love to entertain but also needed the home to be highly functional for everyday family life. Their goal was to create a home that felt light, airy and welcoming and they were not afraid of color.”

Apart from aesthetics, the family had a few very specific requests: A closed-off kitchen, defined workspaces, and a covered, west-facing terrace to capitalize on the views of Mt. Tamalpais and grant the family year-round access to the California’s iconic indoor/outdoor lifestyle. A full gut renovation ensued. 

“As the architect, we developed the architectural style of the home as well as the extensive masterplan redevelopment and expansion of the home,” Keith explains. “The home was transformed from a simple, single story 1,200-square-foot ranch to a full two-story, 2,600-square-foot residence.  It was a complete transformation, both interior and out, with close collaboration with HKB on the interior design overhaul.”

Inside, Heather used an artful mix of materials. “The style of this home we were trying to achieve would be described as a light-filled blend of traditional comfort and modern California living, layered with texture, warmth, and effortless ease,” she says. “The project took about 18 months, and the client was thrilled with the results. They were so excited to see the vision fully come to life.”

For Keith, capitalizing on the location was the project’s greatest success. “The integration of the large open trellis leading to the backyard creates one of the most flexible and highly used spaces in the home,” he shares. “It’s a wonderful space to spend late summer evenings with a view out towards Mount Tamalpais.”

The result is a thoughtfully designed home that not only reflects the family but also celebrates the power of collaboration in creating spaces that truly feel like home.