Kensington Remodel

Nestled on a steep hillside overlooking the bay, this remodel transformed a rustic cabin into a light-filled home to accommodate a growing family.  The client, who had grown up in the house, wanted to preserve the feel of the original interior, with its exposed framing and knotty pine wall paneling, while opening up the kitchen, living room and dining room.  Glulam beams span the width of the house, supporting the exposed rafters, as well as an insulated roof above.  New decks on all three levels allow the family to follow the seasons as the mature buckeye tree blooms, and see the sunsets on the horizon.  The lower floor contains three bedrooms, a bath and den.  The upper floor contains the master bedroom, bath, walk-in closet and workspace.

The contractor, Paul Hansen, and his crew were able to preserve the original, wide redwood siding and integrate it with contrasting stucco finish on the addition.

Even with ample glass on the western facade, the new split system heat pump keeps the house comfortably cool in the summer. The addition and remodel included substantial structural improvements to give the family peace of mind that they are protected from seismic forces that could have been harsh on the original, lightly built cabin.