At Amato, we’re used to having our architectural plans pass permitting with flying colors. But we never expected our work for other clients to inspire two local planners to hire us for their own home! Yet seeing our plans in the course of their municipal work — along with some glowing word-of-mouth — is exactly why our clients on 49th Street in Oakland’s Temescal District hired us to transform their one-story Craftsman into a modest two-story home for their young family. Retaining only one original bedroom and bath, we widened the entire house and remapped the first floor, removing a late-addition back bedroom to clear a path through the living room, dining room and kitchen directly to the backyard. We love to design for optimal flow through a home, and our clients love to entertain! The new design retained the vaulted, wood beam ceilings from the old back bedroom, creating continuity across a new, casual family space in the back, complete with kitchen table, piano and comfy lounge, all with direct access to the yard. It’s a great space for kids to hang out and eat while adults cook, dine and entertain nearby. The clients’ selection of warm wood window frames and locally crafted four-color Heath tiles make for an inviting space for all ages. A remodeled front porch extends the family’s social space into the neighborhood. They’ve reserved for their private space the new upstairs, complete with primary and children’s bedrooms and bath, as well as an under-counter laundry.
This whole-house remodel doubled the home’s square footage without radically changing the footprint. The setback of the second story roofline keeps the home in proportion with itself and its neighbors. Rain chains from roof to planters maintain the home’s lines, while decorative corbels on the underside of the roof add classic Arts and Crafts details. In fact, the project so faithfully respects the architectural style of the neighborhood that the Oakland Historical Society (OHS) honored the project for modeling the ideals they would like to see in other local redesigns. Who knows — perhaps one day, a member of OHS will hire Amato to remodel their own home! Nothing would delight us more.
Contractor: Sanchez Home Improvement, Corp.
Cabinetry: New Century Custom Cabinets
Photographer: Mo Saito
