Midcentury Home updated for multi-generational living

Built by postwar developer Joseph Eichler, the homes are desirable for many of the features that appealed to families in the 1950s and ’60s, including their modern style, indoor-outdoor flow, and large expanses of glass. But other common aspects of homes, including poor energy efficiency, enclosed kitchens and small square footage, aren’t exactly conducive to modern, multigenerational living.

So after a family with a young daughter and twins on the way bought one such home in Palo Alto, California, they set out to upgrade the home’s function and finish and add a grandparent’s suite. The homeowners hired Klopf Architecture, known for their sensitive Eichler remodels, to handle the job—and to ensure that the home’s architectural integrity and distinctive character were preserved in the process.