Los Altos Interior Renovation and Addition
This Los Altos home began as a heavily compartmentalized, dated house with low ceilings and a layout that no longer supported the way the homeowners lived. Rather than starting over, the owners chose to reimagine the home through a complete interior renovation and a carefully integrated addition. The goal was to open the house, elevate the quality of space, and create a warm, refined home that felt both modern and timeless.
Client
Guist Residence
Year
2019
The Challenge
The existing structure was burdened by layers of walls, low ceiling heights, and a cluttered spatial organization. Natural light was limited, circulation was inefficient, and the home lacked cohesion. The renovation needed to transform the experience of the house without losing its character, while accommodating a modest addition that required design clearance in Los Altos.
Key priorities included
Removing interior walls to create open, connected spaces
Restructuring volumes to support vaulted ceilings
Introducing white oak flooring and exposed wood box beams for warmth and texture
Designing a refined, functional kitchen as the heart of the home
Navigating Los Altos design clearance for the addition component efficiently
The Approach
The design focused on redefining the home from the inside out. Strategic wall removal allowed the primary living spaces to open up, improving sightlines, circulation, and access to natural light. By restructuring ceiling volumes, the design introduced vaulted ceilings that dramatically changed the scale and feeling of the interior.
Material choices were intentional and restrained. White oak floors and matching wood box beams unify the spaces and bring a quiet richness to the home. The kitchen was designed as a focal point, balancing clean lines with natural materials to support both everyday use and entertaining.
The addition was designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing structure, maintaining proportion and continuity while expanding the home’s functionality.
Los Altos Design Clearance and Permitting
The addition component required design clearance in Los Altos, though the process was relatively straightforward due to the project’s scale and thoughtful integration. Clear documentation and early coordination with the city helped the project move efficiently through approvals and into building permits without unnecessary revisions.
This allowed the focus to remain on design quality and execution rather than procedural complexity.
The Result
The completed home is dramatically transformed from its original state. What was once dark and cluttered is now open, light-filled, and cohesive. Vaulted ceilings and wood box beams create a sense of volume and calm, while white oak floors add warmth and continuity throughout.
The kitchen anchors the home, connecting living spaces and supporting daily life with ease. The addition feels fully integrated, both spatially and architecturally. The owners are thrilled with the outcome and remain in touch to this day, a reflection of the trust built throughout the process.
Opening the house and reworking ceiling volumes completely changed how the home feels and functions, without losing its sense of warmth or character
Designing Homes That Work in Los Altos
Prestin Ravid Architects designs interior renovations, additions, and new homes throughout Los Altos and the greater South Bay and Peninsula. Our work emphasizes clarity, material integrity, and a deep understanding of local design and permitting processes.