Menlo Park Modern Farmhouse

Having toured one of our projects at a nearby open house, our clients asked us to maintain the glassy and open feel of that contemporary home but soften it using a “modern farmhouse” style.

Using a simple palette of warm yet durable materials including a standing seam Zincalume roof, cement fiber board and batten siding, and bronze colored aluminum windows, we developed a symmetrical “H” shaped plan with two side facing courtyards and a rear facing full width covered porch.

The two courtyards have the dual benefit of bringing more light into the house, while allowing for maximum utilization of the project’s floor area under the City’s strict caps. These spaces, plus the covered patio create a variety of outdoor rooms that do not count against the floor area ratio, effectively allowing this house to live much larger than its relatively small size.