Modern Maximalism

This Berkeley Hills residence began as a newly built spec home, but the owner wanted it to feel far more personal, layered, and distinctive. We replaced the interior doors with new designs from Antigua Doors in Danville, updated lighting throughout, reworked the kitchen hood, customized existing cabinetry, added a steam shower with quartzite, and introduced new furniture, wallpaper, textiles, and custom details throughout the house. The design was influenced by Kit Kemp’s fearless use of pattern and color, but interpreted through my own lens, balancing the home’s clean, modern architecture with a more tailored, masculine foundation and an unexpected sense of whimsy. Rich grasscloths, custom lampshades and headboards, bespoke millwork, and fabrics from Pierre Frey, Dedar, Manuel Canovas, Kravet, and Zak+Fox create a layered interior without competing with the expansive Berkeley Hills views. Several details were designed to connect the rooms in a playful way, including Urban Electric lighting, dining chairs upholstered in a pink Manuel Canovas ikat, and kitchen stools with individual animal motifs on their backs. In the main living space, a deep blue curved sectional and custom pillows bring color and softness to the otherwise restrained architecture, while the large sculptural tree frames the view without the need for drapery.