An Eichler Home is Reborn

Eichler

Text by Blaine + Marshall Architects.

After a young family lost out on offers for several Eichler homes, they decided to send letters to homeowners in an Eichler development expressing their interest. One day later, they received a response from an elderly woman planning to move closer to her son, and that’s how their Eichler renovation journey began.

Karina Marshall, the homeowner, was an aspiring designer, and this project helped launch her design career. Alongside her husband, she renovated the 1,400-square-foot mid-century modern home, paying special attention to restoring the original wood paneling. They even borrowed wood from closets to complete the kitchen restoration. Determined to learn as much as possible about Eichler homes, Karina visited the Special Collections library at UCLA, where she accessed original Eichler brochures, letters, and site plans to inspire her design choices.

Karina worked with her neighbor and friend, architect Megan Blaine, to tackle one of the project’s main challenges: adding a second bathroom within the home’s original footprint. The goal was to transform 42 square feet of the existing 144-square-foot primary bedroom into a luxurious ensuite bathroom without compromising the mid-century modern aesthetic designed by A. Quincy Jones. The resulting design featured a boutique hotel-like atmosphere, blending functionality and elegance.

To create a sense of luxury in the small, narrow bathroom, the team employed several clever design solutions. First, they installed a skylight that stretched the length of the bathroom, filling the space with natural light. Second, they blurred the lines between the bathroom, bedroom, and private patio by using glass doors and a peek-a-boo shower. These elements created a sense of openness and connection between the spaces, while also maintaining a sense of privacy. A black-on-black palette was used to ensure the plumbing fixtures blended in, making the bathroom feel sleek and unobtrusive.

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One standout feature of the design was an outdoor bathtub placed on the private patio, allowing the bathroom experience to extend beyond its small indoor space. This feature, along with the luxurious shower, gave the ensuite a distinct, resort-like feel, inspired by the homeowners’ love of international travel, particularly Bali’s eco-modern retreats.

The project, completed in 2018, was located in San Jose’s first Eichler neighborhood, built in 1953 and designed by A. Quincy Jones, a key partner of Joseph Eichler. This development was considered experimental at the time, with Eichler testing new floor plans and materials.

The success of the renovation marked the beginning of a creative partnership between Karina and Megan, leading to the formation of Blaine + Marshall Architects. After years of collaboration on various projects, they officially merged their studios in 2021, offering full architectural and interior design services. Their combined skills—Karina’s modern, sophisticated interior design sensibilities and Megan’s architectural expertise—allow them to create spaces that seamlessly blend interiors and exteriors, just as they did with this Eichler renovation.

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Photos by Jean Bai and Rina Movsisyan