san anselmo residence
Perched in the hills of Marin with views of Mt. Tamalpais, this San Anselmo home was one of the first projects completed under Maya Design Studio, the firm I co-founded with Heather Madden over a decade ago. Designed for a young couple with twins — a boy and a girl — and, later, their baby brother, this home was reimagined to evolve gracefully alongside their growing family.
While the original architecture leaned traditional, our shared vision was to create a home that felt like Marin — connected to the landscape, grounded in natural light, and effortlessly livable.
The remodel centered on movement and flow. By reversing the staircase, we completely transformed how the home opened up — allowing light to reach new areas and creating a more intuitive sense of circulation. We then flipped the kitchen, dining room, and guest suite, shifting the home’s balance and creating a plan that supported connection and ease.
The new kitchen now overlooks the patio, becoming a calm and functional heart of the home. The dining room, reimagined with double doors leading outdoors, invites natural light and easy entertaining, blurring the line between inside and out. A first-floor guest suite adds flexibility and quiet comfort for visiting family and friends.
Ten years later, this home continues to hold the spirit it was designed for — open, welcoming, and in harmony with its setting. A true reflection of how thoughtful design can nurture both growth and belonging.
Here, design becomes a form of restoration — a space that reflects not just how they live, but how they want to feel.
