Architectural Digest: Home Tour
In This Bay Area Midcentury Home, a Wall-to-Wall Headboard Connects Two Queen Beds
Feldman Architecture and Alicia Cheung Design reimagine a 1960s classic with thoughtful proportions, layered textures, and an indoor-outdoor sensibility.
By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar
Photography by R. Brad Knipstein
Styled by Matador Studio
November 4, 2025
For many parents, finding a house is about more than curb appeal, it’s about logistics. The triangle of home, school, and work can make or break daily life, which is why one Bay Area couple was willing to overlook a few flaws in a Lafayette house that sat perfectly between their son’s school in Oakland and the wife’s job in Walnut Creek. The property had undeniable perks: a quiet, leafy neighborhood, a serene backyard shaded by a towering maple, and a creek. But the house, originally built in the 1960s, felt clunky thanks to a massive fireplace that obstructed views and odd layouts with far too many twists and turns. “It’s as if someone had made an addition without really thinking it through,” says the wife. To make matters worse, the electrical and plumbing systems were barely hanging on. The first step was clear: If this house was going to become truly theirs—wires, pipes, and all—it would need a complete revival.
In the kitchen, it’s golden hour every hour. Custom walnut veneer cabinetry by Precision Cabinets—accented with knobs and pulls from Emtek—warms the walls, while Taj Mahal quartzite counters, porcelain flooring, and Fireclay Tile’s Halite and Tempest Gloss tiles catch the light in all the right ways.
A project this ambitious called for a small army: Feldman Architecture handled the footprint and orientation, AD PRO Directory designerAlicia Cheung Design shaped the interiors, and Carlen & Co. brought the build to life, while Huettl Landscape Architecture took charge outside. The owners can’t quite remember what they told each firm at the outset, but one idea carried through: The home had to feel warm, comfortable, and interesting—but with a little tension in the mix. If the architecture leaned modern, the interiors would balance it with a lived-in, layered sensibility. Nothing too glossy, nothing too precious for a family with an on-the-go teen and two enormous dogs.
The dining room table is the couple’s own, while the vintage brass Ming chairs—refreshed in Stone Plume fabric by Rule of Three—are rare finds from Halsey Dean Gallery. A Molly Leith canvas animates the wall, while a Florian Schulz Double Onos 55 chandelier by Original in Berlin completes the elegant tableau.
The homeowners weren’t exactly in love with the midcentury floor plan, but they had no intentions of erasing its character. The goal was to keep the clean lines, natural materials, and balanced proportions—and rework the house for how a family actually lives today. The new design largely maintained the existing footprint, though Feldman Architecture expanded the great room into the backyard to create a larger living space with a deeper connection to the site. Now, a long wall of glass doors now spills directly into the garden, soaking up California’s year-round sunshine. That sense of effortless flow continues throughout the home. A sculptural stair draws the eye upward, threading light and movement throughout, while a second-story addition sits amid the leafy canopy.
Swathed in Pindler’s dreamy Fallon velvet, the living room feels like a cozy cocoon, able to welcome the light or shut the world out. A Monoscope chandelier from Allied Maker crowns the seating area, which includes a Daiki armchair by Minotti and a PREFACE sofa by Roche Bobois, layered with CASAMANCE’s Orphisme cushions and a checkered throw from CB2.
Once the walls were swapped for windows, arranging the furniture became a challenge. “We spent ages fine-tuning the furniture plan,” says Cheung, who experimented with multiple layouts and lighting schemes in collaboration with Tucci Lighting. The team finally landed on a sculptural curved sofa paired with flexible seating that can easily pivot—perfect for taking in the garden one moment and the TV the next. “The layout moves with the seasons,” she adds. “In December, for example, the furniture can shift so the holiday tree takes center stage.”
Drinks begin and end in the great room. “We love having family gatherings here,” says the wife. And with a bar like this, it’s easy to see why. Emblazoned in Verde Borgogna marble and outfitted with an Iron Abode shelving unit, it serves as a gleaming centerpiece, drawing the eye and balancing the millwork by Precision Cabinets.
Of course, Cheung, assisted by in-house designer Andie Nishita, put just as much thought into the other eleven months of the year, paying close attention to the flooring to give the home a grounded, earthy feel. She went with large-scale tile for the main floor and hardwood in the bedrooms. Then she layered in decor that brought in the color, pattern, and playful spirit of the 1970s—though credit for that visual direction, she insists, isn’t hers entirely. “They actually had a number of art and decor items passed down from generations before that were very 1970s and fit right in,” she shares. “There’s a sense of fun and personality in every room, while still being totally livable and comfortable—very much who they are.”
The couple requested two queen beds in the primary bedroom, so Cheung had Design Quest Custom create a wall-to-wall headboard to tie them together. She upholstered it in Pierre Frey’s Ankara and anchored the beds with deep blue Soho Home benches.
Speaking of who they are, a few unexpected design touches perfectly capture the owners’ full personalities. As Cheung puts it, “They were delightfully specific about what they loved.” In the primary bedroom, a fully upholstered custom headboard spans two side-by-side queen beds, complete with integrated reading lights, floating built-in nightstands, and hidden charging stations. It’s a dream setup for anyone who sleeps hot or shares with a chronic duvet thief. In the office, a bespoke desk cleverly conceals a computer tower and all its cords, with built-in intake and exhaust fans to keep everything cool. Together, these thoughtful details make the home unmistakably theirs—personal, practical, and full of character.
The wooden staircase is a sculptural curiosity highlighted by Bocci’s 21.11 Random luminaire. The combination of gentle lighting, crisp lines, and understated architectural touches makes for a calm, modern passage between floors.
Framed by leaves and light, the tub in the primary bath is a glowing centerpiece, with a tub filler from Waterworks’s Bond Solo series. Muted graphite walls, soft linen shades from Pindler, and patterned floors create a soothing rhythm, making the space feel like a secluded oasis. A Teak Stool from Serena & Lily adds a rustic touch.
The primary bathroom feels like a private retreat. A freestanding Musa tub by GRAFF rests on a warm wood platform, while lush greenery peeks in from an adjacent window. Blue Savoy marble walls and Ann Sacks’s Savoy Arrowhead mosaic tile underfoot enhance the serene, spa-like ambiance.
The primary bathroom is a brooding sanctuary where Moroccan zellige tiles from Da Vinci Marble, custom millwork by Precision Cabinets, and pearlescent Montreux Sconces from RH come together to create an elevated escape. A black vase, handmade in Spain by Canoa Lab, makes for a sculptural accent.
The office is anchored by Rejuvenation shelving and a custom walnut desk from Antonio’s Antiques, set against Divine Savages’s Safari Soiree wallpaper.Tchotchkes add character, while drapery from The Shade Store and STARK’s Missoni Forlini rug soften the space. The desk chair is the Serbelloni by Vico Magistretti.