House Call: A Colorful Palo Alto Eichler

Ascending the hill that leads to Ben and Florie Hutchinson’s house, a teal Dutch door comes into view, hinting at what is on the other side: a riot of colors, not to mention patterns and textures galore. For the recent renovation of their 1970s residence—built by noted midcentury developer Joseph Eichler—the couple enlisted architect Gustave Carlson and interior designer Jessica Davis. Design decisions throughout were often driven by the homeowners’ vibrant and extensive art collection, as well as a sense of playfulness that comes with having four young daughters.

“I feel like anything attached to the architectural shell should, for the most part, speak to the architecture,” says Atlanta-based Jessica, the founder of design firm Atelier Davis and hardware brand Nest Studio.

“But I think it’s then fun to insert furniture, art and accessories that can be from a totally different period or style.” Hence, the living room—anchored by the Hutchinsons’ George Smith sofas, upholstered in plaid—includes a Stahl + Band cocktail table, a BZIPPY side table between Gareth Neal’s Ease chairs for Amura, a custom rug by Atelier Davis and pink poufs from Etsy seller KNOTSstudio.

Jessica likens the dining room chandelier to a “light mobile,” adding that it is “a perfect example of when a design conundrum or challenge creates an opportunity for something more interesting than originally.”

The beam that bisects the space prevented the installation of a traditional fixture. So she worked with Schneid Studio on a custom iteration of its Junit pendants. “I like that the dining room feels intimate because the chandelier hangs down low, but you can still see outside,” says Jessica. Caragh Thuring’s “Check Side” painting, Bruno Rey chairs by Dietiker and a Luteca table complete the space.

According to Gustave, the homeowners were so fond of Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue, “we pulled that color through the whole house,” including in the kitchen (it also appears in the mudroom and a powder room). Ben chose a yellow BlueStar oven that draws on the colors in the terrazzo flooring as well as the artwork in the room (Laeh Glenn’s “Night Birds” hangs to the left of the Sub-Zero refrigerator). Since Florie desired an organic feel for the kitchen—especially with the herb garden right outside—walnut slab countertops were incorporated. The chairs are from CB2 and the pendants by Schneid Studio (via Stillfried Wien). 

On both sides as well as the ends of the 21-foot corridor in the “girls’ wing”—as Gustave calls the part of the house that contains the daughters’ bedrooms—Mariel Capanna was commissioned for a fresco. The artist stayed with the Hutchinsons on three separate occasions. “Her practice is so site-responsive that she wanted to get to know us, our rhythms, surroundings, environment, cadence of life first-hand,” says Florie. The mural depicts everyday and special moments alike, from strawberries grown in the garden to birthday cupcakes made by her daughters. “The fresco defines our home,” she continues. “It is deeply personal, unimpeachably joyful.”

“They had this vision of trying to create equal rooms,” recalls Gustave of Florie and Ben’s approach to the two bedrooms shared by their four girls. “Everything needed to be equal—size, two desks, two beds, two closets. Each child would receive the same.” In the older daughters’ quarters—which features a Schumacher wallpaper with a butterfly motif—a Made Goods table separates Crate & Barrel beds, with Akira Ikezoe’s “Untitled 104” above one of them. Ethnicraft desks and Big Game chairs are  situated along the opposite wall. A gated, private courtyard with a Western red cedar floating bench offers an alfresco play area that is “an extension of the bedroom,” says Gustave. (Replacing windows with doors on this side of the house brings in much more natural light.)

Design-wise, says Jessica, the parents “wanted the girls to be able to grow into the rooms, so they weren’t age-specific. We wanted to be really whimsical and use wallpaper—not a traditional thing to do in an Eichler—and play with different textures, shape and patterns. In a way, the overarching theme in the kids’ spaces is nature, birds, butterflies—that kind of thing.” The two younger daughters’ bedroom is outfitted with Serena & Lily rattan beds and a McGee & Co. table. Surmounting the A-Street Prints wallpaper are a painting by Rachel Rickert, flanked by two Becky Suss works, as well as 3D cardboard insects by Studio Roof. 

A generous primary suite emerged from the renovation. For the tiling in the bathroom, Florie was drawn to “a very matte finish,” says Gustave. “Not anything heavily glazed.” The blue wall tiles are paired with pale yellow grout, while navy grout contrasts the white floor tiles. The cabinetry paint, Farrow & Ball’s Calke Green, is another hue that was used in multiple places; for the vanity, designed by the architect, it is combined with Western red cedar and Nest Studio hardware. The wall behind the Victoria + Albert tub includes a sculpture by Katie Gong and sconces by Workstead.

The primary bedroom includes a reading space furnished with an Eames lounge chair and that can be closed off by a 2½-inch-thick Western red cedar barn door. Two different grasscloths by Phillip Jeffries adorn the space, along with a botanical wallcovering by Marthe Armitage. The bed, designed by Atelier Davis and fabricated by Hancock Surface Studio, sits atop carpeting by Stratford Carpet and is flanked by Dowel Furniture tables plus Lostine sconces.