On the Homefront

Breaking stories on home improvement and real estate tied to our communities

Stunning Secluded Treasure
Buyers circling for Donald Olsen’s Ruth House—with its amazing Berkeley setting
Pick a Lautner…Any Lautner
Why are prices cut on several of the modern master’s home designs now on the market?
Perched on Top of a Volcano
Beautiful, unusual saucer-shaped dome home in Mojave Desert awaits new owner
Yabba Dabba Domes
Eye-popping Flintstone House up for sale—'Stone-Age modern' icon along 280 freeway
Decorating Mistakes to Avoid
For best results, designers say make a real plan—don't just parrot magazine spreads
Rhythmic House with History
Rare NorCal Craig Ellwood design—his Daphne House is for sale in Hillsborough
Rising from the Ashes
East Bay home by architect Henry Hill lost to fire reborn thru thoughtful re-visioning
For Sale: Beautiful Enigma
NorCal's only Case Study House—Beverley Thorne's steel gem hits the market in Marin
House of Questions
"What are the best steps of reinforcement to protect MCM homes from earthquakes?"
South Bay Eichler Home Tour
Contractor and realtor stage open house of four remodeled Sunnyvale Eichlers Aug. 15
Blog in the Saddle Again
Marin couple's down-home blog primed for comeback after two-year parenthood hiatus
Get Energized for Efficiency
Energy Upgrade California offering rebates up to $6,500 for boosting energy efficiency
Rise of the Aluminum Slider
New CA-Modern story traces how WW II technology transformed the sliding door
Batten Down the Hatches!
With El Niño rains waiting in the wings, the time is now to tackle your outdoor projects
House of Questions
"To upgrade our Eichler's insulation, what is the smartest way to spend our money?"
Man from Redneck Modern
Popular blogger chronicles the renovation of his Concord Eichler—but not for profit
'King of the Round House'
One of six circular houses by mid-century architect Leon Meyer is on East Bay market
All Their World's a Stage
East Bay Eichler owners turn a hobby into a joint venture staging modern real estate
Front Door's Crowning Touch
SoCal Eichler owner's 'well-kept secret'—creating authentic Eichler door hardware
Houseful of Eichler History
Exquisite home of late Eichler staffer Matt Kahn hits Stanford market—for faculty only