Tour a California Home in All its Midcentury Modern Glory

Raised by an architect dad, Remington Heatley inherited a love for midcentury modern homes. “We used to take walks where he’d point out his favorites,” he says. When Remington and his wife, Julienne, began house-hunting in the San Francisco Bay Area, they had midcentury modern style in mind. A year and a half later, they were still searching when a rare find hit the market — on the anniversary of his father’s passing. Built by renowned real estate developer Joseph Eichler in 1959, the 1,742-square-foot house in Walnut Creek was one of only a few hundred Eichler homes in the vicinity. There was much to adore, including abundant light and an airy layout (classic midcentury), an atrium inside the front door (classic Eichler) and the fact that it was well cared for by the previous owners. The couple worked with designer Karen Nepacena to decorate with mod patterns and colors, and to bring back wood walls that had been removed. Says Remington, “My dad would have totally geeked out over it.”

Pops of sunny yellow (Hollywood Gold by Benjamin Moore) on a minimalist exterior: fresh!

Even groovier than a mudroom: the interior open-air courtyard. Remington and Julienne made it peaceful with a bed of river rocks and plenty of plants. They chose mod Bertoia Diamond chairs, named after the sculptor who debuted them in 1952, and a hip rug. Their English bulldog, Mackenzie, is equally glad to chill here.

To create a seamless transition from the adjacent atrium, the exterior color was carried through to this wall, where it nicely matches the existing slate tile floor. Curves contrast the home’s rectangular shape — in the Saarinen table, Cherner chairs and a Louis Poulsen light, all late ’50s styles from Design Within Reach, plus circular art from Room & Board. The vintage bar cart has major Mad Men vibes.