Flag lots can be tricky to design a home on, but with some creative thinking and good problem solving, our team at Timeline can find unique ways to make the most of these sometimes-awkward shaped pieces of land. A flag lot, for those of you who have never heard the term, is a long, slender strip of land resembling a flag pole, that extends from the typically rectangular main sections of the lot — or the “flag” — out to the street. Each “flag pole” typically provides just enough frontage for vehicle access and is often shared by several neighbors.
One of our clients has such a lot. To reach their home, they have to turn into an access road from a busy street and drive down a narrow driveway to reach the front. Originally wanting to just remodel their home, Timeline came up with an option to give them access to their home directly from the street. How? By rebuilding the home and reorienting it so that the back of the house, which sits at the very end of the lot up against a cul-de-sac, is now the front of the house. Not having considered this as a possibility, the clients were excited to move forward.
On their original list of goals for their project were:
1. Raise the ceilings. They are currently 8 feet high.
2. Fix the flow of the living space. Each room in the living space (kitchen, family etc.) are all separate rooms, and all the living spaces are completely disconnected from the backyard.
3. Create access and site lines from the living spaces to the backyard to create a better entertaining experience.
4. Add more backyard space. With the house sitting at the back of the flag lot, the backyard was small and taken up by their pool.
5. Change the look and feel to a more contemporary style.
6. Add an ADU for their parents to come stay comfortably.
7. Add square footage and bedrooms.
Upon reviewing our objectives, our architecture team crafted a design that comprehensively meets all requirements. By reorienting the home, we expanded the backyard and allocated space for a detached ADU. Incorporating a basement increased the square footage, while a second story was added for bedrooms, freeing up the main floor for enhanced entertainment and an open layout. Additionally, we integrated a ten-foot NanaWall to seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor spaces for optimal entertaining ambiance. The exterior boasts a predominantly contemporary style, featuring warm woods, stone accents, and expansive windows with dark frames. Despite being typically associated with flat roofs, the client favored wider eaves and hip roof lines, imbuing the home with a welcoming atmosphere.
The family is moved in and enjoying the backyard entertainment space. Everywhere you look on this property is a touch of personalization and creativity true to their family and lifestyle.
Not sure what your options are for fixing the pain points in your home? Give us a call, our creative design experts are here to help get you the custom home you dream of.
About Timeline Design+Build
At Timeline Design+Build, we specialize in providing comprehensive design+build services for a wide range of projects. Our experienced team of architects, designers, and construction professionals work collaboratively to deliver exceptional results. From concept development and architectural design to construction management and final execution, we ensure a seamless process that meets your project goals and exceeds your expectations. Contact us for a free quote: https://tldesign.net/contact/.
This is a whole house remodel with small addition to modernize all the infrastructure of the home as well as change the exterior aesthetic. The entire structure is 3,400sf including a 2-car attached garage. There is significant demolition and rearrangement of the interior walls allowing for a more efficient, contemporary living style.
In collaboration with Klopf Architecture, Timeline is remodeling a Cupertino Eichler with upgrades to electrical and HVAC, improved radiant heating, new roofing and waterproofing, insulation throughout the home, and a new kitchen.
