It’s hard to imagine what Alex Shvartsman and Emy Vo’s San Rafael home looked like before the couple renovated. Built in 1970 by the previous owner, the two-story, 3,700-square-foot, five-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath dwelling was maintained in meticulous condition, but its “Brady Bunch” aesthetic — popcorn ceilings, red brick fireplaces, small kitchen, wallpapered bathrooms, dated light fixtures and low ceilings and carpet throughout — was in dire need of an update. Still, the couple saw the potential to transform the property into a modern family oasis.
Shvartsman and Vo already owned a primary residence in Kentfield, where their two children go to school, but they decided to buy the property in San Rafael as a spec home, with Shvartsman, a Compass real estate agent, representing the family in the transaction. After the renovation was completed, however, they liked the results so much that they decided to keep the property as a second home, where they now enjoy spending time together as a family when the kids aren’t in school.
To help bring their ideas to life, the couple worked with Oakland-based architect Pete Retondo. “Pete really understood our vision,” Shvartsman says. “We drew out the changes that we wanted, and then he provided feedback in terms of what might make sense from an architectural standpoint. Then we came together with the final design.”
Retondo concurs, “Alex is very hands on, and he knew exactly what he wanted to do: He wanted to dramatically change the feel and stylistic perception of the house.”
The change that made the biggest impact was replacing the 8-foot ceiling on the upper level of the home with a new cathedral ceiling that reaches over 13 feet — a feat that required 3D renderings and collaboration with structural engineer Alexei Lukban of DCG Inc. to execute successfully.
“We had to reframe the roof completely,” Retondo says. “It was a major structural change because the original house was framed with site-built trusses and a flat ceiling, and it’s an L-shaped house, and with different spans wall to wall.”
The team also improved the flow of the common spaces on the upper level of the home, including converting the small, U-shaped kitchen into an entertaining-ready, galley-style kitchen that is open to the family room. Arabescato Corchia marble forms the backsplash, countertops and waterfalls on the island, while the custom cabinetry is crafted by Italian firm Copatlife, sourced through exclusive U.S. distributor Prestige Designs. New skylights illuminate the space from overhead.
Among the improvements in the living room and family room, Shvartsman and Vo wrapped the home’s two fireplaces in Venetian plaster and furnished the spaces with custom couches designed by Bimma Loft in San Francisco. The family room now boasts two 16-foot glass bi-folding NanaWall doors that open to the backyard, where the couple installed a pool and outdoor kitchen. They also expanded the patio, which required excavating part of the hillside on the 19,000-square-foot lot.
The entrance to the home is on the lower level, via an 8-foot steel pivot door crafted by Hayward-based firm StatusWood. To the left of the entrance, Shvartsman and Vo turned the former rumpus room into a game room with a pool table, arcade games, wall-mounted TV and bar with a beverage refrigerator, as well as a glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled wine cellar.
The team also upgraded the bathrooms throughout the home, including installing radiant heat. Retondo reconfigured the primary bathroom to accommodate two vanities, a makeup counter and a steam shower. Meanwhile, the kids’ bathroom features two vanities as well — one inside the bathroom and another just outside the bathroom door. A backdoor provides access to the kids’ bathroom and laundry room from the backyard — perfect for guests coming in from the pool.
Wide-plank oak flooring, smart home technology, and Tesla solar with two power walls complete the transformation. “The project started out as a cosmetic remodel, but then it expanded, and we took the opportunity to customize the home so that it’s both fun and homey,” Shvartsman says. “It really exceeded all of our expectations.”
Details
Where: San Rafael
What: 1970 two-story ranch-style renovation
Architect: Pete Retondo
Structural engineer: Alexei Lukban, DCG Inc.
Lotus Abrams has covered everything from beauty to business to tech in her editorial career, but it might be writing about her native Bay Area that inspires her most. She lives with her husband and two daughters in the San Francisco Peninsula, where they enjoy spending time outdoors at the area’s many open spaces protected and preserved by her favorite local nonprofit, the Peninsula Open Space Trust.
