Second Chapter
Designed for their next chapter, these empty-nesters built a custom Menlo Park home tailored for the way they want to live - now and for years to come
When opportunity knocked, our clients answered. When the lot next door to their longtime Menlo Park home became available, they saw a chance to remain in the neighborhood they loved while building a residence better suited to this new phase of life. The result is a bright, ground-up custom home that blends farmhouse warmth with ranch-style ease, an architectural approach well suited to Menlo Park’s residential character. Thoughtfully designed for aging in place, the layout incorporates first-floor primary living spaces, an elevator, and a detached caretaker’s cottage to support long-term flexibility and independence. Sliding French doors extend first-floor bedrooms to private garden patios, strengthening the home’s indoor-outdoor connection. A century-old eucalyptus tree anchors the landscape and serves as a focal point from the family room, dining room, and kitchen – preserving the site’s natural character while shaping daily life around it.
Quick Facts
Type: New Residence
Location: Menlo Park, Ca
Area: 7,000 Sq-ft
Project Credits
Client Representative: Sarah Ahles
General Contractor: Lencioni Construction Co.
Interior Design: Sarah Ahles, Carrington Hill Designs
Landscape Architecture: Sara Macy
Structural Engineering: Hohbach-lewin, Inc.
Civil Engineering: Lea & Braze Engineers
Lighting Design: Pritchard Peck Lighting
Photography: Conroy + Tanzer Photographic