Historic Home Renovation & Preservation Architects
Restoring landmark homes with sensitivity and craft, FGA blends historic architectural integrity with contemporary living, modern building systems, and thoughtful design.
At Fergus Garber Architects, historic residential renovation is not a niche.
It is a core part of our practice.
Specializing in the preservation, restoration, and sensitive modernization of historic single-family homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including Palo Alto, Atherton, Woodside, Los Altos Hills, and San Francisco, we bring decades of experience working with protected structures, landmark properties, and architecturally significant homes.
With more than thirty renovations completed in Palo Alto’s Professorville Historic District alone, and two homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places, our work is rooted in deep respect for architectural heritage and guided by a rigorous understanding of preservation standards, local review processes, and traditional building materials.
Whether restoring a 1920s Spanish Colonial, updating a Craftsman bungalow, or reimagining an early 20th-century cottage with a seamless modern addition, our approach balances authenticity and innovation. FGA honors original craftsmanship while integrating contemporary systems, improved energy performance, and thoughtful new spaces suited to modern family living.
This commitment to authenticity and innovation has earned FGA recognition from preservation organizations, such as the Institute for Classical Art & Architecture, and placement in leading design publications, including Architectural Digest, Luxe, and California Home & Design.
FGA’s Approach to Thoughtful Historic Stewardship
Designing in Dialogue with History
Our work begins with a deep study of architectural lineage and local context, informed by years of research, lectures, and scholarship on Peninsula architectural history and community development. With decades of experience—including extensive work in Palo Alto’s Professorville Historic District—we design additions and renovations that respond sensitively to scale, setting, and historic character while seamlessly integrating modern comfort, performance, and livability.
Craftsmanship Rooted in Authentic Materials
Preservation is more than aesthetic replication—it requires rigorous attention to original construction methods, materials, and detailing. We collaborate with specialty fabricators, preservation consultants, and artisans to ensure every touchpoint—from wood profiles to masonry repairs—honors historic integrity while meeting today’s performance and sustainability standards.
Preservation Guided by Partnership
Reimagining Historic Homes for Contemporary Life
We thoughtfully evolve historic floor plans to meet the spatial expectations of modern living while retaining the character-defining elements that make older homes timeless. Seamless additions, improved circulation, upgraded systems, and future-ready infrastructure allow legacy homes to function beautifully for the way families live today—and generations to come.
Historic Home Examples
The case studies below demonstrate how we preserve the character of historic homes while integrating modern comfort, efficiency, and livability. Each project reflects our commitment to honored craft, authentic details, and thoughtful transformation. We invite you to explore our work and consider how we might collaborate to shape what’s possible within your home.
Historic Renovation & Addition
When FGA was engaged to reimagine this 1920s Spanish Colonial in Palo Alto, California, the brief was ambitious: create expansive, modern spaces for hosting — without compromising the home’s historical soul. FGA preserved and restored the original street-facing façade, emphasizing its signature architectural elements, while designing a substantial rear addition that opens the home to the outdoors. The new layout transforms the main level into a bright, contemporary environment with increased natural light and panoramic garden views. A discreet second-story addition provides much-needed space for additional bedrooms and bathrooms — all executed in a manner that feels integrated, not imposed.
Featured in LUXE Interiors + Design
Palo Alto Stanford Heritage 2023 Historic Preservation Award Recipient
Historic Renovation & Addition
On a compact lot in Old Palo Alto, a 1920s Monterey Colonial posed a unique challenge: increase livable space without disrupting the home’s historic silhouette. FGA’s solution was both strategic and elegant — lifting the original structure to insert a full finished basement below. This subterranean level now houses a suite of new living spaces, dramatically expanding the home’s functional footprint. Inside, the great room ceiling was elevated to enhance volume, while floor levels were subtly reengineered to create a seamless transition to the rear terrace, optimizing both form and flow.
Historic Renovation & Addition
Smart & Stylish Professorville
This early-20th-century cottage in the heart of Stanford’s Professorville in Palo Alto, California came with preservation restrictions that protected much of the original street-facing façade. Within these constraints, FGA executed a thoughtful transformation — opening the interior floor plan to improve spatial flow and connection to the outdoors. Generous bay windows were added to the kitchen and dining areas, enhancing natural light and sightlines to the new outdoor living space, complete with fire pit, grill, and lounge. A discreetly integrated basement addition provided space for extra bedrooms, bathrooms, and flexible recreation areas — all while maintaining the charm and character of the original home.
Historic Restoration and Renovation
Preserving Spirit and Story
FGA was engaged to restore and modernize this rare 1930s Palo Alto, California Bitudobe adobe home while preserving its handmade character and cultural history. The structure required extensive care, from seismic reinforcement discreetly embedded within the adobe walls to the careful integration of new HVAC systems without typical framing cavities. Rather than simplify or replace, the renovation honors what makes the home unique. Original murals, cabinetry, lighting, and hardware were restored, and new elements were handcrafted by artisans to match the historic fabric. The result is a warm, resilient multigenerational home that retains its original spirit while quietly supporting contemporary living.
Featured in PUNCH: Spirit of the Peninsula (coming soon)