Willowbrook
Portola Valley, Ca
2026
Polished for the Now, Rooted in the Redwood
The clients' vision was clear: to restore a 1964 mid-century home to its original integrity, stripping away a poorly executed 1980s remodel and reclaiming the honest character beneath. The design philosophy centered on three commitments: honor what was always there, keep materials simple and authentic, and deepen the connection between the house and its extraordinary site among the redwoods.
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![Modern open-concept kitchen with light wood cabinets, a white island with a sink, three wooden bar stools, and large glass sliding doors leading to an outdoor patio with seating and greenery. BallonStudio is a luxury interior design firm in San Franc]()
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“The redwoods outside become like wallpaper; a constant, living texture through every window.”
A walnut-clad cube introduced at the center of the plan reorganized the home's circulation, defining a new entry sequence while housing the kitchen, laundry, and a bar. From this anchoring move, the entire home became more legible — rooms flowing naturally from one to the next, no longer disjointed.
Materials and Authenticity: The palette was intentionally restrained. Concrete counters, glazed Heath tiles, flat wood paneling, cork and wood floors — all locally made, nothing synthetic or imported. The walnut cladding was carefully tuned in tone to evoke the warmth of original mid-century mahogany and teak. Hardware remained simple, fixtures modest. The goal was useful beauty that belongs to its time.
Connection to Nature: Color became the tool for dissolving the boundary between inside and out. Forest green tiles in the kitchen and bar echo the surrounding tree canopy; the rust tones of the living room rug mirror the bark of the redwoods. Expansive sliding glass doors extend the family room into the landscape, doubling the sense of space. An angled ceiling creates what Sabra calls a "redwood cathedral" — the trees themselves becoming living wallpaper through every window.
Memory & Meaning: Just inside the front door, three carved wood cherubs — discovered in the garage during demolition, salvaged from Mauricio's family home — now hang in a place of honor. Throughout the project, heirlooms and artifacts from Serra's family were inventoried and woven into the design: pieces from her late father's Foreign Service career, antique maps, ceramics, and chairs — each with a story, each now part of the home.
Flexible Living: A new ADU was added to expand the home's program — welcoming visiting family from Mexico, returning college-aged children, and overnight guests. Elevated, sunlit, and surrounded by trees, it quickly became the most coveted space in the house: office by day, retreat by night, and the subject of spirited competition among family members.
Once fragmented, the home now feels cohesive, intimate when needed, expansive when gathered, and deeply attuned to the redwood landscape outside.
Willowbrook Project
Location: Portola Valley, CA
Square Footage: 3,672
Interior Design: BallonStudio
General Contractor: JSD Construction
Architect: Butler Armsden Architects
Photography: Jason O'Rear
PROJECT TEAM
Sabra Ballon, Federico Engel, Dee Pearce, Vanessa Mello
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