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.
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.
SECTION 2 — Materials & Aesthetics
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.
SECTION 3 — Interior / Spatial
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.
SECTION 4 — Program / ADU
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.
SECTION 5 — Personal / Story
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.
CLOSING / IMPACT PARAGRAPH
The transformation is striking. Once fragmented, the home now feels cohesive, logical, and attuned to the scale of the family. A dining area designed to seat two in quiet intimacy opens to host twelve at the holidays. Visitors enter and find themselves in what feels like a polished shelter in the redwoods — shade and sun balanced, the creek audible, the material palette a steady conversation with the landscape outside.
PROJECT CREDITS BLOCK (same format as Tiburon footer)
THE WILLOWBROOK DRIVE RESIDENCE Location: Marin County, CA Interior Design: ballonSTUDIO Architect: Butler Armsden Architects Photography: Adama Potts
PROJECT TEAM Sabra Ballon + [team names to add]
ONE PULL QUOTE (optional inline quote, as used on some ballonSTUDIO pages)
"The redwoods outside become like wallpaper — a constant, living texture through every window." — Sabra Ballon
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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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![Modern outdoor patio with dining table and chairs, white couches, overlooking a body of water, with hills in the background. BallonStudio is a luxury interior design firm in San Francisco]()
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![Modern house with large glass windows overlooking a body of water, outdoor patio with seating, and a balcony on the upper floor.]()
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The design process began with a meticulous evaluation of the site—a flat waterfront lot offering breathtaking bay and mountain views, albeit constrained on two sides and bordered by a bustling street. The design philosophy emphasized horizontality, seamlessly merging indoor and outdoor spaces to create a sense of spaciousness.
Materials and Aesthetics: The home was clad in resilient Thermory and featured Portuguese limestone seamlessly transitioning from inside to outside. Côte d’Azur limestone floors guided guests from the entrance to the waterfront patio.
Interior Musings: Drawing inspiration from a Scandinavian sailor's minimalist yet cozy approach, the design addressed wind challenges while maximizing views. Textures of the site and layered wood tones created a harmonious atmosphere. Scandinavian design principles guided furniture choices, while the courtyard transformed into a '70s-inspired sculpture garden. In the family room, black upholstered furniture added contrast, and art selections favored textiles to soften the dominance of glass and stone.
Elegant Living: Upstairs, three cozy bedrooms welcomed residents with floor-to-ceiling water views. The children's bedrooms were cleverly connected by a hidden sliding door for flexible use.
Main bedroom: A custom headboard concealed a dresser, thoughtfully orienting the bed toward the view. Inspired by Hiroshi Yoshida's art, the palette captured the emotions of late afternoon by the waterfront—reflection, shimmer, and quiet contemplation—infusing warmth, sparkle, and movement into the design.
THE TIBURON WATERFRONT
Location: Belvedere Island, CA
Square Footage: 3,672
Interior Design: BallonStudio
General Contractor: Fontana Construction
Architect: Butler Armsden Architects
Photography: Jason O'Rear
PROJECT TEAM
Sabra Ballon, Federico Engel, Dee Pearce, Vanessa Mello
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