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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“The redwoods outside become like wallpaper; a constant, living texture through every window.”

— Sabra Ballon

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.

Modern living room with wooden ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows with sliding glass doors, built-in bookshelves, and a view of a backyard with trees and outdoor seating.

Modern open-concept kitchen and living space with large windows showing outdoor trees, light wood flooring, wood-paneled ceiling, kitchen island with plants, white chairs around a wooden dining table, and a sofa with a yellow-striped blanket.

Modern kitchen with wooden cabinetry, a large kitchen island, and a light wood ceiling with embedded lights. There are large windows with a view of greenery outside, and a dining table with white chairs. Decor includes a glass vase with flowers, ceramics, and books.

Interior view of a modern living room with a wooden shelving unit, wall art, and a large window showing an outdoor garden.

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.

Interior view of a modern hallway with wood-paneled walls, a door with a red frame, a potted plant, and framed artwork on the white wall. Natural light streams in through a skylight.

Interior view of a modern kitchen with wood cabinets, green backsplash tiles, and a small dining area with an antique chair. There is a red artwork on the wall, a black side table, and a large window letting in natural light.

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.

A wooden shelf displaying a small sculpture of a person's head and shoulders, labeled with a plaque that reads, "Lew Butler with appreciation from his many friends at HEW, January 1969 - June 1971." Next to the sculpture is a green vase with a plant having dark green and purple leaves.

Wooden carvings of angel faces with wings, mounted on a wooden surface.

Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, gray countertop, stainless steel appliances, and a skylight window on a wooden ceiling letting in natural light.

Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, a black pendant light, a vase with yellow flowers on the counter, a white chair at the dining table, and natural light coming through a sliding glass door.

Modern kitchen and dining area with wood ceiling and cabinetry, black backsplash, and sliding glass door.

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.

Modern two-story house with a balcony, large window, and exterior stairs, surrounded by trees and greenery, under a clear blue sky.

A blue-tiled shower with a built-in shelf holding a potted plant, a bottle of body wash, and a massage brush. The shower has a round showerhead and a glass door.

A bedroom with a large framed painting of a yellow dog on the wall, a window with greenery outside, a white wall lamp, a vase of white flowers on a black side table, a bed with a white quilt, and an amplifier on the floor.

Modern house with large glass windows and wooden interior, surrounded by trees, during evening.

Modern house entrance with orange door, surrounded by trees, with outdoor lighting and landscaped garden.

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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