Karen and David Bergman are close siblings—they shared an apartment in New York City for several years before they married their respective spouses. So when Karen Bergman and her husband John Thyfault moved into a 1960s ranch in Menlo Park, California, of course Karen called upon her big brother for renovation advice—even though he still lives in New York. An architect for 25 years, David increasingly specializes in sustainable design and teaches a class on the subject at New York City’s Parsons the New School for Design. “We see green design as an inseparable part of good design,” David says. “Green principles—promoting both our own health and the health of the planet—are woven into all our projects, incorporated so that they enhance rather than compromise design.”

David’s eco message struck a chord with Karen and John, who have two daughters, Julia, 6, and Isabelle, 4. “Karen has some allergies, and she and John wanted their kids to grow up in healthful surroundings,” David says.

The existing L-shaped kitchen and family room were torn down to the studs and about 150 square feet of floor space was added to “fill in the elbow of the L,” David explains. (Some of the old cabinets were installed for storage in the garage and others were given to a friend who reused them.) The new floor plan opened the kitchen more fully to the adjacent family room and allowed for more natural light as well as improved access to the patio and outdoor areas.

To view another kitchen in our GreenSpace series, click here.

Design:
David Bergman Architect, and Fire & Water, 241 Eldridge St., #3R, New York, NY 10002; 212/475-3106, cyberg.com. 

Text by Amy Elbert
Photographs by Michael Skott
Produced by Doris Athineos and Heather Lobdell

Sources:
Lyptus cabinetry: The Village Collection, 650/594-0152.
Hardware (9464 series): Omnia Industries, 973/239-7272.
Countertops (recycled glass and concrete): IceStone, 718/624-4900, icestone.biz.
Backsplash tile (recycled glass): UltraGlas, 800/777-2332, ultraglas.com.
Ovens; range hood: Viking, 888/845-4641, vikingrange.com.
Cooktop: Sub-Zero/Wolf, 800/332-9513.
Microwave: Dacor, 800/793-0093, dacor.com.
Main sink (“Orca’’ #ORX-110); island sink (“Regatta’’ #RGX 110): Franke Kitchen Systems Division, 800/626-5771.
Faucets (“Stratos’’ #06695000): Hansgrohe, 800/334-0455.
White oak flooring: Bruce Bauer Lumber, 650/948-1089, brucebauer.com.
Wall paint (“Norfolk Cream’’ #261, Eco Spec Low VOC); trim paint (“White Dove’’ Eco Spec Low VOC): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667.
Windows (“Integrity’’): Marvin Windows & Doors, 888/537-8268, marvin.com.
Table, chairs: Ligne Roset, ligne-roset-usa.com.
Light fixture: Fire & Water, 212/475-3106, cyberg.com.
Bar stools (“Compasso d’Oro’’): Design Within Reach, 866/377-0825, dwr.com.