My friend Candace Levers is a board member of Vision Literacy, a local non-profit in Silicon Valley. Vision Literacy provides adults with basic literacy and technology skills.
Its students acquire vital reading, writing, speaking and listening tools, allowing them to become better parents, employees, business owners and citizens.
This past weekend, Vision Literacy was the sole beneficiary of the Silicon Valley Modern Home Tour. I volunteered at one of the show homes in Menlo Park, greeting tour patrons, selling tickets and imaging what it would be like to actually live in the Spiegel home.
Our local paper featured the Menlo Park home with the headline: Just call it stunning. I couldn’t agree more. Vast walls of glass and large windows brought the outdoors in. Walls covered in cedar, simple lines, open ceilings and slate floors felt breezy and comfortable. Native grasses, trees, shrubs and flowers surround the entire house, blurring the lines between inside and out.
In affluent Menlo Park, property is at a premium. They build houses close together. Yet the entire time I was there it felt like an oasis. The use of trees, a ‘wall’ of bamboo, and the home’s placement on the lot, all contributed to a sense of privacy while retaining the open plan.
One of the super-cool features of the Spiegel house is the four-story tower. Each floor has a landing with glass walls, a small bedroom and a corresponding bathroom. The bottom floor is a seating area and the top floor is an exterior, roof-top balcony. The rest of the house is all on one floor.
Architect Dan Spiegel, grew up in the home originally on the lot. He designed the home for his parents, who moved in a year ago. Dan was on site to answer questions during the tour, along with his wife and business partner, landscape designer Megumi Aihara. It was a pleasure meeting these talented, down-to-earth people.
You can learn more about the house and gardens by taking a virtual tour at Low/Rise House/Spiegel. Pictures include floor plans and elevations.
- Vision Literacy: “Reading skills are essential to improving one’s life.” Steve Wozniak, Honorary Board Chair
- Modern Home Tours
- Spiegel Aihara Workshop: Architect Dan Spiegel and landscape designer, Megumi Aihara
You gals are super nice community spirits. Wonderful to volunteer for the event. Candace too! Congratulations to you both for that. The interiors remind me a little of our old house. It was all wood inside too. While I’m not keen on the minimal look, with linear lines and lack of a decorative facade, I do appreciate this style for it’s ability to bring the outside in. Beautifully landscaped too.
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Thank you, sweetie! xox
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I think it is always fun to peek inside other folks houses – especially when they are different to our own…. However, I usually find I return home with a feeling of grace for my own wee pad and all it’s blessings – did you too? I echo Boomdee’s statement – applause for volunteering! A worthy cause and a wonderful community activity all rolled into one 🙂 Hurrah!
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That is so lovely, Pauline. Home is where you hang your hat, so to speak. Mine is filled with joy and comfort and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I wouldn’t mind adding a tower though, for the teenage boys. 😉
Thank you!
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What a beautiful home! I have always been a fan of modern homes.
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You would have loved it, then.
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I definitely would have loved it! I love the new industrial look furniture too!
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I also love the glass and wood. It looks simple and warm. And I love those book shelves. Sigh….
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The book shelves were one of the popular features in the original home, so they brought that feature in. Both of the homeowners are professors at Stanford University. Lots of books!
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Very spacious looking – stuff for me to think abour when I finally have the money to upgrade my house.
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Indeed!
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Gorgeous place. One day!
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🙂
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Thank you for your service to Vision Literacy Candace! You are the best! 😉
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