PanamaTimes

Saturday, Oct 24, 2026

A Beautifully Restored Midcentury in the Berkeley Hills

A Beautifully Restored Midcentury in the Berkeley Hills

Under the guidance of the home’s original architect, Tom Lowe, the current owners performed a 10-year renovation that includes a garage-turned-ADU.

Another slice of architectural history is up for grabs in the Bay Area. Dating back to 1975, the multilevel dwelling, originally designed by prolific architect Tom Lowe, sits nestled in the hills of Berkeley, California.



After acquiring the Berkeley home in 2011, current owners Kate and Casey McEachern renovated the space from top to bottom and even converted the garage into an ADU.

"This home adheres to the midcentury ethos of architecture blending with the environment," says Kate McEachern, who, along with her partner, Casey, purchased the property from the original owners in 2011. "We were stunned by the view of Claremont Canyon the first time we walked in."



The interior of the converted garage boasts matches the primary residence.

Throughout the last 10 years of ownership, the McEacherns have treated the residence to a thoughtful restoration-and even leaned on Tom Lowe for advice. "I reached out to him in 2017 and he surprised us by dropping by for an impromptu visit," says Kate. "We sat with Lowe for hours, probing him about the design process and why he made certain decisions."



"What makes the ADU special is that it is one of only about 20,000 Airbnb Plus homes globally," says Kate. The couple installed large horizontal windows to take advantage of the canyon views.



Patterned wallpaper adds vibrant color to the ADU’s otherwise all-white bathroom.

At three stories, the residence spreads across 2,314 square feet, and includes a garage that was converted into a turnkey ADU in 2015. "At the time, I was a senior designer for Airbnb Plus and our unit was certified as one of only about 20,000 Plus properties globally," states Kate. "The income from renting out the unit has covered the cost of our mortgage since the conversion, which allowed us to further invest in renovating and restoring the space."



A bold yellow door extends a warm welcome inside the main residence. "When we first visited the home, we were captivated by how well the forest-green exterior blended with the surrounding wooded environment," notes Kate.



The main entrance leads to the top floor, where a great room featuring an open floor plan awaits.

Drenched in natural light, the main residence offers an open floor plan, encompassed by extensive glazing which allows sweeping canyon views. Vaulted wood ceilings contrast with the surrounding white walls, creating an overall sense of openness and calm.



A textured tile wall elevates visual interest in the dining area, while a corner fireplace in the living room pays homage to the minimalism of the midcentury aesthetic.

"We wanted to preserve as many original details as possible to honor the architecture while modernizing the space," explains Kate. "We meticulously restored every inch of the home with period-specific details, like Concrete Collaborative terrazzo and Heath Ceramics tile." Other notable updates include a new roof, solar panels, and an electric vehicle charging station.



Another view of the living room showcases the home’s original post and beam construction.



A long terrace on the top floor extends the living spaces outdoors.

"For us, the architecture plus the location made it the perfect home," says Kate. "It's sited just a few minutes from Rockridge and Elmwood, but feels completely private and secluded with hiking trails at the end of the street." Keep scrolling to see more of the property, now listed for $1,399,000.



The galley kitchen comes with all new appliances, a ceramic backsplash, and plentiful storage.



An additional family room awaits off the kitchen-a space which can easily be converted into a breakfast nook or office area.



In total, the main residence features three bedrooms. The primary en suite presents a calming retreat, complete with ample closet space and a spa-like bath.



Another one of the bedrooms opens up to an additional terrace overlooking the landscape.



A view of the back facade highlights the home’s extensive glazing and outdoor space.

Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Advertising trick: Pepsi’s Harrier Jet Commercial Led to a $700,000 Court Fight
Why 2027 Could Be a Strong Year for Stocks—and Why the Forecast Is Fragile
Trump’s Top General Seeks an Exit Strategy From Iran War, Report Says
Brock Lesnar Retires From Wrestling, Closing a Career of Rare Athletic Range and Lasting Controversy
Trump-Era Policy Shifts Test the Boundaries of U.S. Institutions
Weight-Loss Drug Boom Tests the Limits of Prescription Advertising Rules
Breaking With the Past: One of the World’s Smallest Countries Changes Its Name
AI Is Remaking the US Economy, From GDP Growth to iPhone Prices
Cuba’s Grid Fails Again as Fuel Crisis Deepens
Nazca Lines Flight Crash Kills Thirteen as Peru Suspends Aerodiana
OpenAI Faces Demands for Full Disclosure After Models Breach Hugging Face
FIFA’s Private-Investment Plan for World Cup Rights Draws European Revolt
Why Americans Queue for $15 Ice Cream and a $100 Caviar Pint
OpenAI Sued After ChatGPT Allegedly Discouraged Emergency Care Before Near-Fatal Embolism
Miliband Sets Climate and International Law at Centre of UK Diplomacy
Trump Readies New Tariffs as Temporary Global Levy Nears Expiry
Morgan Stanley Builds a Wall Street Lead in AI Infrastructure Finance
High Prices Push Coffee Drinkers Toward Whole Beans and Home Brewing
Spain Defeats Argentina in Extra Time to Win Second World Cup
Venezuela’s Earthquake Devastation Turns U.S. Investment Opportunity Into a Thirty-Seven Billion Dollar Reconstruction Challenge
Ukrainian Drones Strike Wildberries Warehouses Deep Inside Russia
The Ledger Will Not Trust on Faith
Trump Administration Pressures Banks to Restrict Financial Access for Undocumented Immigrants
The Ten World Cup Finals That Defined Football History
Smartphones Are Getting More Expensive, Sales Are Collapsing, and Even Apple Admits: "Prices Will Rise"
The AI Race Enters Its Infrastructure Era
Colombia Influencer Dies After Cosmetic Procedure at Unlicensed Bogota Salon
A Quiet Bastille Day: France Grapples with World Cup Heartbreak and Leftover Fireworks
Spain in Ecstasy: "We Feel Unbeatable, We Taught the Whole World a Lesson"
On the Island That Did Not Yield to Trump, There Is No Electricity, and 10 Million Live in Darkness
World Cup Visitors Turn American Big-Box Stores Into Souvenir Stops
Anthropic Reengineers Agentic Architecture to Shift Autonomous Workplace Automation to the Cloud
Global Crisis Alert: Escalating Middle East Tensions and UK Political Upheaval
Japanese Technology Firm Fujitsu Launches Advanced Artificial Intelligence Tool for Corporate Disclosures
South Africa Officially Launches Nationwide Campaign for Highly Contested Local Government Elections
United Kingdom Commits Additional Funding for Unexploded Ordnance Clearance in Laos
Singapore Announces Stringent New Greenhouse Gas Regulations for Commercial Cooling Systems
Cambodia and Thailand Hold High-Level Border Security Talks at United Nations Headquarters
Myanmar Military Government and China Sign Major Agreement to Upgrade Media and Cultural Cooperation
Knife Attack at Swiss Train Station Leaves Three Injured in Suspected Act of Domestic Terrorism
Transnational Extortion Gang Threatens Canadian Police With Army of One Thousand Armed Operatives
Australia Imposes Forty-Two-Day Quarantine on Cruise Ship Passengers Following Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak
International Monetary Fund Unlocks Seven Hundred Million United States Dollars for Sri Lanka Following Economic Reforms
Australia Launches Record One Point Four Billion Dollar Lawsuit Against Chemical Giant 3M Over Contamination
China and Canada Foreign Ministers Meet in Ottawa in Effort to Stabilize Strained Diplomatic Ties
Indonesia Demands Urgent United Nations Security Council Reform Amid Escalating Global Conflicts
Extreme Weather Patterns Trigger Severe Drought in Madagascar and Destructive Flooding in East Africa
Indian State of Karnataka Faces Political Upheaval as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Abruptly Resigns
Philippines and Japan Reaffirm Defense Ties as Crucial for Indo-Pacific Regional Stability
Norway Joins French Nuclear Deterrence Initiative in Major Shift for European Security Architecture
×