The Darling House is the only home designed by Greene & Greene in Claremont, California, and was the first Greene & Greene home built outside Pasadena. When the current owners decided to renovate this Historical Landmark, they naturally sought a designer with Su's extensive background in Arts & Crafts Period Architecture.

Su worked closely with the owners to reimagine the home with an emphasis on making it environmentally friendly. The renovation features energy efficient LED-based lighting, modern insulation to reduce heating and cooling needs, low flow plumbing fixtures reproduced in the Arts & Crafts period style, and an added three car garage.

You might think that being presented with the Award of Excellence by Claremont's Architectural Commission for the Renovation/Addition, Landscaping and Sustainable Development, would have been the highpoint to this project but you would be wrong. It was nice receiving the award but working with this client and his team was the one of the greatest design experiences I've had. From the beginning the project had its challenges. A early 1900's Airplane Bungalow was now going to include an 1100 sq. ft. basement. The original public areas were lovingly restored but the square footage was more than doubled, adding a new kitchen, family room and master suite. It was exciting and then I was asked to design the landscape. What a makeover and all working with a great team of craftsmen. It was the best of times.

Designed originally by S. Marston, this Pasadena home was built in the early 1900's. The owners undertook an exhaustive search for a larger home, and decided instead to enlarge their beloved classic Craftsman. The square footage is now actually double the original, and it was done with “seamless grace.” Even one of Su's employees, a true aficionado of the Craftsman tradition, was unable to detect where the original design left off and the addition began.

Once the renovation was complete, Su brought together the client's collection of antiques and merged them with select craftsmen pieces by contemporary artisans, so that the furnishings became a prominent feature that fully complements the finished home.

The owner of this Rancho Palos Verdes home loved the Prairie-style designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. For the remodel, the house was stripped to the studs and the landscape was taken down to the dirt. Even the elevation was dramatically altered to integrate the home into its environment. The result achieves a completely transformed home, with horizontal lines and earthen elements that honor the traditions of the Prairie School. The client and Su are both quite proud of the renovation.

The merge of two homes into one always brings its own challenges. The couple has grown children and now they wanted a home that they could entertain their friends and enjoy. The wife had great taste and truly wanted their home to have a more contemporary flair. The husband, a avid golfer, just didn’t want to be forgotten.

The job started as designing an elevator entrance and exit in the new addition. Then I was asked to design the back and front landscapes. Then a fireplace mantle redo and a master suite facelift. With some changes to the bar area in the “man’s cave” and a touch here and there, their dream came true. Oh, and I didn't forget the husband. He now has his own putting green. He’s happy!