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Tali has been a joy to work with. Her professionalism, integrity and great ideas are commendable. She listened well to all of our thoughts on the remodel and came back to us with all the things we wanted included plus some things we hadn't thought about. Great ideas! We are so excited to move forward with Tali's architectural plans. We highly recommend her.

Tali is very collaborative, both with me and with the contractor.  She has an excellent eye for color and design, as well as an ability to communicate with contractors, translating my wishes into their vocabulary.  She followed through weekly on this project, from beginning to end, and when she said something wasn't quite right, the crew listened to her and corrected everything. 
Tali staged the kitchen beautifully for the photographer.  You will see the results soon on Houzz.

Tali's design sense, practicality and attention to detail are beyond compare.  She provided detailed design drawings and then worked with the artisans on each grout line in the tile and the direction of the grain in each piece of wood.  She was invaluable in all the subjective decisions (colors, textures and layout) and provided great practical advice and resources on the different plumbing and electrical decisions. Good design takes a lot of different skills, Tali has them all.

Tali Hardonag brought us in to help with the interior design aspect of a large remodeling project in Mountain View.  She is a very talented and thoughtful architect who was able to redesign the home completely in a tasteful and functional way.  She is reliable and easy to communicate with. Throughout the process, we were impressed with her attention to detail, problem-solving skills and thorough review of all the construction aspects.   We hope to work with her again soon.

I've truly enjoyed working with Tali. The combination of attention to detail combined with big picture perspective has helped us feel more comfortable through this remodel process.

She brings an energy and point of view of someone who actually "lives in a house." We were able to make some very smart choices early in the process because of how she took time to understand how we function as a family.

I would not hesitate to recommend Tali Hardonag.

We worked with Tali on an addition to our mid century home and we are constantly blown away by the results of our remodel. Tali was wonderful to work with; on our first meeting she asked about our goals for the remodel and our long range plans for the home and as a family. She brought ideas to the table that maximized functionality, preserved the original design of our home and surprised us with more efficient ways to improve our home while staying within budget. Her involvement throughout construction was invaluable for us, she helped us make informed decisions and manage through all the details. Her design is intentional, personal and uniquely Tali.

I worked on the landscapes of several houses that were designed by Tali. What I saw again and again, was how very customized and personalized her designs are. She really gets her clients and brings their mutual vision to life with thoughtful designs and attention to the smallest details. One of the many tell-tale examples was a rounded corner in a master bedroom / walk-in closet that solved an entire slew of traffic flow problems. Very impressive what a difference a small change like this can make. I referred one of my best friends to her for a kitchen remodel and I know my friend is in good hands.

As a colleague, I appreciate Tali for her responsiveness during the building phase. We are usually both on site at the last phase of the construction of the house and the first phase of the construction of the landscape that needs to be added before the final inspection. Whenever a question came up – this architect was on site and full of great ideas. Great team player. I can only give the highest praise.

Tali is among the very best that my firm has worked with.
The recent project we completed together was 100% successful in every aspect. The design work is stunning, the process went smoothly, and we have extremely happy clients.
The work consisted of a large body of remodeling, as well as the addition of a significant amount of square footage. Cost was in the > $500k range.

Tali has done an excellent job in all aspects of our second floor addition.  She has dealt with a very challenging city permit process, developed an innovative overall design, worked closely with our contractors and guided us with expert advice on fixtures and finishes.  We have not been in the area for much of this project, but she has kept us informed of developments no matter where we have been.  She combines a warm, friendly personal approach with a no-nonsense, get-it-done work attitude.

All Electric Home - Entry

A midcentury home in Palo Alto was remodeled up to an all-electric modern home. Keeping the original open beam structure, the original walls were reinsulated and windows replaced. The kitchen was relocated to a new-construction extension, and a smaller expansion allowed for an entry.
All appliances in the home are electric, The roof support a 10kW PV array.

All Electric Home

Palo Alto Green House 2014

A small single story mid-century tract home in the Coastwise neighborhood of Midtown Palo Alto was renovated and expanded to create an open flowing space for hosting and entertaining. The entire house was remodeled and a second story added.

Focusing on sustainability, green materials and designed for aging in place, the home took on an industrial style, with exposed engineered parallam lumber and black steel accents.  

Extending the length of the lot, the lower roof has deep overhangs on the south-west for sun shading and excellent orientation for Photo Voltaic panels and Solar Hot Water collectors. Smaller windows on the upper loft are remotely operable for passive cooling. Exterior materials such as integral colored stucco, standing seam metal roofing and vinyl clad windows were selected for low maintenance. Hardscaping materials and native planting were chosen for low-water needs.

The anchoring element is the the vertically aligned fireplace by Ortal Fireplace. Rising two floors high, it is inset behind a patina'ed sheet metal panel and wrapped in a plaster surround hand finished with American Clay. Steel cables are threaded through custom made steel uprights, supported on cantilevered engineered lumber beams

This project has been featured on the Ortal Fireplace blog
http://www.ortalheat.com/category/blog/

Construction: Chris Donatelli Builders
Landscape Design: Astrid Gaiser Garden Design LLC
Kitchen by Kathy Smith, Gilmans Kitchen and Bath
American Clay artist: Orit Yanai, San Francisco
Steel artist: Lee Crowley, http://www.leecrowleyart.com
Color Consulting: Penelope Jones Interior Design

Palo Alto Green Home

Palo Alto Green Home Tour 2009

Featured in Green Building Home Tour 2009

Adding a Family room and a place where the homeowner could lay out
her quilting was top of the wish list. But creating an environmentally
conscious home from a 1940's tract house in Midtown palo Alto was the main goal.
The design kept many of the existing walls but upgraded windows ,
insulation and wiring; the existing kitchen cabinets stored during construction and reused in a new layout. Beams salvaged from an old barn were used at the porch and fireplace .
A loft was added with high windows for natural ventilation. Insulation in
walls and rafters wrapped pipes and ducts for energy efficiency. Durable
materials were selected for finishes inside and out. The driveway was laid
with permeable pavers and native plants selected for the garden.
The result is a testament to the home owners commitment to
sustainable, resource conserving and energy efficient building.

Green features: 
Stack effect cooling and ventilation
Metal ‘cool’ roof
Cement board siding
6” walls with insulation burying plumbing and ducting
Dual flush toilets
Tankless on-demand Water Heater
Energy star appliances 
Reclaimed wood in beams, post and mantel
Bamboo and cork flooring
Low VOC paints
Native plants
Permeable pavers in driveway 


Year Built: 2009
Construction: RJ Smith Construction, Palo Alto CA

Palo Alto Sustainable Green Home Tour 2009

Palo Alto Contemporary 2015 Great Room Open Space

Featured in Home + Garden Design magazine, January 2018
visit: https://www.europeancabinets.com/news/architect-tali-hardonag-says-let-there-be-light-open-modern-kitchen/

This project converts a small mid century duplex into a contemporary single family home for a young couple. 

Challenge: The property is situated between two multi-family units on either side.
Response:  The design seeks to shield the sides of the house for privacy, so the floor plan focuses all the views to rear and front. A butterfly roof profile allows clerestory windows to bring light into the interiors, taking advantage of open sky and treetop views in the park bordering the property in the rear. The hallway along the side of the house, that leads from the living areas to the bedroom wing, is punctuated with windows that have obscure glass for privacy, yet allow light to play throughout the day.

Challenge: Scale and proportion in the Great Room
Response: Varying ceiling heights help identify zones - the dining area is under a flat ceiling while the Living room is under the sloped butterfly roof.
Although the kitchen is open and part of the great room, the 'tower' anchors the island and defines the kitchen space. On the kitchen side it houses the microwave, coffemaker and other small appliances, leaving the counter uncluttered. It also helps create a visual screen to the great room for views from the front door.

City Planning Codes required that the perimeter walls be left as is - but there were no restrictions on interior rearranging of walls and rooms, or on building a new roof. The great room faces the small back yard and sets the tone for their lifestyle – a modern kitchen anchors one end of the great room and a gas ribbon fireplace anchors the other end. Large multi-slide doors open up to the rear deck, with additional seating and outdoor fireplace.  Uncluttered space and calming color tones complement the modern forms.




Construction: Chris Donatelli Builders
Kitchen by European Cabinets & Design Studio, Palo Alto

Palo Alto Contemporary

Shoji screen

I look forward to finding creative solutions when I'm presented with a 'must have' during construction. My client found some leaf shapes cut from slate tile. I set them in the concrete floor as if blown in by the wind. 

This  Asian inspired remodel created serene spaces in a small home. Shoji screens, platform dining and natural stained wood are a nod to the East, while concrete counters, recycled glass tiles and a gas fireplace are totally modern. Laser cut slate leaves embedded in the concrete floor show details in unexpected places.
A helical stair spirals 12' up to the second floor. It takes up minimum floor space and adds a sculptural element. Climbing up the stair, the eye passes over the Japanese style dining room, the river rock floor in the entry nook, the piano niche in the living room and the Shoji screens hiding an entertainment center.  
A sun-tube, strategically placed in the roof, centered on the stair, brings an abundance of natural light into the center of the house. The second floor bedrooms take advantage of this light source through glass block walls, some of which have been sand blasted for privacy. A private deck on the second floor has slate floors and a view of the treetops.
For indoor air quality, concrete floors do not trap dirt and the radiant heating does not stir up dust. A generous mudroom creates a place to shed dirty shoes and isolates the garage from the house.   

Green Features:
Concrete floors
Radiant heat
Gas only fireplace
Concrete counters
Recycled Glass tiles
Natural light
Insulated windows
Mudroom 

Year Built: 2002
Construction: Michael Meyer Fine Woodworking       http://www.mmfww.com/
Staging:   dalusso design

A Spiral Twist in Palo Alto

Sustainable means Not Throwing Everything Out

Remodeling a kitchen sustainably means being mindful of what can be re-used. The old cabinets were delaminating and the tile was cracked, but someofthe appliances were still in good working order and the windows were in the right location.
New, sustainable materials were selected - bamboo cabinetry, porcelain countertop, LED lighting. Energy Efficient appliances were installed where needed.
The existing 3 yr old dishwasher was re-installed. But so were the 20 year old gas cooktop and exhaust hood. They performed exactly as needed for this kitchen and by keeping them in the same location, also meant that fewer changes were required in the framing.

Sustainable and environmentally conscious choices:
Cabinetry - bamboo with water based finish
Countertop - Caesarstone and porcelain man made materials
Paint - Benjamin Moore Aura low VOC paints
Lighting - LED
Refrigerator - Sub zero 
Oven - Thermador
Dishwasher - LG

Construction: BWB Builders, Inc
Custom cabinets by Elements Manufacturing, Inc, Santa Cruz, CA
Photography: Nadine Priestley Photography


Palo Alto Kitchen looks to Sustainability

Mid Century III - Entry Addition

Winner 2017 META Gold Award, NARI Silicon Valley Chapter

A young couple expecting their first child sought to update their mid-century home. They hoped for better integration of the living spaces, doing away with a boxed-in kitchen that was isolated from the living room, and opening up to the yard.

An addition in the front of the house created a spacious entry with coat closet. On the side of the house, a new kitchen was added, with good access to the patio and BBQ. And in the back, a guest bedroom and bath were expanded to create a master suite with walk-in-closet





Winner NARI META Gold

Mid Century III in Mountain View

Best of Houzz 2021

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Design Projects

I’ve always dreamed of having a clean, modernist home, and I’m happy to say that Alice and her team at Atelier Cohen led the way to making that dream a reality! I couldn’t be more happy with the project, my house looks like it could be featured in a Kinfolk magazine. I expressed my wishes of having a clean, natural interior aesthetic and they truly delivered – the natural light in my newly designed home is to die for. They also helped me turn my dated, drab living room into a spacious and cozy space in which I can’t wait to host a party. I couldn’t recommend Alice more, if you’re looking for easy collaboration and top-notch design, you have to reach out to them!

I’ve worked with Alice on a few renovation projects and am still floored by her dedication to design and space planning. Never have I experienced a hiccup or missed communication with Atelier Cohen, and home projects tend to create those sorts of problems! They are professional, approachable, and innovative in a way that anyone with any level of home renovating or staging experience will feel like they are in good hands.

Alice’s eye, advice, and service is extremely rare in this business. If you get the chance to work with them, don’t think twice about it!

I had the pleasure of working with Alice on redecorating my childhood home that hadn’t been touched up since I was a teen in the 80’s. I knew it needed a huge refresh aesthetically, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I had a consultation with Alice about my hazy ideas and she was able to understand my tastes and needs after just one chat! The whole design process was so streamlined and thorough that my fears of things going awry totally vanished after the first few meetings. She walked me through every step of the process, from sharing sketches and moodboards to purchasing the final pieces of furniture and decoration. Working with Alice at Atelier Cohen has got to be my greatest investment, I highly recommend their services.

I’ve always dreamed of having a clean, modern farmhouse kitchen, and I’m happy to say that Maison Kitchen and Bath led the way to making that dream a reality! I couldn’t be more happy with the project, our kitchen looks like it could be the envy of Pinterest. I expressed my wishes of having a light, airy feel with natural but polished finishes, and they truly delivered – the kitchen in my home is to die for. They also helped me turn my claustrophobic galley kitchen into a beautiful open-space plan that makes me actually want to cook and entertain in the kitchen. I couldn’t recommend Maison K&B more, if you’re looking for easy collaboration and top-notch design, you have to reach out to them!

I’ve worked with Maison Kitchen and Bath on a few renovation projects and am still floored by their dedication to design and construction. Never have I experienced a hiccup or missed communication with them, and home projects tend to create those sorts of problems! They are professional, approachable, and innovative in a way that anyone with any level of home renovating experience will feel like they are in good hands.

Their advice and service through all stages of any project large or small is extremely rare in this business. If you get the chance to work with them, don’t think twice about it!

I had the pleasure of working with Maison Kitchen and Bath on renovating my childhood home that hadn’t been touched up since it was built in the 50’s. I’m quite environmentally minded, so I knew the appliances and electrical elements needed an update. I also knew it needed a bit of a refresh aesthetically, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I had a consultation with them about my hazy ideas and they were able to understand my tastes and needs after just one chat! The whole renovation process was so streamlined and thorough that my fears of things going awry totally vanished after the first few weeks. Working with Maison Kitchen and Bath has got to be my greatest investment, I highly recommend their services.

I’ve always dreamed of having a clean, modernist home, and I’m happy to say that Haus Design + Build led the way to making that dream a reality! I couldn’t be more happy with the project, my house looks like it could be featured on Architecture Digest. I expressed my wishes of having high ceilings and large windows, and they truly delivered – the natural light in my new home is to die for. They also helped me turn my claustrophobic galley kitchen into a beautiful open-space plan that makes me actually want to cook and entertain in the kitchen. I couldn’t recommend Haus DB more, if you’re looking for easy collaboration and top-notch design, you have to reach out to them!

I’ve worked with Haus Design and Build on a few renovation projects and am still floored by their dedication to design and construction. Never have I experienced a hiccup or missed communication with them, and home projects tend to create those sorts of problems! They are professional, approachable, and innovative in a way that anyone with any level of home renovating experience will feel like they are in good hands.

Their advice and service through all stages of any project large or small is extremely rare in this business. If you get the chance to work with them, don’t think twice about it!

I had the pleasure of working with Haus Design + Build on renovating my childhood home that hadn’t been touched up since it was built in the 50’s. I’m quite environmentally minded, so I knew the appliances and electrical elements needed an update. I also knew it needed a bit of a refresh aesthetically, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I had a consultation with them about my hazy ideas and they were able to understand my tastes and needs after just one chat! The whole construction process was so streamlined and thorough that my fears of things going awry totally vanished after the first few weeks. Working with Haus DB has got to be my greatest investment, I highly recommend their services.