Updated Joseph Eichler Kitchens

Joseph Eichler was a post-war merchant builder who embraced the principles of modernism in an effort to provide progressive and affordable housing to middle income families. From the late 1940s to the late 1960s, Eichler built 11,000 homes, the majority in Northern California. With glass walls, post-and-beam construction, open floor plans, skylights and floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Joseph Eichler blurred the lines between the mild climate of the San Francisco Bay Area and the clean modern interiors of the Eichler style home.

Eichler exteriors are usually marked by flat or low-sloping roofs, Spartan facades with geometric liens and vertical siding, with protected gardens, pools and patios surrounding the home. As these homes continue to be bought and sold, however, we see more and more of these them being updated to incorporate the Eichler style, with more current and popular designs that we see today.

The main area people rush to update is the kitchen. This is because original Eichler kitchens are very basic (yet functional), but do not necessarily make the best use of space. Typical Eichler kitchens feature wood cabinets with sliding doors, low countertops, a swing-out kitchen table, and stainless steel appliances including a Thermador wall-mounted oven and matching range. Popular updates include cabinet replacement which provides more space and greater accessibility, the introduction of an island which provides more countertop and cooktop space, and the installation of upgraded, under-cabinet and in-cabinet appliances. Here are just a few of our favorite amazing updated Eichler kitchen designs. These designs cost anywhere from $25,000 (Chris Sanders Eichler Remodel) – $180,000 (Palo Alto Kitchen):