The Seven Deadly Sins of Eichler Remodels (And the Seven Holy Virtues That Fix Them)

Mid-century modern enthusiasts often speak of Eichler homes in reverent tones – these iconic post-and-beam dwellings are practically holy sites for design fans. Yet even the most well-meaning homeowner can fall from grace by committing a “deadly sin” in an Eichler remodel. Fear not: for every sin, there is a corresponding holy virtue to redeem it. Below we unveil the seven gravest sins of Eichler remodeling – dramatic missteps that desecrate the authentic spirit of these homes – and the seven saving virtues that will restore balance. Prepare for a mythic journey through design perdition and salvation, complete with a dash of humor, a dose of drama, and plenty of expert-backed insight into doing right by your Eichler.

Sin #1: Smothering the Post and Beam

“Thou shalt not cover what was meant to be seen.” In an Eichler, the exposed post-and-beam structure isn’t just a construction method – it’s the soul of the home made visible. The sin of Smothering the Post and Beam occurs when homeowners cover up or alter these defining elements. Dropped ceilings that hide the gorgeous tongue-and-groove planks, drywall soffits boxing in beams, or painting everything the same color until the beams “disappear” – all of these are heresies against Eichler’s structural honesty eichlerhomesforsale.com. The result? A space that loses its uplifting vaulted character and timeless modernism. Cloaking the beam-and-deck ceiling (often in a misguided attempt to insulate or “modernize”) essentially strips the home of its identity – it’s like putting a mid-century masterpiece in a coffin. Eichler’s architects intended the beams to stand out proudly, creating rhythm and warmth; to cover them is to silence that architectural music.

Holy Virtue: Structural Reverence – Let The Beams Breathe. The virtuous path is to celebrate your Eichler’s bones, not bury them. Embrace the “truth in structure” ethos: keep those beams exposed and honor their form. If you need better insulation or lighting, there are creative solutions that don’t involve sealing the heavens above. For instance, adding insulation above the roof deck (such as a foam roof overlay) preserves the open ceilings inside. Want more light? Skip the recessed cans (which literally punch holes in your roof) and opt for period-appropriate track lighting or pendant globes that shine below the beams. Refinish aging beams with a fresh stain or paint in a contrasting color so they pop against the ceiling planks, highlighting the post-and-beam grid instead of hiding it eichlerhomesforsale.com. Many Eichler owners even choose to restore beams to their natural wood tone or a crisp modern white – either way, the beam lines remain gloriously visible. Remember, in an Eichler cathedral, the beams are like exposed rafters in a grand temple of modernism. Treat them with reverence: let them breathe, let them shine, and your home will retain its authentic spirit (and value) far better than if entombed under drywall.

Sin #2: Carpet Blasphemy

Woe unto the misguided soul who commits Carpet Blasphemy! This sin involves blanketing an Eichler’s original concrete slab or tile floors with wall-to-wall carpet – often shag or plush – thereby smothering the cool, clean expanses that Joseph Eichler intended. Why is this so egregious? For one, most Eichlers feature radiant floor heating in that slab. Laying thick carpet and pad over it is like putting a sweater on your radiator – it chokes off the heat and makes the system far less effective. (Your heating bills will, quite literally, feel the burn.) But beyond thermal concerns, carpet simply feels out of place in a mid-century modern context. Eichler homes were designed with sleek, hard flooring – think linoleum tiles, cork panels, polished concrete, or modest terrazzo – to enhance the home’s clean lines and indoor-outdoor vibe. Wall-to-wall carpet, by contrast, can make these open-plan spaces feel stodgy and cramped, trapping dust and dulling the modern aesthetic. It’s often an uninformed attempt to “cozy up” the home, but in reality it’s a blasphemous betrayal of Eichler style (yes, we’re being dramatic – but only slightly!).

Holy Virtue: Grounded Authenticity – Honor the Original Floors. The righteous cure for carpet lust is to restore or replace floors with materials true to the Eichler spirit. If you’re lucky enough to have intact original flooring (like 1960s VCT tiles or exposed aggregate), consider preserving or refurbishing it. If not, choose replacements that play well with radiant heat and mid-century design. Excellent options include cork tiles or planks, which many Eichlers originally had in bedrooms – cork is comfortable underfoot and has that warm retro look (just use a low-VOC finish to protect it). Polished concrete is another holy choice: it revives the slab itself as the finished floor, creating a sleek, modern gallery feel that is literally grounded in the home’s structure. Many Eichler owners also opt for large-format porcelain tiles or even new linoleum (Marmoleum) in era-appropriate colors for a clean, period-correct look. The key is a smooth, unbroken flooring surface that lets the space flow. You can always soften specific areas with rugs – a tasteful shag rug in the living area or a geometric-patterned runner in the hallway can add comfort without wall-to-wall sacrilege. Even Eichler purists concede that if you must have carpet in a bedroom, using a thin, low-pile commercial-grade carpet (no thick pad) is the lesser evil, as it won’t stifle the radiant heat as much. In short, keep your floors honest and let the slab radiate freely. Your feet (and Eichler aficionados) will thank you when they feel the toasty warmth and see those expansive, period-correct floors stretching out gracefully – no penitence required.

Sin #3: Window Heresy

Behold the walls of glass that make an Eichler sing – and beware the sin of Window Heresy, which takes many forms, all of them dire. Eichler homes were built to dissolve the boundary between indoors and outdoors, with floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding glass doors, and open atriums inviting nature inside. The heretical remodeler, however, might decide to “improve” things by swapping in chunky modern windows with thick frames, or partitioning that beautiful glass wall into smaller windows. Worse yet, some succumb to the temptation of adding grids or divided lites where there were none – a true false idol in a modern home. One common transgression is replacing the original slim aluminum single-pane units with off-the-shelf vinyl windows that have beefy white frames; this destroys the Eichler’s clean lines and can “instantly ruin” the home’s mid-century aesthetic, experts warn eichlerhomesforsale.com. Another form of window heresy is literally blocking the light: hanging heavy draperies, installing thick plantation shutters, or even covering over atrium skylights and glass walls for more drywall space. Closing up an open atrium with a solid roof, or converting a big glass slider into a small window, falls under this sin as well – it gains a bit of room or perceived privacy at the cost of an Eichler’s soul eichlerhomesforsale.com. The house that once felt like a sunny, airy pavilion can end up dark, closed-off, and “broken” in flow, disappointing anyone who expected that classic indoor-outdoor harmony.

Holy Virtue: Light and Transparency – The Glass Gospel. To atone for window heresy, one must re-embrace openness and transparency. The guiding virtue here is Indoor-Outdoor Communion – restoring the seamless flow of light and space Eichlers are famed for. In practice, this means choosing window replacements and treatments that honor the original look. If your old single-pane glass is failing, upgrade to slim-profile aluminum frame windows (with double glazing for efficiency) that closely mimic the originals eichlerhomesforsale.com. Modern manufacturers offer thermally broken aluminum windows that maintain sleek, minimalist sightlines – the frames are so thin they practically disappear, just like Eichler’s design intended. Steer clear of bulky vinyl or overly thick wood frames; as the City of Sunnyvale’s Eichler design guide notes, any necessary trim should be thin and painted to blend in, not stand out eichlerhomesforsale.com. For large openings, consider going even more dramatic: some Eichler owners install floor-to-ceiling glass wall systems (like NanaWall or Western Window Systems) that can fold or slide completely open, effectively re-creating the famed Eichler wall of glass. Rather than shutting out the yard, this invites it in – a virtuous move indeed.

Just as importantly, treat your atrium and patio as the sacred light wells they are. If some past sinner roofed over your atrium, contemplate reversing it or adding a large skylight to bring back the sky view. Avoid the impulse to cover every window with curtains; use bare windows or sheer panels to let the outdoors remain part of your decor. Privacy an issue? Opt for solutions that don’t kill the vibe: frosted glass for lower window sections, modernist screen walls, or well-placed landscaping can provide seclusion without shrouding your home in heavy drapery. An authentic Eichler virtue is to have sightlines from inside that end in greenery and sky eichlerhomesforsale.com – so embrace that! Throw open those sliders (perhaps upgrade to new high-efficiency sliders that glide like butter) and let the house breathe. In the daytime, your rooms should be flooded with natural light from multiple sides; at night, the glow from within should shine out through broad panes. By keeping the glass expansive and the connections open, you’ll preserve the “transparent” magic that makes an Eichler feel twice as big and infinitely more alive. Remember, Eichler himself preached the gospel of glass – and keeping the faith will reward you with a brighter, more valuable home.

An Eichler home façade in Granada Hills, showcasing the virtues of light and transparency. Note the expansive glass, minimal framing, and seamless indoor-outdoor connection – hallmarks of Eichler design unmarred by window heresy. Maintaining slim, unobstructed windows preserves the home’s original airy character. eichlerhomesforsale.com

Sin #4: Mahogany Massacre

There is perhaps no sin that raises an Eichler lover’s blood pressure more than what we’ll call the Mahogany Massacre: the destruction or defacement of the home’s original wood paneling. Classic Eichlers (especially 1950s–60s models) featured interior walls clad in 1/4-inch Philippine mahogany plywood, glowing with a warm honey-brown hue eichlerhomesforsale.com. These panels are as emblematic of Eichler design as the beams and glass. Tragically, many remodelers in decades past saw them as “dated” and either ripped them out in favor of plain drywall or – almost as bad – slathered them with thick paint. Painting over Eichler mahogany is often well-intentioned (to “brighten” the room), but it hides a core mid-century design element that can never be fully recovered eichlerhomesforsale.com. Real estate experts note that unpainted original wood walls have become a key selling point – they instantly signal authenticity – whereas a house of all-white drywall loses that Eichler charm and even resale value eichlerhomesforsale.com. As one passionate Eichler preservationist put it, destroying intact paneling is like “cutting the mahogany tree down all over again” – a crime against mid-century humanity! The Mahogany Massacre leaves behind a flat imposter: a room that might be bright, yes, but also characterless, stripped of the Eichler’s cozy modern vibe. Even worse is when paneling is removed and replaced with busy wallpaper or knockdown texture – sacrilege! If you’ve ever walked into an Eichler that’s been “sanitized” into a generic suburban interior, you know the feeling of loss. It’s as if the house’s heart has been removed.

Holy Virtue: Sacred Grain – Preserve or Replenish the Wood. The virtuous answer to this sin is a combination of restoration and intelligent updating. First, if you are blessed with original mahogany paneling that’s in decent shape, do everything in your power to save it. Often, years of neglect or a coat of paint stand between you and a gorgeous wood wall. Fortunately, experts say that even painted paneling can sometimes be stripped and refinished, and dull wood can be cleaned, lightly sanded, and top-coated to bring back the glow. Patience is key: use gentle cleaners to remove grime, test a hidden corner with a de-glosser or light stripper if paint is present, and consult specialty contractors if needed. The easiest fix, if your panels are sound, is simply a fresh coat of clear urethane after cleaning – it’s astonishing how a bit of sanding and satin finish can revive 60-year-old lauan plywood to like-new luster. This route is not only the cheapest, it’s also the “greenest” and most authentic, as one Eichler restoration expert quipped.

But what if prior owners already committed mahogany murder? All is not lost – you can become the resurrectionist. One approach is to introduce new wood accent walls that recapture the spirit. Many Eichler owners have sourced or recreated paneling using materials like mahogany veneer plywood, birch panels, or even vertical grain fir, staining them to echo the original look. There are suppliers (including those that advertise in Eichler-focused resources) that offer panels with the correct luan look or the grooved patterns of Eichler siding for interior use. Adding a single wall of wood in an otherwise painted room can instantly Eichler-ize the space, offsetting the white drywall with warmth and texture. If you don’t love the idea of all-paneled rooms, that’s okay – balance is a virtue. Perhaps keep the paneling in the living room or an entry feature, and use smooth drywall elsewhere, painted in a complementary mid-century color (think warm gray, sage green, or crisp gallery white). The key is to avoid dull uniformity and keep some wood in play. And if you truly insist on no wood at all, then at least honor Eichler’s minimalist ethos: use a high-quality skim-coated drywall finish and simple paint scheme, maybe with one accent color wall to nod at the original design eichlernetwork.com. As Tanja Kern (home improvement editor for CA-Modern magazine) advises, a “pop of texture or new wood paneling” on a single wall can restore lost character in an Eichler that went all-white. In summary, thou shalt not commit Mahogany Massacre. Treasure any surviving panels like the design gold they are, and if they’ve been lost, consider a measured rebirth of wood in your interiors. Even a small amount will make your Eichler feel like an Eichler again – a warm, inviting modernist haven rich with organic texture.

Sin #5: Stucco Sabotage

On the outside, an Eichler wears its materials proudly and honestly – or at least it should. The sin of Stucco Sabotage (and its cousin, Stone Veneer Vanity) is when an owner betrays the home’s original exterior finishes by plastering them over or cladding them in a false facade. Classic Eichlers most often feature wood siding: either vertical grooved plywood (like the iconic striated pattern siding) or board-and-batten planks, sometimes combined with areas of concrete block or brick that structurally anchor the design. These simple materials create a calm, planar look that lets the home sit humbly in its environment. Enter the saboteur: perhaps tired of repainting wood or seeking a “fresh” look, they cover the entire house in heavy stucco, or stick faux stone veneer to the front in a bid to modernize (or worse, “Mediterranean-ize”). The result is usually a tragedy. Slathering a heavy skip-trowel stucco over Eichler’s clean wood lines obliterates the home’s texture and DNA eichlerhomesforsale.com. The natural grain of the wood and the pattern of panels disappears under uniform plaster, erasing the mid-century character. Likewise, applying fake stone or brick veneers turns a once-authentic facade into a costume – a thin masquerade of a style that Eichler never was eichlerhomesforsale.com. These additions often age poorly as well, leading to cracks, delamination, and a patchwork look that is the opposite of Eichler’s intended simplicity. In short, by dressing an Eichler in a clunky “disguise,” one risks creating an architectural imposter that neither honors the original nor convinces as something else. It’s a lose-lose – and knowledgeable buyers will see it as such. (There’s a well-known lament among Eichler aficionados: “Why did they stucco over the siding?!” usually accompanied by a sigh and a shake of the head.)

Holy Virtue: Material Honesty – Keep It Real (Wood). The cure for Stucco Sabotage is to return to honest materials and Eichler’s original exterior palette. Virtually every expert agrees that preserving (or restoring) the wood siding is ideal whenever possible eichlerhomesforsale.com. If your Eichler still has its original redwood or Douglas fir siding, cherish it – repair rather than replace, and refinish it in period-appropriate colors (earthy tones, warm grays, or muted mid-century pastels). Wood does require maintenance, but it’s also part of what makes an Eichler authentic. Many owners find that sanding and re-staining or repainting the vertical siding can bring it back to life. And if sections are rotten, you’re in luck: companies like Eichler Siding specialize in manufacturing replacement panels that match the exact groove patterns used in Eichlers. With a bit of effort, you can patch in new wood and literally undo a past sin, piece by piece.

What if the deed is already done – say, a previous owner stuccoed the whole house? Consider streamlining it. One virtue here is Smoothness: Eichler exteriors were originally flat and spare, so if you’re stuck with stucco, you can re-finish it with a smoother coat in a flat texture, approximating the planar look of plywood. Paint it in an Eichler-esque color scheme (body in a neutral or wood-tone, with perhaps an accent pop on the front door) to recapture some mid-century vibe. Avoid overly rustic or rough textures. Additionally, mind the details: keep trim minimal, no extra fussy trim around windows (Eichler windows had no surrounding trims originally), and absolutely no fake shutters or decorative arches (those are false idols on a modern facade!). If stone must be used, let it be real and used sparingly – for example, a small accent of natural stone or brick that ties to a landscape element, not a whole fake stone wall. Remember Eichler’s rule: materials should appear structural and consistent. A real brick chimney that runs from outside to inside is great; a stick-on brick half-wall is not eichlerhomesforsale.com.

Ultimately, Material Honesty means showing authentic surfaces and acknowledging the house for what it is. Wood looks like wood, concrete looks like concrete – no unnecessary camouflage. If you have a painted brick feature, let it be seen both outdoors and indoors for continuity. If you have open-beam eaves, don’t box them in. And if you crave a new look, consider adding to the landscaping or other reversible changes rather than altering the house’s skin. Sometimes planting modern drought-tolerant gardens or adding a breeze-block screen can refresh curb appeal while complementing the Eichler facade (and those are easily removed or changed by the next owner, unlike a cementitious makeover). By keeping or reinstating the original cladding, you uphold Eichler’s legacy of straightforward, natural materials – a virtue that will not only make the architecture gods happy, but likely increase your home’s value. After all, an Eichler that looks like an Eichler is what enthusiasts seek; one that’s been turned into a faux Tuscan villa… not so much. As the wise say: beauty in an Eichler lies in its truth. So strip off that fake facade, and let your Eichler’s true face smile once again eichlerhomesforsale.com.

Sin #6: Ornamentation Overkill

Call this the sin of Gilding the Eichler – piling on decorative elements and traditional flourishes in a home that was born to be minimalist. Ornamentation Overkill happens when homeowners (perhaps coming from a more traditional house) can’t resist adding a bit of “cute” trim here, a touch of “class” there, eventually burdening the clean Eichler design with incongruous ornamentation. Picture this: a classic open-beam ceiling, now edged with crown molding and dotted with Victorian-style pendant lights. Or an entry door – originally a simple flat panel – replaced with a colonial six-panel door flanked by decorative coach lamps. We’ve seen Eichlers with faux Greek columns tacked onto their support posts, farmhouse-style barn doors inside, even rustic wagon wheels displayed in the yard as “decor” (yes, it has happened). These things might be lovely in another context, but in an Eichler they clash like a saxophone in a string quartet. Joseph Eichler’s architects deliberately “rejected ornamentation in favor of honest materials and indoor-outdoor harmony” eichlerhomesforsale.com – the beauty of these homes lies in their purity of form. So when scrollwork, crown molding, wainscoting, or overly elaborate fixtures are added, the result is a jarring dissonance. The once clean-lined interior now feels confused, neither fully mid-century nor something else. It’s akin to dressing a graceful modern dancer in a Baroque ball gown – the movements just don’t match the outfit. Beyond aesthetics, such additions can even devalue an Eichler because knowledgeable buyers recognize the cost (and desire) to remove those gilded embellishments and restore the home’s original simplicity eichlerhomesforsale.com.

Holy Virtue: Blessed Simplicity – Less Is More (Seriously). To purge this sin, one must embrace Chastity of design – a return to clean, unadulterated lines and forms. The Blessed Simplicity virtue calls for removing excess ornament and sticking to a “less is more” philosophy throughout your Eichler. Start by evaluating any stylistic additions: does that crown molding or trim serve a real purpose, or is it just decoration? In a true Eichler, ceilings meet beams with no mediation – so yank down that crown molding and let the drywall or wood meet the beam in a plain, honest junction eichlerhomesforsale.com. Have ornate baseboards or window casings been added? Swap them for minimal, flat stock trim or none at all (many Eichlers used little more than a beveled piece or metal channel at transitions). If previous owners installed traditional doors with panels, consider replacing them with flat slab doors (birch or lauan doors echo the originals and are readily available). Got a hankering for fancy light fixtures? Resist the urge to hang a crystal chandelier in your post-and-beam great room; instead, opt for iconic mid-century fixtures like globe pendants or simple drum shades. These will provide elegance and coherence with the home’s era.

Keeping Blessed Simplicity doesn’t mean your home can’t have personality or art – it just means the background canvas stays clean. Think of Eichler interiors as a zen garden: the architecture itself should be almost neutral and calming, allowing furniture, rugs, and art (which you can change with trends) to provide the color and flair. So, paint your walls a single hue (or two at most: maybe an accent wall in a retro color like teal or orange), and avoid busy patterns on things like tiles or backsplashes – choose solid colors or gentle textures instead. In renovations, choose flat-front cabinetry for kitchens and baths (slab cabinet doors were standard in Eichlers) and lean toward period-inspired hardware (simple cove pulls or flush pulls rather than ornate handles). If you feel something is too plain, remember that Eichler’s ethos was to let materials and space do the talking – for example, a plain brick fireplace wall running floor-to-ceiling becomes a stunning focal point when left unadorned by mantels or knickknacks. In fact, built-in planters and open shelves were often used in original Eichlers to avoid needing extra furniture or decoration eichlerhomesforsale.com.

Another aspect of this virtue is choosing mid-century appropriate decor elements if you want embellishment. Instead of Victorian sconces, maybe install a starburst clock or some Eames coat hooks – items that add fun or visual interest without violating the style. And by all means, if there are faux shutters screwed to the exterior windows, or gingerbread brackets under the eaves, send them to the gallows (or Craigslist)! An Eichler’s exterior should be as spare as its interior: simple fascia, flat panels, maybe a breezeblock screen as the most decorative element. The payoff for all this restraint is huge. When you purge the frills and furbelows, something magical happens: your Eichler’s architecture emerges in all its understated glory. The eye notices the rhythm of the beams, the sweep of the roofline, the harmony of the post-and-beam grid – rather than being distracted by doodads that don’t belong. As a bonus, maintaining a minimalist Eichler can actually make it feel more “high-end” (in that luxe, modern way) than any attempt to doll it up. It’s often said that in Eichler homes, the clean design is the luxury eichlerhomesforsale.com. Embrace that mantra, and you’ll have a space that feels both timeless and true to itself. In sum: edit ruthlessly. If in doubt, take it out. What remains will be pure Eichler – and purely delightful.

Sin #7: Second-Story Addictions (Hubris of Height)

Pride goeth before a fall – or in this case, before a tall. The final deadly sin is one of literal elevation: adding an out-of-scale second story or massive addition to an originally modest, low-profile Eichler. We dub this sin Second-Story Addictions (with a nod to the addictive allure of more square footage). It often stems from understandable desires – needing more space for a growing family, or the temptation to one-up the neighbors – but it can result in what is arguably the most jarring transformation an Eichler can undergo. Eichler neighborhoods were intentionally built as low-slung, human-scaled communities, where horizontal lines dominate and houses harmonize with the landscape. Slapping a big second floor onto a single-story Eichler can make it stick out like a proverbial Tower of Babel among the ranches. Not only does it alter the look from the street (bye-bye, streamlined roofline; hello, looming addition), it can destroy the very proportions that make the home feel right. Architects note that most post hoc second stories on Eichlers look “alien” to the original design Common missteps include two-story boxes that sit awkwardly on the roof, creating a top-heavy facade, or multi-level rooflines that clash with the Eichler’s clean geometry eichlerhomesforsale.com. There’s also a practical/interpersonal angle: second-story additions in Eichler tracts often raise privacy concerns, as suddenly one home towers over backyards that were once private, leading to neighborly wrath (and sometimes HOA or city restrictions). In essence, an ill-conceived second-story is seen by Eichler lovers as an act of hubris – prioritizing personal expansion over architectural integrity, the “greed” of square footage over the humility of the original vision.

Holy Virtue: Humble Profile – Respect the Low Roofline. The virtuous antidote to this is Humility in scale. Humble Profile means finding ways to live better in your Eichler without violating its horizontal, single-story character – or if you must expand, doing so with great care and respect. The simplest virtue is this: work within the existing envelope. Many Eichlers feel larger than they are (thanks to open plans and glass), so before you build out or up, ask if smarter interior design can meet your needs. Can you reconfigure rooms, finish a garage space into an office, or exploit that open atrium as a social area (perhaps with a retractable cover for rainy days)? Often, a creative remodel that re-purposes existing areas can yield the function of added space without physically enlarging the house. If more floor area is absolutely needed, consider ground-floor additions first. Eichler homes sometimes had side or rear patios that can be sensitively enclosed or extended into, maintaining the roofline and using matching materials so the addition is near-invisible. For example, one might extend a bedroom wing into the side yard under a flat roof that aligns with the original eaves, preserving symmetry. Done right, such expansions look like they were always there eichlerhomesforsale.com (pro tip: engage an architect who gets Eichler design – they’ll align beams, match window styles, and continue roof pitches so the addition blends in).

If a second story is your only path (perhaps a narrow lot precludes building outward), design it as if Eichler himself were doing it. That means setting it back from the front (so the street view remains mostly one-story), keeping the addition’s roof low-pitch or flat (no giant peaked “hat” on your modern house), and integrating windows that align with the originals’ geometry. A skillful architect can sometimes add a partial second floor – say, two bedrooms over the center of the house – and echo the Eichler form by using deep overhangs and vertical siding so it doesn’t look bolted on. There are actually a handful of Eichler-built two-story models; study those for cues, as they often put the second floor in a discrete wing and maintained balanced facades. The key is proportion: the addition should not overwhelm the original structure. When done with humility and skill, it’s possible for a second story to “feel” okay – but it’s a high bar, and even then purists may grumble. As Eichler’s own family member observed, most aftermarket second stories “largely do not work” and look out of place, so proceed with caution (and thick skin).

Finally, sometimes the greatest virtue is knowing when to stop. Owning an Eichler is partly about appreciating a certain minimalist lifestyle – smaller bedrooms offset by open common areas, a connection to outdoors that substitutes for endless indoor space, etc. Instead of conquering the sky, embrace living a bit more compactly and elegantly. Invest in storage solutions and multipurpose furniture that maximize utility in modest rooms. Enjoy your backyard as part of your living space (an Eichler’s design intent) rather than feeling you must enclose every square foot. This attitude of contentment with the home’s original scale is perhaps the ultimate holy virtue. It shows respect for the architecture and for your neighbors, and it usually results in a more aesthetically pleasing outcome. Your Eichler remains unmistakably an Eichler – just perhaps with some thoughtful tweaks – rather than morphing into a McMansion. In the end, the neighborhood and future stewards of the house will silently thank you for your restraint. Remember the proverb: the meek shall inherit the real estate. In Eichler terms, keeping a humble profile might just ensure your home remains the most coveted on the block – proof that staying true to the Eichler ethos is the greatest reward of all.

In closing, the Seven Holy Virtues of Eichler remodeling can be summarized as Structural Reverence, Grounded Authenticity, Transparency and Light, Sacred Grain, Material Honesty, Blessed Simplicity, and Humble Profile. Embracing these virtues transforms any Eichler renovation into an enlightened endeavor that enhances rather than corrupts the original design. We’ve seen how each deadly sin – from smothering beams to carpet blasphemy – has an antidote that not only fixes the mistake, but elevates the home to new glory. By preserving architectural integrity and infusing changes with informed mid-century modern principles, you become a worthy steward of Joseph Eichler’s legacy.

So go forth, ye modernists, and spread the gospel of authentic Eichler design. Let your post-and-beam temples shine with exposed structure, radiant floors, vast glass walls, warm mahogany, honest materials, and unadorned elegance. In doing so, you’ll have committed not acts of sin, but acts of supreme good taste – and ensured that your Eichler remains the iconic, joyful abode it was always meant to be. Amen to that, and happy remodeling!

Sources:

• Boyenga Team (Eichler Home Experts). “The 5 Rules of True Eichler Style (and What Breaks Them)”. EichlerHomesForSale.com. Highlights symmetry, indoor-outdoor flow, material honesty, minimalism, and how remodel missteps (like second-story additions, enclosed atriums, heavy stucco, or added ornamentation) can “break” Eichler design eichlerhomesforsale.com. Emphasizes preserving original materials (exposed beams, wood panels) and simplicity eichlerhomesforsale.com.

• Eichler Network (CA-Modern Magazine). “Accent on Modern Walls” by Tanja Kern, Fall 2018. Discusses options for Eichler interiors when original mahogany paneling is gone or damaged. Advises that restoring original paneling (cleaning, sanding, urethane) is the best and cheapest option if possible. Notes that unpainted wood walls are irreplaceable features that add Eichler character and value eichlerhomesforsale.com.

• Eichler Network Forums & Resources. Multiple threads and articles warn against common Eichler remodeling mistakes. Notably, carpeting over radiant-heated floors is discouraged – “Carpet is terrible for radiant heat” as it insulates the slab and reduces efficiency. Experts suggest using thin carpet or preferably restoring hard flooring (cork, concrete, etc.) to maintain comfort and authenticity. Also warned: painting mahogany paneling white can make an Eichler feel “tiny” and generic, akin to a mobile home, versus the depth and warmth of wood.

• Joseph Eichler’s Family Insights. Dwell interview (2020) with Eichler’s grandson, Edward Eichler. He notes that a few two-story Eichlers were originally designed that way, but most attempts to add a second story later look alien to Eichler’s design Recounts an Eichler renovation done in Southwestern style – objectively high-quality but felt completely out of place in a mid-century modern home. Reinforces that sticking to Eichler’s modernist style is crucial for a design that truly fits the house.

• Boyenga Team. “Replacing Windows & Sliders in Eichlers – Comprehensive Guide.” Emphasizes maintaining Eichler’s trademark slim aluminum window profiles when upgrading to double-pane glass eichlerhomesforsale.com. Warns that chunky vinyl frames or grids will “instantly ruin an Eichler” by breaking its clean lines eichlerhomesforsale.com. Recommends solutions like thermally broken aluminum frames in anodized finishes to closely mimic the original look while improving efficiency eichlerhomesforsale.com. Also notes the importance of keeping expansive glass for light and code-required safety upgrades (tempered glass) that can be done without altering appearance eichlerhomesforsale.com.

• Eichler Homes and Design Blogs. Numerous Eichler-focused blogs (Destination Eichler, Atomic Ranch features, etc.) echo these principles. They showcase successful remodels that preserve open-beam ceilings, use period-appropriate materials (e.g. globe lights, flat front cabinets), retain or re-create atriums, and use compatible additions (if any). These real-world examples demonstrate that informed innovation – upgrading an Eichler while respecting its original architecture – results in the most beloved and valuable outcomes. Each “deadly sin” above has its counterexamples of “holy virtue” remodels: from homes that had carpet removed in favor of cork flooring, to ones where owners painstakingly stripped paint off paneling to reveal the mahogany, to window replacements that are virtually indistinguishable from originals except in comfort.

By learning from both the cautionary tales and the success stories, one can avoid the seven deadly sins and instead achieve a remodel that is true to the Eichler spirit – where mid-century magic and modern living happily co-exist. eichlerhomesforsale.com