The houses that line the streets of San Mateo where Balance House is located were developed in the 1940’s to absorb the huge number of returning World War II vets who settled in the San Francisco Bay Area. The style and massing of each home is slightly varied from one to the next but follow a similar pattern. The housing stock has largely remained unchanged in the intervening years but is now beginning to reflect a new generation of homeowners moving into the neighborhood. The owner of Balance House is part of this new generation and wanted to modify his home to suite his needs. He wanted to distinguish his house from the others in the neighborhood as well as accommodate his growing family. The changes to the home focused on the front entry and the addition of a master bedroom suite over an existing garage. The new front façade is a balanced composition of volumes expressed in two materials: horizontal cedar siding and crisp white cubes. Visitors to the home are greeted by a two-story entry hall that leads to the public spaces and living room level. The master bedroom situated at the top of the stair looks out towards views of the San Francisco Bay through sliding pocket doors and a wood trellis covered deck.