Eichler Orange: Designer Lin He Updates an Eichler in Orange, California

Eichler Orange living room — Lin converted this space, originally a bedroom with a closet, into an office to accommodate the needs of the current homeowners.

For many Mid Century Modern enthusiasts, finding the delicate balance between past and present is an arduous yet fulfilling aspect of appreciating this design style. When an Eichler home came on the market in Orange, California, part of the larger Eichler tract home neighborhood in the area, award-winning designer Lin He saw an opportunity to restore the home’s former glory. The founder and president of Rellion Inc., Lin got his start in the design world remodeling homes in Newport, California. He started his own company as a way to further his goals in developing and redeveloping homes. “In any project, there are three players: the homeowner, the designer and the house itself,” he says. “The interaction of these three is what it all comes down to.”

Eichler Orange outdoor fireplace — Lin maintained the original design of the front exterior of the home with some minor updates. “I didn’t use the original pink and white, but instead chose cooler tones,” he says. Aside from the wall and door color change, all other architectural features are original. “You will notice that there’s no trim around the windows and doors,” he says. “After all these years, those doors are still in perfect shape and work great.”

When Lin first purchased the home, the backyard presented a challenge. “It was like a jungle,” he says. “It was hard to walk because it was overgrown.” After clearing it out, he brought in new plants, furniture and a fireplace to be cohesive with the rest of the home design.

Making Eichler Orange a Time Capsule

As Lin’s passion and skill for design and architecture continued to grow with each project, he found a particular interest in Mid Century Modern design. “For years I knew that one day, I would do a mid century home, and I finally got the opportunity to work on one,” he says. The homeowners, a recently deceased elderly couple who had occupied the home for decades, had kept much of the original features of the 1954 home intact. However, time had taken its toll, and there was a need for some restoration. “I saw it was an Eichler home and could see the potential,” Lin says.

Eichler Orange dining room with palm tree wall decor — When Lin first purchased the home, the backyard presented a challenge. “It was like a jungle,” he says. “It was hard to walk because it was overgrown.” After clearing it out, he brought in new plants, furniture and a fireplace to be cohesive with the rest of the home design.

Taking his queues from the heavily preserved original design, Lin set out on a mission to restore the home with a strong emphasis on authenticity. “The design is beautiful and simple, with a great indoor and outdoor connection and a layout that feels very current,” he says. To get inspiration, Lin traveled to mid mod meccas like Los Angeles, San Diego and Palm Springs; read many books; had discussions with Eichler experts; and did research with vendors into the original materials used in the home. “I found period-accurate appliances and even the same colors that Eichler used,” he says. “I was very religious about it.”

Finding the Balance

While Lin decided to keep the layout nearly identical to Eichler’s original design, he made a few modifications for contemporary standards. Since the home had no air conditioning, he added a mini-split system instead of an HVAC system, due to a lack of attic space. “This was especially important given the fact that there are a lot of glass walls, and they are all single-pane glass,” he says. He also reconfigured the master bathroom to allow for double vanities and sinks instead of the single vanity and sink in the original. “This was the only thing we changed, because I truly appreciated the design,” he says.

Another way Lin brought in contemporary updates was through furniture. “I wanted the house itself to be as authentic as I could make it, but I decided to use a more current design for the furniture,” he says. He shopped at Palm Springs’ Modernism Week as well as online shops with retro styles to get pieces that reflected mid century design with a contemporary twist.

A Second Chance for Eichler Orange

After his work was completed, Lin put the house up for sale, and people from all over the country arrived to tour the restored Eichler home. Before the very first open house, the nephew of the original homeowners came to see the fruit of Lin’s labors. He had lived with his aunt and uncle in the home before they passed away and had inherited the house. “He told the agent that this is better than the original and that his aunt and uncle would be very proud,” Lin says. “I’m just happy that I finally put closure to this chapter.”

While the restoration was a success in its mission for an authentic Mid Century Modern style, Lin decided that the “time capsule” needed some further style updates to make it more inviting to contemporary homeowners. “I decided that I wanted to do more of a current interpretation of Mid Century Modern,” he says. This second renovation included changes to the palette, as well as updates to some of the original furniture and appliances. “I made the areas that people use the most more current, like the kitchen and bathrooms,” he says.

Eichler Orange home office — Lin converted this space, originally a bedroom with a closet, into an office to accommodate the needs of the current homeowners. “I put in new carpet, new paint and removed the closet,” he says. He chose to install shelves where the closet once had stood, opening up the space.

Eichler Orange kid's bedroom — One of the important aspects of Lin’s design is his focus on keeping the look and feel of the home as authentic as possible. In the master bathroom, the original Formica countertop needed repair, so Lin replaced it with new Formica. “It is new, but it looks like it was from the ’50s,” he says. The red finish on the vanity cabinets, as well as the framing, is original; Lin just changed the paint color of the cabinets for a more updated look. “The original sinks were wrought iron, so I got new ones except [for the] porcelain,” he says.

When asked if there were challenges during the first and second renovation projects, Lin says yes. “There were a lot, because there is a balance between preservation and the current living standard,” he says. “I was trying to do the right thing and strike that balance.” Even with some of the changes he made, Lin still admires the genius and beauty of the original design by Eichler. “The architectural design uses simple materials and design elements to create a timeless design that still resonates with today’s homeowners,” he says.

A Tale of Two Remodels

Perhaps the best example of Lin’s progression of work can be seen in one of the most important rooms in any home: the kitchen. When he first purchased the home, he saw that the previous owners had preserved the layout and features, but the passage of time had left its mark. “I found period-accurate appliances and even the same colors that Eichler used,” he says. “I was very religious about it.”

For the first renovation, Lin focused on maintaining as much of the original design as possible but did make some changes. He removed the cabinets above the bar that blocked the light and view from the windows. “I removed it to create a more open and continuous place,” he says. Now with a clear view to the windows, the space had a brighter feel. “All the wall panels are the original color,” he says. He also restored the wall cabinets with authentic Eichler colors that he uncovered during his research.

For the second renovation, Lin opted for more current features, while still paying homage to the original design. One feature he changed was the bar space. “I chose an island with a white countertop space, since that is more current and what people want,” he says. He also switched out the appliances for more functional, contemporary options.

The flow between interior and exterior spaces is a hallmark of Mid Century Modern design and a feature that Lin wished to preserve in his projects. “What I was most impressed with and loved was the overall architectural design and workmanship,” he says. “This includes the concept of indoor-outdoor living.”

For more on the builder behind Eichler homes, read more about Joseph Eichler himself. And for more Mid Century Modern inspiration, renovation tips, success stories and more stay tuned here and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Atomic Ranch articles and ideas!