I live next door to a Secret Mountain Laboratory. It’s not really in the mountains. And it’s not exactly secret. But what it is, is yet another famous Palo Alto garage where creative things happen. The mad scientist behind SML is Jan, who on most days wears a white lab coat with “Dr. Technology” embroidered […]

At last, a change from all the cookie-cutter townhouses I’ve been seeing lately. This four-unit live/work building went for the super-trendy Dwell look, with dark cabinetry, bamboo floors, glass tile, spa-worthy fixtures, and industrial styling. While the luxe finishes are lovely, I have my doubts about some of the other design choices. First, there’s no

Welcome to one of the smallest houses in Palo Alto, on one of the shortest private lanes. Since this house is in the entry-level market, there will always be a strong demand for it. It’s walking distance to great schools, a farmer’s market, and Whole Foods. The houses to the right and left on either

It was an accident, really. Having planned on seeing a condo, I was driving around West Bellevue when an “open house” sign lured me into Medina. Geographically, Medina is really just part of West Bellevue, but it has its own government and is technically its own little city. While you can still find a decent