Should the budget for this E El Macero Drive whole home remodel go toward removing the vaulted cedar plank ceilings and custom millwork, or toward improving the rooms that surround them? In this 1985 custom home, the cedar ceilings and built-ins are defining features, running through the main living areas and giving the interior its warmth and scale. Demolishing these elements would mean replacing the strongest materials in the house and losing the architectural intent of the original build. I recommend keeping the cedar ceilings and millwork, and focusing the budget on updating the entry, kitchen finishes, and outdoor living spaces. This is my project plan for the family in this house on E El Macero Drive in El Macero.
Entry Foyer: From Tile to Wood, Framing the Arrival
The entry foyer in this house features tiled flooring that transitions to adjacent hardwood, with dark stained wood doors and trim beneath a vaulted cedar ceiling. The contrast between the heavy, dark entry and the lighter, more expansive living spaces is immediate. I would replace the foyer tile with a lighter-toned hardwood or stone, tying it visually to the existing wood floors and cedar overhead. Updating the entry door to a lighter finish or a more modern style would brighten the arrival and make the transition from exterior white-painted brick to interior woodwork feel more intentional. The goal is not to erase the house’s history, but to let the cedar ceilings and quality millwork remain the dominant materials, especially where the entry sets the tone for the rest of the home.
Living Spaces: Keeping the Connected Core
This house’s layout places all five bedrooms on the main floor, with a loft and recreation wing above. The formal living and dining rooms flow off the entry hall, while the great room, family-sized kitchen, and banquette dining area open to backyard and pool views. The kitchen already includes an oversized island, granite counters, pantry storage, and 220-volt electrical service. I would update the kitchen’s counters and appliances, but keep the island’s scale and the kitchen’s relationship to the great room intact. This approach preserves the open connection between the kitchen, great room, and pool, which is one of the house’s best features.
I see no need to remove additional interior walls or expand the open plan beyond what the house already offers. The existing room divisions, including the formal entry and the transition to the upper-level loft, provide useful changes in scale and privacy. The home’s central heating, multiple cooling units, and whole-house fan are sized for the current layout, and maintaining the core room divisions respects the way these systems serve the 5,407 square feet on two levels. The result is a living area that feels connected and bright, but still offers quieter, more private rooms for family members.
Outdoor Living: Patio, Pool, and the Roof
The covered patio and outdoor kitchen are directly accessible from the main living spaces, making the backyard an extension of daily life. The patio’s string lights, built-in grill, and seating overlook a lap pool with integrated spa, surrounded by travertine tile and grass. I would enhance the outdoor lighting for evening use, keeping the string lights as a warm accent, and consider adding shade structures or retractable awnings over the patio seating. Any new shade structure should be designed to work with the existing cement-tile roof and solar panels, which are key exterior features of this house. The solar array is positioned to maximize the California sun, and the steeply pitched rooflines are part of the home’s 1980s architectural character.
Before making any changes to the exterior, such as adding a shade structure, altering the roofline, or modifying landscaping along the driveway or front garden bed, the owners should consult the El Macero Country Club Architectural Review Committee. The Committee’s review applies to exterior modifications, and while current guidance does not require approval for interior remodeling, all exterior changes must comply with community standards (committee guidance).
Systems, Permits, and the Ground Beneath
This house sits on a flat 19,254 square foot lot, with Sycamore silt loam soil (drained, 0 percent slope) and a FEMA flood zone X designation, meaning minimal flood risk. The public sewer, public water, and underground utilities are already in place, and the house uses central heating, multiple cooling systems, and 220-volt kitchen electrical service. If the family wants to relocate plumbing, alter structural walls, or rewire, Yolo County Community Services Department Building Division requires building, plumbing, and electrical permits, with plan documents and inspections for significant interior changes (Yolo County permit information; plumbing permit information). The house’s two-story construction and main-level bedroom layout mean that moving major services or opening up new volumes would increase both cost and complexity. For this reason, I recommend keeping the kitchen’s plumbing and electrical locations, and focusing updates on finishes and fixtures.
This house’s character comes from its cedar ceilings, white-painted brick, and the way its living spaces open to the pool and golf course beyond the rear fence. My plan is to let those features lead, updating what feels dated and making the entry, kitchen, and outdoor spaces work better for the family, without losing what makes this home unique. If your El Macero home has the same generous rooms and distinctive woodwork, and you want to make them work for your family, I invite you to get in touch.