70 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {home & design} milieu for creative collaboration begins with connection. “For me, it’s mainly listening,” says the naturally shy designer. “I observe a lot,” assessing the visuals conveying their likes and wants: in short, their style. “They may say, ‘I don’t have a style.’ But we all have a style.” Initial conversations brought these Los Altos Hills clients to a unifying theme for the whole project: open space and natural light. With this, they sought to honor their French heritage and their current lifestyle in every aspect of the remodeling. After presenting the timeline and all costs up front, Kanika hit a snag when she and the general contractor from Lasal Construction carried out an inspection for earthquake insurance purposes. Finding significant degradation in founBEFORE PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF KANIKA DESIGN Apair of Franco-Californians stood at the threshold of a new era in their lives, as he retired and she pursued her European wine import business. When they opened the door to Kanika Design to remodel their 1977 Los Altos Hills home, they welcomed in a world of change. Kanika Bakshi-Khurana came to the project with more than just design experience. She spent her first 10 years of life in India, and later, with husband/managing partner Adi Khurana, traveled to 60-plus countries, immersing herself in the different colors, cuisines and people. The homeowners loved Kanika’s quick response to their inquiry and the designer’s willingness to meet with them personally from the outset. “It’s not the materials. What makes a house beautiful is you,” Kanika explains to clients. “It’s your energy.” So the right Some of the original terracotta tile (seen below) was salvaged and used in the dining room.
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