985 Helena Dr, Sunnyvale

The residence at 985 Helena Dr in Sunnyvale, California sits on a substantial lot of approximately 7,992 sq ft and offers some 2,150 sq ft of living space, built in 1961. The design carefully negotiates the balance between suburban domestic comfort and spatial clarity. On arrival, the home’s relationship to its lot and surrounding context is evident in its one-story form: the single-story layout allows for full engagement with the yard; the width of the frontage (72 ft) emphasises a generous sense of place. Internally, the arrangement of four bedrooms and three bathrooms is coherently organised so the private zones (bedrooms) are set apart from more public living-areas, supporting both family ease and formal entertaining.  Large windows and sliding glass doors link the interior with the landscaped backyard and spa area, inviting fluidity between inside and outside. The open concept living room flows into the dining space and kitchen, enabling light to travel deep into the plan despite the home’s single-level footprint. Thoughtful updates and refinements respect the home’s original structure while enhancing comfort and flow.  Materially, the home reflects a mid-century sensibility: wood framing, good construction quality for its era. The generous lot allows for mature landscaping and outdoor amenities, which enhance wellness, tranquillity and a connection to nature an important counterpoint to the proximity of the wider urban context of Sunnyvale. Though the home lacks some of the dramatic vertical articulation of a multi-story residence, its horizontal openness, clear zoning of public-vs-private, and seamless indoor/outdoor flow offer a pleasing and functional architecture that supports modern living. With its well-situated location in a top-school-district area and its lot size, the property brings together suburban calm and spatial refinement in one piece of architecture.