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yler and Jessica Wichmann love midcentury design and have become preservationists of the design era. They restored and remodeled a 2,100-square-foot home, a gem built in 1976 in the Wildflower subdivision of Carmichael. The home features three bedrooms and two baths. Wildflower has 43 homes designed by architect Carter Sparks and built by the Streng Brothers. “It’s really special that a few of the original owners are still here,” Tyler says. “One couple has been here since 1975 and they customized their design. He was a plumber for Streng Brothers, so they got to make it really special.”
CH By Cecily Hastings Photography by Aniko Kiezel OPEN HOUSE
“This is the atrium model of this subdivision featuring a flat roof. We were instantly attracted to it as my wife and I are big plant people, and we’ve collected many cacti, succulents and houseplants over the years,” he says. The entrance opens to a large space with a huge skylight. The floors feature concrete walkways with indoor garden beds. Living spaces flow directly off this space for an indoor/outdoor feel. A bright green wall warms and dramatizes the space. “Ours originally had a huge Norfolk Island Pine tree growing inside that shaded the entire space,” Tyler says. But the couple had other ideas, especially when they discovered the beds were filled with pests. They removed the plants and soil and introduced a dry garden theme to feature their plant collection. “We haven’t watered anything in the last three months. Everything still grows because of the amount of light in the environment,” Jessica says. Now their new front yard dry garden extends inside. The covered entryway hints at what’s inside with bright glass
panels, burnt-orange paint and a small display of succulents. “We installed the same rock in the atrium that we used outside in the front, back and on the sides of the house for consistency,” Tyler says. The couple bought the home in August 2019 and immediately started on renovations. “The home’s original features were in very good shape, but it needed some 21st century updates,”
Tyler adds. “We were only the second owners of this home.” The couple replaced the HVAC systems, removed popcorn ceilings, and remodeled the kitchen and baths, using a light touch to preserve original details. Black steel windows and doors are original Blomberg, which are still made in Sacramento. “We wanted to keep the original footprint of the kitchen because, while
Jessica and Tyler Wichmann with baby Betty.
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