CASE STUDY

The Kellogg House
Brand & Web Design

A landmark 1947 modernist retreat by John Hans Ostwald, restored and enhanced to embrace a seamless blend of original architectural intent and contemporary comfort.

  • The owners of The Kellogg House, a historically significant mid-century modern home, needed a brand and website that could do justice to its legacy. The challenge was twofold:

    1. Brand Identity – How to position the property as more than just another real estate listing, but as a timeless piece of architectural history.

    2. Digital Presence – How to create a site that conveyed sophistication and respect for mid-century modern design while still serving the practical needs of showcasing images, floorplans, and listing details in a clear, accessible way.

    The existing market of property sites often felt cluttered, transactional, or generic—none of which aligned with the elegance and restraint that the house demanded.

  • Developed a minimalist, heritage-inspired brand identity paired with a custom website that elevated the listing into an immersive storytelling experience.

    • Branding Approach: The name Timeless Midcentury was chosen to underscore longevity and elegance, evoking both nostalgia and modern relevance. Typography and color palettes drew from mid-century cues—clean lines, muted neutrals, and subtle contrasts—so the brand itself felt like an extension of the architecture.

    • Website Experience: Instead of a typical “real estate template,” the site was designed as a digital coffee-table book. The focus was on high-quality visuals, curated white space, and simple navigation—allowing the home’s photography and history to take center stage.

    This approach transformed the property’s online presence from a listing into a brand story.

  • The project came to life through a series of carefully considered design decisions:

    1. Visual Identity

      • Crafted a typographic system with bold sans-serifs for headlines and elegant, understated text for body copy.

      • Built a neutral color scheme (warm whites, soft grays, deep charcoals) to frame images without distraction.

      • Designed a subtle logo lockup that worked seamlessly across web and print.

    2. Website Design & Development

      • Developed a responsive, image-driven site where photography was given priority over text.

      • Integrated an easy-to-use gallery and video tour, emphasizing fluid browsing.

      • Structured content to balance history, architecture, and modern updates without overwhelming the user.

    3. Brand Storytelling

      • Wove together narrative copy that contextualized the home’s architectural pedigree while maintaining an approachable, lifestyle-oriented tone.

      • Positioned the property as a heritage brand rather than just a house for sale—an important shift in how potential buyers emotionally connect with the listing.

Screenshots of a website showcasing various architectural projects, including a tree-covered estate, a modern house, and interior rooms with furniture.

A RARE, INTACT EXAMPLE OF EARLY CALIFORNIA MODERNISM—CRAFTED AT A TIME WHEN THE MOVEMENT WAS STILL TAKING SHAPE.

A digital display of real estate or architectural presentation featuring a website, a mobile phone with a black and white photo of John Hans Ostwald, and photographs of a modern mid-century home. The display includes contact information for Tom Doran and Jeanne Vandresce, and an overlay of the Keller House architecture and history.
A website homepage showing a mid-century modern house with a pool, outdoor seating, beach chairs, and umbrellas, displayed on a computer and a mobile device.

The final result was a cohesive digital brand presence that elevated the Kellogg House beyond a standard real estate listing. The website delivered an elegant, image-driven experience tailored to high-end buyers while maintaining clarity and ease of use. Through consistent branding, restrained design choices, and thoughtful storytelling, the project reinforced the enduring value of mid-century modern architecture and positioned the property as both a home and a piece of design history.

A folded brochure showcasing modern home interiors and exterior features, including a swimming pool, kitchen, living room, and garden.
A brochure for The Kellogg House featuring images of a modern house with an outdoor pool, a kitchen interior, and text describing the house's design and features.