Emlen Fischer and Ayla Christman didn’t expect to buy a home in Palo Alto, Calif. But when they stumbled upon a 1966 modernist house designed by an associate of Frank Lloyd Wright, they couldn’t resist. As renters, the couple, both in their early 40s, had been casually browsing real estate listings. “We’d take our kids along, and they’d run through houses and hide in closets. It was just for fun,” shared Ms. Christman, a photographer. But this house was different. The moment they saw the low, crumpled roof line, they knew they’d found something special. “We looked at each other and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going to have to buy this place,’” Mr. Fischer recalled. The home, designed by Aaron Green, had retained much of its original charm. The couple was determined to preserve its unique character while updating it for modern living. Over the next two years, they worked with architects and designers to carefully renovate the space, balancing the old with the new. Today, the house stands as a testament to their vision—a blend of mid-century design and contemporary comfort. For Fischer and Christman, it wasn’t just a renovation project; it was a labor of love.