The Home Owners
Andrew and Lauren
$110,000
Andrew and Lauren purchased this home with every intent to renovate. They were charmed by some of the original 60s detailing, and loved the neighborhood. But they quickly realized that some of the feature design elements should have remained in the 60s, and that they needed help in order to bring the floor plan up to date, and to create a home environment that actually reflected their needs and style as a young, growing, modern family.
I wanted to help Andrew and Lauren with two main things:
In order to do this, we had to create a fresh design scheme for both the interior and exterior that embraced the couple’s traditional aesthetic while also allowing them to live in a more modern, functional environment.
Before, the exterior of this home was unremarkable. The L-shaped layout was exactly the same as all of those around it. The lack of ANY landscaping, combined with the dirt-pit yard made the home look neglected. There is no way you would look at this home and think, “a young, fun, vibrant, hardworking family lives here.” After, the bright fresh exterior looks both timeless and up-to-date. The grass and landscaping look well cared for. The front door and patio are inviting; a perfect spot to sit and watch the kids play at the end of the day.
When I first met Lauren, she walked up to me and said, “Hi! I’m Lauren. I want a kitchen island!” Not really, but pretty much! In order to make her dream a reality, we removed the upper cabinets, peninsula, and bulky coat closet from the room. Then we were able to reorient the entire space, and add a giant marble island. Open shelving, matte black plumbing fixtures, and a glossy white backsplash complete the modern classic kitchen, and a conveniently located wine-fridge is the icing on top!
Before, this living room was consumed by a two-sided fireplace. This original architectural feature that once seemed quirky, quickly became an overbearing space-suck that prevented the homeowners from living the open-concept lifestyle they dreamed of. In order to reorient the kitchen, create a dining space, and open up the floor plan, the fireplace had to go! Once that was done, replacing their college dorm-style decor with a more sophisticated, traditional collection of furniture elevated the space into an actual room that they would really want to live in.
Before, there was no dining room. The fireplace and kitchen orientation made it impossible to have a functional dining space. As a result, the room was a holding area for toys and other house detritus. It had no real purpose, and as a result, was more or less a wasted space. After, it is a beautiful calming space, open to the living room and kitchen, perfect for hosting everything from a casual family dinner to a sophisticated dinner party.
This project could not have been made possible without our amazing vendors as well:
General Contractor: Well Done Build Co | Sensory Cabinet for Kids: B and D Cabinets | UV Coating for Marble in Kitchen: Marble Yard | Landscape: Pacific Breeze Landscape | Panels on Front of Home: Out Deco | Exterior Stone: Site One
