Welcome to the eighty-ninth post in the series
"Living Large in Small Spaces".
Built in 1931, this 985 sq ft charmer, the second home of a Los Angeles couple, has recently undergone an extensive restoration. During the exterior renovation the flat roof was replaced and the original clay tiles were restored.
The front door opens into the living area where the picture window offers views of the city of Santa Barbara, the Pacific ocean and the Channel Islands. The reupholstered vintage sofa was positioned to allow for traffic flow from the door to the dining room.
The front door opens into the living area where the picture window offers views of the city of Santa Barbara, the Pacific ocean and the Channel Islands. The reupholstered vintage sofa was positioned to allow for traffic flow from the door to the dining room.
An iron chandelier in the dining room is typical of Spanish Colonial Revival homes. Wire chairs were chosen for their visual openness in the small space.
The refinished hardwood floors are original to the home. To brighten the kitchen, the old green tile was replaced with yellow tile in a similar retro style and pattern.
The new custom made kitchen cabinets are similar to the originals. Cabinets extend to the ceiling to maximize storage.
Colorful Heriz rugs bring warmth to the rooms.
A new Dutch door leads out to the backyard. All the door hardware is original to the home, as are all of the interior doors.
To the left of the refrigerator a stackable washer and dryer are hidden behind the cabinet doors. Metal mesh grilles used in the panels are repeated on the cabinet doors below the sink. The Dishmaster faucet looks old, but it's actually new. I remember seeing Dishmaster units in mid-century homes and didn't realize until now that they're still available for purchase.
All fixtures in the bathroom are new, except the original tub which was refinished. The new mint green and black tile, built-in medicine cabinet and pedestal sink look like they've always been there. I appreciate the placement of the pedestal sink between the cabinets. This really solves the problem that often occurs with sinks of this type: not enough surface room for grooming tools. Brilliant.
The lights and knobs are reproductions. Whether the apothecary jars and shaving mirror are actually vintage pieces or reproductions, they're a perfect addition to the bathroom.
The home has two small bedrooms, one of which we see here. Though minimally furnished, it is a lovely room. A neutral jute rug allows the stunning bed to take center stage. The marble light on the nightstand is an antique and the ceiling light is a period reproduction.
An outdoor dining area is accessed from the kitchen. The top of the table is concrete.
Succulents and drought-tolerant plants line a gravel path to the backyard.
Many of the stone walls are original to the property. Old salvaged stone from other projects was used to construct additional retaining walls.
In addition to the outdoor dining space, two other areas were created for relaxing.
You can see more of this home, including before photos and information about paint colors and furnishings in the Houzz article here.
Remodel and interior design by Clark Collins of Collins Design & Development; landscape design by Grace Design Associates.
Photos by Holly Lepere, Clark Collins and Eric Foote.
Photos by Holly Lepere, Clark Collins and Eric Foote.
Join me next Saturday for another post
in the special series
Living Large in Small Spaces
in the special series
Living Large in Small Spaces
