Before & After: Two Brothers List Their Swanky Midcentury Bachelor Pad for $1.6M

The 1950s L.A. residence sports a suave new look after a multiyear renovation.
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A midcentury home in Woodland Hills, California, returns to the market after a two-plus-year renovation. For owners Jordan Kuipers and his brother, what began as cosmetic updates quickly turned into a whole-house remodel that left no room untouched. A mismatched interior was swapped for swanky finishes, while interior walls were removed to open up the main living area and slot in a 22-foot sliding glass door overlooking the backyard pool. Other updates transformed the home inside and out.

Located in Woodland Hills, California, about 25 miles west of downtown Los Angeles, this midcentury home returns to the market after a two-and-a-half-year renovation. Sleek new finishes complement the home's original clean lines and classic features.

Located in Woodland Hills, California, about 25 miles west of downtown Los Angeles, this midcentury home returns to the market after a two-and-a-half-year renovation. Sleek new finishes complement the home's original clean lines and classic features.

"The goal when we bought the house was to do some general fixes like new floors, update the kitchen, and paint the house," says Jordan. "The inspection revealed the need for a new roof, but we wanted to do as much of the other work as we could ourselves."

Yet, as he and his brother started to rip out some of the previous finishes, other issues were exposed: crumbling pipes, including a water main to the street; a foundation not up to current building codes; and an HVAC system that went out. "We quickly realized we needed some professional help."

Before: The front facade was painted in earth tones.

Before: The front facade was painted in earth tones.

After: The facade sports a fresh new look with white paint, new landscaping and fixtures, as well as the addition of several glass doors and floor-to-ceiling windows.

After: The facade sports a fresh new look with white paint, new landscaping and fixtures, as well as the addition of several glass doors and floor-to-ceiling windows.

With their original plans in disarray, the brothers eventually decided to  redo the entire house. "We spent the next two years living in a construction zone, with no kitchen up until the last two months," explains Jordan.

Drawn to the home for its classic midcentury features, they made the most of the interior by reengineering several posts and beams to create an open living/dining room and kitchen across the rear of the home. "The kitchen had been previously reduced in size by about 30 percent to make way for a larger closet in the master bedroom," Jordan adds.

Today, the entryway opens into one large space, with the home's three bedrooms reorganized along a more private side of the interior.

Before: Entry 

Before the renovation, stone tile covered much of the entryway.

Before the renovation, stone tile covered much of the entryway.

A central post and half wall previously divided the living and dining area.

A central post and half wall previously divided the living and dining area.

After: Entry and Dining Area

After, the entryway flows into an open living/dining room and kitchen. The ceiling was reengineering during the renovation to allow for the removal of the post. 

After, the entryway flows into an open living/dining room and kitchen. The ceiling was reengineering during the renovation to allow for the removal of the post. 

A new glass front door and window brighten the entryway with natural light.

A new glass front door and window brighten the entryway with natural light.

Before: Living Room

The previous living area mixed various materials along the floors and walls.

The previous living area mixed various materials along the floors and walls.

The living area was also divided by a raised floor around the perimeter. The kitchen was tucked into an alcove along one side.

The living area was also divided by a raised floor around the perimeter. The kitchen was tucked into an alcove along one side.

After: Living Room

The living room is now a single open space, with heated concrete floors replacing the previous flooring combinations. A storage cabinet was also removed from the left corner to create a new bar area.

The living room is now a single open space, with heated concrete floors replacing the previous flooring combinations. A storage cabinet was also removed from the left corner to create a new bar area.

Across the back of the room, a new 22-foot Fleetwood sliding glass door overlooks the patio and pool.

Across the back of the room, a new 22-foot Fleetwood sliding glass door overlooks the patio and pool.

Before: Kitchen

A look at the original kitchen.

A look at the original kitchen.

After: Kitchen

A 12-foot island takes center stage in the new kitchen.

A 12-foot island takes center stage in the new kitchen.

The space also features white oak cabinetry and quartz countertops, along with additional details such as LED light strips illuminating the sides of each beam.

The space also features white oak cabinetry and quartz countertops, along with additional details such as LED light strips illuminating the sides of each beam.

Before: Family Room

Opposite the entryway, the family room previously offered a large window but no access to the front deck.

Opposite the entryway, the family room previously offered a large window but no access to the front deck.

Another view of the family room prior to the renovation.

Another view of the family room prior to the renovation.

After: Family Room

Today, the white-painted stone fireplace falls in line with the overall aesthetic.

Today, the white-painted stone fireplace falls in line with the overall aesthetic.

New sliding glass doors provide direct access to the front deck.

New sliding glass doors provide direct access to the front deck.

Completing the rest of the nearly 3,200-square-foot interior, each of the bedrooms and bathrooms received a similar aesthetic treatment—including built-in white oak wardrobes and new finishes. 

The renovation also corrected layout issues. "A powder room had been walled off from the main living space, and you had to walk through the master bath to get to the bedroom," Jordan says. "The only thing that kept me excited, even after two and a half years, was knowing the home's real potential."

Now, just weeks after wrapping up the project, Jordan and his brother are selling as their jobs relocate across the country. Currently listed for $1,595,000, the home sits on a .21-acre lot and also includes a lower-guest suite with kitchenette. Keep scrolling to see more of the renovation.

New sliding glass door were also added to open up the bedrooms to the outdoors.

New sliding glass door were also added to open up the bedrooms to the outdoors.

Like much of the home, both of the two full bathrooms were completely gutted and updated.

Like much of the home, both of the two full bathrooms were completely gutted and updated.

A glass-walled hallway connects several of the bedrooms with the main living area.

A glass-walled hallway connects several of the bedrooms with the main living area.

Before: Outdoor Spaces

A look at the patio and pool before the renovation.

A look at the patio and pool before the renovation.

After: Outdoor Spaces

A resurfaced pool and new deck await in the updated backyard.

A resurfaced pool and new deck await in the updated backyard.

The front of the home offers an additional outdoor space for entertaining.

The front of the home offers an additional outdoor space for entertaining.

21115 Dumetz Road in Woodland Hills, California, is currently listed for $1,595,000 by Shane Nichols of Rodeo Realty.

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