Renovation: 800 Square Feet
While in the process of helping his father find a suitable home closer to his family, Sacramento designer Curtis Popp realized he had everything he needed to provide his dad, an artist, with the comfortable, modern environment he always desired. One half of a 1950s ranch-style duplex owned by the designer’s mother—amicably separated from his father long ago—opened up, providing 800 square feet of space for the redo.
Knocking down a stifling wall separating the living room and kitchen, Popp opened the space to bring light in and create a fitting canvas for his father’s contemporary artwork and modern furnishings he’s collected over the years—all in an easily managed, single-level layout. Acting as the project manager and construction lead and relying on floor sales and extra materials from other projects, Popp was able to completely transform the two-bedroom, one-bath apartment for a total of $45,000, which he says “won’t even buy you cabinets in some remodels.”
Describing his dad as “a great, and grateful, client,” Popp says he had carte blanche, within his budgetary restrictions, to “do something really interesting, really cool for my dad, who said he didn’t want to hinder the project with a lot of requests.” Indeed, the project shows a clear, singular vision in an area that is just starting to awaken from its long design hibernation: the Eichler houses are becoming more recognized, and one of Popp’s clients recently organized Sacramento’s first mid-century modern house tour. Though it took some convincing to pry his father away from the idea of living in the much farther away, mid-century modern haven that is Palm Springs, Popp’s father told him after moving in, “I’m so glad I am where I am.”
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Tell Curtis "nice work!" He can do my place in Beirut!!!
The only thing I wasn't crazy about is the bathroom. The tiles are awful!
Lovely place. I really like the thought of more and more people designing universally.
I agree, I'm not a fan of the bathroom tiles but do like the simplicity, All-in-all - a great place! GOOD JOB, and happy living :o)
That living room carpet is hideous with those chairs, and it's way too close to the fireplace, lamp does not match the room, furniture does not go with the wall treatments, what is going on here?
Really I don't think that living room is hideous at all. I love the mix of the elements. It's obviously a very personal statement, a very welcoming one. Art is very personal too. Why would you match your art to your furniture??? That's not art, that's wall "decoration."
I LOVED the tiled bathroom...simple and beautiful! Overall, great renovation and self-portrait too.
I agree.. New WC and new tiles in the bathroom would help.. everything else breath-taking..
Other than the carpets which seem dated and from the wrong century, I really like this project. Nice to see someone not go overboard on cost.
I agree that the rug is dated and suggest the idea that is often difficult for me is combining pleasantry with often requested Feng Shui.
"rug is dated" "carpets which seem dated" "living room carpet is hideous" Ask yourself why every element needs to be homogeneous with specific style?
i like mixing very old and new. so the rug and chairs don't bother me at all. i like the juxtaposition. and of course, you don't buy art that matches your sofa. or vice versa. but if you have to do it one way, match the sofa to the art. or else you can just go by a 20 dollar monet print. or whatever. i think the dining zone (ridiculous) chairs look awful and awful uncomfortable. i don't care who made them. and that sad little orange pad is ... sad. i think the bathroom is sterile and looks a bit institutional. is that where the tiles came from? they might drive me there. this is a half and half for me. like the 'living zone' and 'bar zone', dislike the rest. for being orange and white. and for looking plastic and like a creamsicle.
To quote the Big Lebowski..."That rug really tied the room together.."
I love this place. The rug is beautiful and is a perfect fit! I might have chosen other tile in the bath, but it still looks good and was inexpensive too! The Bertoia chairs are great! and they are very comfortable, I suggest that critics of this space should try or experience the products they anticipate as being uncomfortable ... before criticizing! The kitchen is awesome, the orange is so very vintage and the pulls are so great! This is a great mid-20th century renovation !
I'm actually going to take a somewhat contrarian view and say that the rug is a nice contrast to the otherwise modern look of that space.
This is one great place! All the elements contrast nicely with each other. Would love to be at a party there, going from kitchen to living room and the nice little spot in the corner by the painting. The bathroom is the only sketchy part and I think it would probably be nicer in photographs than in reality, just seems a bit too prison-like for my tastes. Oh, and with the kitchen, "powder-coated stainless steel"??? If that is right that would be a bit of a waste of money - like rubbing sunscreen on the brim of your sun-hat. All in all though, terrific space!
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