Budget Breakdown: It Took One Tree and $319K to Turn This Ranch House Into a Walnut Wonderland
Fallen timber provides inspiration—and fresh material—for a moody midcentury revamp in Ojai, California.
When Leah Bradley’s good friend, carpenter Kyle Titterud, gave her the inside scoop on an "as-is" fixer-upper he recently purchased in Ojai, California, her interest was piqued right away. The charming 1965 ranch home—in mostly original condition—is nestled among orange groves with scenic views of the Topatopa Mountains.
Bradley, a Costa Mesa–based landscape and interior designer, had already collaborated with Kyle on a previous project in Ojai, and his latest find felt like a natural fit for the carpenter-designer duo’s second project. "Kyle and I fell in love with the property after walking it together," recalls Bradley. "We knew it had so much potential."
With mountains in the background and fruit trees growing in abundance, the land was a big part of this Ojai home’s initial draw. "It was just a peaceful place to be, and I knew it would be such an amazing home," says landscape and interior designer Leah Bradley.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
Bradley chose a muted green for the home’s exterior. "I love how the plants all popped off it," she says. Bradley and Kyle updated the front porch with tile from Concrete Collaborative and a porch light and door handle from Schoolhouse.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
The home is sited on just over an acre of land in Ojai’s East End, and the idyllic landscape was an immediate draw for Bradley. "The road that leads to the driveway is lined with fruit trees and friendly horses peering over their fences," she says. "I instantly fell in love with the land and views. It was honestly so breathtaking."
Clearing the overgrown yard helped unlock views of the hills and orange grove from the home’s back deck.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
Before: Living Room
Before: The 1965 home had only seen light cosmetic changes over the years—like the tile on the fireplace, which was most likely added in the ’90s. "Inside, the ceilings were beautiful, but the flow was all off and the kitchen felt so closed off from the living space," says Bradley.
Courtesy of Leah Bradley
After: Living Room
While Bradley and Kyle initially wanted to remove the wall between the kitchen and the living room, they changed plans after discovering that it was loadbearing. "We ended up opening the wall up so you could see into the beautiful kitchen, and we made a custom hood vent with shelves," says Bradley. "Looking back, I am not sure I even would have wanted it removed now."
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
Although Bradley and Kyle planned to sell the property post-renovation, Bradley designed it with herself and her family in mind. "I knew it would likely be someone like me, maybe a family," she says of the eventual buyer. "I think I go into projects like this designing for myself, both in aesthetics and function."
| $5,000 Site Work | $15,000 Structural | $15,000 Wall Finishes |
| $10,000 Flooring | $20,000 Roofing | $5,000 Hardware |
| $10,000 Electrical | $10,000 Plumbing | $20,000 HVAC Equipment |
| $15,000 Landscaping | $3,000 Kitchen & Bath Fixtures | $3,000 Lighting |
| $40,000 Cabinetry | $5,000 Countertops | $20,000 Appliances |
| $15,000 Windows & Glazing | $5,000 Doors | $50,000 Millwork |
| $10,000 Tilework | $15,000 Furnishings & Decor | $15,000 Permitting |
| $5,000 Demolition | $8,000 Waste/Debris Removal | |
| Grand Total: $319,000 | ||
Bradley went back and forth before deciding not to paint the original living room ceiling. "I feared it’d have a cabin look, but I ultimately trusted my gut—and it turned out to be one of my favorite rooms in the home."
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
The living room features a pendant from Ochre and Silk, barstools from Häti Home, and a wool rug from Revival. The Zig Zag European walnut floors throughout the home are from Stuga.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
The two-bedroom, two-bathroom home—totaling just under 1,700 square feet—already had a good layout with the living room and each of the bedrooms clustered around an interior courtyard. "While the footprint stayed the same, by adding windows and opening up walls, we were able to create a whole new flow and endless views from every part of the home," Bradley explains.
Before: Kitchen
Before: The home’s vintage kitchen, pictured above, was closed off from the rest of the living space, and in need of modernization.
Courtesy of Leah Bradley
After: Kitchen
The revamped kitchen features custom walnut cabinetry by Stille Home—all made from a fallen walnut tree from Bradley and Kyle’s last project. "It’s rare to find a builder who can instantly understand the wild ideas in my head, and bring them to life even more beautiful than I imagined," says Bradley.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
When reimagining the home, Bradley drew inspiration from nature—and old thrifted interior books. "I had seen a home from the early 1900s built along the coast of California and it had this sort of minimal interior with wood tones, but it was filled of views of the meadows and whimsical hills outside," she says. "I fell in love with that concept."
Off the kitchen, the cozy dining area features a pendant from Twenty One Tonnes, canvas wall art from Upton, circular wood wall art from Brian Grasela, and dining chair from Häti Home.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
After: Guest Suite
The airy guest bedroom—as well as the primary bedroom—opens up to the back deck, with views of the pool, mountains, and orange trees. The bedroom’s linen curtains are from West Elm, and the Roman shades are from Select Blinds. "We tried to make the indoor space feel like part of that beautiful yard, so every room has picture windows highlighting the landscape and views," says Bradley.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
Bradley decided to go with darker wood hues for the interior—a departure from her previous projects. "As a designer, I am always trying to push myself to try new things," she says. "From the moment I stepped inside, I knew walnut was the wood we needed to use."
Serendipitously, the duo had found a large fallen walnut tree on the property of their previous project—and they salvaged enough timber to make all of the rancher’s cabinet fronts and closet doors, a custom bench, a built-in media unit, and panels for the living room walls.
The guest bathroom—one of Bradley’s favorite rooms—features a custom walnut vanity, and cement Bateau Everglade tile from Zia Tile. "I was a little nervous to go with such a bold, patterned tile, but I couldn’t be more obsessed with how it turned out," she says.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
After: Primary Suite
The primary bedroom features a built-in walnut bed handcrafted by Kyle. "Usually, finish carpentry is not something a builder can do. They outsource it, and then you hit walls with your designs being brought to life as you had imagined," says Bradley. "Kyle is able to make it happen, and he has the skill to bring it all to life exactly how I pictured it in my head."
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
The $319,000 renovation involved several big-ticket items—like a new roof and HVAC system—that Bradley and Kyle knew they would have to tackle going into the project. They added a skylight to the primary bathroom while overhauling the failing roof, and they introduced seamless vents in all of the rooms while upgrading the HVAC system.
While Bradley and Kyle were unable to expand the compact primary bathroom, they did introduce a skylight when the roof was replaced. "By adding a skylight and beautiful tile, we made it feel like a little spa even with it being a small footprint," says Bradley. Tile selections from Zia Tile include Apollo 12x12 for the floors and countertop, and Dune 4x4 for the shower walls.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
Before: Pool Area
Before: The pool was in need of TLC—Bradley and Kyle replastered it to bring it back to life.
Courtesy of Leah Bradley
After: Pool Area
After replastering the pool, Bradley and Kyle extended the wood deck seamlessly to the water’s edge.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
In budgeting for the renovation, Bradley prioritized the kitchen, as well as tile and flooring. "I splurged on lighting and tiles for sure!" she says—although she kept the project within budget by using salvaged walnut and spending carefully on landscaping. "I saved on plants by choosing native plants in smaller containers, as they will grow so quickly and happily in this environment," she says. "I’m excited to check back in on their growth a few months from now—it’ll look like a little wild California hillside with oranges all around."
After clearing overgrown plants that had taken over the yard—while preserving many mature trees that were already on the property—Bradley added over 200 native plants, which will grow and fill in over time.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
Even though Bradley won’t be living in the revamped Ojai rancher ("I had to convince myself I couldn’t move in!" she says), the property still felt like home as her kids played in the pool and ran through the groves picking oranges. "The smell of oranges and sage fills the home and makes it feel like a perfect mini retreat," Bradley says. "The interior is so cozy and welcoming, you never want to leave."
"I splurged on the deck in the back, but that made the biggest difference and it can be seen from all parts of the home," says Bradley. The new deck extends from the living room to the pool.
Photo by Jenavieve Belair
Floor plan of Ojai Citrus Ranch Home by Leah Bradley and Kyle Titterud
Illustration by Tim Lohnes
More Budget Breakdown stories:
After a $322K Revamp, an Australian Beach House Fends Off Flooding
They Built an $830K ADU With Attitude on a Steep Silver Lake Hillside
An Oregon Designer Turns a Quonset Hut Into a Guesthouse for $345K
Project Credits:
Builder/General Contractor: Stille Home / @stillehome
Landscape and Interior Design: Dirt Design / @we.are.dirt
Cabinetry Design/Installation: Stille Home
Photography: Jenavieve Belair / @jenavieve
Published
Last Updated