Merging Inside and Out, an L.A. Firm Modernizes a 1940s Abode
When HH Design first saw this compact, 1940s stucco home outside Santa Monica, California, its street appeal was nonexistent.
A diseased lemon tree obscured the facade, and the front yard was full of rocks. The interior hadn't fared much better: the 1,000-square-foot house had three bedrooms and a bathroom, but they all felt cramped and dark. With its proximity to Marina Del Rey and the beach, the house had great potential to be a vacation getaway for its new owner—it just needed the upgrades that would let him enjoy the California climate.
HH Design delivered with an overhaul of the entire lot, which included the main home, the front and back yards, and a garage studio conversion. The firm created seamless, modern, indoor-outdoor living, all without expanding the home an inch.
Keep reading to see how they did it.
Front Facade Before
Photo courtesy of HH Design
Front Facade After
Front Facade - View From Street
Amy Bartlam
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Front Yard Before
Photo courtesy of HH Design
Front Yard After
Front Deck & Entry Door
Amy Bartlam
HH Design took advantage of the yard's set-back position by adding a large deck off the great room, accessible via the double doors, thereby extending the interior to embrace the front yard. Oversized dark aluminum windows produce exterior cohesion and bring much needed light inside. The material palette includes the mahogany deck and privacy screen, smooth stucco, and a coral stone gravel patio. Carl Balton + Associates brainstormed the planting plan and selected species for a drought-tolerant landscape.
Front Entry Door & Privacy Screen
Amy Bartlam
The front door was repositioned to maximize interior living space. The charcoal fencing is stained with Benjamin Moore's Arbor Coat in the color Cheating Heart.
Before: Living, Dining, Kitchen, Hallway
Photo courtesy of HH Design
Photo courtesy of HH Design
Photo courtesy of HH Design
Photo courtesy of HH Design
After
Great Room & Kitchen
Amy Bartlam
What was once three squeezed rooms is now one great open space, thanks to the removal of a dividing wall and newly vaulted ceilings. This area's footprint essentially stayed the same. The bedrooms were rearranged slightly to carve out a circulation spine down the center of the house that connects to the backyard.
Open Kitchen & New Vaulted Ceiling
Amy Bartlam
In the new kitchen, a ten-foot island is a cook's dream. White gloss custom cabinetry, glass tile in a sage color, and engineered oak floors in an eggshell finish form a soothing palette.
Open Kitchen & New Vaulted Ceiling
Amy Bartlam
The kitchen looks to the new double doors and oversized windows at the front.
Before: Bathroom
Photo courtesy of HH Design
After
Custom Master Bath Vanity
Amy Bartlam
Master Bath Detail Shelf
Amy Bartlam
Custom Guest Bath Vanity
Amy Bartlam
Custom vanities save space and create consistency throughout the interior. HH Design managed to incorporate an additional 3/4 bath in the renovation.
After: Backyard
Backyard Seating & Fire Pit at Night
Dmitriy Bezinover
The garage was retrofitted into a studio, and its exterior syncs with the smooth stucco finish and door style of the main residence.
Backyard Seating & Fire Pit
Amy Bartlam
Oversized concrete pavers, measuring 2 feet by 12.5 feet, create a private seating area at the back of the house.
Now an airy retreat in the seaside city, the Del Rey Residence offers calm interiors that reach for the outdoors.
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