As soon as he set foot on this property in the California beach community of Summerland, James “JP” Knapp knew it was unlike anything he’d ever seen. Set atop piers anchored to a seawall and literally feet from the surf, the unit—one half of a duplex clad inside and out with cedar—was decidedly rustic. A seal swam just offshore, seabirds swooped past, and dolphins leaped in the waves. The effect, he remembers, was “magic.”

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

The shingled dwelling was designed by California architect Kenneth Kruger and built in 1972—and the story goes that the unit became Kruger’s own coastal retreat as payment for his design services. Kruger died in 2014, and several years later, his family put his unit on the market. Envisioning it as the perfect funky beach getaway, JP and his family purchased it together with close friends.

“Nothing had really been done for 50-plus years, and we joked that it was like camping,” JP recalls. “But the vibe and energy were amazing—it was like being on a boat. You walk in the door and because you’re above the water, all you can see is ocean from every room.”

After: Exterior

Eight years in, it was clear that a renovation was in order. Though the neighboring unit had been completely updated, this one was a bit like a time capsule. It was cold and drafty in winter, and the windows and doors were starting to fail. Still, it was structurally sound, so any work required would be largely cosmetic.

For inspiration, JP immersed himself in Sea Ranch homes and classic ’70s California architecture, and he assembled a team consisting of architect Ryan Brockett and builder Jordan Bottenfield to carry out the project.

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

They kept the original footprint and window sizes to avoid a drawn-out approval and permitting process, although Brockett did make strategic changes to the floor plan that go a long way to making the space more comfortable and easier to navigate.

First up was redoing the main-floor bathroom. “Originally, it was accessed from the outside, so you’d come in off the ocean and hose down,” Brockett explains. “But anyone staying there would have to go out the front door to use it. We were able to push out the front door and turn the bathroom into a powder bath accessed from the foyer. The county allowed us to make that move and add about 20 square feet because it was deemed minor enough and not impactful to the ocean elevation.”

Before: Main Floor

After: Main Floor

Upstairs, the team converted the bunk room into a primary bedroom—and a tiny bedroom with a desk built into a partial wall overlooking the living room became a guest bedroom. They also expanded the existing bathroom and split it into two. “We thought about closing up the second bedroom because it wouldn’t be private enough,” says JP. “But I said we had to keep it open. It’s so crucial for this type of architecture.”

After: Deck

For his part, Bottenfield and his team stripped the interior down to the studs. “We touched every inch of the house,” he says. “It’s right on the water and subject to weather and water damage. The intent was to make it feel like it could still be from 1970, but with all the practical features of a home from 2025—double-glazed windows, full insulation, new wiring, in-floor heating.”

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

Bottenfield and his crew replaced all the cedar wall paneling, matching it as close as possible to the original color, and swapped out the worn Saltillo floor tiles for new geometric patterned terra-cotta tiles. “Not being able to tell what was original and what’s new was the goal,” he says.

After: Staircase

Before: Bedroom/Office

The team also revamped the built-in sofas in the living room, and where a fixed window once stood, they installed a bifold door that opens to the deck. In the kitchen, they swapped out dated tile counters with soapstone, and a new L-shaped booth orients the space toward the ocean views.

After: Guest Bedroom

Before: Upstairs Hall

After: Upstairs Hall

After: Primary Bedroom

In keeping with the ’70s theme, interior designer Amanda Chappell brought in vintage furniture and artworks from antique and consignment shops, along with secondhand pieces from Facebook Marketplace. “It was about keeping that lived-in, eclectic look,” JP says. “We didn’t want it to feel new.”

After: Bathroom

Bottenfield says he’s especially proud of how the project stays true to the original. “We put our own flavor and personality into it, but didn’t completely change paths. I love that Kruger had cedar siding originally and we went back with cedar siding—and that he had Saltillo tiles and we went back with Saltillo tiles in a different shape. They weren’t massive design changes, but they paid respect to Kruger’s original intent.”

After: Exterior

More Before & After stories:

There’s a World of Color Hiding Behind the Front Door of This Park Slope Limestone

This Sunny San Diego Revamp Shows the Power of Paint

From Bachelor Pad to Family Chalet, This Little Cabin Grew Up With Its Owner

Project Credits:

Architect: Brockett Architects/Interiors / @brockitecture

Builder/General Contractor: Bottenfield Construction / @bottenfield_construction

Structural Engineer: Kevin L Vandervort Structural Engineering

Interior Design: Amanda Chappell Design / @amanda_chappell_design

Energy Consultants: Carstairs Energy Inc.

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Before & After: They Overhauled Their Funky ’70s Beach House While Preserving Its Many Quirks