When Sunita and Minesh Patel first bought this 4,100-square-foot home in Cerritos, California, they were living nearby at Minesh’s parents’ place. Instead of moving right in, they decided to rent it out and save up for a renovation that would turn it into their forever home. “When we bought the Belmont House way back in 2007, we knew we were going to remodel, but we didn’t know when,” explains Sunita.

Years passed as the couple became immersed in work and family life, raising three children who are now adults. Then, one evening in 2019, Sunita and Minesh were watching the local news—and they saw their future forever home being raided by the police. “We discovered it was being used illegally as a marijuana grow house,” Sunita explains.

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

At that moment, they decided it was time to take back their house and kick off the renovation they’d long dreamed of. The home had suffered at the hands of former tenants, but it was located near family and it had just the right size and layout.

Before: Staircase

After: Staircase

Luckily, Minesh and Sunita knew exactly who to call for the project. They’d previously collaborated with Susie Chang and Jason Lo of Chlo Interiors to revamp portions of Minesh’s parents’ house, and the firm also designed an office for their travel agency. “We’ve grown a family-like relationship,” says Sunita. “Choosing Chlo was a no-brainer.”

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

“They were nice enough to fully trust us on this one,” says Chang. That faith was important, as the house needed an extensive makeover. “It looked like a typical eighties design,” says Lo. The interior walls were painted a muddy blue tone, and the traditional, blond wood doors, railing, and kitchen cabinetry gave the house a dated appearance. Vertical vinyl blinds, drab carpet, mirrored walls, and antiquated floor tile compounded the interior’s stuck-in-the-’80s vibe. And if that weren’t enough, the brick fireplace in the living room had been converted into a ventilation system, with DIY pipes for growing marijuana.

Before: Family Room

After: Family Room

With a starting budget of $600K, Chang and Lo got to work. Sunita and Minesh had only three requests: Make the home bright, modern, and fit for entertaining crowds of guests. The designers’ first order of business was to give the rooms an open and airy feeling. They removed the blond wood elements, painted the walls a crisp white, and added walnut kitchen cabinetry and integrated storage in the living and family rooms.

$20,000 Foundation	$65,000 Structural	$42,300 Wall Finishes
$2,500 Primary Bedroom Plaster Headboard Wall	$27,500 Exterior Stucco	$2,950 Wallpaper
$25,000 Roofing	$11,261 Hardware	$68,024 Electrical
$55,000 Plumbing	$32,112 HVAC Equipment	$96,500 Front Yard Landscaping
$39,724 Kitchen & Bath Fixtures	$25,752 Lighting	$30,915 Countertops
$33,497 Appliances	$55,501 Windows & Glazing	$15,264 Doors
$156,294 Millwork	$62,327 Tilework	$123,328 Furnishings & Decor
$29,583 Wood Floors	$12,000 Permitting	$68,000 Design Fee
$23,000 Demolition	$7,800 Waste/Debris Removal	$34,390 Window Treatments
$90,000 Floating Staircase	$3,357 Water Vapor Fireplace	$6,031 Custom Headboard & Bench Upholstery
$7,133 Smart Switches & Outlets	$8,451 Fireplace Tambour Paneling	$5,010 Side Gate
Grand Total: $1,285,504

They transformed the staircase, replacing the bulky, opaque railing and treads with a glass railing and floating treads. “We were able to float the stairs, to create a focal point when you first walk into the house,” says Chang. The duo also doubled the size of the kitchen while adding massive glass bifold doors that connect the room to the outdoors. “We even added a flip-up window in the bar area for serving drinks to guests in the backyard,” says Lo.

Before: Dining Room

After: Dining Room

The designers also converted the first-floor den into a guest room. “Sunita and Minesh have a lot of family and friends, and they wanted to be able to host them,” says Chang. “They wanted them to feel like they have a private suite away from the other bedrooms.”

Before: Staircase

After: Staircase

Upstairs, they gave three bedrooms pitched ceilings to make them feel more spacious. (Sunita and Minesh’s son lives at home, and their two daughters stay often.) And in the primary suite, Chang and Lo took square footage from the bedroom to make space for a larger closet and bathroom with a floating walnut vanity.

Before: Primary Suite

After: Primary Suite

“Our biggest splurges were the floating staircase and all of the custom millwork,” says Lo. The designers were able to save when it came to the wall finishes. “Since we wanted a clean, minimal look, we mostly did white-painted walls,” says Chang.

Before: Bathroom

After: Bathroom

Sunita and Minesh began their renovation in June of 2021. “Once the pandemic hit, the cost doubled, and there was nothing we could do,” says Sunita. “It was hard to find builders because construction workers were in such high demand.” Chang and Lo completed the redesign—spending a total of $1,285,504—in January of 2024.

“We decided to go all out and never looked back,” says Sunita. “Our house is in one of the safest, quietest locations in Cerritos. There’s a huge Indian population here, so we’re able to stay connected with Indian culture—Minesh would never leave Cerritos, where everyone knows him.” Sunita now feels very much the same. “I love this house,” she says. “I never want to leave.”

Before: Living Room, From Above

After: Living Room, From Above

More Budget Breakdown stories:

A Restaurateur From Seattle’s “First Family of Phở” Crafts Her Dream Kitchen

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:

Interior Design: Susing Chang & Jason Lo, Chlo Interiors / @chlointeriors

Architect of Record: Fira Jamal, Apex Design

Construction: Minesh Patel

Photography: Josh Bustos / @joshbustosphoto

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Budget Breakdown: You’d Never Guess This Serene Family Home Was a Marijuana Grow House