Not many home renovations start with a 70-year-old olive tree, but that was at the top of the wishlist for Mike Smolowe and Emily Valdez, the couple behind Los Angeles design studio Lou Home, when they began the overhaul of their 1920s Spanish bungalow. “That was one of the first ideas that we had,” says Mike, noting that they had the tree trucked from Northern California and forklifted into its new home, a custom concrete planter in the front yard.

The aged olive tree brings a lot of soul to the streamlined facade, striking just the right balance between old and new, which was an approach that guided the whole project. “We wanted to create a cohesive look throughout that was simple and timeless, but intentional,” says Mike.

Before: Front Facade

After: Front Facade

The interior of the home had already undergone a “Home Depot flip,” but the couple could see past the bland flooring and off-the-shelf cabinets to the inherent potential. They kept several of its vintage details, such as the giant arched window, tall barrel ceilings, and a plaster-coated fireplace in the living room.

They then wove in a new material palette of white oak, concrete, and handmade tile to foster an interior that felt more tranquil. “Not only is it beautiful and super minimal, and just really calming, but it’s also so functional now,” says Emily.

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

Before: Dining Room

After: Dining Room

There were two main challenges to the existing plan. The kitchen had an awkward, segmented layout and a cramped breakfast nook that saw few meals. And the main bedroom had the smallest closet that Emily had ever seen: “It was literally a two-foot by two-foot little box.”

Starting with the kitchen, the couple co-opted the breakfast nook and a bit of the exterior space on the front porch to give it more room. New vaulted ceilings mimic the ceiling heights in the living room. The sink was positioned at the new bay window at the front, overlooking the olive tree, and nearby, a sizable island adds storage, prep space, and a place to sit.

“A really thick, poured concrete island was something that I wanted as the focal point of the kitchen,” says Mike. An oversized white oak panel wall, which conceals the refrigerator and pantry, also brings the drama.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

Caesarstone, and a floating white oak shelf was positioned flush with the hood vent for a cleaner look." layout="wide" credit="Virtually Here Studios" photoUserId=""/>

Before: Hall Bathroom

After: Hall Bathroom

To enlarge the main bedroom and get a bigger closet, the couple added on seven feet at the rear. In doing so, they were able to incorporate new glass doors in both the main bedroom and family room, so there’s a more natural circulation flowing from the front to the back of the house. Before, the exterior doors emptied to the driveway and overlooked the neighbor.

Before: Main Suite

After: Main Suite

Now, two new patios, one off of the main bedroom and one adjacent to the family room, provide cozy nooks to sit outside. “It is a small property, so we really wanted to create as many little one-off spaces as possible, and let them still be connected to everything else,” says Mike. “When you go out there, everything feels like it’s in the right place.”

And while the renovation process had its challenges, such as a contractor disappearing with a deposit and occasional moments of doubt—“We had been saying the words ‘panel wall’ since the beginning of the project, and we just had it stuck on our minds,” jokes Emily. “A couple of times, we got kind of scared, like, ‘Are we overdoing it? Is this going to look crazy?’—the end result is a home the couple is proud to have executed together.

“Just coming in there every day, and being able to revel in what we created, has been a really special experience,” says Mike.

Before: Family Room

After: Family Room

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Before: Backyard

After: Backyard

More Before & After:

A Terrace House in Melbourne Takes an Unexpected Turn

A Creative Couple Revive a 1950s Cabin in the Catskills

Project Credits:

Architect: Studioo15 / @studioo15dtla

Structural Engineer: Brendon Baich

Landscape Design: LOU Home / @louhome_

Lighting Design: LOU Home

Interior Design: LOU Home

Cabinetry Design: La Brea Design Center

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