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.”

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.”

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

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

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

After: Kitchen

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.”

After: Guest Suite

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.

After: Primary Suite

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.

Before: Pool Area

After: Pool Area

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.”

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.”

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

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Budget Breakdown: It Took One Tree and $319K to Turn This Ranch House Into a Walnut Wonderland