Bright Harmony: Bringing New Life to a Land Park Bungalow

• We demo'd the kitchen down to the studs so that we could completely reconfigure it, making room for a small island, and a layout that provided a functional working triangle - moving the stove, fridge and sink all within the same room (their fridge was previously in their mudroom!)

• We reconfigured their existing laundry room to create a proper mudroom with bench seating, upper cabinet storage and added a large French door that opened up to a brand new deck.

• We built in a new walk-in pantry (by borrowing space from the bedroom behind it) with smart plugs and a nice big countertop so that the storage space doubles as an appliance garage.

• We added oversized checkered tile flooring throughout the kitchen and mudroom in a taupe duotone pattern; installed white prefab cabinetry, quartz countertops and splurged on Fireclay tile backsplash, which we applied in a classic pattern true to the home's era; we wrapped the hood in horizontal white oak planks; put in all new windows since the originals were painted shut; and added retro-inspired wood and chrome hardware to tie all the wood accents together. Finally we added a pop of color by way of a mustard colored kitchen pendant over the sink. \\

• For the freestanding island, we applied a butcher block countertop to contrast the quartz, then added blue penny tile to the kicksplash for a subtle burst of energy in the space.

• To make this space habitable we added ceiling supports, insulation, wired the room for recessed lighting, added a mini HVAC system and plumbed it for a new ½ bathroom and kitchenette.

• We removed the original garage door and sheet rocked / stuccoed over it’s opening, in order to re-orient the space and create the main opening through a new set of French doors that could better connect to the grassy area.

• Where we took out the garage door, we added clerestory windows across the entire side facing the main kitchen to bring in more light.

• For flooring, we ground down the existing concrete floor to level it out, then we seal it to prevent cracks, and applied a slate blue linoleum over the entire surface.

• For the kitchenette, we installed prefab cabinets, applied a walnut butcher block countertop, Fireclay tile backsplash (in the same pattern as the kitchen but in a different palette); added open shelving and a new-yet-vintage looking powder blue fridge. To maximize every square inch, we also tucked a small crafting / workstation in at the end of the kitchen’s counter.

• For the modular hotel suite, we rehabbed an old bookshelf for the guts and custom-designed a CNC-routed white oak facade that we applied with a blue furniture linoleum to for another pop of color. We bought a bed and built a frame with casters so it could easily slide out for sleeping and in for sitting. Finally, we installed a curtain track system for privacy, but one that can also be tucked back out of the way for extra living space when unoccupied.

(Bonus Material, since the dining room and music space didn’t make the cut!)

• For the living room, we used color to create definition from all the white walls that Sara loved and wanted to keep.

• We added a large leather couch to bring in some warmth, two vintage blue swivel chairs, a proportionally sized MCM coffee table and focused the room around the fireplace - which had beautiful, existing brick on it that we wanted to highlight.

• We loaded the room with live plants to bring in energy for Jeff.

• We created a reading nook for Sara (she loves to read with tea!) and we reupholstered her favorite chair in a textured Knoll fabric; then we worked with a local artist to create a beautiful brass and wood wall hanging to hang above it.

• In the dining room, we created a sense of place for Jeff and his kids’ jam sessions; we wallpapered the wall to define it as its own space; centered the piano and added freestanding bookshelves on either side of the piano to create additional symmetry.

• In the dining room, we rehabbed their existing dining table by stripping it down and refinishing it; we found super funky vintage dining chairs to pair with it, and re-wired their existing light fixture so that it was centered above the dining table rather than floating in the middle of the room.

• To create a front yard patio, we dedicated about ½ of the yard to the new space by removing the (dead) grass; grading the area; adding new irrigation then laying pavers in a 12 x 12 foot area large enough to comfortably fit a table and chairs.

• We used the same pavers to create a pathway to their driveway and added planting and decomposed granite to delineate the new space from the existing grass and give the kids a sturdy material to play on.

• We rehabbed the front door by applying door putty to holes and cracks, painted the door blue; restored the existing hardware with some elbow grease and Brasso and added a kick plate to protect it from future foot kicks.

• We repainted all of their beige stucco white and power washed brick to give it a fresh start; then we filled the whole space with plants that fit the era of the bungalow home.