Houzz Tour: Oceanfront Makeover With Breezy, Beachy Style
A midcentury California beach house gets an updated look awash in modern coastal design ideas and ocean-inspired hues
On the sand in Aptos, California, just a few miles from downtown Santa Cruz, a half-century-old house with a distinctive arched roofline evokes a rolling wave. Windows stretch across its entire ocean-facing side, offering breathtaking views of the actual waves and out across the Pacific to the horizon beyond. But while the property’s location and views have always been enviable, when the current owner recently purchased it as a family getaway, the interior was so dark and dingy, they didn’t even want to put their things in the cabinets. So they hired Katelyn Gilmour of KBG Design, entrusting her with completing an exterior refresh and a start-to-finish, top-to-bottom interior overhaul.
Before Photo
After: Today the house looks very similar from the outside, but with a new, nautical color scheme.
The house already had a wall of windows and doors facing the ocean. That was a huge asset since changing the original structure to add them would have required a lengthy permit-review process with the Coastal Commission, Gilmour says. So, with a few exceptions, they just upgraded them with new or larger Fleetwood windows and doors made of hurricane-resistant glass.
The huge white quartz rocks are original, and the deck’s irregular footprint stayed the same. But a new Trex deck system with a high-impact glass railing replaced the wood version.
The house already had a wall of windows and doors facing the ocean. That was a huge asset since changing the original structure to add them would have required a lengthy permit-review process with the Coastal Commission, Gilmour says. So, with a few exceptions, they just upgraded them with new or larger Fleetwood windows and doors made of hurricane-resistant glass.
The huge white quartz rocks are original, and the deck’s irregular footprint stayed the same. But a new Trex deck system with a high-impact glass railing replaced the wood version.
The main entrance to the house faces the street. Instead of a garage, the roof cantilevers over parking spaces flanking the doorway (a common design for local beach houses of this era). The doors camouflaged in the board-and-batten siding are preexisting closets, one of which is now a utility closet.
Exterior paint: Marine Layer (main) and Dove’s Wing (trim), Dunn-Edwards
Exterior paint: Marine Layer (main) and Dove’s Wing (trim), Dunn-Edwards
The entrance door used to be solid black, creating a gloomy feel that even existing obscure-glass sidelights and skylights couldn’t counteract. Gilmour replaced it with a new satin glass door with matching sidelights and transom windows, which gives the homeowner privacy while letting light into the space.
The floor is covered in durable 12-by-24-inch limestone pavers. Built-ins with perforated-metal doors are on either side of the entrance and catch beach toys, boogie boards and other flotsam and jetsam that the family and visitors bring with them for their beach stays. The tall ceiling even accommodates a surfboard that’s normally leaning against a wall here, Gilmour says.
Lighting: Paloma chandelier and Quinn sconces, Palecek; wallcovering: Grass Roots in Navy Mod on vinyl, Phillip Jeffries; cabinet paint: Haze Blue, Dunn-Edwards
The floor is covered in durable 12-by-24-inch limestone pavers. Built-ins with perforated-metal doors are on either side of the entrance and catch beach toys, boogie boards and other flotsam and jetsam that the family and visitors bring with them for their beach stays. The tall ceiling even accommodates a surfboard that’s normally leaning against a wall here, Gilmour says.
Lighting: Paloma chandelier and Quinn sconces, Palecek; wallcovering: Grass Roots in Navy Mod on vinyl, Phillip Jeffries; cabinet paint: Haze Blue, Dunn-Edwards
Before Photo
Before: These are the steps and hallway leading from the foyer to the ocean-facing great room. Here and throughout the house, dark-stained redwood paneling covered the poorly insulated walls, and the tongue-and-groove wood ceiling had areas of damage from a leaky roof. The old beige carpeting and a mildewy smell extended throughout the house.
For better or worse (depending on one’s perspective), the finishes were consistent with the home’s age and architecture. But the new homeowner purchased the property for its beach access and spectacular view — a tantalizing glimpse of which is seen here — and not for its original details.
“Ironically, the homeowner wasn’t necessarily in love with the midcentury modern style of the home itself,” Gilmour says.
For better or worse (depending on one’s perspective), the finishes were consistent with the home’s age and architecture. But the new homeowner purchased the property for its beach access and spectacular view — a tantalizing glimpse of which is seen here — and not for its original details.
“Ironically, the homeowner wasn’t necessarily in love with the midcentury modern style of the home itself,” Gilmour says.
After: Inside the home, the floor plan changed only slightly. (Scroll to the bottom to see the “before” and “after” layouts.)
“The original layout wasn’t terrible, but there were spaces that needed better scale/interior clearance and line of sight to the amazing beach views,” Gilmour says. And while the ceiling was preserved and patched — it’s both stunning and would be costly to reproduce today, Gilmour notes — nearly all of the other finishes were replaced.
Recognizing that her initial midcentury-leaning design concepts weren’t quite hitting the mark with the homeowner, Gilmour shifted to a more contemporary and warm coastal aesthetic. But with the owner’s blessing, she injected midcentury modern style here and there to honor the original structure.
The hallway now reflects some of that mix. Gilmour paired coastal-style beaded light fixtures with midcentury-style chandeliers, which cast a soft glow upward. The wallpaper above the new wainscoting is an ombre-like vinyl with a subtle ripple effect.
Wallcovering: Mirage in Waterfall on vinyl, Phillip Jeffries; chandelier: Griffith in Cadet Blue, Arteriors
“The original layout wasn’t terrible, but there were spaces that needed better scale/interior clearance and line of sight to the amazing beach views,” Gilmour says. And while the ceiling was preserved and patched — it’s both stunning and would be costly to reproduce today, Gilmour notes — nearly all of the other finishes were replaced.
Recognizing that her initial midcentury-leaning design concepts weren’t quite hitting the mark with the homeowner, Gilmour shifted to a more contemporary and warm coastal aesthetic. But with the owner’s blessing, she injected midcentury modern style here and there to honor the original structure.
The hallway now reflects some of that mix. Gilmour paired coastal-style beaded light fixtures with midcentury-style chandeliers, which cast a soft glow upward. The wallpaper above the new wainscoting is an ombre-like vinyl with a subtle ripple effect.
Wallcovering: Mirage in Waterfall on vinyl, Phillip Jeffries; chandelier: Griffith in Cadet Blue, Arteriors
Selecting attractive materials that can withstand harsh coastal weather can be tricky, Gilmour says.
“Sun, water, salt — there are so many different elements that you’re battling here,” she says. Vinyl is durable and mildew-resistant, for example, but vinyl plank floors can fade in direct sun. And hardwood is beautiful and natural, but it can scratch. “You have to pick which one you’re willing to deal with,” Gilmour says.
Originally, she chose a faux-wood-parquet porcelain tile for the main flooring material, but the engineer calculated that it would be too heavy for the pier-and-beam structure. So they opted for engineered prefinished white oak flooring in the hallway and throughout the rest of the home, trusting that any scratches would be hidden by the wood’s texture. It’s laid in a herringbone pattern that guides the eye down the main hallway to the great room and the view at the back of the house. And what a view it is!
“Sun, water, salt — there are so many different elements that you’re battling here,” she says. Vinyl is durable and mildew-resistant, for example, but vinyl plank floors can fade in direct sun. And hardwood is beautiful and natural, but it can scratch. “You have to pick which one you’re willing to deal with,” Gilmour says.
Originally, she chose a faux-wood-parquet porcelain tile for the main flooring material, but the engineer calculated that it would be too heavy for the pier-and-beam structure. So they opted for engineered prefinished white oak flooring in the hallway and throughout the rest of the home, trusting that any scratches would be hidden by the wood’s texture. It’s laid in a herringbone pattern that guides the eye down the main hallway to the great room and the view at the back of the house. And what a view it is!
Before Photo
Before: These are the original ocean-facing windows. In this photo, they look a safe distance from the whitewater. But while the remodeling team’s permit set of plans was pending approval from the county, a huge storm coincided with a king tide — a very high tide that occurs during a new or full moon — causing catastrophic flooding along Santa Cruz County’s coast, including in Aptos.
During the storm, the ocean blew through these windows, carrying with it logs and other debris that effectively did the interior demo work for the remodeling team. Anything that was touching the floor, including the bottom of the walls’ redwood paneling, was waterlogged and largely unsalvageable.
“There was a neighboring home that was pushed clear off of its foundation. Much of the surrounding neighborhood looked like a war zone — debris from adjacent homes was just everywhere,” Gilmour says. “The bright side of this storm was that it showed all of us that the home’s foundation was indeed solid. Equally important, we needed to be mindful and intentionally design the home to withstand exposure to future storms.”
During the storm, the ocean blew through these windows, carrying with it logs and other debris that effectively did the interior demo work for the remodeling team. Anything that was touching the floor, including the bottom of the walls’ redwood paneling, was waterlogged and largely unsalvageable.
“There was a neighboring home that was pushed clear off of its foundation. Much of the surrounding neighborhood looked like a war zone — debris from adjacent homes was just everywhere,” Gilmour says. “The bright side of this storm was that it showed all of us that the home’s foundation was indeed solid. Equally important, we needed to be mindful and intentionally design the home to withstand exposure to future storms.”
After: The new hurricane-grade windows and doors and the glass deck railing — a “first line of defense” against storms, Gilmour says — were among the design choices made to preserve the views while improving the home’s resiliency.
Motorized shades all the way across the ocean-facing side of the house provide privacy and protection from the sun.
Motorized shades all the way across the ocean-facing side of the house provide privacy and protection from the sun.
Before Photo
Before: The previous photo was taken from the kitchen, which is open to the living area. This is what the kitchen looked like prior to the storm damage and subsequent remodel. A load-bearing post in the island supported the ceiling and a canopy housing overhead lighting, and a window looked at the neighbor’s wall.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
After: This is the new kitchen, seen from a slightly different angle. (The home’s main hallway and entry door are visible at left.) It’s in the same location but with a more functional appliance arrangement, a two-tone palette and custom cabinets built by locally owned Schmitz Woodworks.
The renovation team removed the post in the island and added a new outrigger beam to carry the load and create a true open-plan space. When replacing the roof and adding insulation, it upgraded the electrical to add overhead can and pendant lighting throughout the home — a dramatic improvement over the existing swag lighting and one that caused minimal damage to the ceiling. New oversize dome pendant lights echo the ceiling’s gentle arch — a shape repeated throughout the house. And the new island has conversational seating that wraps around one end.
Pendant lights: Pascal in Eggshell with antique brass, Arteriors; bar stools: Melrose, Palecek
The renovation team removed the post in the island and added a new outrigger beam to carry the load and create a true open-plan space. When replacing the roof and adding insulation, it upgraded the electrical to add overhead can and pendant lighting throughout the home — a dramatic improvement over the existing swag lighting and one that caused minimal damage to the ceiling. New oversize dome pendant lights echo the ceiling’s gentle arch — a shape repeated throughout the house. And the new island has conversational seating that wraps around one end.
Pendant lights: Pascal in Eggshell with antique brass, Arteriors; bar stools: Melrose, Palecek
The kitchen’s focal point is a beautiful brass-accented vent hood made by a local metal artisan. Below it is an energy-efficient 36-inch Wolf induction range. The 2-by-10-inch backsplash tiles are a watery blue ceramic. Their irregular finish gives them a handmade look, and the herringbone pattern echoes the floor’s.
Tile: Seaport Topacio, TileBar; cabinet paint: Midnight Haze (lower cabinets and island) and Cool December (upper and tall cabinets), Dunn-Edwards
Tile: Seaport Topacio, TileBar; cabinet paint: Midnight Haze (lower cabinets and island) and Cool December (upper and tall cabinets), Dunn-Edwards
Gilmour eliminated the window with the drab view on the far wall and replaced it with a full wall of storage. There’s a coffee bar with pocket doors and, to the right, a pantry and built-in fridge.
The countertop is 2-centimeter-thick marble-look quartz with dove gray veining.
Countertop: Ella, Cambria
The countertop is 2-centimeter-thick marble-look quartz with dove gray veining.
Countertop: Ella, Cambria
The homeowner selected the 33-inch curved apron-front sink, which is made with sealed lightweight concrete and supported by a drip sill that also protects the cabinets below it.
The Waterstone Industrial plumbing fixtures have an antique pewter finish, and the cabinets have crystal-and-brass pulls and shell-and-brass knobs.
The Waterstone Industrial plumbing fixtures have an antique pewter finish, and the cabinets have crystal-and-brass pulls and shell-and-brass knobs.
Continuing around the open-plan space in a clockwise direction, the living area has a linear gas fireplace with a marble micromosaic surround. Above the fireplace is a television with a heat shift (the thin black line above the TV), which disperses the fireplace’s heat so it doesn’t damage the electronics.
“We actually sunk [the fireplace] down as much as we could into the subfloor, so it’s sitting right on the beams that are sitting on top of the piers under the house,” Gilmour says. That allowed them to install the TV above the fireplace at a comfortable line of sight.
Tile surround: Microsaic Lines in Sky Blue, TileBar
“We actually sunk [the fireplace] down as much as we could into the subfloor, so it’s sitting right on the beams that are sitting on top of the piers under the house,” Gilmour says. That allowed them to install the TV above the fireplace at a comfortable line of sight.
Tile surround: Microsaic Lines in Sky Blue, TileBar
The built-ins flanking the fireplace are backed with a denim-look vinyl wallcovering and have the same woven brass doors used in the home’s entryway. The cabinets are equipped with power for gaming systems and other electronics.
Wallcovering: Vinyl Carved in Daintree Denim, Phillip Jeffries
Wallcovering: Vinyl Carved in Daintree Denim, Phillip Jeffries
A custom sectional and swivel chairs covered in sandy-colored, wet-swimsuit-friendly outdoor-rated fabric surround an outdoor coffee table and performance rug. Sliding doors behind the two chairs open for access to the deck.
“If our client wanted to bring a piece of furniture out onto [the] deck, they could do so and not worry about it,” Gilmour says.
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“If our client wanted to bring a piece of furniture out onto [the] deck, they could do so and not worry about it,” Gilmour says.
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Before Photo
Before: The old carpet continued into the dining room and under a dark, Mission-style wood dining set.
A wood-paneled wall topped by clerestory windows separated the dining area from the primary bedroom. Notice the electrical conduit running to the Sputnik chandelier.
A wood-paneled wall topped by clerestory windows separated the dining area from the primary bedroom. Notice the electrical conduit running to the Sputnik chandelier.
After: To create more privacy in the primary bedroom, Gilmour eliminated one of two interior doors leading into it, as well as the clerestory windows.
A chandelier with blue and gray beads hangs above the new dining table, which can seat eight. The table transforms into a ping-pong table with a retractable net.
Wall paint throughout (except where noted): Trite White, Dunn-Edwards
A chandelier with blue and gray beads hangs above the new dining table, which can seat eight. The table transforms into a ping-pong table with a retractable net.
Wall paint throughout (except where noted): Trite White, Dunn-Edwards
The wall of windows continues into the primary bedroom, which has a double slider door leading to a deck with a four-person partially submerged hot tub.
A streamlined Eastern (or traditional) king-size bed frame wrapped in hand-woven lampakanay, a sustainable seagrass, sits below a rattan pendant light.
A streamlined Eastern (or traditional) king-size bed frame wrapped in hand-woven lampakanay, a sustainable seagrass, sits below a rattan pendant light.
The entrance to the en suite bathroom is on the wall opposite the glass.
The door back into the dining room is on the adjacent wall, painted a soft blue that creates a pretty backdrop for the white bronze-finished door hardware.
Interior and closet door paint (throughout): Haze Blue, Dunn-Edwards; escutcheon and Rock Creek lever, Rocky Mountain Hardware
The door back into the dining room is on the adjacent wall, painted a soft blue that creates a pretty backdrop for the white bronze-finished door hardware.
Interior and closet door paint (throughout): Haze Blue, Dunn-Edwards; escutcheon and Rock Creek lever, Rocky Mountain Hardware
Before Photo
Before: Dark wall paneling used to continue from the primary bedroom (through the door on the left) into this en suite bathroom.
The space was divided in two, with this vanity just inside the entrance and a toilet and shower in their own room.
The space was divided in two, with this vanity just inside the entrance and a toilet and shower in their own room.
After: Gilmour reconfigured the primary bathroom’s layout and lightened and brightened the finishes. She selected opal-colored zellige tile for the sink backsplash and shower walls and a larger-format tile for two partial walls flanking the vanity. Vinyl that looks like Venetian plaster covers the wall on the left. The floor tile is a marble mosaic in a basketweave pattern.
Both zellige and marble have natural imperfections and variations that add beautiful character. But when the floor tile was installed, its splotchiness was so extreme that it was clear to the team that the mosaic sheets’ dye lots didn’t match. The question was, whose responsibility was it to make it right for the client — the vendor’s, the designer’s or the contractor’s?
“It’s kind of a back and forth,” Gilmour says. “The GC was like, ‘OK, imperfect tile was installed by an imperfect person in imperfect conditions. It’s unfortunate, but we can’t really be that surprised that it didn’t come out perfect, you know?’” Gilmour’s response was: “Fair enough. So now what?”
In the end, everyone agreed to contribute to the solution, which was to tear out all of the tile and replace it. “I think it was worth it, given the [lovely] outcome,” Gilmour says.
Wall tile: Zellige 4-by-4-inch in Opal, Cement Tile Shop; floor tile: Sampson mosaic marble in tumbled finish, The Tile Shop
Both zellige and marble have natural imperfections and variations that add beautiful character. But when the floor tile was installed, its splotchiness was so extreme that it was clear to the team that the mosaic sheets’ dye lots didn’t match. The question was, whose responsibility was it to make it right for the client — the vendor’s, the designer’s or the contractor’s?
“It’s kind of a back and forth,” Gilmour says. “The GC was like, ‘OK, imperfect tile was installed by an imperfect person in imperfect conditions. It’s unfortunate, but we can’t really be that surprised that it didn’t come out perfect, you know?’” Gilmour’s response was: “Fair enough. So now what?”
In the end, everyone agreed to contribute to the solution, which was to tear out all of the tile and replace it. “I think it was worth it, given the [lovely] outcome,” Gilmour says.
Wall tile: Zellige 4-by-4-inch in Opal, Cement Tile Shop; floor tile: Sampson mosaic marble in tumbled finish, The Tile Shop
The custom single-sink vanity floats between two partial, or “wing,” walls that provide some privacy for the shower on the left and the bidet toilet on the right.
The vanity is illuminated by matching globe-and-burnished brass pendant lights. Beneath the sink, two deep drawers are notched out around the plumbing, and niches in the wings provide open shelf space.
Vanity faucet: Vintage wall-mounted lavatory faucet in vintage brushed brass, Graff;
washlet toilet: Neorest dual-flush toilet, Toto; countertop: Metropolitan collection Cloudburst Concrete in rough finish, Caesarstone
The vanity is illuminated by matching globe-and-burnished brass pendant lights. Beneath the sink, two deep drawers are notched out around the plumbing, and niches in the wings provide open shelf space.
Vanity faucet: Vintage wall-mounted lavatory faucet in vintage brushed brass, Graff;
washlet toilet: Neorest dual-flush toilet, Toto; countertop: Metropolitan collection Cloudburst Concrete in rough finish, Caesarstone
The basketweave tile flows into the shower, which has a glass door but no curb. The remodeling team achieved the barrier-free entry (a homeowner request) by lowering the bathroom subfloor.
The built-in bench has a teak top, which offers a warmer seat than a quartz bench would. “Also, the aroma of the teak is really quite lovely in the shower,” Gilmour says.
Because the homeowner opted for a Warmboard radiant floor heating system instead of forced-air units, the team was able to preserve the high tongue-and-groove ceiling throughout the home, including in the bathrooms.
The built-in bench has a teak top, which offers a warmer seat than a quartz bench would. “Also, the aroma of the teak is really quite lovely in the shower,” Gilmour says.
Because the homeowner opted for a Warmboard radiant floor heating system instead of forced-air units, the team was able to preserve the high tongue-and-groove ceiling throughout the home, including in the bathrooms.
Gilmour borrowed a bit of this adjacent bedroom to enlarge the primary suite. It has a built-in wardrobe with a TV and dresser.
The homeowner gave Gilmour a lot of freedom in selecting the finishes and furnishings throughout the home, all the way down to the linens, art and accessories.
Wall paint: Shady, Dunn-Edwards
The homeowner gave Gilmour a lot of freedom in selecting the finishes and furnishings throughout the home, all the way down to the linens, art and accessories.
Wall paint: Shady, Dunn-Edwards
Before Photo
Before: The laundry room, seen here in its original condition, abuts that wall of built-ins. A door opens to the home’s side yard.
After: Gilmour also sacrificed an imperceptible amount of the adjacent bedroom’s square footage to replace the side-by-side washer and dryer with stacked units and, beside them, a cabinet with a concrete-like quartz top and sink. The walls are covered in a herringbone-patterned backsplash made from petrified stone mosaic tile.
Cabinet paint: Haze Blue, Dunn-Edwards; backsplash tile: Fossil herringbone petrified stone mosaic in tumbled finish, TileBar
Cabinet paint: Haze Blue, Dunn-Edwards; backsplash tile: Fossil herringbone petrified stone mosaic in tumbled finish, TileBar
Opposite the washer and dryer, Gilmour placed hooks made from beach stones on the wall with V-groove paneling. They’re strong enough to hold wet towels and even wetsuits, she says.
The laundry area is at the end of a large vestibule off the main hallway, illuminated by a pendant light made of bands of cotton.
An entrance to the previously pictured bedroom is on one side, and this entrance to the daughter’s bedroom is directly opposite it. Gilmour stole space from hallway closets to create the built-in linen closet, designed to accommodate the large number of towels and sheets that beach houses need.
An entrance to the previously pictured bedroom is on one side, and this entrance to the daughter’s bedroom is directly opposite it. Gilmour stole space from hallway closets to create the built-in linen closet, designed to accommodate the large number of towels and sheets that beach houses need.
As with the other bedrooms, the daughter’s bedroom has custom blackout drapes and roller shades. The bed has an upholstered headboard and matching nightstands and it sits atop a durable polypropylene rug.
Wall-mounted brass-and-white sconces add dashes of midcentury modern style.
Wall-mounted brass-and-white sconces add dashes of midcentury modern style.
The kids’ bathroom is also accessed from the vestibule, directly across from the linen closet. It has oval-shaped wood-frame mirrors, a low-curb shower and another bidet toilet — a feature in all of the bathrooms.
Zoom in to see the pretty dusk-colored glass undermount sinks, which coordinate with the hexagonal floor tiles.
Sink: Yepsen 20-inch rectangular undermount bathroom sink, Kohler; lavatory set: Elan Vital 38 in aged nickel, Watermark; cabinet paint: Salina Springs, Dunn-Edwards; shower wall tile: Pure Atlas, 7 by 4 inches, Sonoma Tilemakers; floor tile: Andalucia hex tile in Dusty Gray, Walker Zanger; countertop: Viatera Encore, LX Hausys
Zoom in to see the pretty dusk-colored glass undermount sinks, which coordinate with the hexagonal floor tiles.
Sink: Yepsen 20-inch rectangular undermount bathroom sink, Kohler; lavatory set: Elan Vital 38 in aged nickel, Watermark; cabinet paint: Salina Springs, Dunn-Edwards; shower wall tile: Pure Atlas, 7 by 4 inches, Sonoma Tilemakers; floor tile: Andalucia hex tile in Dusty Gray, Walker Zanger; countertop: Viatera Encore, LX Hausys
Before Photo
Before: This narrow bathroom is across the main hall, at the end of another, smaller vestibule for the son’s bedroom and a guest suite bedroom (not pictured). It had the same worn finishes as all of the four existing bathrooms, but it was (and remains) the only bathroom with a tub.
After: Gilmour kept the bathroom’s basic layout, but she added a second sink, more storage and a wing wall to give the toilet privacy.
The sink backsplash and wall opposite it are covered in 3-by-6-inch glass tiles in a color and finish reminiscent of green seaglass.
“We carried that glass up like a wallpaper in that space because it’s really quite narrow, and having that verticality, I think, really helps make the space feel larger,” Gilmour says.
Lighting: Everly small pendant, Palecek; countertop: Ella, Cambria
The sink backsplash and wall opposite it are covered in 3-by-6-inch glass tiles in a color and finish reminiscent of green seaglass.
“We carried that glass up like a wallpaper in that space because it’s really quite narrow, and having that verticality, I think, really helps make the space feel larger,” Gilmour says.
Lighting: Everly small pendant, Palecek; countertop: Ella, Cambria
Playful arched brass bin pulls on the flat-panel cabinet fronts coordinate with the mirror frames and plumbing hardware. On the floor, mother-of-pearl penny round mosaic tile has a beautiful opalescence.
Floor tile: Deep Sea Black Pearl penny round polished, TileBar; cabinet paint: Cool December, Dunn-Edwards; plumbing hardware: California Faucets
Floor tile: Deep Sea Black Pearl penny round polished, TileBar; cabinet paint: Cool December, Dunn-Edwards; plumbing hardware: California Faucets
In case grandchildren join the family one day, the team kept the shower-in-tub layout but upgraded it with a clean-lined acrylic soaking tub.
On the window wall, 2-by-2-foot terrazzo tiles are another nod to the home’s midcentury architecture.
Tile: Fragments terrazzo, honed Carrara, Walker Zanger
On the window wall, 2-by-2-foot terrazzo tiles are another nod to the home’s midcentury architecture.
Tile: Fragments terrazzo, honed Carrara, Walker Zanger
The fourth and final bathroom is an en suite accessed only through the guest bedroom (not pictured).
As with the other cabinetry in the house, Gilmour designed the natural oak vanity with Schmitz Woodworks. It has flush-inset doors, each of which has a narrow edge band, and is topped with a quartz counter and a vessel sink.
The round mirror and dome-shaped sconce shades recall the home’s arched roofline yet again.
Floor tile: Legno Gatsby limestone mosaic tile, 10 by 10 inches, The Tile Shop; faucet: Brizo Invari, Delta Faucet; sconce: Amigo in brass and Lagoon, Dutton Brown
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As with the other cabinetry in the house, Gilmour designed the natural oak vanity with Schmitz Woodworks. It has flush-inset doors, each of which has a narrow edge band, and is topped with a quartz counter and a vessel sink.
The round mirror and dome-shaped sconce shades recall the home’s arched roofline yet again.
Floor tile: Legno Gatsby limestone mosaic tile, 10 by 10 inches, The Tile Shop; faucet: Brizo Invari, Delta Faucet; sconce: Amigo in brass and Lagoon, Dutton Brown
Shop for a bathroom vanity on Houzz
“I think this bathroom has the most midcentury elements to it, [including] this vertical straight-set tile,” Gilmour says. “The GC told me this [bathroom] was a favorite among most of the trade guys that were working on this house.”
Lower tile: 3-by-12-inch ceramic wall tile in Kalay Green, TileBar; upper tile: 3-by-12-inch Café field tile in Milk, Walker Zanger
Lower tile: 3-by-12-inch ceramic wall tile in Kalay Green, TileBar; upper tile: 3-by-12-inch Café field tile in Milk, Walker Zanger
The home’s exterior paint scheme echoes the guest bathroom’s blue-and-white color-blocked tile design — which, in turn, echoes the two-tone kitchen cabinets. Those cohesive, smart and stylish design choices, combined with all of the upgrades to make the home more sustainable and resilient, could see the house through another 60 years or more.
“Working with the right team — which includes a very trusting client — will result in something magical,” Gilmour says. “And when I look at this home, I know the entire team worked their magic and did everything possible to get us to the beautifully finished result.”
“Working with the right team — which includes a very trusting client — will result in something magical,” Gilmour says. “And when I look at this home, I know the entire team worked their magic and did everything possible to get us to the beautifully finished result.”
The previous floor plan
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A parent with two nearly grown children
Location: Aptos, California
Size: 2,520 square feet (234 square meters); 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
Designer: Katelyn Gilmour of KBG Design
Contractor: John Fuchs of John Fuchs Construction
Before: The house was built on a raised-pier foundation in 1967, and when Gilmour came aboard, it looked as though it hadn’t been touched since. But it was filled with potential.
“What’s most striking about this home is its barrel vault ceiling, which gives it a semicylindrical shape from front to back, inside or outside,” Gilmour says. “Right away, this shape reminded me of waves — which was an obvious source of inspiration for the future designs.”
Gilmour assembled a team that included local general contractor John Fuchs and structural engineer Leonard Willis to maximize the home’s advantages while bringing it into the 21st century.
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