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Houzz Tour: Side-by-Side Cottages Make a Charming Family Home
In Ojai, California, individual structures are transformed into a home with separate bunk and living spaces
When interior designer Jody Lewis purchased adjacent, dilapidated 1920s cottages in quaint Ojai, California, she envisioned a village-like setting with multiple structures connected by open space. So she hired architectural designer Vina Lustado and they worked together closely for more than three years, navigating the tricky permitting process while essentially rebuilding the structures — largely with reclaimed materials — from the foundation up.
However, remodeling and permitting costs escalated and Lewis’ funds ran out. She had to sell the property before construction was complete. But she was lucky to find a like-minded buyer, interior stylist and designer Lawren Howell, who saw the project through and added her own chic antique-meets-modern finishes and furnishings. The home that we’ll tour below bears all three women’s signatures, but it looks and feels holistic thanks to their shared vision and harmonious styles.
However, remodeling and permitting costs escalated and Lewis’ funds ran out. She had to sell the property before construction was complete. But she was lucky to find a like-minded buyer, interior stylist and designer Lawren Howell, who saw the project through and added her own chic antique-meets-modern finishes and furnishings. The home that we’ll tour below bears all three women’s signatures, but it looks and feels holistic thanks to their shared vision and harmonious styles.
Lewis knew the two structures, which were built around 1925, needed work. But the extent of the disrepair was a shock. The walls had no insulation and were riddled with dry rot, the floors were sloped and some ceilings were under 7 feet tall.
“You had to duck down to enter the doorway,” Lustado says. “It was like an elf’s house!”
What’s more, the foundations were substandard — in places, the wood floor was set right on top of dirt.
What you can see of the inside in the previous photo looks like it could have been there for the last century. In fact, it was all painstakingly rebuilt to current code without losing the original charm in what Lustado calls a “surgical procedure.”
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“You had to duck down to enter the doorway,” Lustado says. “It was like an elf’s house!”
What’s more, the foundations were substandard — in places, the wood floor was set right on top of dirt.
What you can see of the inside in the previous photo looks like it could have been there for the last century. In fact, it was all painstakingly rebuilt to current code without losing the original charm in what Lustado calls a “surgical procedure.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Upon entering the “living” side, you make a left to turn into the galley kitchen, which remains in its original spot. This is the view from the far end of the kitchen, looking back toward the entrance. You can see the kitchen windows above the outdoor table in the first photo.
One of Lustado’s design challenges was incorporating Lewis’ finds, which included wood from a Northern California barn that she’d shipped to the site. The floors seen here and throughout the home are made of that reclaimed wood.
Lewis originally wanted the kitchen to have a Moroccan feel with concrete countertops. But after purchasing the home, Howell installed a kitchen with a more traditional design, including white Shaker-style cabinetry, a farmhouse sink, cup pulls and butcher block countertops with an integrated drainboard.
One of Lustado’s design challenges was incorporating Lewis’ finds, which included wood from a Northern California barn that she’d shipped to the site. The floors seen here and throughout the home are made of that reclaimed wood.
Lewis originally wanted the kitchen to have a Moroccan feel with concrete countertops. But after purchasing the home, Howell installed a kitchen with a more traditional design, including white Shaker-style cabinetry, a farmhouse sink, cup pulls and butcher block countertops with an integrated drainboard.
Howell also selected details like the cabinetry with brass mesh cabinet door inserts, the black tile backsplash and many of the rustic wood accents.
“It’s a little bit different from what Jody had originally envisioned, but it’s still beautiful. It’s more in keeping with the old character,” Lustado says.
“It’s a little bit different from what Jody had originally envisioned, but it’s still beautiful. It’s more in keeping with the old character,” Lustado says.
To the right of the entrance is the dining room, shown here styled by Howell with rush-seat dining chairs and a midcentury-modern-style tulip table.
The structure previously was a tiny two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage. Lustado took down several walls to open up the dining and living areas.
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The structure previously was a tiny two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage. Lustado took down several walls to open up the dining and living areas.
Shop for kitchen and dining room furniture
The full bathroom at the opposite side of the dining room is also in its original spot. It’s behind a reclaimed original door set into a wall paneled with more of the old barnwood.
Find ideas for wall treatments
Find ideas for wall treatments
Inside is an ancient-looking claw-foot cast-iron sink found by Lewis. Howell juxtaposed it with more modern-looking black hexagonal mosaic tiles and a botanical black-and-white Old Oak wallpaper designed by her sister, Stevie Howell.
The opening to the right of the barnwood wall is a 6-foot-wide reclaimed sliding pocket door collected by Lewis. (If you look back at the first photo, they’re the partly opened doors on the far right.)
In addition to retrofitting salvaged finds, the contractor painstakingly
repaired many of the homes’ existing doors and windows. Through that sliding door is the courtyard, which we’ll get back to in a moment.
In addition to retrofitting salvaged finds, the contractor painstakingly
repaired many of the homes’ existing doors and windows. Through that sliding door is the courtyard, which we’ll get back to in a moment.
Openings on the other side of the dining room lead to the living room, pictured here as furnished and styled by Howell.
There, Lewis and Lustado removed a low ceiling to create an open-vaulted ceiling with recessed lights as well as skylights that flood the room with natural light.
“We belabored that ceiling,” Lustado says. “Is it going to be a big collar tie with wood? Is it going to be exposed wood, or is it going to be painted? What size are the rafters going to be? We also had to put insulation in. It was a huge undertaking, because there were low ceilings, and so even the top plate was not to code.” And all of that work had to be completed while costs were escalating.
The original houses had no heating or cooling systems, so the team installed mini-splits in this living room and the bedrooms.
There, Lewis and Lustado removed a low ceiling to create an open-vaulted ceiling with recessed lights as well as skylights that flood the room with natural light.
“We belabored that ceiling,” Lustado says. “Is it going to be a big collar tie with wood? Is it going to be exposed wood, or is it going to be painted? What size are the rafters going to be? We also had to put insulation in. It was a huge undertaking, because there were low ceilings, and so even the top plate was not to code.” And all of that work had to be completed while costs were escalating.
The original houses had no heating or cooling systems, so the team installed mini-splits in this living room and the bedrooms.
One is discreetly installed in the triangle in the top of the bookshelves and the built-in reading bench, which were made from the rough-hewn barnwood.
Lustado says Lewis prized all of the wood’s knots and imperfections. When Lewis decided to sell, Howell instantly fell in love with the barnwood floors and understood the level of detail that went into the design.
“When Lawren looked at it and she loved it, that’s when Jody thought, ‘OK, she’s the right person, because she loves the rustic qualities of these finishes.’ ”
Lustado says Lewis prized all of the wood’s knots and imperfections. When Lewis decided to sell, Howell instantly fell in love with the barnwood floors and understood the level of detail that went into the design.
“When Lawren looked at it and she loved it, that’s when Jody thought, ‘OK, she’s the right person, because she loves the rustic qualities of these finishes.’ ”
Lewis found the antique rolltop desk salvaged from a bank (complete with panic button) that fits just so inside a little niche at the other side of the room.
Now look back at the second photo and picture standing with the entrance at your back. This is your view across the courtyard to the end of the bunkhouse, which has a covered patio along its length and an inviting hammock swaying in the breeze.
Howell added the courtyard’s gravel and olive trees, as well as a beautiful dining table made with fallen trees by local woodworker Jackie Stewart.
Fire-Wise Landscapes Can Help Keep Your Home and Property Safe
Howell added the courtyard’s gravel and olive trees, as well as a beautiful dining table made with fallen trees by local woodworker Jackie Stewart.
Fire-Wise Landscapes Can Help Keep Your Home and Property Safe
Here’s another view of the same end of the bunkhouse looking north, with the scenic Topatopa Mountains in the background.
The patio flooring and walkways are all made of the bountiful stone dug up when building the new foundation.
Another set of salvaged and re-engineered sliding glass doors leads to the primary bedroom.
“I do small spaces all the time,” Lustado says. “You need to find a way to allow as much natural light into a small space and make the room feel expansive.” The sliding glass doors help to accomplish that, she says, and are also a way to “have the wall disintegrate to the outdoor space.”
The patio flooring and walkways are all made of the bountiful stone dug up when building the new foundation.
Another set of salvaged and re-engineered sliding glass doors leads to the primary bedroom.
“I do small spaces all the time,” Lustado says. “You need to find a way to allow as much natural light into a small space and make the room feel expansive.” The sliding glass doors help to accomplish that, she says, and are also a way to “have the wall disintegrate to the outdoor space.”
The primary bedroom’s simple white walls, white enamel sconces and white iron bed (all selected by Howell) are foils for the reclaimed-wood shelves and rustic ceiling beam.
“Again, this is [Lewis’] barnwood,” Lustado says. “She would use the barnwood everywhere, and it gave it a vocabulary. That gives the consistency throughout the design.”
The entrances to the primary bathroom and a closet are on either side of the headboard. Doors and walls were removed to help the small room feel more spacious.
“Again, this is [Lewis’] barnwood,” Lustado says. “She would use the barnwood everywhere, and it gave it a vocabulary. That gives the consistency throughout the design.”
The entrances to the primary bathroom and a closet are on either side of the headboard. Doors and walls were removed to help the small room feel more spacious.
The double vanity is also made of rough-hewn wood. Brass fixtures and hexagonal marble shower tiles elevate the humble material.
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Shop for bathroom vanities
A second bathroom has penny tile walls, a pedestal sink and simple sconces.
The penny tile continues around the original black-and-white claw-foot tub with vintage-style brass fixtures.
The second bathroom is accessible from two children’s bedrooms. In each, Howell installed a Dutch door and softened the concrete floors with natural-fiber rugs topped with colorful rag rugs.
The other kids’ room has built-in bunk beds.
Howell, who has children of her own, saturated the room with character, styling it with Don Quixote-esque wallpaper, a vintage wood chair and a 1960s-era travel poster from Mallorca, Spain.
The Dutch doors open to a side yard shared by the kitchen. (In the first photo, the yard is in the upper left.) Howell installed the raised planters for growing fresh vegetables and also renovated two original sheds (not pictured).
Lustado had signed off even before Lewis sold the property, so it wasn’t until Howell recently contacted her about a potential collaboration that she was able to see these photos. And while Lustado is sorry that Lewis had to sell the home she poured so much heart, design and money into, she couldn’t have been more pleased to see how well Howell integrated their vision into her own.
“It’s such a sweet project,” Lustado says. “Looking back, I wouldn’t do anything differently.”
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Lustado had signed off even before Lewis sold the property, so it wasn’t until Howell recently contacted her about a potential collaboration that she was able to see these photos. And while Lustado is sorry that Lewis had to sell the home she poured so much heart, design and money into, she couldn’t have been more pleased to see how well Howell integrated their vision into her own.
“It’s such a sweet project,” Lustado says. “Looking back, I wouldn’t do anything differently.”
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: The home is currently rented
Location: Ojai, California
Size: 1,644 square feet (153 square meters) combined
Designers: Vina Lustado of Sol Haus Design (architecture) and Jody Lewis and Lawren Howell (interior design)
When Lewis lived in nearby Santa Barbara, she loved how her neighbors’ backyards were all connected, so the kids (including her three daughters) could run freely between their friends’ houses with a communal play space in between. So when she found the adjacent cottages being sold together in Ojai for a relatively affordable price, she was hooked on the idea of re-creating that feeling for her family.
This photo shows the result: an L-shaped “living” side and a bunkhouse connected by a private courtyard.
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