Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Urban Cottage Style in a Woodsy Wonderland
With a detached guest suite, a pool amid natural rock and an abundance of towering trees, this California house is made in the shade
Through a decade of remodels and hard work, Yvette and Don Hatch have transformed their Orange County, California, cabin into a home better suited to their style. Previously paneled in dark wood, it's now a modern cottage-style home with new outdoor amenities, fresh white walls, lush native garden terraces and a guest house. The couple put their artistic and building skills to work redesiging the house, which is in a woodsy area filled with equestrian trails. "Donny's really good for the bones of everything," says Yvette. "He can visually just see something. I'm good at decorating, so the two of us worked well together."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Yvette and Don Hatch and their 4 daughters
Location: Lemon Heights, Orange County, California
Size: 3,600 square feet plus 1,620-square-foot detached garage and guest suite; 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Yvette and Don Hatch and their 4 daughters
Location: Lemon Heights, Orange County, California
Size: 3,600 square feet plus 1,620-square-foot detached garage and guest suite; 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
A mix of old and new furniture creates a warm, lived-in ambience. Yvette and Don have had the sofa and leather chair since they were married, the coffee table is from a flea market and the antique pieces along the far wall are from Don's old office.
Yvette replaced a traditional kitchen island with an antique draper's table from Lyman Drake, adding a granite countertop. "In one aspect I miss the island, because it had more storage, but this piece is great. I wanted the kitchen to feel like it had a bit of personality," she says. The cabinetry is original to the home, but the couple refreshed the faces to match the wainscoting.
Light fixtures: Restoration Hardware
Light fixtures: Restoration Hardware
The home lacks a formal dining room, but the family doesn't miss it, thanks to the warm Southern California weather. "We tend to do all of our eating outside, especially when we have guests. If it rains it's just a free-for-all wherever inside the house," says Yvette. "We've been married a long time, and I've never really missed having a formal dining room."
The Hatch daughters share their mother's artistic talents. Here, an ocean-inspired work in progress by daughter Drew sits in front of the tree-lined backyard.
Steps from the back door lead to a swimming pool, surrounded by natural rock. The Hatches outfitted the space with all-new slate and decking.
A new slate fireplace next to the pool area gets plenty of use, since the family loves to entertain in their yard.
The original owner, a carpenter, built what Yvette calls "a Hansel and Gretel house." Dark paneled walls, carved wood accents and lots of plaid had made the home feel like it had popped out of a storybook.
"When you drove in, you felt like you were in the woods somewhere. It was really charming but wasn't my style," she says.
"When you drove in, you felt like you were in the woods somewhere. It was really charming but wasn't my style," she says.
Yvette picked up the mirrors in the master bedroom at an antiques store in New Hampshire. The bench, bed frame and side tables are custom built.
Linens: Restoration Hardware; blanket: Ralph Lauren Home
Linens: Restoration Hardware; blanket: Ralph Lauren Home
Contractor Justin Hille helped with the majority of the renovations, including adding marble to this master bathroom. "We've worked with Justin for the past five years, and he's part of the family now," Yvette says.
The corner bar area in the downstairs den has a drink dispenser, a gift from a friend in England. A large reproduction of a British subway sign adorns the back wall. "We're inspired by the British and American flags, and a lot of our friends and family are from Great Britain," says Yvette. "It makes us feel a little more connected."
The damask throw pillows are custom made. Always on the hunt for new goods, Yvette often has less expensive versions of items spotted in boutiques made.
Bar top: Caesarstone; small metal accordion table: Mollywood Garden Design; leather sofa: Restoration Hardware
The damask throw pillows are custom made. Always on the hunt for new goods, Yvette often has less expensive versions of items spotted in boutiques made.
Bar top: Caesarstone; small metal accordion table: Mollywood Garden Design; leather sofa: Restoration Hardware
The couple didn't add any square footage to the main home, but they did transform the old garage into a media room. A large-screen TV and a plush sectional make for comfortable movie nights.
A new stand-alone garage with a guest suite upstairs now sits on previously undeveloped land in the backyard.
Frequently used by guests visiting from overseas, the guest suite follows the urban-cottage style of the main home. The floors were a challenge, as Yvette liked the look of reclaimed wood, but it was out of their budget. "We decided to make this ourselves," she says. "We used different textures of wood and painted and distressed it."
Bricks give the guesthouse kitchenette an informal feeling. Although building codes prohibited installing a stovetop, the kitchenette has all the essentials.
One of the daughters painted this whale on the guest bed as a present for Yvette.
Although the entire renovation took about 10 years, Yvette appreciates the process and urges other homeowners to enjoy theirs. "I think the process is one of the most exciting things," she says. "It's part of the journey."
Although the entire renovation took about 10 years, Yvette appreciates the process and urges other homeowners to enjoy theirs. "I think the process is one of the most exciting things," she says. "It's part of the journey."