In Southern California there are pockets of darling cottages built in the early 20th century that we like to call jewelry boxes. They are quaint, full of charm and usually a bit cramped. Our clients have a growing family and needed a modern, functional home. They opted for a renovation that directly addressed their concerns. When we first saw this 2,170 square-foot 3-bedroom beach cottage, the front door opened directly into a staircase and a dead-end hallway. The kitchen was cramped, the living room was claustrophobic and everything felt dark and dated. The big picture items included pitching the living room ceiling to create space and taking down a kitchen wall. We added a French oven and luxury range that the wife had always dreamed about, a custom vent hood, and custom-paneled appliances. We added a downstairs half-bath for guests (entirely designed around its whimsical wallpaper) and converted one of the existing bathrooms into a Jack-and-Jill, connecting the kids’ bedrooms, with double sinks and a closed-off toilet and shower for privacy. In the bathrooms, we added white marble floors and wainscoting. We created storage throughout the home with custom-cabinets, new closets and built-ins, such as bookcases, desks and shelving. White Sands Design/Build furnished the entire cottage mostly with commissioned pieces, including a custom dining table and upholstered chairs. We updated light fixtures and added brass hardware throughout, to create a vintage, bo-ho vibe. The best thing about this cottage is the charming backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU), designed in the same style as the larger structure. In order to keep the ADU it was necessary to renovate less than 50% of the main home, which took some serious strategy, otherwise the non-conforming ADU would need to be torn out. We renovated the bathroom with white walls and pine flooring, transforming it into a get-away that will grow with the girls.

Photography: Nathan Schroder
Example of a trendy concrete exterior home design in Dallas

John Kane / Silver Sun Studio
Indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court - huge transitional light wood floor indoor basketball/tennis/multi-game court idea in Bridgeport with white walls

Inspiration for a small modern light wood floor laundry closet remodel in New York with white walls, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and a concealed washer/dryer

Pool fountain - traditional rectangular aboveground pool fountain idea in New York

jody brown
Design ideas for a rustic landscaping in Indianapolis.

Example of a transitional dining room design in Orlando

Custom furniture, paintings and iron screens elevate the room when combined with the visual interest of geometric patterned light fixtures and horizontal striped curtains in a variation of colors. Beautiful espresso walnut hardwood flooring was installed, and we finished with a coffee table complete with spoke detailing. For the full tour, visit us at Robeson Design

J,Weiland

Trendy family room photo in Seattle

For more information and additional photos of this project, which we both designed and built, go to http://a1builders.ws/2013/04/green-home-among-the-trees/

Small minimalist white tile and subway tile medium tone wood floor alcove bathtub photo in Phoenix with a one-piece toilet, gray walls, a pedestal sink and solid surface countertops

Casey Dunn
Large minimalist galley medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and white walls

Example of a transitional l-shaped brown floor kitchen design in Denver with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, gray cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Kitchen - modern kitchen idea in San Francisco

Example of a trendy family room library design in San Francisco with a concealed tv

Eat-in kitchen - large transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white backsplash, a peninsula and blue cabinets

Greg Premru
Small beach style medium tone wood floor home bar photo in Providence with white walls and a white front door

When you look up the stairs from the dining room, now you see this beautiful space as the backdrop. We emulated the Owner's Suite shower bench in this guest bath update.