This 1959 bungalow went from cramped and choppy to open and airy without adding a single square foot.
Interior designer Allison Garrison ofAllito Spacesand her husband Jon figured out how to do just that.
They remodeled their 1959 bungalow in San Diego into an open and airy family home.
Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
Get inspired by all the ways the Garrisons reimagined how a small house can live large.
David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
1.
It just needed a few relatively easy and inexpensive cosmetic fixes.
Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
The pea-gravel patio is new but the red brick walkway is original.
We like being able to sit out front and watch people go by, Allison says.
The couple liked the paneled, vaulted ceiling, but its two-tone finish was too visually busy.
Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
And the beige carpeting wasnt their style at all.
It shows up as a nice clean color that is bright but not cold.
Jon assembled the unit out of IKEA cabinet bases and designed and built the shelves himself.
Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
Get Creative with Kitchen Updates
The original 1959 kitchen was a gut job.
Removing walls opened up the kitchen to the living and dining areas.
It shares the living rooms white paint and vaulted, paneled ceiling.
Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
New white cabinetry keeps the whole open space flowing.
Smaller appliances are stored in a pantry at the other end of the kitchen.
Our everyday appliances are easily accessible but out of view when the doors are closed, she says.
Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
Open shelves store small appliances and the drawers hold spices, canned goods, and kids snacks.
Blush-painted walls and a small swatch ofcheckerboardtile on the lower shelf add a surprise inside.
Its such a tiny little upgrade that brings you joy when you launch the door, Allison says.
Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
We call this our eating couch, she says.
Pillows and a washable kantha quilt make it cozy.
To turn this bedroom into her office, Allison made a controversial move.
Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
The wardrobe holds Allisons printer, office supplies, and fabric samples.
Thebold wallpaperwas a strategic move.
I wanted something bold and bright in here.
Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
You lose a lot of functionality with a traditional closet, she says.
Built-ins just make it feel so much more spacious and give us storage in a different way.
A large mirror reflects the window to make the space look larger.
Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
Let in Natural Light
Jon and Allison chose this bedroom at the back of the house.
They put inFrench doorsthat lead to a small patio right off their bedroom.
The Garrisons transformed their nondescript yard into aresort-like outdoor living roomthat expands their living space considerably.
Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces
They designed the space to have separate but adjoined zones for private lounging, entertaining, and outdoor meals.
Aseating area around the fire tableis the centerpiece of the backyard.
She smartly sized the concrete-and-stucco structure to fit readymade cushions.
Jon built the kids a play structure with a deck that overlooks the ocean.
It was an awkward yard, but we fit a lot in, Allison says.
They also lined the patio with freestanding outdoor cabinets from Crate & Barrel.
Before the Renovations
The Garrisons 1959 bungalow was packed with charmif a little closed-off.
Check out photos taken pre-renovation, below, to see the home before its complete room-by-room transformation.
With creative upgrades, the home now makes the most of its small footprint.
Rancho Photos
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