Interior designer Rosan Beltran takes us through the 10-month renovation of her 1936 Craftsman bungalow in Los Angeles.
I trusted my gut and made the leap.
I kept thecinder block retaining walland original entry gate, but everything else got the boot.
(A previous owner had topped it with hopes that it might flourish, but it never did.)
But I replaced it with a pair of olive trees, and now we get so much more light.
That was my goal for the whole projecttolighten and brighten the housebut stay true to the original spirit.
The house is 1,400 square feet, and the little rooms felt extra tight.
It’s important to think about how you want to live.
So in the living room, I added architectural detail with faux exposed beams andshiplap sidingin the TV nook.
Instead of re-creating built-ins, I realized I could add more personality with furniture.
And because therooms are still small, all the pieces have to work hard.
I used every inch to get exactly what I wanteda place to relax and enjoy family time.
That’s when you know you’re onto somethingif an idea strikes you again and again.
I got the look in my sunroom withArto Brick, which is made here in Los Angeles.
When your mother is a librarian you grow up with a lot of books.
Credit:David Tsay
I was set on keeping up the tradition by having a little library.
I cobbled together four vintage barrister cabinets.
They were different depths and heights, but the modification was pretty simple.
An oak top ties them together.
Where the original kitchen walls were located, I placed two peninsulas.
The focal point is a 1950s stove I found on Craigslist.
I bought it from an 80-year-old woman who had cooked on it her whole life and babied it.
Ichose white for everythingbetween the peninsulas: paint, counters, stove, apron-front sink, backsplash, cabinets.
White keeps the flow going.
Credit:David Tsay
But designing this wall was tricky.
I stacked two stock upper cabinets on top of deep base cabinets.
“Green cabinetswere a first for me, but I love how they help bring the outside in.
Credit:David Tsay
When we sit down for a family meal, we usually go to the patio in the backyard.
Still, there’s always a need for a table and chairs.
Here’s how I squeezed a dining room into the floor plan.
I had benches custom made to have flat backs so they snug tight against the walls.
So I knew my remodel would mean reimagining the layout.
I designed my new floor plan as a rectangle divided by a central hall.
The centerpiece is the mossy green velvet bed I designed for my store.
More soft greens come in through the vintage Turkish rug.
I like that it has a subtle pattern that’s a little bit worn.
Credit:David Tsay
Bonus: Buying that way costs about a third of what you might spend at a showroom.
Slabs of quartz with dramatic veining and handmade tiles in the shower echo the organic look in my bedroom.
My son’s bedroom maintained its original footprint andbay window.
I added a window seat with storage drawers to hold his toys and costumes.
We sanded the outside to knock down the rust and painted it black.
We left the feet rusty as a reminder of how far we’ve comeboth the house and us.
The winners were boxwood, lavender, rosemary, and westringia.”
I wanted it to feel like a living roomwell-appointed and cozy.
I set up multiple seating areas and chose pale finishes that will stay cool under the hot sun.
Credit:David Tsay
Keeping all the plantings within a monochromatic palette helped me get a cohesive look.
I could have built a larger addition and patio but not without sacrificing an 80-year-old white mulberry tree.
Instead, I designed the backyard around it andenjoy the shade it provides.
Credit:David Tsay
I named the home Mulberry House after it.
California’s temperate climate allows us to use our backyard most of the year.
I topped four rusty old chairs with comfy cushions to lounge in.
Credit:David Tsay
Credit:David Tsay
