For a couple with sons soon leaving for college, downsizing to a home with potential for outdoor entertaining was paradise found. The family was not in a hurry to find a suitable home, but a cottage on a quiet street was a charmer that sealed the deal. A family room with vaulted ceiling and an open-concept kitchen with large, expansive windows that brought the outdoors into the gathering spaces enticed the couple. The back yard was small, but offered great opportunity for a pool and landscaping. In addition, a former detached garage situated in a corner of the property had been enclosed. It held great promise as guest quarters for family and friends. The homeowners enjoy gardening and began a full landscape restoration to the property. Flagstone steps descend from a wide-planked upper deck to a lower flagstone patio that is shaded by the wooden overhang. Matching flagstone decking surrounds a tropical pool that nests among clusters of ginger, Japanese blueberry, xylosma, philodendron, ferns and stately queen palms. A path meandering past the azure blue pool leads to a charming casita that beckons with its handmade red clay tile roof and whitewashed glass-paned French doors. Transporting fortunate guests to an oasis of comfort, the couple did extensive renovation to the former detached garage and storage area. The ceiling height was raised and clad in bead board set with exposed beams, giving the diminutive dwelling a handmade quality in every detail. Furnished with a luxurious bed covered in off-white and neutral linens, cozy upholstered chairs and scored cement flooring, the interiors are serene. By contrast, the spectacular view from the expansive French doors frames the sky, pool and lush vegetation. With such an alluring retreat only steps from the main house, the couple’s keen sense of style and eclectic tastes draw guests to the casually elegant indoors. A bespoke dining table with matching chairs, given to the couple by the husband’s family, is hand-carved with the homeowner’s three-letter monogram. “I was the only one in the family eligible to get them,” says the husband, who has the same initials as the family member for whom they were created. A dining alcove centered with a round table draped in a floor-length paisley cloth is paired with vintage dining chairs upholstered in dark green leather. A large Moroccan lantern and Brunschwig & Fils grasscloth with red background add drama to the setting. Keeping the vibrant tone moving through the home, a small space was transformed into a library. “I’ve always wanted a red library,” the homeowner states. She painted the walls red and decorated with family pieces and personal purchases. “We have picked up pieces over the years,” she says. “If we find something that we like, we find a place for it.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AL RENDON
