those relationships that began with a simple favor. It continued for many years, starting with making the front yard look better, renovating an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to earn extra money, revamping the backyard, and eventually relocating nearer to relatives. The new owner assumed possession of the house, making it one of those relationships that stands the test of time.
This small house was surprisingly spacious. The original part of the house had a special flared hip and gable roof that gave it a unique Asian style. However, nobody noticed these unique elements when the house was built in the 1920s. So, we took on our first exterior design project to restore this beauty to its original style. We redesigned the front yard, added a water feature, created new planting areas with rock streams inspired by Japanese gardens, and installed a mailbox stand inspired by Shoji screens. These changes brought out the house's character that had been hidden by the landscaping.
Once we finished the front yard, our client asked us to redesign the ADU to increase the rental income. Despite having a limited budget, we transformed the 6-room, 300 sq ft apartment into a modern, open-concept loft. We added more natural light and flexibility by incorporating a floating island, loft-style bedroom, renovated bathroom, and walk-in closet. Additionally, we made use of a small, unused section of the side yard to create a private outdoor space that is surrounded by nature. Throughout the process, we also managed to gain an extra 18 sq ft of livable space.
Our last project with this wonderful client was to update the exterior courtyard in the back of the house to enhance the overall exterior design of the home. A new deck system was installed embracing the indoor / outdoor lifestyle this client wanted, along with a Koi pond and raised flower beds that framed a new gangplank walkway from the deck to the garage, and to the side of the garage, we installed a small meditation zone that the client had long desired.
After finishing the work and while preparing for a big interior update, the client received an offer to sell his house. At the same time, he felt the need to move closer to his family on the east coast. Although sad about leaving, he was eager to be near his family. As a result, he handed over our interior designs to the new homeowners who promptly started their own DIY project to update the interior.
If this house looks familiar, it’s because its been featured many times, including on the popular HGTV series “House Hunters”.
