Before and after: L.A. Spanish bungalow renovation
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Designer Alexandra Becket talks through her update to a rundown Spanish bungalow in the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles in the latest installment of Pro Portfolio,our feature that looks at recently built, remodeled orredecorated spaces with commentary from the designers.
Designer: Alexandra Becket of ModOp Design.
Designer’s statement: My husband, Greg Steinberg, and I renovate distressed bungalows in Los Angeles. Our latest project is a 1,480-square-foot Spanish-style home that had lots of original charm but was in dire need of restoration and modernization. We fell in love with the Douglas fir living room beams, beautiful mansard-shaped fireplace, arched picture window and breakfast room with corner built-ins.
We modernized the house while preserving its details and style. The first owner lived there for more than 40 years and left the house to his caretaker, who lived there for an additional 40-plus years; original elements were preserved, but the house needed repairs.
Some of the original furniture was still in the house. I reupholstered a wingback chair with my own textile design, restored the wood furniture and used a mix of new and vintage, including vintage kilim rugs. Warm colors also helped to create a mod-California-Spanish feel.
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The living room’s front door, picture window, built-in bookshelves and Douglas fir beams were restored. The patchwork kilim rug is by Amadi Carpets. Before the renovations, the beams had a faux finish.
After: The paint was stripped to reveal the beautiful Douglas fir, which was then stained.
The dining room had a narrow doorway into kitchen. The chandelier was later moved to the guest room.
Now the dining room opens up to the kitchen and a Carrara marble counter-top bar connects the two rooms. The home’s beams are original.
The kitchen before the remodel.
After: Custom Shaker-style cabinets, Viking appliances and the marble counter and back splash. We added more cabinetry above the sink for more storage.
The breakfast room, before the remodel. The chandelier was painted and moved to the master bedroom.
A view into the breakfast room.
The stained glass chandelier in the breakfast room is vintage. We used a mix of light fixtures -- vintage, new and restored pieces original to the house.
The master bedroom before.
And after.
The chandelier from the breakfast room, repainted and rewired.
Original door hardware, restored.
The house came with the first owner’s mahogany post bed from the 1920s in the guest room. I also asked to have the matching dresser and a cute wood desk.
The guest room after renovations. The bed was refinished.
The office before.
And after: The 1920s desk, which belonged to the house’s first owner, was refinished and painted by Disregarden. The vintage Turkish kilim is from Amadi Carpets.
Another look at the old wingback chair, above left, which was reupholstered in a mod ikat print.
The bathroom before.
And after.
The master bathroom now has Granada floor tile and a custom vanity with Caesarstone quartz counter.
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-- Compiled by Lisa Boone
‘Before’ photos from ModOp Design
‘After’ photo credits: Charmaine David
