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Houzz Tour: Fresh Color and More Space for a 1942 Cottage
Design and remodeling pros enlarge a home and create a bright, beachy vibe for a California family
The owners of a small cottage built in 1942 in Pasadena, California, outgrew the home after they had two children, and they enlisted Amy Peltier to help with the redesign. “They were ready for a fresh update and to move on from beige walls and dark wood furniture into something fresh, bright and light,” Peltier says. “They were very specific about the color palette: turquoise blue-green. We kept our design vision focused on these colors throughout the project. We surrounded the colors with lots of white to maintain a balance and make sure they didn’t overwhelm each room.”
The owners were very involved in the design process and used Houzz frequently to catalog inspiration images and gather design details, Peltier says. “They have a great eye for design and style, so the process was a lot of fun to work together.”
The owners were very involved in the design process and used Houzz frequently to catalog inspiration images and gather design details, Peltier says. “They have a great eye for design and style, so the process was a lot of fun to work together.”
The view through the front door is a preview of the charming interior beyond.
Front door paint: Silver Spruce, Dunn-Edwards
Front door paint: Silver Spruce, Dunn-Edwards
The renovation team removed a wall at the home’s entry to provide space for storage. “Halfway through the project, we changed the wall into a nook to create a space with more storage and make it more functional,” Peltier says. Wide-plank white oak engineered wood flooring sets the beachy tone found throughout the house.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The entry is defined by a shiny pendant light and a runner that provides a bit of visual separation from the living room. The designers employed a few tricks to make the living room appear larger: In addition to the ceiling being raised by 2 feet during the renovation, Peltier hung the curtains a few feet above the window to enhance the sense of height. She placed the owners’ sectional in a way that further defines the space. “We placed the sectional there out of necessity, but it worked beautifully because it organically acted as a divider for the entry. I love when that happens,” Peltier says.
The color palette in the living room features beige, blue and white in the finishes and furnishings. The design mixes modern and traditional, with geometric patterns in the rug and coffee table and light wood for the bobbin chair. “The copper metal tones from the coffee table pick up the coral tones in the accent pillow fabric,” Peltier says.
Shop for living room furniture on Houzz
Shop for living room furniture on Houzz
The home’s expansion resulted in a new footprint for the kitchen, so it’s entirely new. A wooden bead chandelier hangs over a rustic pedestal dining table with chairs the designers upholstered in Crypton fabric, which is durable and stain-resistant. The variety of wall finishes — paint, tile and shiplap — gives the space a fresh cottage vibe.
Wall paint: Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore
Here’s a closer look at the rustic wood pedestal dining table and white Chippendale chairs, which continue the palette of blue, sandy beige and white.
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Find an interior designer on Houzz
The team created a showstopper backsplash in watery blue scallop-shaped tile, set among white cabinets and white Caesarstone quartz countertops. “The custom backsplash tile takes center stage, so we kept the rest of the kitchen light, bright and white,” Peltier says. Each tile measures about 4 inches and the color was custom blended to match the home’s front door. Cabinets with glass fronts on top and a tall pantry satisfy the owners’ desire for more storage.
Tile: Tap ‘N’ Tile
Tile: Tap ‘N’ Tile
The laundry room features cabinetry painted a light aqua blue and a sea of classic penny tile on the floor in a color called Lake, from Cepac Tile. A deep farmhouse sink and overhead hanging rack are convenient extras.
The master bedroom is an elegant sanctuary for the two busy parents. Grasscloth wallpaper acts as a textural backdrop for the dark blue velvet headboard that takes center stage. “We wanted the headboard to be the focal point, so we picked white nightstands with subtle details to create interest but not overwhelm the room,” Peltier says.
The wide nightstands double as dressers for storing linens. The designers kept the colors more subdued in this space for a calming feel. “Blue and green are two of the clients’ favorite colors but can be bold, especially when paired together,” Peltier says. “We wanted to create a relaxing and serene atmosphere, so we minimized pattern and used color to create that where we could — keeping the bedding, nightstands and drapery subtle, soft and white.”
The master bathroom features a standout Lunada Bay Tile glass mosaic in hushed watery blues, grays and greens on the wall behind the vanity. Gray marble tile sweeps across the floor and into the shower. The vanity is custom and the lighting is from Hudson Valley Lighting.
Tile: Tap ‘N’ Tile
Tile: Tap ‘N’ Tile
The spa-like shower features the rectangular marble tile staggered horizontally on the bench wall and set in a herringbone pattern on the floor, ceiling and other wall. There’s a shower head on the ceiling and a handheld fixture on the wall.
A built-in desk and cushioned stool serve as a small office area outside the master bedroom. The classic furnishings and watery blue art on the wall stay true to the home’s color scheme and modern yet elegant aesthetic.
This jewel box of a space is the guest bedroom, enjoyed by visiting grandparents and other family. The custom bed and other furnishings are understated to make the stunning floral wallpaper from Clarke & Clarke stand out. “The bed is classic with simple lines so it wouldn’t compete with the wallpaper or overwhelm the room,” Peltier says. “The nightstands are a little more modern and edgy to offset the bright colors and whimsical feeling of the wallpaper.”
The guest bathroom features the same sky blue penny tile that was used in the laundry. “We loved it so much, we decided to use it in both places,” Peltier says.
The stairs have a neat runner that leads to the new second-floor kids’ bedrooms, Jack-and-Jill bathroom and loft.
In the daughter’s bedroom, the designers used a tufted bed and subdued tones of blue, green and coral, for a sophisticated look a girl can grow into.
The kids’ bathroom is a prime example of the designers’ coastal theme, punctuated by aqua tile stripes running through white tile on the wall above the double-sink custom vanity with quartz countertop.
“We used an inexpensive 3-by-6-inch white subway tile mixed with a custom color liner that added subtle color and interest,” Peltier says. “Stripes are our favorite, so incorporating them was a no-brainer.” The milky blue light fixture picks up on the soft blue-green used throughout the house.
“We used an inexpensive 3-by-6-inch white subway tile mixed with a custom color liner that added subtle color and interest,” Peltier says. “Stripes are our favorite, so incorporating them was a no-brainer.” The milky blue light fixture picks up on the soft blue-green used throughout the house.
The son’s bedroom features a floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcase that the team added during the remodel. There’s a desk, plenty of shelving for books and knickknacks, as well as a bulletin board for artwork and notes. “We decided to do built-ins to create more storage space as well as a homework space,” Peltier says.
Here’s a look at the other side of the boy’s bedroom. Both of the kids’ bedrooms are carpeted, a request from the homeowner to keep the spaces “cozy and soft,” Peltier says. “We kept the carpet light and close to the color of the wood floors.”
The kids’ play space is on the home’s top level, where the team transformed an attic loft. The kids move the cubes around to use as tables or seats, Peltier says.
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Who lives here: A couple with two young children
Location: Pasadena, California
Size: 2,700 square feet (251 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designer: Amy Peltier Interior Design & Home
Contractor: Eduardo Apitz
A complete remodel by the construction team expanded the former 1,100-square-foot, two-bedroom, 1½-bathroom home by 1,600 square feet. A second story was added for two more bedrooms, a bathroom and playroom, and the 8-foot-high ceilings were raised to 10 feet.
The redone home was transformed into a charming white cottage with James Hardie fiber cement siding in Arctic White and a Dutch entry door painted a pale blue that introduces the fresh palette inside. The home now has sunny California coastal appeal.
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