This charming cottage type dwelling in California, location of most of the world’s best homes, required a number of intelligent methods of the commerce when it got here to its renovation.
‘The home positively had some challenges so far as the quirky structure and all of the angles,’ says Katie Monkhouse, founding father of Katie Monkhouse Interior Design (opens in new tab). ‘It had been added on to many occasions because it was constructed so we had been making an attempt to attach the dots with out eradicating all of the quirk that gave it character. We actually wished to streamline wherever we may to scale back among the visible noise from all of the angles.’
The homeowners moved from the town and welcomed their first baby through the venture. ‘They fell in love with the property however knew they wished it up to date to really feel just a little youthful with out shedding all of the appeal and conventional really feel.’
Katie’s method was easy. ‘We painted the partitions and ceiling the identical coloration to remove distinction and the angles simply began to fade away. We pulled millwork particulars from current areas by to the renovated areas to create continuity and make all of it really feel prefer it had all the time been there.’
Her inspiration got here from her time dwelling in England. ‘All of the paint colours are Farrow & Ball. We wished numerous wainscotting and paneling, numerous draperies, and herringbone flooring – we knew the home wanted to maintain its cottage appeal however we wished to layer it in coloration and sample to present it some gravity.’
‘We had been going for an English cottage really feel, heat with layered colours and patterns however nonetheless trendy sufficient for this younger household.’
Kitchen
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Russo)
The shoppers had been eager to keep up the character of the house by updates and making every area usable.
‘We did small reconfigurations to create a bigger laundry space by eradicating an outdated kitchenette and a extra useful kitchen by filling a clumsy nook with a {custom} butcher block walnut cupboard and wine fridge,’ says Katie. ‘We wished to keep up some quirk however clear it as much as really feel extra cohesive and useful.’
Katie plumped for a facelift within the kitchen, relatively than a full renovation. Amongst her kitchen ideas was portray the cabinetry in two-tones, updating the island countertop, switching out all of the {hardware} and sink faucet and including an announcement lantern over the island. ‘The kitchen feels contemporary and up to date with out changing current cabinetry and marble.’
Eating space
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Russo)
This area is considered one of Katie’s favourite transformations. Dining room ideas had been plentiful. ‘We ripped out some built-in bookcases to make the area symmetrical and reframed the opening to be wider and have a delicate curve,’ says Katie. ‘The millwork is an extension of what’s current within the adjoining hallway and the inbuilt eating banquette provides a great deal of additional seating. Farrow & Ball Jitney on the millwork and a printed grass material Philip Jeffries wallpaper create a settee distinction to the remainder of this space within the dwelling, which is a heat white.’
Dwelling space
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Russo)
Katie’s living room ideas included recladding the prevailing built-ins with a white oak that contrasts with the darkish herringbone flooring and including a brand new fire encompass in her favourite marble, Calacatta Monet. ‘All of those parts are in keeping with the character of the house however really feel so up to date and contemporary,’ she says. ‘We added snug seating and film this as a spot to sit down with a espresso or a glass of wine for good dialog – it’s a really intimate little spot.’
Entry to library
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Russo)
Katie’s intelligent design concepts included a built-in shelving unit across the doorway that leads the attention by to the library past.
Library
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Russo)
The library is flooded with pure gentle so Katie used it as a chance to envelop the area in coloration. The oldest oak tree within the space is exterior the window so Katie used it as inspiration for the palette with a lush inexperienced paint on the partitions. Even the marble espresso desk has a heat brown tone that connects to the surroundings. She additionally launched a tan sisal custom-cut carpet, a deep indigo leather-based couch and a delicate fake shearling design.
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Russo)
The built-in, painted in a soothing inexperienced, gives loads of storage.
Powder room
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Russo)
Katie’s imaginative and prescient was to create an announcement scheme for this small area. ‘We love a dramatic powder room,’ she says. Her bathroom ideas included portray the prevailing wainscotting and ceiling a dramatic off-black and including Rebecca Atwood wallpaper for a enjoyable aspect, in addition to updating the lighting and mirror.
Household room
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Russo)
A light-weight palette is used within the household room, creating the proper setting for enjoyable. ‘We up to date the built-ins with new cane doorways and added furnishings with a cottage really feel,’ says Katie. The vintage rug and low desk got here from her store, Westpark House.
Visitor bed room
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Russo)
The visitor bed room is linked to the decrease degree household room, so Katie prolonged the colour palette from that room. The bed room partitions are clad in a pure tone grasscloth and patterned textiles and an iron mattress improve the cottage look.
Major bed room
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Russo)
Katie undertook a giant transformation within the major bed room. The wall behind the mattress was initially a freestanding partition separating the sleeping space from the lavatory that created a closet. Katie’s bedroom ideas together with extending the wall to the ceiling and out to the edges to create cased openings. ‘This actually modified the sensation of the area and offered plenty of privateness,’ says Katie.
‘We additionally eliminated outdated iron collar ties and bolstered after which painted the beams to intensify the tall ceilings. The shoppers wished the area to really feel like a luxurious lodge suite and I feel we achieved that with the plush space rug, dramatic cover mattress and velvet material.’
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Russo)
Katie emphasised the interval really feel with an up to date fire utilizing the remnant soapstone from the kitchen island and a millwork mantel.
Inside design/ Katie Monkhouse Interior Design (opens in new tab)
Images/ Stephanie Russo
