Before and After: Step Inside This 100-Year-Old Bungalow That Feels Like a Rustic-Chic Retreat

Before and After: Step Inside This 100-Year-Old Bungalow That Feels Like a Rustic-Chic Retreat

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When it comes to real estate, Los Angeles is known for hillside villas perched high above Hollywood and sprawling multimillion-dollar estates. The properties we’re used to ogling in magazines and on reality shows based in La-La Land are vast architectural wonders that often come with a 90291 ZIP code.

But some homes—like this humble, century-old bungalow on the northeastern side of L.A.—prove that good design comes in all shapes and sizes. In fact, this Cypress Park property stands at a mere 1,136 square feet, but every inch of the impeccably chic home is dripping with designer touches, thanks to Josh and Naomi Gibson of the design firm Gibson House.

The home was built in the early 1900s and needed a major face-lift when the Gibsons snagged it as an investment property. But instead of turning it into a modern design, the Gibsons stayed true to its cottage-tract house roots, focusing on highlighting the rustic charm.

Now, the three-bed, two-bath home is on the market for $1,075,000, and the refurbished interiors reveal timeless design elements and a few original details the owners made sure to keep.

Below, we highlight some of our favorite rooms in the house and get the scoop from the Gibsons on their inspiration and aesthetic goals for this one-of-a-kind L.A. property.

Front yard

Often, the goal is to open up the front exterior to make it easy to view the home right from the curb. Here, privacy was a priority.

“To make the home feel extremely private, we added a mature 15-foot ficus hedge and fencing on the entire property,” says Naomi.

Moving past the hedge and fencing feels like entering a secret garden, revealing the first original element kept by the designers: the carved wooden front door.

This inspired the Gibsons to add a tile pattern to the front porch to create what Naomi calls the “perfect balance between old and new.”

Kitchen

Deciding to stick with the original floor plan meant keeping the dining table at the center of the kitchen.

“This felt very Tuscan to me, so I leaned into this idea,” says Naomi, who selected an elegant, upscale Hallman Italian range for the kitchen to fit the theme.

Above the range sits a plaster hood trimmed in 180-year-old barn wood.

“The idea was to mimic a wood-burning fire often found in old Tuscan kitchens,” Naomi adds.

Another upgrade in the kitchen is the new larder pantry, which features baking rack shelving, fruit baskets, spice racks, and a pop of gorgeous floral wallpaper.

Living room and fireplace area

In the living room, the unique lime-wash wall paint cultivates the timeless, old-world Italian aesthetic.

“By using a warm sandy hue, it allows both darks and lights to pop in the space,” Naomi says.

The Gibsons selected unique pieces, including the vintage alabaster wall sconces over the fireplace, the biggest splurge in the room.

“I love to scour vintage shops and thrift stores for little treasures. Some pieces I know exactly what I’m looking for, and others find me,” Naomi explains.

Because the living room is the first space you happen upon when entering the home, the Gibsons wanted it to set the tone for the rest of the interiors.

Naomi explains that dividing the room into two distinct areas—a seating area and a fireplace area—helps maximize its potential.

Bathroom

While the primary bath in this home isn’t massive, the space looks significantly bigger after renovations. Lots of vanity lighting, dark flooring, open shelving on the marble vanity, and shower tiling to the ceiling help achieve this optical illusion.

“All these elements create a sense of loft and space in the bathroom,” says Naomi.

Using a linen shelf from the hallway to create deep cubbies behind the bathroom door also helps to add storage.

Backyard

If the house’s interiors didn’t get you in the mood for a Tuscan-inspired vacation, the backyard is where you’ll feel like you’ve been whisked away for an Italian getaway.

“It’s important to have a nice yard space in L.A. because the weather here is so amazing,” says Naomi.

The dual-zone yard offers plenty of space for both relaxing and entertaining. A lounge area features an oversized plaster fireplace, built-in benches, and red-striped lounge chairs. There’s also a romantic dining area with trellising for shade.

While the backyard went through a significant overhaul, it still features a nod to the home’s roots.

“The cobblestone floors are original and make the space feel more organic and show the evolution of families who have been in this home,” Naomi says.

The post Before and After: Step Inside This 100-Year-Old Bungalow That Feels Like a Rustic-Chic Retreat appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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