Transformation of 4116 Marsten Ave

This was a special home because it is a two story home with a reverse floor plan. What that means is you entered from the street to the drive and the garage. The main entrance to the home, and the entry foyer are on the same level as the bedrooms. You descended via a staircase down to the next level where you would find the main living areas this home.

​​​​​​​What made this home spectacular was a large deck that opened onto a beautiful canyon. The house was designed so that the family and living rooms opened onto the deck. The kitchen, the dining room, and the eat-in dining area were located at the back of the house, away from that view. We worked to make it feel brighter and lighter at the backside of the house, and to make to feel at least as special as the canyon side of the house

Hardwood floors were installed in two of the rooms that had previously been carpeted. So we installed wooden floors in the living room and family room to create a flow and make the rooms feel more united and less separated from each other. We painted a lighter palette on the walls and all rooms in the same shade. This also helps to flow from one room to the other.

The living room is large, so we created two conversation areas to balance the room. Because the dining room is at the back of the house with no outdoor access, we created interest and warmth by installing a simple, yet classic drum shaded chandelier. This became the focal point of the rooms and cast a warm light throughout. We added matching lamps on the dining console at the back of the rooms to further light the room.

​​​​​​​We didn’t add anything to the kitchen The sellers had previously completed a major renovation there. However, at the end of the kitchen there is a dining area. We made this more inviting and interesting by installing a light fixture with warm, amber colored Edison bulbs. This immediately draws the eye there and creates am ambiance of warmth. French doors adjacent to this area open onto a small patio.

​​​​​​​This patio is at the base of a steep incline up to the street. The sellers had the area professionally landscaped at one time, but the drought years destroyed much of the plantings and the area was unwelcoming. We trimmed the existing foilage, removed some of the plants and replaced them with various grasses, and new soil and bark. You will see evidence of the neighbor’s pine tree directly above this garden, as the pine needles are plentiful!