Name: Joe DiSanto & Kristin McCasey
Location: West Adams, California
Size: 1,700 square feet
Years lived in: 5.5 years
Creative couple, Joe and Kristin, bought their house in April 2004. Located in the historic West Adams area of Los Angeles, the neighborhood is a combination of medium to large Craftsman and Victorian homes, along with other assorted styles. Although the house is a restored Craftsman (which the couple loves), they also love the look of Danish style and have slowly been adding pieces into their home. They particularly like the mix of a contemporary design with the warmth of rich wood colors and textures. Now Joe and Kristen's home is full of an interesting mix of styles and they love how it all works altogether.

The couple is no stranger to DIY projects, often creating unique and interesting pieces for their home - like the kitchen island featured in the first image. In Joe's words, "I made the kitchen island out of a free work bench that I saw out for the trash. I shortened it, I created a new top out of basic 18” x 48” x 1.5” pine would boards I got at home depot. I joined 3 of them together to create the top then stained and polyed it. I then bought shelf brackets from Anthropologie to support the overhang that the stools are under." We love the thought that went into their home and know they appreciate their space. That's truly making a house a home.
AT Survey:
Our style: Eclectic. Old meets a little new.
Inspiration: Make it a place we want to hang out in.
Favorite Element: Our backyard, Danish modern credenza in the living room, island in kitchen with pots over it, and the sitting room in our master bedroom.
Biggest Challenge: Adding some modern touches.
What Friends Say: They usually say they love it!
Biggest Embarrassment: Our second bedroom and bathroom. We never got around to making them nice.
Proudest DIY: The fact that most of our furniture is used…but you can’t really tell.
Biggest Indulgence: Th hot tub in the backyard.
Best advice: There is a point when DIY can stop being fun. Get a little help when you need it.
Dream source: We love this place, Floor Model.
Resources:
Appliances:
- Home Depot
- Sears
Furniture:
- Pepe’s Thrifty Shop
- Wertz Brothers
- Sofa Company
- Auctions
- Bought from people (Craigslist, etc)
- Floor Model
- Home made. We made our bed in the master bedroom
- Refinish some old stuff, like the desk in office
Hardware:
- Home Depot
- Anthropologie
- Restoration Hardware
- OSH

Accessories:
- Bed, Bath & Beyond
- Ikea
- Pottery Barn
- Crate & Barrel
- Target
- Michael's Crafts
Lighting: Various lighting stores
Paint:
- OSH
- Home Depot
Rug and Carpet:
- Josephs Rugs / Van Nuys CA (shag in living room)
- Floors to Go (hardwood in sitting room & office)
- Building 19 Rhode Island (rug in dining room)
- Rest of the hardwood was original
Artwork: Mostly it is our photography, paintings and drawings. I collect frames from yard sales (see kitchen). The rest is from Pepe’s Thrifty shop and a couple things from Ross Dress for Less.
(Thanks, Joe and Kristin!)



Shaw's Original Fir...
love the office desk. I think it's great when people can make a home out of salvaged furniture. I also like the idea of putting art work in the kithen.
It's not a bad home, but just in this case not my style. It feels a little too brown ( which to me is a bit stuffy)
Now, that's a real kitchen- you can tell that's where the magic happens.
AND... I have never said this about wagon-wheel furniture before, so mark my words:
That pot rack is incredible. Done wrong it could have been kitschy, but it's subtle, practical, just right. Well done!
Such a warm and beautiful home. I love the style of these houses in West Adamss, great bones lucky to have purchased this house. The back yard is great, one needs an oasis like that when you live in LA. The kitchen looks like a nice place to hang out.
Your pups are cute. My only concern is you dog jumping off such a high bed onto hardwood floors, this could be very dangerous for his/her back.
Thanks for sharing your home.
Wonderful! It's filled with interesting things, without ever looking messy. The dining room is especially amazing.
What an absolutely LOVELY home! I live near the historic West Adams district and I'm always admiring the craftsman and victorian homes there! But these older homes require so much work...but clearly you've made it work beautifully. Great job!
Wow!
So warm and personal, yet tasteful and well edited!
I enjoy all the woodwork thoroughtout the home - Particularly those amazingly overscaled crown mouldings!
I'm in love with that kitchen too - the Wagon-Wheel potrack is utterly unique, but not the least bit kitschy.
Love the kitchen! And the dogs!
Oh, that kitchen, that oppressive kitchen. I want, no NEED, to put at least three-quarters of that stuff away.
Than I can work at that nice island or appreciate that lovely window.
But only then.
(And note to self: Wash dishes in the sink before the camera comes out.)
I would hate to be the one to have to dust and clean that kitchen.
This place is absolutely FLAWLESS. I want in!
Love it! Although it's not the style I'd decorate my own home with, it's so inviting and warm. It doesn't look "overdesigned" and looks lived-in and loved in the best possible sense.
You know, I LOVE this kitchen. It's a working kitchen, with everything at hand. Enough with the hide-the-microwave sterile/industrial aesthetic!
I love your exterior paint. The purple trim is cool! Thanks for sharing!
Btw, the wagon wheel pot rack was also a DIY that Joe completed. Pretty cool!
Joe & Kristin, your home speaks volumes! Thanks for sharing this bit of yourselves with us! I absolutely LOVE the house itself (pure character, beauty & all of that rich, real, solid wood). The warmth, love & yourselves that you added is like yummy buttercream icing on an already delicious cake. I don't know you; but, I can tell that this home is part of you. Now that's dwelling!
The kitchen makes me happy!
LOOOOOOOOOOOVE!!!
i too love the pleasantness and warmth of this home. it looks very inviting. but, omg, that kitchen...i really adore that long shelf above the counter, but...i could never live with that many THINGS out in the open, so cluttery and oppressive.
I saw the kitchen picture first, and groaned, and couldn't believe it when I clicked through; the rest of the house is wonderful!! Terrible kitchen though, what a shame.
Wow, I was just in this neighborhood recently. I love to see young people redoing these gorgeous homes with a historical significance.
Awesome home, but I agree with the posters who did not like the kitchen. Items on open shelves collect dust, and so do pots on a rack. It doesn't have to be sterile, just a little decluttering would do wonders. The rest of the house is fabulous!
Your yard is beautiful and I love the hidden clawfoot tub tucked away in the corner amongst the bushes.
The majority of your house is very nice and well done. I agree with you that the 2nd bedroom needs some TLC--I do like the quirky bathroom with the B&W checkered floor.
Your kitchen is SCARY!
-the pot rack looks precarious and overstuffed
-the photos on the walls ('tho nice) are too many and seem to sit on top of all that glassware, on top of the dish shelf, on top of the dozens of countertop gadgets and crap.
Do you really need the can opener, blender, mixer and espresso supplies ON TOP of the counter every day?! Not to mention the large spice rack over the stove which just looks cluttered.
Your living room looks inviting and cozy but the curtains need to either be to the floor or to the window sill--not somewhere in between (preferably to the floor)
So glad I'm not the only one flinching about the kitchen - clutter central - no way
A lovely home. The kitchen looks like people actually live there. Question though... do the baskets actually hold anything?
It's probably just me, but I can't help but see all those pots and pans that are hanging come falling down - more than likely injuring a person or a pet....
I love the kitchen!! I love the whole house, warm and inviting.
I love the table and the kitchen!! www.jewelryonline.me,www.wholesalesteeljewelry.net
what a beautifull home..!!!!
Makes me want to stay awhile. So warm and welcoming. Great use of color, and I LOVE those thick crown moldings. Also like how you handled the drapes in the (attic?) office space. Those angles are a challenge, but that solution is elegant.
I love everything. Thank you so much for sharing and AT for posting.
Oh wow, this place is fantastic! That's my kind of kitchen!!
wow, i happen to LOVE the kitchen. i dont think it looks cluttered, it looks cozy! i dont know you, but im tempted to come over and have a cup of coffee in one of those barstools and watch you while youre cooking!
LOVE this kitchen!! You can tell good cooking comes out of this place. Particularly love the pot rack as wagon wheel.
I happen to love the kitchen too. It looks REAL. Also love that desk - spectacular!
I love that house. It's the kind that fills your soul.
I really love your home. Very warm and inviting. I love the kitchen! When saw the back yard shots, I thought of fun gatherings with family and friends!
I don't want to sound nit picky but the one item that threw me was the window treatments on the windows next to the fireplace. I can see your thought process, the right window butts up to the long sets of windows for the front of the home so you are trying to keep the treatment the same. Well here is a little tip. Because you are using the same treatment you can shorten them to right below the frame of the shorter windows. They would blend-in so much better. Another alternative is replacing the treatment with stainglass windows. Either installed in place of the windows, or over the windows. Craftman's like yours would have this type of treatment more times than not.
Again, you have a beautiful home and these were just a suggestion.
Very nicely done house and I would agree, a tad too brown toupe for my taste but it is a nice space overall.
I think a more lively color in the kitchen would help there and perhaps a touch too cluttered but overall, not a bad space and I have no real issue with stuff on the counters, if you have the room for them.
I bet lots of good cooking comes from that kitchen. And for all of you worrying about the pots and pans, people hang stuff up of that sort all the time and as long as the wagon wheel is sturdy and hung well, I don't see any issues, the one thing is the hanging of baskets above it, I feel like it may not be the best spot due to having to get on a ladder to reach them and I have a feeling they are up there for storage and are pulled down when one is needed.
(PSST, might want to clean the doggy door, it's gross)
love, love, love your home! and thank you for having not just one, but two tvs! I also have 1 in our living room and one in the master bedroom and I always feel funky when I don't see any on the house tours. Your house tour makes me happy!
Your pups are cute. My only concern is you dog jumping off such a high bed onto hardwood floors, this could be very dangerous for his/her back.
An excellent point, LoriSF. I can't believe that Joe and Kristin didn't think of that. It make you wonder if they really care about their companion animals at all. Reprobates.
Wow, this is a house I could really live in.
Love the colour palette, and especially like the artwork in the dining room and how the colours have an almost translucent effect against the wall colour. So soothing, so tranquil and serene.
Love, love, love.
"Items on open shelves collect dust..."
No they DON'T if you use them every day.
The kitchen is a little too much overstimulation for me, but I'll bet functionally it works like a charm.
That kitchen is full of good ideas. Even if one doesn't use them all, there's bound to be an idea for everybody there. Thanks for sharing!
It's funny to see people get positively apoplectic over - gasp! Actual APPLIANCES on a KITCHEN COUNTER. Sheesh. I really like the kitchen, and the whole rest of the house too! Very warm and cozy - and great color. I'd love to see more of that dressing room off the bedroom. It looks delish. The cute pups seal the deal.
I actually like the kitchen and furthermore, even if I didn't, the people who live there obviously do. I can understand comments like "it's not at all to my taste because....." but people who just shout "bad, bad, bad" are, in my opinion, suffering from another kind of bad taste.
This is a perfect example of how decor can be completely not my style and not to my taste, but still make me gush over it. This is just lovely. It's dignified and grown-up without being stuffy, casual and liveable without being sloppy, and so so pleasing to look at. I can see how harmonious and lively those rooms must feel. And I like how it's in the Craftsman spirit without being slavish to the period--no mica lampshade overload!
PS, your garden (both front and back) is amazing! I'm going to steal the fescue border idea--I just hope it will work in a moist Zone 5b as well as it does in an arid Zone 9!
Your house is BEAUTIFUL!!! I cannot believe I stumbled onto this. (My husband and I were the previous owners. It was our first house.) I LOVE EVERYTHING you have done to make it look so cool! Perfect mix of styles. Such an eclectic mix of things!
I don't know if you ever saw pictures just a few years before you purchased it. The exterior was white stucco, no front porch, concrete yard...we really transformed it and loved living there...but you took it to a WHOLE other level. So fun to see the inside; I love seeing the deck Dino built...you made such great additions!
Great job!!! These pictures made me so happy! Congrats on a job well done!
Hola Kristin and Joe,
Your home is very beautiful. It looks so appealing and comfortable. It is beautifully decorated and very inviting. It should be in House Beautiful, as well as in Apartment Therapy. The two of you have produced a home with great ambiance, in and out. The yard is so pleasant and peaceful. It is a masterpiece to say the least. Now that is a home to be proud of and to enjoy!
LOL besesitos
This kitchen is so homey and wonderful. I can smell food cooking right now.