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Better Shelter's Silver Lake Cottage Makeover

Name: 2310 Brier Ave by Better Shelter
Location: Silver Lake, CA
Size: 2 bed, 2 bath, just under 1,000 sq. ft.

As many Silver Lake residents often do, we walk/run around the Reservoir in the morn and evening, both for exercise and for the opportunity to oggle and dream about owning one of the many desirable homes that surround the body of water. Most of my friends are renters, so we're all acquainted with the "let's pick our lottery dream house while we run" game. We just found one we might want to swing by to check out if our numbers come up anytime soon...

 
 

071509brier02.jpgRight off our running route is this charming 100 year old cottage that was recently renovated and decorated by Better Shelter, the Newport Beach residential design firm that specializes in modest and design-centric projects. The house was just listed with some great interior shots for us to admire before we have an opportunity saunter over for an open house visit.

071509brier03.jpgThey've done an admirable job keeping the spirit of the modest size home and we're loving their choice in decor to compliment the architectural elements. And how about the excellent choice with the attractive xeriscaped yard? We're ready to move in ourselves (we wish)...

Photos from Better Shelter.

Tags

Look!, renovation, silver lake, cottage, Better Shelter

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Comments (26)

wow, LOVE this! so bright and airy looking.

posted by Lars7208 on July 15th 2009 at 10:12pm
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The giant penis paperweight is an especially interesting part of the uh.... choice in decor.

posted by JH4285 on July 15th 2009 at 10:17pm
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JH4285, im glad I wasnt the only one who noticed that lol

posted by abc123 on July 15th 2009 at 11:10pm
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Anyone recognize that desk in picture #6? I'm looking for something exactly like that for a corner in my living room.

posted by Auburn on July 15th 2009 at 11:24pm
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Wow. Love the house. The enormous penis paperweight had escaped my notice. Thanks for pointing it out!

posted by lulu77 on July 15th 2009 at 11:35pm
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I am all for a good company making money and I love what they have done with this place.

But in times of a recession, it's buyer beware. This place was for sale 8 months ago and even the agent listed it as a tear down. And old man who was a hoarder of trash and feral cats (over 20) died here and the place was a scary abomination. Did they just cosmetically fix it? Or did they pull it down to the studs? $399k seems like a good price but I would not want to live there after the main owner neglected it for so long.

posted by cherrypie71 on July 16th 2009 at 12:55am
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@JH4285 That's not a penis. That's a sculpture bust of a naked woman with a long neck. Those are breasts not balls. Look again. LOL.

posted by BruinToo on July 16th 2009 at 2:10am
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@cherriepie71, its called recycling and how sad if this had been pulled down. Is it now a 'home' or dressed by agents?

posted by hrhprincessfiona on July 16th 2009 at 3:00am
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I was digging it until the obnoxious Gucci surfboard ruined it for me.

posted by damnedbee on July 16th 2009 at 6:32am
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Cherrypie71, buyer beware is extremely important with any home purchase and any history know about a house is valuable. That said, I grew up in a home that was once occupied by an old recluse who had 30 plus cats. He also died in the home. The house never had issues related to the old man or his cats in the 28 years my parents lived there. A tear down in one person's eyes can be a remodel to someone else.

posted by mbs on July 16th 2009 at 7:41am
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totally agree on the gucci surfboard.....wtf get a proper surfboard. have any dior snowboards lying around too?

posted by Landmark on July 16th 2009 at 8:37am
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First, it may technically be a face and bust, however....it's still shaped like a penis.

Second, I totally wish I had a ceiling like that!

posted by stoojie on July 16th 2009 at 9:57am
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It's a very airy, comfortable cute house it doesn't matter if it once was a a tear down and now renovated. Also, I thought the Gucci surf board was a nice sculpture. It kind of reminds me of our pool house, minus the kitchen and high end furniture. But it definitely inspires on how you can use a small space.

posted by shaunon on July 16th 2009 at 10:08am
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I saw this when I went to Gingergrass, before the reno. The place MAJORLY smelled like cat pee - I wonder if that smell is all gone! In my experience, it's pretty hard to get rid of that smell.

This place looks gorgeous - I love what they did with it. I'm totally jealous after spending much LESS time than they did slaving over my house that was admittedly in bad, but not this bad condition to start off with!

Wonder if they had permits to expand it - seeing as it was listed as a 1 bedroom prior to the reno...

posted by romeoandjewels on July 16th 2009 at 2:29pm
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Found before pics on their blog! Ewww! They are brave souls...

http://bettershelter.blogspot.com/2009/03/rehab-in-silver-lake.html

posted by romeoandjewels on July 16th 2009 at 2:49pm
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Oh wow, thanks for the before pix r&j, that's a wild transition.

posted by bumblebeechicago on July 16th 2009 at 3:31pm
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omg i remember this place from when i worked at silverlake coffee! there were always nasty bums and cats chillin around there

posted by rlmesq on July 16th 2009 at 4:12pm
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I heart your coffee table! looks great with the space.

posted by lovelyrita on July 16th 2009 at 5:23pm
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I shot some of the photos, it does NOT smell like cat pee, it's an amazing makeover. Great buy at the asking price, great location, wish I could afford it.

posted by jkoegel on July 17th 2009 at 11:13am
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Source for the hanging jobsite lights?
Not the bright orange plastic items...

posted by hidinkansas on July 17th 2009 at 11:51am
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Anyone familiar with who makes the bed and the green blanket on the bed?

posted by donugene on July 17th 2009 at 2:11pm
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The headboard is by West Elm and has been discontinued. The blanket, I believe, is by Hermes.

posted by heatherette on July 19th 2009 at 1:11pm
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I love this look. Just what I'd like to achieve inside our beach shack.

The quirky history just adds to the appeal!

posted by tea with lucy on July 19th 2009 at 10:59pm
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donugue, the blanket is definitely hermes...be prepared for a preposterous price tag lol

posted by abc123 on July 19th 2009 at 11:02pm
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Can you tell me where you got that fabulous desk?

posted by krisn on July 20th 2009 at 1:21am
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The coffee table is awesome!

posted by gryt on July 20th 2009 at 6:32am
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