This A-Frame Style House Unused for 40 Years Is a Mix of 1970s Vibes and Modern Minimalism

Name: Melissa and Bryan Goldberg, two children, 1 pup
Location: Santa Cruz Mountains — Los Gatos, California
Type of home: A-frame style house
Size: 1,300 square feet
Years lived in: 9 months, owned

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: It’s our dream house! We had been looking in this neighborhood for over a year, and just as things started to open up (real estate-wise) last year, our realtor brought us to look at it. We were the first to see it in person. We knew right away that it was the one, and we offered on it and got it!! The previous owners bought it directly from the builder and only lived in it for five years. The house sat, mostly unused, for almost 40 years.

The funny part was that the house was very much loved by the owner’s husband, so over the years they did put in some new flooring, carpeting, and kept appliances up to date. Everything else was original from 1974. Windows, tile, wood-burning fireplaces, and this amazing solid wood front door. It was all raw redwood beams and ceilings, making the space dark and very cabin-feeling.

When we moved in, the first thing we wanted to do was lighten the space up, so we painted every wall and ceiling in a bright white. We also did some Band-Aid renovations to the downstairs bathroom, including painting the vanity and tub tile, replacing the mirror, and stenciling faux tile on the floors. We moved into this house without many furnishings, so we took our time looking for the perfect pieces to complement the mid-century design of the home, but also give it a modern and minimalist feel. The outcome? A super cozy mountain hideaway that has become our full-time home.

We definitely identify as creatives. I do think our home very much reflects that, from the art sourced locally, to our record collection, to the photography on the walls, and the vintage pieces handed down to us from family.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Mid-century, Hygge, Minimalist, Light, Artsy

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room has to be our “sitting” room. It’s the first room you walk into. I love it because of two things: our wood-burning stove and the wet bar. We almost took the wet bar out to make it into something else, but ended up leaving it as an homage to its mid-century origins. I pained the walls of the wet bar, but left the original brown ceramic tile and let that be what I designed the room around. The colors and textures in that room work well together to create a warm and cozy place to sit and enjoy a classic cocktail or glass of wine.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? One of the last pieces that we bought was a small leather loveseat for the sitting room. I was looking for the right size and style for the space. I found it at a Crate and Barrel warehouse outlet for half price!! It’s the CB2 Seville tufted loveseat.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Take your time! Invest in what you really want vs. settling for something that doesn’t fit or work. If on a budget, look for used, outlet finds, or hand-me-downs that could work. Vintage and thrifted pieces are a great way to warm up a space.

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

Share Your Style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form