This 1970s House Is Full of Wood Paneling, but Somehow Feels Light and Romantic

“It’s actually a funny story because we weren’t looking to move at all. We were happily living in Malibu, but as an interior designer I’m constantly browsing real estate. One morning I saw this house pop up on Redfin, and immediately recognized it,” begins Emma Cali of this four-bedroom house built in the 1970s in Agoura Hills, California, which she shares with her husband, their 6-year-old son Jones, 3-year-old daughter Coco, and dogs Luna and Dottie.

“It had belonged to a family I was friends with in high school, and I had spent time there growing up. They had sold the home nearly 20 years earlier, but the moment I saw it listed I felt strangely drawn to go see it,” Emma continues.

When Emma and her husband, Adam Franzino, stepped inside, they knew they’d be purchasing the house. “There was an energy to the home that’s hard to describe — it just felt special. The bones were incredible, and despite being wonderfully kitschy and overflowing with country charm, you could immediately tell how deeply it had been loved and cared for over the years. I wasn’t intimidated by the decor; I could instantly see past it. I knew I could thoughtfully scale it back, preserve its character, and reinterpret it in a way that felt true to both the home and to us.”

“We learned the sellers needed a three-month leaseback while they prepared for their move, so we decided to go all in. We submitted the very first offer, and within five days of the house hitting the market, it was ours,” Emma writes.

The move wasn’t without any chaos. “We still had to sell the home we were living in, so I called in every favor imaginable to get it market-ready,” Emma admits. “We renovated two bathrooms and completely refreshed the landscaping in just two weeks before putting it on the market.”

This house before their renovation was what Emma describes as “unapologetically country!” But while the bones were beautiful and it was “warm, whimsical, and full of personality,” Emmas says the design goal wasn’t to “completely reinvent it,” but, rather, to “refine it.” They decided to dedicate the bulk of their renovation budget to the rooms where they could make the biggest impact on how they live and how the home feels.

“We fully renovated all three bathrooms, redesigned the three fireplaces, installed new flooring throughout, renovated the laundry room, and refreshed the kitchen,” Emma describes. “Rather than gutting the kitchen, we made the conscious decision to work with what was already there. We kept the existing Taj Mahal quartzite countertops, painted the original cabinetry, and installed a new tile backsplash and new hardware.  It completely transformed the space while preserving materials that were still beautiful and avoiding unnecessary waste.”

“One thing I’m especially proud of is that not every update required starting from scratch,” Emma explains. “Painting the existing cabinetry instead of replacing it is something I recommend often. it dramatically changed the look of the kitchen while saving a significant portion of the budget. It proves that thoughtful design decisions can sometimes have just as much impact as a full renovation.”

“Looking back, it all happened incredibly fast, but there was never a moment when we questioned it. This house felt meant to be from the very beginning.”

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