Jenika and Robert’s 1944 Bungalow Renovation
Name: Jenika and Robert
Location: Westchester, California
Size: 1,000 square feet
Years lived in: 2 months
Jenika and her boyfriend, Robert, had been living in Los Angeles for 4 years and desperately wanted to have a house of their own. Knowing how expensive real estate is in Los Angeles, they knew that they would have to find a great fixer. Jenika and Robert, with the help of her parents, purchased a small home in Westchester that needed a lot of work. Fortunately, Jenika’s father is a general contractor and he was up for the challenge.
Jenika’s father gathered all his tools and temporarily moved out West into the distressed property. He began to renovate the home day by day. Jenika and Robert kept a diary of the progress of their home over the entire 6 months. With Jenika’s interior design background and her father’s technical skills, the result was a beautifully designed home in 6 months. Jenika’s dream was complete – designing her own home in her style and working alongside her father.
AT Survey:
My/Our style: Hard to say! I guess I like classic architectural backgrounds with a mix of new and vintage furniture and accessories.
Inspiration: The year it was built, 1944.
Favorite Element: The tile floors in the bathrooms, everyone asks if they’re original.
Biggest Challenge: Choosing between options for everything; colors, patterns, and sizes. I can do it for my clients in a second, but for myself it was agony.
What Friends Say: It’s less verbal and more emotional. It’s great to see the expressions on their faces. Most of them kept up with my home improvement blog and saw what the house was to begin with so when they walk in now their eyes just kind of light up.
Biggest Embarrassment: I’m not embarrassed about anything in my house. If I were it wouldn’t last for long. I will say that my least favorite piece is the living room sofa. My boyfriend and I bought it ages ago when we thought we’d only have it for a couple months. Not to worry however, a blue velvet replacement is on the way 🙂
Proudest DIY: My window coverings for sure. I made them without sewing one bit. Just some Ikea fabric, screen molding, staples and twine.
Biggest Indulgence: Definitely the natural stone countertops. They’re pricey but they’re worth it, they’ll look good and last forever.
Best advice: Wait and accumulate, from my best friend. Not everything can be done in one fell swoop, you need to get to know your house before you can buy a lot of things like artwork or accessories. I completely agree. I’d rather not have anything, then fill space with stuff that means nothing.
Dream source: Anthropologie.
Resources:
Appliances:
Refrigerator – Jenn Air
Microwave – Kitchenaid
Dishwasher – Kenmore
Range – Fratelli Onofri
Washer and Dryer – LG
Hardware:
Kitchen – Restoration Hardware
Knobs – Lugarno in Polished Nickel
Pulls – Gilmore in Polished Nickel
Bathroom – Pottery Barn (came w/ vanity)
Doorknobs – Emtek
Furniture:
Living Room Sofa and Coffee Table – Jennifer Convertibles
Dining Room Set – Craigslist (painted by us)
Bed 1 (Brown) Side Tables – Jennifer Convertibles
Master Bed (Coral) Tables and Dresser – Hand me downs
Master Bath Vanity – Pottery Barn
Accessories:
Kitchen Book Stand – Home Goods
Kitchen Soap Basket – Anthropologie
Master Bed Various Frames – Target
Master Bed Old Fan – Flea Market
Master Bath Soap Pump – Restoration Hardware
Lighting:
Kitchen Semi-Flush Mounts – Rejuvenation “Jefferson” in Oil Rubbed Bronze
Dining – Rejuvenation “Fifth Avenue” in Oil Rubbed Bronze
Bed 1 – Fan- Restoration Hardware “Riverside Hills” in Oil Rubbed Bronze
Master Bath – Restoration Hardware “Chatham” Sconce in Polished Nickel
Powder Bath – Ikea
Rugs and Carpets:
Living Room – Natural Carpet Company – Abaca Rug
Master Bath – Anthropologie
Tiles and Stone:
Bathroom Tile Floors and Walls – Tile Shop – Lanka Glossy White 3 x 6
Bathroom Stone – Arizona Tile – Calcutta Oro
Kitchen Stone – Arizona Tile – Indian Premium Black
Kitchen Tile – Tile Shop – Lanka Glossy White 3 x 8
Window Treatments:
Fabric from Ikea
Artwork:
Master Bedroom – Gustav Klimt Re-print from a Thrift Store
Paint:
All interiors: Behr from Home Depot
Kitchen – Mountain Haze
Dining – Studio Taupe
Living – Pensive Sky
Bed 1 – Antique Earth
Master Bed – Youthful Coral
Master Bath – April Mist
All Molding – Polar Bear
Exterior:
Main – Bitter Chocolate
Doors and Shutters – “Pouring Copper” by Dunn Edwards
White Trim – “Polar Bear” by Behr
Flooring:
Kitchen – Armstrong Vinyl Tile
(Thanks, Jenika and Robert!)
