Elizabeth & David’s Happily Growing Home and Garden

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Name:: Elizabeth Low and David Cash and their 2 year old daughter Violet
Location: Mar Vista — Los Angeles, California
Size: 903 Square Feet
Years lived in: 2 — Own

Elizabeth Low and her husband David Cash have created a lush and happy home. With no shortage of good weather, this small family enjoys the perks of rich landscaping and plenty of open space. Their daughter Violet has the best of both worlds; a cozy little bedroom to call her own and huge backyard to play in.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

A few weeks ago while shooting Isabelle and Brandon’s home, I met Elizabeth and David as they joined us for our dinner soiree. I learned of Elizabeth’s landscape design business and her love of interior decorating, which piqued my interest in her house.

When Elizabeth and David purchased the house a couple years ago, they envisioned a beautifully fecund garden and plenty of natural light to fill the kitchen and master bedroom. “When we bought our house it was 703 square feet, built in 1948 and was never remodeled. We gutted the entire house and added an additional 6′ off the entire back of the house. Increasing the square footage to 900 square feet. We opened the kitchen to the living room and added two sets of 6′ wide French doors out to the back yard from the kitchen and master bedroom.”

The kitchen really is the heart of this home — it’s bright, happy and perfect for entertaining adults and kids. “Our realtor gave us our O’keefe & Merrit stove which is a focal point of the kitchen. Built in bookcases and dining benches help with needed storage.” In what may be considered a moderate to smaller scale family home, Elizabeth and Dave have created a serene atmosphere that feels quite spacious and private. “Because we are so close to all our neighbors I wanted to screen their houses as much as possible. The back yard was a dirt pit that we redesigned into several outdoor spaces. We broke up the spaces like rooms in a house. There is the outdoor dining room under the pergola and the fire pit area acts as the outdoor living room. We only have one bathroom in the house.”

One of my favorite additions, including the awesome landscaping and pergola out back, was the remodel of the detached garage. They’ve turned it into an office/ guest house, which includes a half bathroom, “Since we could only add a half bath to the garage/office area we installed an outdoor shower. We now use it more than our regular shower. Together they have designed and built everything that they need for a happy balanced home!

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: Fun Modern

Inspiration: Our daughter

Favorite Element: The backyard

Biggest Challenge: Screening neighbors and making us feel we are hidden in our private garden.

What Friends Say: I can’t believe this is only 900 sq. ft it seems so much bigger.

Biggest Embarrassment: Our bedroom, until my interior designer friend, Isabelle Dahlin, came to the rescue. I spent so much time designing the kitchen, bathroom, and living room the bedroom was an afterthought. She helped pull it together and make it a room we love.

Proudest DIY: : The reclaimed wood pergola.

Biggest Indulgence: Window treatments.

Best Advice: Our realtor convinced us we could make this house work for us and our daughter. He was right — it is all we need.

Dream Sources: Madeline Weinrib, Jonathan Adler, The Rug Company, ABC Home, Amsterdam Modern, Rolling Greens

Bethany’s additional questions:

1. What is the single most significant thing in your home? Violet, our daughter.

2. When you think of designing a home, what is the most essential part? The flow from inside your home to the outside spaces.

3. How has the lifestyle and culture in Los Angeles effected your personal design aesthetic? I am greatly influenced by the weather. I love bright, fun colors that remind me of Los Angeles. Growing up in a more rural environment, LA, has made me love urban gardens. Even a street divider can become a beautiful garden. I also discovered mid-century modern architecture in Los Angeles and that changed my entire design aesthetic.

4. A brief history about where you grew up and how you fell into design? I grew up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. My Mother worked for a shoe designer in New York and is a great influence in my love for all things beautiful. However it was not until I was changing careers 10 years ago when my now husband, David, suggested I write down 10 things I want to do with my life and pick one. On a whim I wrote landscape designer. I got a job working as an assistant to a landscape designer and painter. I loved it so much I enrolled in UCLA’s landscape architect program. I later went to stay in New York to attend an intensive program at the New York Botanical Gardens.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Resources of Note:

PAINT & COLORS

ENTRY

DINING ROOM

KITCHEN

BEDROOM

BACK YARD

Dekor

FRONT AND BACK YARD LANDSCAPING

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Thanks, Elizabeth and David!

Images: Bethany Nauert

• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.