A Nautical Cottage Bath for a Bungalow
A tranquil new bathroom uses color and texture for seaside appeal, complementing the cozy bungalow.
The neglected, Craftsman-era semi-bungalow in Santa Monica needed an overhaul. The vacation cottage was so outdated it was unrealistic for a family to live here. The owners called on LosAngeles-based architect Erik K. Evens, a partner at KAA Design Group, and interior designer Alana Homesley (who has since launched her own firm).
While many Victorian and Craftsman houses in this area have been torn down, Evens explains that this one was almost original, if forlorn: “dark and dreary, with substandard baths and kitchen.”
The exterior was restored; a white paint scheme updates the look while suiting the modest-size house near a California beach.
Inside, original beamed ceilings, built-in cabinets, and bungalow-era trim remain. The client wanted it to feel like a beach house. Interiors by Homesley are in a quiet palette of white, charcoal, and blue-greys. This sunny, gracious primary bathroom, outfitted for two,has horizontal-laid board walls for added texture and interest.
A shelf alcove built between wall studs creates a storage nook. The old clawfoot tub was relocated to the window alcove. The room accommodates two with a double vanity and separate soaking tub and shower-bath. The vanity offers both drawers and open storage. Lighting and a striped rug add to the look.
The room was inspired by history. The 1903 semi-bungalow has period appeal, with its multi-light windows, knee braces, and porch having been restored. The breezy white interior is grounded by natural wood and textures that include shiplap board walls. The floor is of Douglas fir.
Sources:
Architect: KAA Design Group, Los Angeles: kaadesigngroup.com
Interior Designer: Alana Homesley Interior Design: alanahomesley.com
Plumbing fixtures: LeFroy Brooks usa.lefroybrooks.com
Lighting Rejuvenation rejuvenation.com
Patricia Poore is Editor-in-chief of Old House Journal and Arts & Crafts Homes, as well as editorial director at Active Interest Media’s Home Group, overseeing New Old House, Traditional Building, and special-interest publications.
Poore joined Old House Journal when it was a Brooklyn-brownstoner newsletter in the late 1970s. She became owner and publisher and, except for the years 2002–2013, has been its editor. Poore founded the magazines Old-House Interiors (1995–2013) and Early Homes (2004–2017); their content is now available online and folded into Old-House Journal’s wider coverage. Poore also created GARBAGE magazine (1989–1994), the first unaffiliated environmental consumer magazine.
Poore has participated, hands-on, in several restorations, including her own homes: a 1911 brownstone in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and a 1904 Tudor–Shingle Style house in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where she brought up her boys and their wonderful dogs.
