13 Clever Remodeling Ideas That Help This Small House Live Large

This 1959 bungalow went from cramped and choppy to open and airy without add a single straight metrical unit .

How do you go a engaged household of four , ahome officefor a thriving purpose business , multiple living and dining area both indoors and outside , plus tons of storage — all while assert a blowy , beachy vibe — into a modest 1,400 square feet of space ?

Interior designer Allison Garrison ofAllito Spacesand her husband Jon figured out how to do just that . They remodel their 1959 bungalow in San Diego into an open and airy family menage . Working within the succinct step , Allison have the space constraints fire her plan creativeness , and Jon did much of the oeuvre himself . Get inspired by all the ways the Garrisons reimagined how a small house can live large .

An exterior of a home with a small gravel seating area in the front.

Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces

David Tsay / Interior Design : Allito Spaces

1. Add Easy Curb Appeal

The exterior of the 1959 , one - owner bungalow the Garrisons snapped up in the Pacific Beach neighbourhood of San Diego was not without its spell . It just require a few comparatively easy and cheap cosmetic hole .

All the Garrisons had to do to modernize their midcentury gem was to paint the original plug-in - and - batten siding white ( Sherwin - Williams Snowbound ) and the shutters a light greenish beige . They kept the front door but had it converted to a Dutch room access to lease in more light and tune . The pea - gravel terrace is unexampled but the scarlet brick walk is original . “ We like being capable to pose out front and see people go by , ” Allison says .

2. Rethink Walls for an Open Layout

The bread and butter way was divided into modest , inept spaces by walls that separated it from the kitchen and foyer . The couple liked the paneled , overleap ceiling , but its two - spirit finish was too visually busy . And the beige carpeting was n’t their style at all .

The Garrisons made two big move to attain the loose and Laputan notion they want : removing walls between the kitchen and living elbow room and raise the roof . “ We put in a beam that permit us to vault the ceiling throughout the space , and we add together tongue - and - channel boards for more graphic symbol , ” Allison says .

3. Paint Walls White

They give the integral place a coat ofwhite paint(Pure White by Sherwin - Williams ) to unite the mishmash of paneled wall and cap as well as the red brick fireplace . “ Jon kind of want to demo the open fireplace , but I wanted to keep whatever original character we could , ” she says . pull up the paries - to - wall carpeting revealed the original oak tree floor , which they had refinished to a strong honey brown .

Designer Allison Garrison

Pure White ( SW 7005 ) is one of my favorite whites because it does n’t appear stern or have any major tinge . It record up as a nice sporty color that is bright but not cold .

4. Incorporate Built-In Bookshelves

All that white throws the focus on the newfangled built - in bookcase , coated in a blowy depressed spook ( Tradewind by Sherwin - Williams ) . Jon piece the whole out of IKEA cabinet bases and design and built the shelves himself . Instead ofhiding the TVor hanging it above the fireplace , they nestled it inside the bookshelves , where it pull in out on an adjustable mount to weight toward the lounge .

5. Get Creative with Kitchen Updates

The original 1959 kitchen was a gut job . problem include the galley - style layout , the dated wood cabinetwork , and a breakfast nook at the back of the family that the fellowship did n’t need .

Removing walls opened up the kitchen to the living and dining surface area . It shares the living room ’s white pigment and vault , paneled roof . New white cabinetry keeps the whole open space flowing .

Because the kitchen is seeable from the animation and dining areas , Allison background the utilitarian stuff , tucking the unstained - steel refrigerator behind a wall and hide the range behind the island . Smaller appliances are salt away in a pantry at the other terminal of the kitchen . At the same meter , Allison play up the interior decoration , bring in textures through thezellige tilebacksplash , oversize woven specter , and wooden handles on the IKEA cabinets .

The white living room with light blue built in shelves

Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces

6. Repurpose a Breakfast Nook

The kitchen ’s original feeding area became both their larder area and what they call their “ sand room , ” a must for a mansion just down the street from the beach . Located near a doorway to their chiliad , the space has a built - in bench for put on and taking off shoes plus baskets and cabinet for storing beach and outdoor gear .

The space is differentiated from the rest of the kitchen by shallower cabinets ( only 18 inches versus the usual 24 inches ) that have caned door insert andbutcher immobilize countertopsto contrast with the bloodless quartz in the main part of the kitchen .

7. Carve Out Storage

Near the refrigerator , Allison cleverly cut up out a little buttery where every corner and cranny is put to use . “ Our everyday convenience are easily accessible but out of scene when the threshold are closed , ” she articulate . overt shelves stash away small appliances and the drawers hold spices , canned good , and fry ’s snacks . Blush - paint walls and a small swatch ofcheckerboardtile on the humiliated shelf contribute a surprisal indoors . “ It ’s such a tiny little upgrade that work you joy when you give the door , ” Allison says .

8. Embrace Outdoor Views with Glass Patio Doors

Removing the walls that separated the kitchen and the keep way opened up space for a roomier dining expanse . A big window and glass doors allow the Garrisons to keep an eye on their tiddler while they ’re in the backyard .

When it number to choosing piece of furniture for thedining area , Allison outfitted one side of the table with a secondhand rattan settle , rather than chair or a typical banquette . “ We call this our eat couch , ” she says . “ It ’s such a small house , and sometimes you do n’t all need to be sitting in the same spot , so we created a second comfortable seat to footle . ” pillow and a washable kantha quilt make it cozy .

9. Customize Your Office with DIY Furniture

Allison had her eye on this chamber for her habitation spot , but its two doors , one run to the foyer and the other to the hall , throttle the uncommitted storey blank and made arranging furniture a challenge .

To turn this bedroom into her office , Allison made a controversial move . She obturate one of the doorways with an IKEA wardrobe , to which she added clip to make it look built - in . The wardrobe holds Allison ’s pressman , office supplies , and framework samples . Using IKEA draftsman units and slaughterer block counters that call back to those in the kitchen , she created an L - shaped workspace that accommodates her and her assistant .

Thebold wallpaperwas a strategic move . “ I wanted something sheer and bright in here . Color and pattern in reality make a place sense bigger because your eye moves around and play a trick on your mind , ” she says .

A white kitchen with two woven mesh light fixtures.

Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces

10. Turn a Closet into a Book Nook

In this bedchamber , as well as the other two in the house , Allison made the improper decision to off the wardrobe . “ You misplace a circumstances of functionality with a traditional cupboard , ” she pronounce . “ Built - ins just make it palpate so much more spacious and give us storage in a different way . ” Even if you gain only 6 in of trading floor space , it can make a big difference , she state .

The exist closet in her office became a niche with a mattress nigh the size of a matching and built - in book storage along the face . A large mirror reflects the window to make the space look great .

11. Let in Natural Light

Jon and Allison chose this bedroom at the back of the house . It had plenty of closet outer space , but Allison was willing to give them up for get to the room up to the backyard .

Because nothing makes a blank space look larger than an expanse of glass , Jon and Allison blew out the rampart that formerly held two closets . They put inFrench doorsthat atomic number 82 to a little patio the right way off their bedroom .

The closet space they sacrificed is more than made up for by a straddle of shallow wardrobes that hold not only clothes and shoes but also the hamper , ironing board , and goggle box . “ I do n’t retrieve it ’s all important to obliterate TVs in all home , but hiding them is part of what has created the airy , collected vibration , ” Allison says .

A small bench or mudroom area that is off the front entry of the home.

Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces

12. Add Outdoor Living Space

The backyard was a becoming size ( 1,800 straight invertebrate foot ) and the concrete patio was structurally intelligent , but the dated metal sunblind and a boxy shed - like structure on the terrace had to go for aesthetic reasons and to lease more light into the house .

The Garrisons transformed their characterless yard into aresort - like outdoor living roomthat expands their living quad well . They designed the blank space to have separate but adjoined zone for private lounging , entertaining , and outside meals .

Aseating area around the fervidness tableis the centerpiece of the backyard . Because the cement pad they sit around on abuts the stairs , Allison determined that a progress - in sectioned , rather than multiple freestanding outdoor lounge , would outfit better . She smartly sized the concrete - and - stucco structure to conform to readymade cushions . Jon establish the kids a shimmer structure with a deck that overlooks the sea . “ It was an ungainly yard , but we fit a lot in , ” Allison says .

A small, narrow built-in pantry with microwave.

Credit:David Tsay / Interior Design: Allito Spaces

13. Add a Pergola

For reason both price - concern and environmental , the Garrisons chose to keep the existing cement patio and steps . The original metallic element sunblind came down in favour of apergolawith a woven roof that plays into the overall tropical theme . They also lined the patio with freestanding out-of-door cabinet from Crate & Barrel . It not only creates rich surfaces for serving food and drinks but also take much - require storage to a house without a basement .

Before the Renovations

The Garrisons ’ 1959 bungalow was packed with charm — if a piddling closed - off . Check out pic taken pre - renovation , below , to see the dwelling before its complete room - by - elbow room transmutation . With creative upgrades , the menage now makes the most of its little footprint .

Rancho exposure