Whether she work on small or large design projects, Santa Monica-based designer Tess Bethune love to create gorgeous, happy and dynamic spaces that are comfortable, inspired, pragmatic and reflect the clients’ lifestyle, vision as well as economic goals, and this beautiful cottage renovation is a living example of how she approach projects. Her mission was to give a new look to a 50-year-old house and make it a warm liveable temporary home for a British family of 4, until they manage to build their dream house found at the back of the same property. The property is located in Venice, California and this small family cottage which is 1,200 sq ft (a living room, a kitchen, 2 bedrooms and one bathroom) is planned to be a guesthouse in the future for their relatives from the U.K.
Looking at these lovely pictures, she manage to bring smart updates with a budget around $60,000 and the result is a cheerful and sunny cottage enhanced by creativity and color. The clients didn’t want anything to feel fussy or overly traditional, so it was chosen a predominantly grey and white color palette spiced with various colorful touches, especially bright orange, and wooden elements, which led to a simple and functional design that could grow with their family. To add visual space, the house was reorganized by knocking down stifling walls, removing some unnecessary doors and adding in a few extra windows that helped expand the kitchen with a dining corner. Working with warm but inexpensive materials that would look good, the designer kept the home’s original wood flooring and most of the original windows and molding.
The light fixtures were replaced with timeless, classic pieces, while vintage furniture all over the house give a warm feel. By redesigning the space, the living room, the dining nook and the kitchen received more sunlight than before and create an airy atmosphere throughout. Both bedrooms feature a simple and lovely design, with closets that provide plenty of storage as needed and comfortable beds. The cottage features one single bathroom, just behind the kitchen’s chalkboard wall. Dark hexagonal floor combined with white tile make for a classic but fresh look. Discover other appealing design details in the photos below and share with us your favourite one.
Photos © Tess Bethune Interiors
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