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NOVEMBER 2006www.bhg.com

12 Quick TipsToCozyUp .Your BedroomFlea-Market Style15 Ways to Reuse,R@cycle'jand Refresh

Pumpkin PieWith CranberryCaramel Topper

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Broad eaves abovethe new porchare repeated in'the upper rooflines, giving the

~ houseahorizontal. Craftsman look.

The tower's smallsquare windows actas skylights for anupstairs bathroom.

Making It Family-SizeA California couple transforms their beloved cottage into a spirited home

for a family of four, with the help of savvy professionals.WRITIEN AND PRODUCED BY LAURA HULL PHOTOGRAPHS BY EDMUND BARR

34 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS NOVEMBER 2006 BHG.COM

REMODELING» from 34

twas 1991, and newlyweds Nora andNeal Gervais knew exactly what theyneeded from their first house: dogpotential, party potential, and hooppotential. They love dogs, have largeextended families, and, well, a guy hasto have his basketball hoop. The quaint1919cottage-style house they found in El

Segundo, California, had all that.Seven years, two dogs, and one daughter

(with another on the way) later, the 1,500-square-foot bungalow was cramped. Thehouse also suffered from poor ventilation,little natural light, and meager insulation.It was time to expand. "I pictured a housethat would be graceful onour lot and not ahouse that used up every square foot of theproperty," says Nora.

The couple found an understandingarchitect and an enthusiastic contractor inMichael Lee. Without changing the originalfootprint, Lee added a second story andmoved the family bedrooms upstairs. Aguest bedroom and bath remaindownstairs. On the first floor, he opened upa warren of small rooms and »on 38

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The ChallengeIncrease living space of the 1919

California bungalow, working with

a budget and without changing itsoriginal footprint.

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- Larger living room

windows (above) were

installed to bring in moreviews and natural light.

Replacing interior walls

with structural pillars (left)opens up the first floor.

Space under the stairsbecame a coat closet.

The SolutionWalls were removed; structural pillars and half-walls define first-floor spaces. A

second floor was added with bedrooms. "The second story features a central tower

oriented on a rotated axis," explains architect Michael Lee. "It literally gives the old

house a new twist." It's sited to take advantage of the morning sun.

AFTER -FIRST FLOOR AFTER - SECOND FLOOR

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Ahalf:,viallsepir;ting thedining area from thelivingroom defines 1!'iJllspace and allowsmore light in.NewFrench doors opento the wrap-aroundporch, so the livingspace.e~slly extendsoutdecrs,

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REMODELING» lrom36

erased the remnants of a 1970s remodelingby removing the old kitchen, one bedroom,and a bath to create the new kitchen and awide stairwell. Lee removed partitionwalls between the living room and diningroom and replaced them with half-walls.He did the same with a wall between abanquette in the kitchen and step-downfamily room.

Not only did Lee craft an expansiveinterior, he also transformed the exterior.Although the update went beyond thefamily's original budget, Lee »on 40

38 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS NOVEMBER 2006 BHG.COM

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"The goal was to increasethe home's livability for a growi

family by opening up the mazeof little rooms. ~ ~ ARCHITECTl"':C-AEL .;i;

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;Lowwallscorneringthe breakfast nook(above) allowviewsthroughout thehouse. The cozybanquette hasstorage underneathfor small electrics.The kitchen nook(left)houses a workstation with areasfor recipes, mail,and school notices.Dead-end spacebecame a pantrywith pocket doodorthe widest opening.

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REMODELING» from 38

convinced them to add a front porch. Noranow says, "It's probably the one thing welove the most."

Contractor Ronnie Flavens also played apart in the project. Inspired by the couple'senthusiasm and the overall style ofarchitecture, he opted to do much of thewoodworking. "This house is a collage ofseveral styles that actually works," saysFlavens. "1 call it a Prairie design with amodern flair."

In the end, it was the collaboration oflike minds that brought the old home'scharacter back into the new house. "Whenmymom walked in, she said, 'Oh Nora, thislooks just like my grandmother's house.'And that was exactly what Iwas lookingfor-with a twist."

So the Gervaises can check off dogpotential (Crash and Rockney feel rig~ .~home) and party potential (plenty of openspace to entertain), but what about hooppotential? Says Neal, "The basketball courtis at the -gark. That's lust a quick \o~ down

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I'WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW BEFOREREPLACING YOUR WINDSHIELD?

PLAY WITH YOUR WORDS!Show off your word gameprowess with these classics fromHasbro. There's UpWords, the3-dimensional, letter-stackinggame; Boggle, the high-energy,word-search game; and DeluxeScrabble, with the enhancedrotating turntable.

Visit playwithyourwords.com

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RESOURCES

SOME PRODUCTS SHOWNEDITORIALLY IN BETTER HOMESAND GARDENS® MAGAZINECAN BE OBTAINED LOCALLY.FOR MORE INFORMATION ORDEALER LOCATIONS, CONTACTTHE MANUFACTURERS BELOW.

1j

I

BETTERSTYLEFOR HOME: HARVESTSTYLEPage 19: map paper; excelsior-The ContainerStore;888/266-8246; ccnteinerstore.com.Page 20: place card paper; paper napkin, PaperAffair, paperaffair.com; C'est Mol; 770!9n~8468.Flowerfrog desk organizer-Frog; Ebay.Page 22: lanterns-Party lights; pertyliqhts.ccmPage 24: pears-Harry and David;877/322·1200;harryanddavid.com. Jars-The Container Store (seeprevious). Felt-Hancock Fabrics; 877/426--2625;hancoddabrics.com.

SHOW HOUSES: GET PATTERNHAPPYPages 2~32: interior design-John Loecke Ine.;johnloeckeinc.com.Page 28: frames-Larson Juhl (to the trade);800/886·6126; larsonjuhl.com. Interior paint-Farrow&Ball(tothetrade);888/511.1121;farrow·bali.com. Yellow lacquer coHee table, Jacqui-Eboniste;800/706-2914; eboniste.com. Lampshade-AShade Belter; ashadebetier.com. Sofa fabric,Chevron Print (Green) 2644035: drapery fabric.Bamboo Shadows (Greeo) 2644040-Deco,.to'sWalk;2121415·3900.Sofa cushion fabric, CuttingG.rden (Poppy) 1064012-Greeff (to the trade);fschumacher.com.Page 30: ribbon pillows-Wild About Ribbon;917/318·0006. China cabinet Adelphi Ierrace-.Red Egg; 336/887.3541; ,edegg.com Plantstand-Ma"ton & Langinger,212/965-0434. Bluetufted back chairs, Valerie-Mitchell Gold + BobWilliams; mgandbw.com. Drapery fabric, BambooShadows (Green) 2644040-De.corator·s W.lk(see previous).Page32.:lampshades-AShadeBetter(seeprevious).Three-panel upholstered screen, SlO1-LeeIndustries (to the trade); leeindustries.com. Ribbonpillows- Wild About Ribbon (see previous). No-sewtepe-Seelab; 888/888·1899;jodeesinc.com.

REMODELING: MAKING ITFAMILY·SIZEPages 34-40: architect-Michael Lee Architects.2200 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA90266; 310/545·5771; mlee@mleearcite.cts.com. Builder-Ron Slavens Construction;310/529·8981.Page 36: ermcbefrs-Hectcr-Berrett 213/746-4908; heptorberrettcom, Side table-Ouatrine;800/407·5120; quatrine.com. Drapery Fabric-Diamond Foam & Fabrics; 323/931·8148;diamondfoamandfabrics.com.Page 38: ceramics-Moye Thompson Ceramics;310/403-0321; rnoyecerarmcs.corn. Sideboard-A Summec Place; 310/545·7080. Chandelier-Pottery Barn; 800/922.5507; potterybam.com.Wall sconces ...•Restoration Hardware; 888/243-9720; restorationherdwere.com. Chair slipcovers,Bella Decor-Diamond Foam and Fabric (seeprevious). Chairs-Ashland & Hill; 301/399·7900; ash!andandhill.com.Page 40: range; hood-Viking Range Ccrp.;888/845-4641; vikingrange.com. Hanginglight-Restoration Hardware (see previous) Barstools-Pottery Barn (see previous). Banquette;cablnets-Isee architect). Cabinet hardware. R.K.IntI.. brushed nickel-My Knobs; 866/695-6627;owknobs.com.

DECORATING: BLISSFULBEDROOMSPage 4~: interior designer-Connie Britell, ASID,Dovetail Interior Architecture and Design, inc,Ocean Vi"",. DEL; 3021539-1902 Floral fabricfor drapery, Westbury Bouquet-Brunschwig &Fils. (to the trade). 800/538·1880; brunschwig.com. Bed skirt fabric-Pierre Deux lnc: 888/743-7732; pierredeux.com. Fabric for shades, Bahar inDaHodil;irim for floral drapery-The Robert AllenGroup through your designer; 800/333·3777;rcbertallendesiqn.com

300 BETIER HOMES AND GARDENS NOV 2006 BHG.COM