Interior & Exterior Remodel
Point Loma, California
Cabinetry & Design - Borrelli Design + Cabinetry
This Point Loma property is as creative as it is exceptional in its detail and craftsmanship. Originally designed by notable mid-century architect, Sim Bruce Richards, the house features Richards’ signature eaves and unique trapezoid-shaped terminal endings of the abundantly used wooden beams. A feature that ultimately inspired and informed the owner’s design choices for the majority of the design and finishing details. From the shape of the kitchen island to the handrails and tile, the trapezoid is subtly and boldly featured throughout.
What began as a small project on one room ultimately led to an extensive interior and exterior remodel. West Coast worked with the owners over the course of six years to renovate and restore the property piece by piece. The owners sought to preserve the original intention and essence of the architect’s design while infusing the space with the unique vision and style of the artist owner.
The showpiece of the property is undoubtedly the kitchen and living room area with its panoramic views and vaulted Port Oroford Cedar ceilings. The Port Oroford Cedar is featured prominently throughout the house and was originally discovered behind the walls during demolition. The owners immediately recognized the important discovery and integrated it into their plans. The cedar was treated with a monocoat 5% whitewash finish, providing a subtle contemporary finish while maintaining the integrity of the mid-century aesthetic. The house features a “rhythm” of drywall and cedar, honoring the original design while also allowing for ample hanging space for artwork.
Exterior renovation efforts prioritized maintaining the original intent of the architecture while addressing present and preventative issues related to the property and its unique position. The multi-story home descends down a hill and accurately addressing water intrusion in the mid-level foundation wall ultimately involved an extensive excavation effort, digging 20 feet below street level. Our seasoned experience with taking on some of the most complex foundation and waterproofing issues allowed us to not only accurately resolve the problem but we were also able to preventatively correct serious foundation problems that would have otherwise eventuated for the owners.
“Each phase of the project began out of necessity. Due to the previous changes made to the house, it always prompted us to think about how we could replace failing or dated components with something better. In turn, we would have to think beyond the limits of the space, how things fed into each other and how we could make everything work better, both functionally and from a design standpoint.”
- Property owner
