Santa Barbara Home Designer Jeff Doubét shares a small Spanish home design and a portfolio of quality photos of the two story house Before and After renovation.
Design details by Jeff Doubét were incorporated into this small Spanish home design. The home was substantially re-built in a popular beach neighborhood of Santa Barbara, CA. Scroll down to see the pics!
BELOW: The Los Altos, CA couple had purchased a 1938 Spanish fixer in Santa Barbara, just a block from the beach. Having secured this property in the West Beach Historic District, their vision was to remodel it into an enchanting vacation get-away.
Small Spanish Home Design
My client had already been working with a local Architect to design a small addition. They asked that I build upon his CAD work, and suggest Santa Barbara styling details that would build curb appeal into the blocked 3-D forms.
“PERFECT, PERFECT, PERFECT!”… I was excited to get the email with the homeowner’s enthusiasm for the design sketch (below). It made my day as they accepted all design ideas, “as drawn”. In subsequent ABR meetings, the Santa Barbara Architectural Board of Review would make suggestions to refine the design further (before the building permit was finally issued).
When designing a small place of your own, consider switching out some of the more standard product choices. For example, how about a pair of elliptical arched windows above the garage door? Or a round window, or quatrefoil accent window? These were more expensive than common rectangular windows. But they do add a unique and distinctive character to this reno, don’t you think?
When I was assembling my coffee table book Creating Spanish Style Homes, I asked the owners if they would like to name their project. They came back with Casa Alegré, which translates to “Joyful Home“. I admire those who appreciate the simple life. There are many extra benefits that go along with a peaceful lifestyle.
Remodeling a Small Spanish Home
An overall peaceful lifestyle in a small Spanish home often starts with chaos. Your level of chaos will depend on a variety of factors. Budget constraints, and how much hassle you are willing to endure. I have found that special dreams usually require both. Working with budget constraints can add personal benefits. Accomplishing something great, without breaking the bank.
I admire this client for the threshold of pain they were able to endure. They invested a substantial budget for the project, but also were savvy with saving costs in a variety of ways. In the end, it really paid off.
When remodeling a home down to the studs, all of old stinky surfaces are removed from the interior and exterior. Your project will feel like new construction, and the smell of new wood is invigorating.
To button up the inside of the house as quick as possible, new Spanish windows were installed as soon as possible.
Building Small Spanish homes in Santa Barbara
Creating custom small Spanish homes in the beautiful beach town of Santa Barbara, California is an art form. It entails hiring highly skilled trades that have been around the block. Building a future classic is fun, and the crew is entitled to be happy about it.
I have worked side by side with independent Artisans on Spanish homes for nearly two decades. Custom projects challenge the team as a whole. We all improve our skills and capabilities as we work through them. Clients seek creative ideas and designs for their Spanish homes. Santa Barbara Home Designer, Architects and General Contractors all rely on these talented trades to see these visions through.
Above: Not all construction days in Santa Barbara are equal. Sometimes the building trades are tasked with building custom architectural elements on Spanish remodels. This successful project is something everyone was proud of completing.
Above: A sneak peek, close up of the red tile roofed Spanish stoop custom built by the Modern Masters of our generation.
More Construction photos of a Small Spanish Home Renovation
Santa Barbara has a Mediterranean climate, perfect for year around remodeling and construction projects.
Palm trees sway, and a warm and sunny day in April is the backdrop for this shot. Things are starting to shape up.
Scaffolding is up and the integral color plaster (final coat) is being applied to this Santa Barbara home being built in the West Beach neighborhood.
More Small Spanish Home Images
Some final shots to leave you with in this episode… highlighting a small Spanish home design and renovation in town.
An image that helps you see how the final project turned out. Note how the second story covered deck has a staircase leading up to it.
The homeowner picked out colorful Spanish deco tiles for the risers of the exterior staircase. Handmade Tecate clay stair treads compliment her composition beautifully.
The covered deck is off the dining room (behind the French doors).
The accomplished homeowner places a fresh bouquet of sunflowers from the Santa Barbara farmers market. Seen in the Spanish Quatrefoil window, it is a welcoming gesture to lunch guests, and a happy scene to all passerby’s.
The beach, palm trees and red tile roofs of neighboring Santa Barbara Spanish homes reflect in the glass of this custom quatrefoil window. We worked as a team to design and build the window into a custom chamfered opening. Love and attention are required when building special home homes in our town.
Well friend, that is all I have for you in this episode. I have dozens of other projects to share with you. I hope you will circle back and see what I am up to once in awhile. If you are new to the channel, you can check out my earlier BLOG POSTS HERE. Until next time…
