Maria Torres and Joe Borst, center, sit with Robert Sweet at the outdoor dining room just off of the newly expanded living room. Because of their budget, Sweet cut standard dog-eared cedar fence boards and installed them horizontally for more of custom look, and sliding glass doors were used instead of a costly folding NanaWall with the thought that the latter could be added in the future. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Trying to make the most of a rundown 1,200 square-foot house in Marina del Rey, Joe Borst and Maria Torres enlisted the help of Robert Sweet of the design-build firm Ras-a. The result: a light and bright space that feels much bigger even though the house’s footprint didn’t change.
Zoning laws require Borst and Torres to park in a garage off the rear alley, not in the front driveway. So Sweet cut holes in the driveway and planted drought-tolerant flax. He also cut back the eaves and added custom sheet-metal gutters to give the house a more modern look. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Going against real estate convention, the old three-bedroom, two-bath home was remodeled as a two-bedroom, two-bath house, so rooms could be larger and the plan more free-flowing. The kitchen was moved from the front of the house to the back, and the bedrooms were relocated to the front. Now the front door opens to a skylit entryway lined with storage. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
More custom cabinetry in the master bedroom, where wardrobes with deep drawers replaced a traditional closet. Sweet simply drilled holes in the wood for pulls. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from up high: The entryway and the master bedroom separated by their respective cabinetry. Clerestory windows allow light to pass between the spaces. The floor by Kahrs is prefinished white oak with a smoky matte finish. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Glass over the master bedroom vanity also allows light to filter in and make the room seem larger. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Back in the hallway, a desk included in the living area’s TV console acts as a visual screen between the master bedroom and living area. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
The living area and kitchen were designed as an open plan. Sweet raised the ceiling to add light and create a sense of airiness. Furnishings include a custom sofa from the Sofa Co., Flor carpet tiles, a Blu Dot coffee table and Eames chairs from Room & Board. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Torres at the peninsula, which she and Borst use for casual eating. The window looks out to a fire pit and barbecue. “I wanted it so that when you are standing at a work surface, you never have to face a wall,” Sweet said. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
It’s an Ikea mash-up: Sweet said he saved around $15,000 by using white Ikea Applad cabinets, leaving money for some high-end touches including... (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
... a Miele cooktop, Blanco sink and Prima Decora countertops. The bar stools, which can be powder-coated, were about $60 apiece from the industrial catalog Uline. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
The view from the kitchen. Operable skylights from Velux bring in more natural light and improve ventilation. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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By moving the kitchen to the back of the house and connecting it to the living area, the large and open public space in the house now flows nicely to the backyard, where a new deck serves as an outdoor dining room. Extending the living space outdoors also helps to makes the main house feel larger. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
The deck is part of an L-shaped courtyard with a fire pit. Sweet moved the location of the garage from the middle of the yard to the far back of the property, and he designed the two-car structure to look like a modern shed with sloped roof. The concrete pavers for the fire pit area came from the garage that had been left partially constructed when Borst bought the place. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Along the alley, cement boards in alternating shades of gray give the fence a custom look. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
