A Nautical Cottage Bath

A tranquil new bathroom uses color and texture for seaside appeal.

- Patricia Poore

The neglected, Craftsman-era semi-bungalow in Santa Monica needed an overhaul. The vacation cottage was so outdated it was unrealistic for a family to live here. The owners called on Los Angeles-based architect Erik K. Evens, a partner at KAA Design Group, and interior designer Alana Homesley (who has since launched her own firm). While many Victorian and Craftsman houses in this area have been torn down, Evens explains that this one was almost original, if forlorn: “dark and dreary, with substandard baths and kitchen."

The exterior was restored; inside, original beamed ceilings, built-in cabinets, and bungalow-era trim remain.  The client wanted it to feel like a beach house. Interiors by Homesley are in a quiet palette of white, charcoal, and blue-greys. This sunny, gracious primary bathroom, outfitted for two, has horizontal-laid board for added texture and interest.