The Beach Cottage

Few of the older coastal homes in Southern California are still standing which ooze that iconic Beachy character. Just a short walk to the Surf, the complete recycling of this 1955 Rancher was our attempt to passionately morph the tired home into an environmentally conscious, fun living space.

All of the original 2 bed + 1 bath bungalow’s structure was kept intact, upgraded to current codes and now highlighted by the interior vaulted ceiling with exposed wood beams. An all new angled cube volume re-used the old concrete slab and replaced a termite & mold infested addition from the 60’s. Passive designed overhangs, thoughtful use of natural wood, abundance of natural light, multi slide glass doors and an open concept floor plan in the common areas define the clean design narrative.

The Beach Lab project was an R&D test experiment to introduce new yet proven materials and techniques for our own brand of pragmatic Modernism. Kitchen doors made of Marine-grade Plywood sheets were right off the lumberyard shelf. Exterior wood siding was sandblasted prior to staining in order to raise the grain and accent the texture of flat grain Douglas Fir. Both equate to subtle nuances of non-standard details which contributed honorably to maintaining the cool factor of this coastal lifestyle redux.

A Landscaping goal was to mimic the look of  local State Beach Campgrounds and consciously reduce the home’s water usage for irrigation. Extensive use of decomposed granite called “Palm Springs Gold” replaced the previous lawn, mass  plantings of Succulents and drought tolerant grasses were installed as part of the Xeriscape plan. In a nod to the family’s background, a Bonsai Juniper Tree was planted near the rear deck and adds to the softening of  the yard in comparison to the surrounding hardscape.

Modestly scaled, the single level house is 1698 sf with zero extra building footprint added to the 7500 sf infill lot. Re-programmed to a two bedroom, adding a home office that can be a flex space for a third bedroom and a new Master with bath + walk-in closet. Dual outdoor living spaces front and rear were specifically integrated due to the unique community dynamics of the street. Beach Mid Mod returns to Encinitas.

Photo Credit : www.darrenbradleyphotography.com