Just Overhaul It
Giving this everyday Encinitas tract home serious design cred involved a near-total reconfiguration, and dasMOD oversaw the transformation inside and out. The back of the home was entirely rebuilt, roof included; interior walls and soffits were removed to create flow and function, and ceilings were raised.
Big-ticket sliding door systems were installed throughout the entire home, bringing in both light and ocean views while facilitating true indoor-outdoor living. The flooring, doors, windows, landscaping, and hardscaping were all redone, along with the bathrooms and kitchens. A new open-flow cooking/living/dining great room anchors the overhaul.
Oak kitchen cabinets, a new cement fireplace surround, and oak floors throughout bring in visual drama with minimal ornamentation, while other unconventional changes start curbside: Dramatic hardscaping includes two-tone cinder blocks that morph into a true design statement, while smaller touches cast just as much impact, including a series of custom copper-framed hexagonal windows in the garage doors.
Let There Be Light
Although HOA restrictions in the Coronado Cays condo community prevented changes to the exterior of this cotton-candy-colored development, boutique real estate developer dasMOD focused on making major moves inside to create an open-flow, light-flooded home.
Starting with structural changes, they opened up the kitchen to bring more water views into different areas of the ground floor. While the restrictions prevented any front or side window alterations, the developers were able to bring supersize glass sliders to the back of the home. They go from wall to wall and are higher than the originals.
Every finish was also redone: flooring, bathrooms, kitchen, paint, doors, and even the stairs and railing. Outside, the deck was completely restructured to create a sunken hangout with a fire pit, built-in barbecue, and exterior kitchen to “truly capitalize on having the water come straight up to your property,” says dasMOD managing partner Sven Simon. The changes added up and paid off in a big way: When it sold, the condo set a new record for highest price per square foot in Coronado Cays.
Become an Arch Enemy
For a client in Black Mountain Ranch, interior designer Jennifer DeLonge carved out breathing room for furnishings and art by becoming an arch enemy. She removed heavy arches—a popular tract home feature in the late ’90s—at every turn, including the entry, family room, living room, and master bath. “It instantly opens up the space, creating a more modern starting point for the design,” DeLonge says.
Like Coco Chanel, DeLonge kept removing one accessory at a time: from the built-ins to the cherrywood staircase rails. She swapped the standard fireplace for on-trend plaster and covered the existing yellow paint in crisp shades of Benjamin Moore white.
