I met Mark and Lisa when they stopped into our Ocean Avenue office in March of 2011. They were visiting from Texas and wanted a vacation home. Over the course of the year, we looked at various properties in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Eventually, Mark and Lisa realized their priority was finding a home in the very best location, even if it meant buying the dog on the street and fixing it up!

Mark and Lisa were back in town for a holiday visit in Carmel later that year. I sent them to an open house in the highly desirable Golden Rectangle neighborhood and they instantly saw the potential in the 1940's 3-bedroom cottage. It even had an ocean view from the upstairs master suite that was added in the '80s. They found themselves admiring the quality craftsmanship of master builder, Al Saroyan by seeing some of the other homes he built. We called him right away to get his thoughts on this project. All around, everyone thought it was an opportunity not to be missed! And so there we were, writing an offer and getting it accepted, below appraised value, on the 26^th of December. That's what I call a Merry Christmas!

Over the course of the next year, Lisa managed the project like a bulldog! She stayed on top of every detail and kept the project on track, and mostly within budget. The home was completely updated; from the sewer line, the driveway, electrical, plumbing, you name it. Every square inch of the 1,597 square feet was touched by the remodel, ultimately creating their dream cottage by the sea, "Penny Lane."

Lisa expertly designed the front yard with heart shaped stepping-stones leading to the front door. A young redwood tree was planted at the front of the lot while Town N' Country Landscaping currently maintain the yard. The exterior was updated with a shake roof by Wolfy's Roofing, copper gutters by Mid-Cal Heating and Sheet Metal and a garage door from Overhead Doors of Moss Landing.

The original kitchen had unfortunate pink wallpaper and was closed off from the living room. The new floor plan created an open living, dining and kitchen area with added ceiling beams for character. Lisa Hass did the faux painting designs found throughout the house while Joann Reiter, from Inside Shading, did the natural wood window shades. Alder hardwood floors and doors from Sun Mountain were installed. The living room opens to a sunlit deck with an elongated fire pit complete with an antique fire back from Denmark found online at Antique-Fireback.com. The living room's custom fireplace is now the centerpiece of the room. An original Jo Mora Carmel-by-the-Sea map, purchased at a fundraiser for the neighboring Forest Theatre, hangs above the mantle from Stone Magic in Dallas. Furnishings for the living room were found online at Quatrine and Lisa purchased a Lone Ranger Antique clock for the dining room.

Al Saroyan suggested hiding the laundry to the side of the living room, keeping it out of the garage, but expertly hidden behind gorgeous cabinetry.

The kitchen is now an elegant French style complete with a country sink and custom cabinetry from Precision Cabinets of San Jose. Pendant lights from Fritz Friar Lighting in London hang over the kitchen island and a fire back from Jean de Luz in Carmel Valley serves as the kitchen back splash. The kitchen appliances, including the Wolf Range, were purchased at Built-in-Distributors out of Seaside.

A custom wrought iron staircase by Moss Landing leads to the master bedroom upstairs. You enter the room by a sliding barn door to find open beamed ceilings, a cozy window seat looking out to Point Lobos. A fabulous four-poster bedroom is bordered by gorgeous bedside lamps from Memorial Antiques in Houston. The master suite once had an unsightly, inoperable gas insert; now a beautiful focal point of the room with fireplace corbles and tile from Chateau Dominique in Houston.

The master bathroom is a standout with a Victoria & Albert crawl foot tub and a chandelier from Eloquence hanging above. Lisa also found a 1950's coat rack to hang towels. A pop out bay window for the marble countertops from Benrosians give the bathroom more space, without technically adding square footage. They also added a Dacor warming oven in their bathroom to keep towels warms, complementing the radiant heat at your feet.

"Penny Lane" is now Mark and Lisa's Carmel-by-the-Sea escape which they treasure for their long quiet weekends together.

Next up, a mid Century modern gets a fantastic makeover by local Carmel-by-the-Sea Restaurateurs.