Before photos of the Living Room, Dining Room and Sun Room

After much [soul] searching, my clients fell in love with a spectacular 1929 Spanish Colonial overlooking the Lodge and Stillwater Cove in Pebble Beach. Built by MJ Murphy, the home had undergone 7 major renovations between 1949 and 2000. My buyers saw the potential to modernize the home, while maintaining the original Spanish Mediterranean architectural style of the 1920’s.

Let’s start with a Pebble Beach history lesson. Between 1919-1937, Del Monte Forest was under the leadership of S.F.B. Morse who was expanding the Pebble golf links, the Lodge, Cypress and building the Monterey Peninsula Country Club. His requirement for single-family homes was that it be designed in an architectural style “similar to early California, Spain, Italy, Southern France or Mexico.” He wanted “a community that fit harmoniously into the landscape to maintain the traditions of the early days.” This look had already been established in Southern California and dubbed the “Spanish Eclectic” style. Typically seen in this architecture are low-pitched red tile roofs, prominent arches above doors and windows, stucco walls and an asymmetrical façade.*

1553 Riata is a prime example of early Pebble Beach. The original owner was Elstner Hilton who was connected in the foreign lumber industry. Hilton gathered wood from around the world, which was prominently featured throughout the house. Wood that cannot be purchased today, and yet remains perfectly intact.

After photos of the Living Room, Dining Room and Sun Room. 

With an eye for design, my clients looked to the fresh Spanish Mediterranean style often seen in Santa Barbara and Montecito as inspiration. Many buyers are scared to remodel or build. There are many unknowns and costs always tend to be higher than expected. On the Monterey Peninsula, our average remodel cost is $350/sf, about 2 ½ times the national average. After looking at smaller properties in Carmel at the same price point, they saw the value and potential in restoring this special property. They nailed the renovation, completing most of the work within an impressive 7-month timeframe. 

Before & After: Kitchen and Master Bedroom

1553 Riata is a perfect combination of old and new. Painting was the first on the agenda. After a visit to Kidwell Paints in Pacific Grove, they used Benjamin Moore’s Snowfall White on the interior and painted some of the wood walls and ceilings. For contrast, they also darkened the ceiling beams with the darkest stain they could find. They opened up the kitchen, painted the cabinets white and used Aurera Stone for the countertops, a new product similar to Caesar stone, purchased at Carmel Stone Imports. Morrill & Forbes installed a gas insert in their family room and they combined original lighting with new fixtures purchased at the PG Home Lighter. They used Knapp Mill & Cabinets to replace a window in the spiral staircase and for a few interior doors, which matched seamlessly to their original counterparts. Not only is the home new, but it is now also a “smart house” with 4 Sonos speakers, a Nest system, Cat 7 wiring and flat screen TVs in all 5 bedrooms.

After Photos of the hallway, breakfast nook and kitchen detail

Finally enjoying the fruits of their labor, the owners are going to be offering the property as a vacation rental for part of the year. With the US Open around the corner in June 2019, this is sure to be a very popular vacation destination.

Sources:

*Kent Seavey, Historic Preservationist