By Vanessa Brunner | Houzz
Architects Audrey McEwen and Jon Gaiser purchased a 1970s San Diego townhouse with the intention of using it as a blank-slate new abode. They made decisions carefully to keep costs down but still make an impact.
Using the original floor plan, sticking to the home’s footprint and searching for materials and appliances at great prices helped them stay on track with their budget. “What we can’t afford to buy, we don’t,” says McEwen.
Houzz at a Glance
- Who lives here: Audrey McEwen and Jon Gaiser
- Location: San Diego
- Size: 900 square feet
- Cost of upgrade: $38,000 (for materials, appliances, demolition, plumbing and electrical work)
Clean, light and minimalist materials give the townhouse a modern and bright look. Most of the original structure remains — the couple was lucky to find a space with a lofted ceiling and an open loft bedroom.
Both trained architects, McEwen and Gaiser measured the entire space and came up with a new plan using Google SketchUp.
The 1977 townhouse had some interesting geometry, which intrigued the couple, but everything else felt beige and bland.
AFTER: Handcrafted and refurbished decor and bamboo-clad openings add visual interest. The couple wanted a very basic material palette, and bamboo’s strength and eco-friendly nature made it an easy choice. Used on all of the wood accents and flooring, the bamboo creates uniformity.
The pair inherited some furniture but found most of their midcentury pieces on Craigslist and eBay, refurbishing most of them. McEwen made her own Alexander Calder-inspired mobile.
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Some custom pieces add to their minimalist look, too. McEwen’s father, Neal McEwen, is a talented woodworker who helped her design and build the living room console, hallway bench, dining table and other pieces.
A pantry between the kitchen and the dining area made the old kitchen feel closed off from the adjacent dining and living area.
AFTER: McEwen and Gaiser moved the pantry to the other side of the kitchen entry, creating a more seamless entrance to the dining area and bar. McEwen designed the dining table, and her father built it. The authentic Mies van der Rohe MR chairs were an incredible Craigslist find. Bamboo panels help offset the uniquely angled kitchen pass-through.
Not surprisingly, the kitchen updates ended up being the most expensive portion of the remodel, costing about $17,000. The couple spent $13,000 on demolition, installing new drywall and plaster, appliances, cabinetry, and plumbing and electrical work.
McEwen attributes most of their budget luck to timing. Since they started their remodel during the spring and summer, a lot of semiannual and annual sales helped them cut down on costs.
Dark cabinetry, fluorescent lighting and mismatched appliances made for a poorly lit and outdated-looking kitchen.
AFTER: One of the few splurges is the kitchen countertop — the Pure White Caesarstone cost about $3,500. Integrating the stovetop with the countertop made for an extra-clean look.
The old staircase was not very eye catching.
AFTER: Flexible but strong 14-foot bamboo rods line the staircase for a simple but statement-making bannister. An affordable carpet remnant from a local manufacturer’s warehouse lines the steps.
“We really love the look of bamboo,” says McEwen. “The grain is subtle, and the light finish enhances rather than distracts from the bright overall atmosphere we were trying to achieve.”
The old lofted bedroom and bathroom felt too open to the main living space below. Only a low half wall and a tiny bit awkward column kept it from being completely open.
AFTER: A higher partition makes the bedroom feel more separated from the living room. The new wall now holds all the wiring for the new Nelson Bubble Lamp hanging below.
Next to the closet, the open master bathroom has his-and-her sinks, with a private shower and toilet area.
A small window from the bathroom lets extra natural light in.
Bland carpeting, bare lightbulbs and cookie cutter vanity materials made for a drab and slightly depressing master bathroom.
AFTER: With some careful budgeting, the couple ended up spending about $4,000 on the master bathroom. They found good deals on the cabinetry and sink, and cut and set most of the tile themselves.
The cost that ended up surprising the couple — in the bathroom and in the rest of the house — was lighting and electrical work. They had all of the existing lighting replaced with LED (light-emitting diode) and energy-saving fixtures, and upgraded all of the outlets and switches. “It’s a pet peeve of mine when all the switchplates and outlets are mismatched,” says McEwen. “These small upgrades really add up.”
McEwen always wanted a succulent garden, so she made use of the tall cacti already in the backyard. A brick patio helps keep the area low maintenance.
String lights hung from the arbor add to the outdoor space’s warm vibe at night. An extra-large mirror makes the patio feel more spacious.
Would they have done anything differently? Although they saved some money doing most of the demolition themselves, McEwen would definitely hire someone in the future. The work itself was hard, then they still had to haul away all the junk. “You have to be really emotionally and financially committed when you are doing a total renovation to your home,” she says.
