Before and After: From mishmash to Mission style

"We're still together after 30 years. How about that? This time, when Bob told Cynthia about the 7,500-square-foot house on a 16,000-square-foot property in the gated Mulholland Estates community, she thought, 'Oh God. Don't do this to me.' Then she saw the house and was further dismayed."

"Although the 1990s-circa home was nice enough, its style was confusing and disjointed. Cynthia, who studied at UCLA and Otis College of Art and Design, discerned it was probably built on spec by a developer trying to appeal to the widest range of buyers, who were alternately looking for Tuscan, French country, Spanish or traditional."

"The house was awkward, with its faux stone front and unremarkable entryway, its closed-off rooms, a sunken bar in the family room and a pervasive darkness. But she warmed to the idea of giving the house new life and had a singular vision: Santa Barbara Mission, light and bright, simple and elegant."

Designer Cynthia Hart and developer Bob Hart have established a pattern over three decades of purchasing homes, with Bob finding deals and Cynthia redesigning them before selling and relocating. After 25 moves together, Bob discovered a 7,500-square-foot property in Mulholland Estates that initially dismayed Cynthia due to its confused architectural style—a spec-built home attempting to blend Tuscan, French country, Spanish, and traditional elements. The home featured a faux stone front, closed-off rooms, and pervasive darkness. Cynthia envisioned transforming it into a bright, elegant Santa Barbara Mission-style residence. Working with general contractor John Donaldson, the couple undertook a comprehensive renovation beginning in March 2016, costing approximately $3.5 million and requiring two and a half years to complete, including extensive landscaping work.

Read at Los Angeles Times