CENTRAL COAST CALIFORNIA • NORTH SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY • WEST PASO ROBLES

The art of squeezing maximum utility out of small spaces.

Nina is an architect who can’t...stop...designing. 

Like many busy architects, Nina filled her “free” time by obsessing over a personal project. (You know, for fun.) After spending each day coming up with design ideas and space planning, coming home to something that didn’t work got annoying fast. 

Nina’s backyard granny unit shared an entry with the garage, had too much space allocated to a hallway, and a super funky layout. “It was a mess.” 

She wanted to create more privacy for the unit, so she untangled the flow to create a new entry and carve out a super cute courtyard. A simple, modern wood fence gives much needed visual separation from the garage.

Inside, Nina kept things clean and simple--replacing pink walls and multi-toned cabinets with a white subway tile backsplash, wood-look laminate countertops, and a few reclaimed wood shelves. And though working with incredible contractors is often the highlight of her projects, occasionally a little DIY (not to mention a fresh coat of paint) can go a long way. The dreamy little kitchen is now warm and welcoming. 

The result? Nina can (mostly) leave the office behind and relax at home.