The Way We Live

| THE WAY WE LIVE

DOWNTOWN Charm

BEFORE & AFTER

Off to the left of the home’s entrance, a once dark sitting room gets a clean, vibrant makeover with new flooring and a nautical inspired décor.

hen Kit Spellerberg talks about her home

Won 1211 Pismo Street she often mentions the previous owners, Al and Mary Nunes. “I feel like I know them,” Spellerberg confides, with her pronunciation of the word “know” revealing an unmistakable Minnesota accent. “I want to respect and honor them; they must have loved this place, especially the yard.” In an effort to maintain the home’s charm and keep a consistent character, the front of the house, which was originally built in 1906, remained mostly unchanged. The original windows were kept in-tact. There were some dry rot issues that had to be addressed, including removing and repairing the two support pillars framing the wraparound front porch. The exterior was cleaned up and repainted with colors that matched photos that were found of the home during the 1950’s. The interior, on the other hand, required some major updating. And during the remodel, which included a bedroom addition, Spellerberg and her husband Ray, lived through the three-month-long construction project in a makeshift bedroom consisting of four plastic-sheets in the middle of the house. Walls were moved, subfloors were exposed, windows were replaced, even the fireplace—which has since found a second life in the backyard—was removed. But, it was Spellerberg’s experience as a kitchen designer where

And, deference to the couple, who passed away in 2009, two months apart, after 67 years of marriage, is apparent throughout the thoughtful remodel. Spellerberg, who works at Idler’s Kitchen & Bath as a designer, acted as the general contractor on the remodel a year ago, and was able to keep the original look and feel of the house, while also incorporating many modern conveniences.

BEFORE & AFTER

Standing in the kitchen, the view to the entryway went from dark and dingy to bright and beautiful with the help of wide plank hardwood flooring and buttery yellow paint.

the small details start to add up. Toe kick lighting adds a nice touch below the kitchen cabinets, as does a fully enclosed charging station to hide the cell phones and their unsightly cords. A warming tray is used often during entertaining and a toaster is hidden from view in an enclosed roll-out drawer. But, the crown jewel of the remodel is the “L-shaped” master bedroom and walk-in closet addition off the back of the home with French doors leading to the garden. The whole thing expanded the building’s footprint modestly (it went from 1,120 to 1,650 square feet), but because of the abundant windows it feels as though the indoors and outdoors have melded into one. The master bathroom, which doubles as the pass-through to the walk-in closet, is smartly appointed and highly functional with lots of thoughtful features. The shower has been plumbed for steam, but has not yet been used for that purpose—it is one of the last remaining steps of the remodel yet to be completed. Photos of happy times with their four now-grown children are found throughout the living room. And, clearly, the guest rooms were designed to entice them back for frequent visits. A small statue of the mythological David stands guard in one of the rooms and serves as a reminder to the 28-years he spent watching over Spellerberg’s parents’ Greek restaurant in Minnesota; and a built-in dressing table fits tastefully into the wall of another. The Spellerbergs, who moved to San Luis Obispo to be closer to their kids, which includes professional snowboarder and Olympian, Mason Aguirre (daughter Molly Aguirre was also on the pro tour for ten years), share a story told to a friend shortly after they moved: “It wasn’t until I lived here that I understood the charm, the essence and the beauty of San Luis. Like a flower or a fine wine that has a fragrance to it that reminds you of something, San Luis has a very nice fragrance to it.”

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1 | KITCHEN CABINETS

If you can avoid it, do not go all the way to the ceiling with your kitchen cabinets. This will give the room a larger, more open feel to it. If that is not possible, go with fewer cabinets so the room does not feel overwhelmed by them.

2 | OPEN SHELVING & GLASS DOORS

The use of open shelving and glass doors helps to give your kitchen a more spacious feel and communicate your personal taste and sense of style through the items displayed.

3 | CHARGING STATION

All of the electronic gadgets—smart phones, tablets, laptops—seem to end up charging in the kitchen. Create a space for them. It can be as simple as an outlet hidden in the back of a drawer or a cabinet.

4 | TOE KICK LIGHTING

It’s cool, it’s hip, it’s different and, best of all, it’s inexpensive. This will set your kitchen apart and provide great conversation fodder when the guests arrive.

5 | WARMING DRAWER

This is a must-have for entertaining. Keep the hors d’oeuvres hot while your friends mingle. Also, it’s great for Thankgiving dinners and multicourse meals.

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BEFORE & AFTER

Reengineering the fireplace opened up this dark living room and created a smooth flow while thoughtfully placed furniture keeps a sense of separation from the dining area. And, it’s worth noting, the fireplace seen below was repurposed for use outdoors.

COMFORTABLE ELEGANCE

A warm color pallette, dark woods, plenty of lighting and unique furnishings combine to create an inviting master bedroom with easy access to the garden. SLO LIFE