For the past five years, Nikki and Steve Carlson have made a name for themselves in the world of historic renovation by using their Instagram account @cottageandsea to document the restoration of old properties in Southern California, including a 1930s Spanish-style home in Encinitas. I've had a lot of fun. The husband-and-wife team has amassed more than 100,000 followers who appreciate her ability to balance vintage charm with modern comfort.
“We strive to maintain the original character of the home while incorporating modern features,” Nikki explains. “Steve actually grew up remodeling with his dad, and I've been designing and decorating for quite some time as well.”
The duo's latest project was the conversion of two run-down 1950s cottages. Mint Cottage features a charming Art Deco kitchen with light green tiles, retro appliances and original red oak floors. It's a dramatic upgrade from the previous oddly textured walls, beat-up cabinets, and linoleum floors. How did they pull it off?
Kitchen location: Mint Cottage, named for its seafoam-colored kitchen tiles, is located near Moonlight State Beach, a sandy coast just north of San Diego.
Before: “Almost everything was original,” Steve recalls. “Going into the kitchen, the archway was cool, the floor plan was good, all the bones were there. The only thing that was really, really bad was the cosmetic side of things. The cabinets were really old and dirty. , it was damaged.”
Inspiration: The couple wanted to maintain the feel of their glamorous 1950s home while adding the signature mint tile that was first used in their 1920s Belmont Shore property.
area: Approximately 100 square feet
budget: $25,000
Main ingredients:
cabinet: custom. “We love inset cabinets as opposed to overlays,” says Steve. “In keeping with the times, it feels more classy to have them inlaid. You can buy overlay cabinets online. We went the completely custom route by actually inserting them and getting the perfect dimensions. Appearance It just feels cleaner.”
