This young family reached out to me upon purchasing a stunning Spanish Revival home in one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Mateo. Built in 1931, the home was full of character—featuring a red clay tile roof, vaulted ceilings, a chef’s kitchen, and beautiful grounds.

My clients wanted to refresh the space, elevating the finishes, enhancing its existing charm, and modernizing it—all while preserving its original character. And did I mention we were on a tight timeline? My gorgeous client was expecting baby number two, and it was important to have their home move-in ready before the baby’s arrival.

This video perfectly captures the "before" (which, let’s be honest, I always forget to document!). The vaulted ceilings were stunning, but the numerous wood battens and beams felt overly busy and overwhelming. To simplify and refine the space, we removed all the excess wood, leaving just one central beam across the ceiling and two cross beams, all stained in a warm, semi-solid mahogany finish. A striking chandelier from Visual Comfort became the perfect finishing touch.

The floors were refinished, and we arched as many doorways as possible—one of my favorite ways to infuse Spanish charm and create soft, elegant transitions between spaces. We updated all light fixtures, repainted every door, and replaced locks and hardware for a cohesive, refined look.

In the kitchen, we gave the space a fresh and sophisticated update by redoing the flooring, countertops, hardware, plumbing, appliances, windows, and kitchen hood. This transformation eliminated overwhelming tile patterns and created a more elegant, timeless design. To enhance functionality, we also added a pocket door to separate the kitchen and laundry room.

For the bedrooms, we repainted and selected all-new furnishings to create serene, inviting spaces for our young family. We replaced the dreaded shutters with simple, elegant drapes and shades, allowing for a softer and more relaxed atmosphere.

From start to finish, we worked right up to the last minute of our deadline—pouring so much love and attention to detail into creating a beautiful, welcoming home.

I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!