When I think of a Sunset house, I usually picture something a bit grand, perhaps on a hillside overlooking California oaks. So when I drove by the latest Sunset Dream Remodel in Los Gatos, I almost passed it. It’s small — a 1,550 square foot Mediterranean bungalow on the corner of a somewhat busy street. But the whole idea, in these tough economic times, is to showcase the wonderful things you can do in a small space. And when you look at it that way, this house really measures up.
“This project shows how big a small space can live if done right,” said San Jose builder, Mark De Mattei, who marks his sixth Sunset house with the renovation of this Los Gatos bungalow.
The Sunset Dream Remodel opens to the public on July 23 through Aug. 15, 2010, only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. But here at Lookiloos, we love nothing better than to give a sneak peek, with a full slideshow, of some of the great ideas and products.
When De Mattei first bought the property, the house was even smaller — 1,300 square feet, and faced the busy University Avenue. To take full advantage of the corner lot, he lifted up the house, built a new foundation and turned it to face Town Terrace.
From the outside, you appreciate that this little house retains all its charm –including original arched windows at the front. But every inch, inside and out, is maximized. The front garden, designed by Tamura Designs of San Jose, with gravel pathways in a lovely geometric pattern with pea gravel and planting beds makes me want to do the same in my yard. I love the big urn as a centerpiece in the middle with herbs and vegetables growing in the beds –in the front yard no less.
A side yard leading to the sidewalk and busy street was also put to best use with a deck right off the dining room. A
One of the tricks to making a small space seem large, De Mattei said, is to keep spaces open. From the front entryhall, you can look right through the living room, dining and kitchen to see the lovely back courtyard. Wide wooden floors run the length of the house, fooling your eye to think the floorplan goes on and on.
Instead of dividing living spaces with walls, different ceiling treatments do the trick, from a flat 8-foot-ceiling in the living room, to a higher, beamed-ceiling in the dining room.
And you can always count on Sunset to have beautiful decor, from handmade tiles in the kitchen to my favorite thing: the gray trefoil tiles in the masterbath. (Those might be lovely in my pending bath renovation!) 
Room and Board supplied most of the furnishings, and Anteo Home in Los Gatos brought in the dining room chairs and special pieces.
If you want to see the house for yourself, it’s well worth it. Here’s the skinny:
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
July 23 – August 15, 2010 Time:10:00 am – 5:00 pm Tickets (purchase on-site):$15 adults
$12 seniors 65+ Fridays only
$5 children 12 and under Location:100 Towne Terrace
Los Gatos, California 95032
Here’s the complete slideshow:
Coffee in hand, Desiree and I headed out early last weekend to check out the Hanchett Park historic home tour. I seriously love the 
1.) Deborah Arant and Richard Nieset’s Spanish Colonial Revival on Sequoia Avenue seemed like a dream. I could imagine lounging by the pool, margaritas in hand as I cooked a grand BBQ in their outdoor kitchen. The home shaped like the pii symbol had three separate gardens, giving everyone in the household an area to relax and call their own. The home featured an extensive collection of Turkish rugs and art from the couple’s travels around the world, including pieces by Thomas McKnight. Desiree and I were on vacation!
The homeowners also remodeled the original kitchen, transforming it in a green certified masterpiece. They reused 100% of the materials, meaning nothing went to the dump! The result? A modern kitchen with a nod to the 1920’s feel throughout the home, complete with built-in espresso maker! In addition, when building their outdoor kitchen and gates, the couple used reclaimed wood from Napa.
2.) The Washington’s Tudor Revival home on Sierra Avenue was picture perfect. Central to the quaint home, the fireplace features Malibu pottery tiles in the Mayan and Aztec motif, very typical of California homes. On the other hand, consistent with classic Tudor styling, the home had perfectly preserved Tudor arch door with glass stained windows and American walnut beamed ceilings. I loved their collection of antique silhouettes from the 1890’s through the 1930’s.
3.) Collections and Obsessions make a house a home. The gorgeous example of a modernized American Foursquare on Yosemite Avenue belongs to Michael Abler and Michael Smith. While the home boasts many features that make this a stand out ( alabaster light fixtures to die for, a grand kitchen, box-beam ceilings and impeccable landscaping), what stuck with me were its owners collections – vintage martini shakers, globes, marbles, pez dispenser and sea shells. All thoughtfully displayed in cases, shelves or oversized jars; they begged me to ask the owners to tell me more. Alas they were not there to chat with, but it made me think about what collections I would put out for display. A wonderful and quick idea I could replicate immediately!
4.) Architect Steve Hinderberger and Michael Segovia own the modern prairie style bungalow on Yosemite. The home is furnished in Bauhaus style with a mix of modern furniture, sculpture created by the homeowner and nods to the homes 1920s roots. I was in immediately in love with lines of the Eames Lounge chair and the glass Noguchi table. Hinderberger also created an easel to hold a beautiful Calder by repurposing a vintage handcart. The bathroom featured chocolate walls with chocolate towels – how is that for a quick way to keep dirty finger print hidden with a touch of panache! The kitchen itself was another example of smart design, where custom built oak cabinets created ample room for a access to a basement office. The result is modern and functional.
When four girlfriends and I escaped our kids for the afternoon, piled into my mini-van, and headed out for the 
stenciling in the hallway–and eclectic accessories, many of which came from the Vintage Flea Market in Alameda. 
If I had a bigger lot, I’d consider a swimming pool with different lounging levels and contrasting materials like Kris and David Gambelin’s home. If couldn’t get such a lot and wanted to get really creative (or crazy), I’d move next to my sister, tear down the fence between us, and create one big, shared, drought resistant landscape like the Gilliand home. 
![sjdnht2010_Roycott_way[1]](http://www.lookiloos.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/sjdnht2010_Roycott_way1-250x173.jpg "sjdnht2010_Roycott_way[1]")
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“We wanted to open it up with more light,” Hillary said. And she wanted it to be more modern, “but consistent with the principles of the house.”
The couple love clean lines and neutral colors. In the kitchen, they installed white Caesarstone countertops with translucent, white glass subway tiles, then added red-topped stools for a splash of color. They opened their home to the Rockridge Kitchen Tour last fall.
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