I’m so excited to share that my family and I just got a new house! I have been ‘keeping my eye open’ for a new home for almost two years. I religiously read new house listings. I’d get notifications every time a new house popped-up that fit my price and location criteria and filters, (must have pool ✓!), and keywords (“Spanish Style”) to further hone in on it. TWO YEARS of looking every day, and one early October morning, this house popped up on my alerts. I read the description, looked at the photos and I passed the phone to Jason and said “THIS IS OUR HOUSE.” It was love at first click for us both. I texted my mother-in-law because the house is just a mile away from her house and she face-timed me eight minutes later from the house. “You gotta get up here.” she said to me. “This is your house!”
This was the first house in two years that I saw that checked every single one of our boxes and then some: more space, lots of greenery, good light, a pool, a fixer that needed some work (so we could make it ours), but with good bones, in a neighborhood we love, and also within our budget. And then once we saw the place in real life, I just got that feeling deep down that this was our place. The whole mid-century meets Spanish Style vibe really tickles my fancy. The fruit trees. The light. It even has a little art studio down by the pool. Meant to be. The real estate market in and around L.A. is nuts right now (and always) so I knew we’d have to put up a fight in order to get the house — so we went all in, channeled all my Aries energy and just decided to ‘go hard’ to make sure we got it. It was six weeks of pure anxiety going through the bidding, escrow, and loan process but it was all worth it in the end.
Here’s a little peek at what the house looks like today:
I love the hardwood floors, brick fireplace, and of course, that beamed ceiling!! Every night lie in bed and wonder if I’m gonna leave this room white or paint it some crazy color??
Living Room
Glass Lanai off living room
Off of the living room, there is this dreamy lanai that leads out to the central courtyard. I’ve ALWAYS wanted to live in a home that wrapped around a courtyard. It reminds me of a Moroccan riad. I can’t wait to fill this space with a thousand plants.
…not sure how I feel about these ornate wooden posts, there’s something about them that’s fun but I don’t like the bars/jail vibe. Thoughts?
Kitchen
This is the view into the kitchen….Excited to make this less awkward and more open.
We are dying to see what lies underneath these florescent lights. We’re hoping perhaps there’s a gorgeous beamed ceiling up there…keep you posted!
Back Courtyard
The back courtyard is my favorite part of the house. (Besides the lanai, the pool, the living room and the art studio LOL). But seriously I think this courtyard will be like our daytime living room area–and we really look forward to a time we’ll be able to entertain again! The view of the trees is everything!
Entrance to the main bedroom
….and then there’s the pool…which has been total #LIFEGOALS for me.
I’m not even mad about the existing tile!
I feel like these vintage vinyl floors, in what will be my home office, have a lot of stories to share.
The house has so many charming little details. I’m definitely going to take inspiration from them as we remodel the interior.
A patchwork of floors to contend with…
Second Bedroom
Lots of details that I want to live with for a bit before deciding what to do with…
All the bathrooms need TLC too–You can’t imagine how much fun I’m going to have transforming these spaces into little colorful universes all their own.
Over the next weeks and months I will share more peeks and we will begin to transform this #JungalowByTheMountain into our dream home. Be sure to follow along on my IG where I’ll document the process and share learnings along the way (with intermittent updates here on the blog when I can swing it!). I am truly excited and eternally grateful to have a new canvas to love on and in, and one that (god willing!) will be a canvas for many, many years to come. With love and hugs and Dragon Trees, xxx~J
Swoon! Congratulations!! Can’t wait to see how you transform it.
Wow! It was in the stars for you and your family. Can’t wait to see how you transform this dream house of yours! Congratulations!!
Quite literally a dream home! I have also always wanted to live in a Spanish style single level with a surrounding courtyard! And the trees!!! Heaven.
Congratulations! Your new home is beautiful. I can’t wait to see you make it your own. This is going to be so fun to watch!
Seeing the transformation of your current home transpire over the years, including the amazing backyard, I can’t wait to see what you do in yiur new home!!!
What a dream!
Oh this is so wonderful! Love the courtyard and the trees! I can’t wait to follow along as you infuse your gorgeous style into it! Oh and for what it’s worth, i imagine you could try painting the ornate columns a lighter color and they may not feel quite so jail-like. Congrats!!
Incredibly beautiful!! I am also looking for a new house in L.A. Would you recommend your realtor?
How fabulous! I can’t believe you haven’t yet peeked under that dropped ceiling to see what’s there. Our 1936 Spanish bungalow had a similar ceiling, and it turned out to be hiding a beautiful coved ceiling! I hope you have similar good fortune.
REPLACE THE BARS WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS: https://inbal-tiles.com/product/%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%99%D7%95%D7%AA/
(Sorry, I only know the word in Hebrew :)
I’m so excited to watch you transform your new home, wishing you and yours only health and happiness in your new place.
Definitely say sayonara to those wooden jail beams! They are so 80s. Maybe replace with iron?
Beautiful find! Have fun and I can’t wait for all the colors and decisions!
I can’t wait to see, the house as great bones like you said. Congratulations !
Think a bit on the posts before deciding to remove. They may filter light beautifully, and/or act like an early freestanding bi/trifold screen- might be a lovely architectural backdrop. What a beautiful place!
Totally agree with you! Normally I would be “team get rid of them” but. In this case I think they might work?? They look older than 80’s to me…the shape is interesting! In Justina’s hands I think they could be magic!
Just absolutely amazing what can happen when you have a vision and are willing to work hard until that vision becomes your reality. So beyond inspired by your dedication to this! Thank you for sharing <3
Excited for your dream home lady, it’s going to be so much fun seeing the transformation! What energy, love, color and light you will bring, congratulations!
The wall of spindles could be painted like vintage croquet mallets, with colorful stripes! Or you could make it into an art installation, using it as a kind of loom to string rope or yarn across it. And then hang plants on it! ❤️ Love this house!
Congratulations on an amazing home! Like you I love mid-century modern combined with the Spanish style is absolutely over the top amazing!! What about repurposing those post into side tables and a dining room table, maybe 🤔 I agree they can’t stay in the current place. A good repurpose will breathe new life into them. I’m so excited to watch the progress!! It’s so beautiful! How many bedrooms and bathrooms, and square footage? I looked to see if I missed it. If that’s too personal no worries. Will happily follow your new mountain adventure! Xoxo
Hi Justina, LOVE the new house😍 I’m SoCal born n raised, where there are streets of only Spanish style homes from the 20’s-40’s, it’s my dream too to own one. Guessing this must be in Sierra Madre or parts there in? So a whole different area? If so, even yummier! I love the wooden spindles, it feels very Moroccan to me (I used to live there and am married to a Moroccan) So much fun work to do in the house. How people mess up vintage houses.
I’d definitely keep those wooden posts but I thkmm is sand then into a lighter wood or paint them a lighter color. I think they will be one of the features you learn to love of the house once they aren’t so dark. I keep thinking they are a lattice for something…
I’m not super crazy about those ornate wooden “bars” either, but maybe you could keep the bones and turn it into a living plant wall? It’d be pretty to see some green with the dark wood. Anyway, cannot wait to see what you do with this space!!!
Hi Justina! Wow, congratulations on your stunning new home!! I am so excited for you and your family. It was definitely worth the wait and is my exact dream home as well. 😍 I can’t wait to see how you transform it with your style, love, and colors! I could picture those wooden posts in bright colors or mosaic tiles, and with plants wrapped around them. 🌿 I think they bring such a unique style to the home. I dream of buying, renovating, and decorating a home one day, so I look forward to hearing all of your tips and tricks!
Congratulations again, I’m excited to join along for this new and wonderful adventure!
All the best,
Joselyn
Congratulations it’s such a beautiful canvas!!! :)
P.s your style is so familiar to me as a gibraltarian sandwiched between Spain and Morocco! Hehe
Gorgeous! I feel like the spindles and built in display piece could be painted in your signature colors, one of your greens maybe, or a combination of colors, and end up looking quite modern.
So overwhelmingly lovely! You should channel that riad vibe by replacing the hail bars with Moroccan lattice/screens that still let in light and color but add some texture and keep the house cool.
And by hail bars, I meant jail bars 🤦🏼♀️
Hi. This is incredible! And there are such good bones but then the fun stuff you can tackle to really bring her to life.
Just an idea on that wood beam issue: take it out, put in a narrow raised bed made out of whatever sparks your fancy, and put in a black iron trellis to the ceiling and have plants climbing up it. Can bring the outdoors in, since there is so much beautiful light and natural elements. Whatever you decide will be gorgeous.
Gorgeous!!!! Cant wait to see what you do with it all. There is a specific kind of magical feeling I always get from these sprawling, open Spanish style houses. With the bars – I love them, personally. If you’re not digging the jail look, maybe removing half of them would help or removing every other one and adding shelves staggered between them for art, objects, plants, kitten perches etc to soften it.
I feel like keep the spindles for now but paint them the same color as the walls they are next to instead of being dark like the trim.
Then also paint some sort of cute florally/folk art-ish/take-inspo from-the-spanish-tiles design on them.
And then if you still don’t like them after a year – REMOVE.
Also, forgot to add – ITS GORGEOUS! 100% worth the wait! Can’t wait to see you bring it to life!
Please don’t ever take out those absolutely stunning carved wooden posts in that house!!! Congratulations on a beautiful new home. This fourth generation native Californian can only dream of owning one day… it’s so expensive.
This looks amazing! and so perfect for you and your family. I can’t wait to see what you do with it.
As far as the spindles, they kind of have Louise Nevelson vibes. Maybe they just need a solid coat of black or white paint?
I also love the idea of a house wrapping around a courtyard, I can’t wait to see how you transform it! Definitely Moroccan riad dreams.
You’re such an inspiration! So happy for you all.
Maddie
Hola Justina. Please leave those wood pieces there, maybe change the color. Someone cut a valuable tree and spent hours shaping it and making it perfect for that place. What I learned from you is to value the work that those artists have done and the material where it came from. Also, the title is unique, maybe you can add more tile and leave the original piece as a historic addition. I can’t wait to see the transformation of this beautiful home and the preservation of the valuable pieces.Good things happen to good people and dreams come true. Muy buena suerte.
Absolutely beautiful!!!! Can’t wait to see the transformation.
It’s beautiful. Congratulations again. For those spindles if you decide to take them out, maybe make something with them… a door, a piece of furniture… something better. I love the detail of them.
This looks like a vacation home that you get to live in every day! Absolutely stunning. I love the white in the living room to accent those gorgeous beams. The jail posts/bars can be taken down and repurposed into something beautiful. Can’t wait to see the transformation of kitchen, baths and outside plants!
Congratulations Justina! You deserve this girl! 👐 I am always taking great inspiration from your work and talent and I am looking forward to watch how you will transform this house into your own magical place. I love the mix of Spanish and Morrocan. That tree! 🌳🥰Total goals! Sending you and your family my good vibes and blessings ☺
Keep the spindles -maybe paint them a bright color and then have tons of vines growing up them!
My dream house too. My aunt had a huge, epic Spanish home in Pasadena with a grand central courtyard. Courtyards are magical–a thing of the past. I loved dashing from one end of the house to the other, through the courtyard! As someone who THRIVES on authenticity and individuality, your whole ethos validates me and brings me joy. I can’t wait to see how you transform this forever home.
It’s AMAZING. I was picturing that tiny bedroom on the other side of the primary bedroom as a closet/dressing room. The two little bathrooms converted into one gorgeous bathroom with a pass through to your dressing room. Ahhhhh….. bliss.
Congratulations on your dream home purchase. It’s beautiful! As for the “jail” vibe posts; 1) I see them replaced with tree trunks that fit the diameter opening, and then drilling holes in the trunks for colorfully painted metal leaves attached to wire that are strategically inserted in the holes or 2) wrapping them with thin bark that already naturally curves (barkhouse.com), and then also using the same wire metal leaves. You could wrap the other supporting posts in the room, as well. That’s just my tree loving perspective. I’m sure you’ll come up with something awesome:) Have fun with your creativity.
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C’est vraiment magnifique !!!
Vous avez eu raison d’attendre la perle rare !!!
Avec votre décoration, elle sera encore plus splendide !!!!
Je vous souhaite beaucoup de bonheurs partagés dans cette demeure !!!
Sincèrement de France …
Fantastic job. I love it all. You should be very proud|