It’s no wonder that when Mike Levine, a luxury builder in Los Angeles, and his wife, Isabella, came across a dilapidated bungalow built in the 1950s that they knew its best days were behind it. The rundown property had a kitchen consisting of white cabinetry coupled with old hinges, with matching ceramic tiles on the countertops that were separated by thick lines of grout. The space was outdated for sure, but it still had potential—not only because of Mike’s background, but also because of the home’s location.
“It’s located about two blocks from the beach in the heart of Hermosa, a small surf town in Southern California,” says designer Christine Vroom, who was hired for the project. “Mike and Isabella bought the house as a tear-down, and wanted to rebuild one that felt beachy without being too trendy.”
Vroom describes the couple as having a lot of personality while still being casual, and aimed to create an atmosphere that reflected those laid-back yet welcoming sensibilities. She also wanted to ensure that the home would be suitable for kids, considering that Mike and Isabella have a small baby and were expecting another at the time. Once the old bungalow was torn down to make way for a modern property with a larger, taller footprint, she focused her attention on the most important room for a growing family: the kitchen.
