home I
renovation
----
he living, dining, and kitchen areas in Justine and Paul
Whitehead’s home had plenty of room. But they also had
room for improvement when it came to both function and
style. Luckily, a few targeted updates were all it took to get
the spaces in the Mill Valley, California, home living as one.
In the dining room, the Whiteheads replaced an odd pair of
windows with a combination picture window, sizing it for a window
seat flanked by floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. Now their daughters can
easily work on art projects using supplies stored in the cabinets. And
“the built-in bench is Corey’s favorite place to read,” says Justine.
When it’s time for outdoor play, the girls grab toys from drawers under
the seat and head out the deck door to the backyard.
Larger openings and a two-sided fireplace connect the dining
space with the living room, where comfy furniture in durable fabrics
welcomes family card games and TV time. And when the girls go to
bed, the stylish plaster fireplace, which replaced an outdated brick fire-
place wall, turns the room into a relaxing retreat for Justine and Paul.
Also feeling a little more connected is the kitchen, which flows
easily to both living and dining rooms, thanks to new wood flooring in
all the spaces and a coat of dye on the cabinets that echoes the color of
the shared fireplace, walls, and furniture.
A nonsupporting soffit
over the doorway,
a b o v e
, made the
Whiteheads’ living
and dining rooms feel
dated and too
separated, so they
removed it.
The new fireplace,
to p
, features an
integrated mantel with
a plaster finish to
match the wall.
A slab of bluestone
creates a seat for
Paul and Kalen.
6 0
B E T T E R H O M E S A N D G A R D E N S
J A N U A R Y
2011
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B H G . C O M
