Small and Crafty Makeover: Turning a Tiny Bungalow into a Craftsman Gem

From Modest to Charming

Michelle and Jeremy Walker, designers who run Blooming Gardens, saw potential in a 700-square-foot Ventura, California bungalow. They replaced original siding with redwood on the upper half and shingles below, added a full-width gable, stone pillars with vertical wood posts and an overhead beam, and poured a spacious concrete porch.

A Garden to Match

A low perimeter wall shields the front-yard seating area. In the 18-foot-deep space between wall and porch, Michelle created a tranquil Japanese-influenced garden: river rocks symbolize water separating house from street; mondo grass represents land. A large Acer negundo 'Flamingo' and a few carefully sited shrubs provide privacy. A sturdy arbor softened with wisteria bridges the entry.

Five Lessons from the Makeover

1. Bulk up structures: Use blocky wood chunks for Craftsman detail without vintage cost.
2. Create illusion of age: Build porch pillars from cement blocks faced with cultured ledgestone and overgrouted with colored mortar for a vintage stacked-stone look.
3. Use earthy hues: Historical paint colors like Middlebury Brown (HC 68) and Kingsport Gray (HC 86) save agonizing time.
4. Rely on texture: Fine-leafed plants (Japanese maple, sweet flag, weeping bamboo) with a hint of broader leaves for contrast.
5. Plant pots: Large containers green up driveway fringes; smaller pots on the porch visually enlarge the garden.

Design: Michelle and Jeremy Walker, Blooming Gardens, Ventura, CA (805/643-3139)
Resources: Lotus fountain ($579) from Fountain Depot (805/208-4876); similar pots from Asian Ceramics (626/449-6800); Fu dog sculpture ($39) from Fountain Depot.