Spanish Bay Redefined

Image of Press Release 437a
June 6, 2015

The Before and After Series: Part Seven

 

I was on the lookout for an easy to maintain vacation home for buyers whose primary residence was on the east coast. We toured Carmel Highlands, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pebble Beach, but I knew the townhome at Spanish Bay was going to be the winner.

Situated between the Spanish Bay golf course and 17 Mile Drive, you'll find 80 well manicured townhomes behind closed gates. Amenities include concierge, housekeeping and even room service from the neighboring Spanish Bay hotel. The properties are also well looked after by a highly respected on-site property manager. This was a perfect scenario for my clients. In April 2008, we closed escrow on a 4200sf townhome with 3 bedrooms, an office and stunning ocean views.

Before - DiningBefore - Office

Upon closing, the new owners immediately began renovating the unit. They quickly enlisted Ken of Harvest Construction to oversee the project and hired their trusted interior designer, Hollie Alper of Greenwich, Connecticut for the design. Their overall goal was to create an interior that was airy and minimal, yet still had a cozy and comfortable feel. The first order of business was replacing the old wood floors and carpet with ¾" white oak floors using Big Oak Hardwood Floor Company out of San Carlos, CA. They installed new windows through Coast Counties Glass of Monterey and purchased stone from Carmel Stone to surround the three fireplaces. They added arches to the main floor hallways and reconstructed the weight-bearing pillar in the middle of the main floor to soften the lines and make it more architecturally interesting. In the dining room, they removed the passé wetbar and transformed it into sophisticated shelving and storage. 

Added Archway   Wet Bar transformed

They also had a custom bookcase built by Harvest for the office. They choose beautifully textured wallpaper and calming interior paint colors of browns, pale blues and grays with the help of Wm. B, Saleh.  And they selected statement artwork from local Carmel galleries including the Carmel Art Society. 

Office - After   Guest Room

Their main focus on the exterior was to enhance the spectacular ocean views by removing the overgrown landscaping and planting draught tolerant, deer resistant plants, accomplished by their gardener Martin Ochoa, who does much of Spanish Bay's landscaping.

The renovation took about 10 months from start to finish and the end result is a peaceful, oceanfront oasis where the owners are able to genuinely relax and get away from it all.






More posts by Courtney Jones

The Before and After Series | Part Fifteen

Image of Press Release 744a

Eclectic A-Frame Turned Scandi Chic

A couple of years ago I was working with some buyers particularly on the hunt for a project, and more specifically, an A-Frame! So naturally, when I told them about a 1969 A-Frame coming up in Carmel Valley they jumped at it!


Protecting Your Home Against Fire

Image of Press Release 717a

Tri-Max Fire Suppression Technology

With most of California under severe drought conditions, the fire season is starting early this year. Preventive measures are on almost every homeowner's mind.

Of course, we are all familiar with creating defensive space by trimming trees, clearing rain gutters, and keeping grasses low. Over the coming months, we will periodically offer additional insights into wildland fire and what you can do as a homeowner.

We recently learned of a compressed foam system that takes fire ...


The Before and After Series: Part Eleven

Image of Press Release 701a

A Tired '80s Valley Retreat Turned Rustic Contemporary

On a recent Sunday morning I had the pleasure of visiting my clients' Sleepy Hollow home for the first time since they embarked on a significant remodel. The prior home was truly unrecognizable now! It was beyond exciting seeing the finished product, sipping mimosas and hearing their story.


Relationships Matter

Image of Press Release 673a

Relationships are the most critical aspect of the real estate business.

Before I began my real estate career in 2007, I was a financial recruiter in San Francisco. During that time, the traditional brick and mortar recruiting industry was being threatened by the internet and newcomers such as monster.com and careerbuilder.com. It became increasingly obvious over the years that people matter more than technology. That you can't replace personal interaction. That relationships matter.


Global Buyers [Or the Lack Thereof} on the Monterey Peninsula

Image of Press Release 671a

Where do our buyers come from?

People ask me all the time where my buyers come from, assuming we have a large number from Asia or Europe. And not to mention, every real estate firm out there will wow you with their international sphere of influence. But the truth is, your buyer is most likely from around the corner.


Article Archive