Tour an Airy Bungalow With Tons of Indoor-Outdoor Spaces

Kristin Mirek had always wanted to live in a light-filled, terra-cotta-tiled-roof home just like the Spanish-style stucco one her grandparents had. She found it in this 1924 Spanish bungalow in Los Angeles, complete with 20 windows and glass doors that lead to the outdoors in nearly every room. She ended up renting it out for several years when she moved to New York City to be with Jeff, her then boyfriend, and returned married with a toddler in tow. “The whole time I was away, I missed this house so much, especially the way we could go from inside to outside seamlessly,” says Kristin. (Pictured: Jeff and Kristin with Gabrielle, 7)

To make their 1,800 square feet feel even more open and inviting without major construction, the Mireks enlisted designer Barbie Palomino. They refreshed some rooms with white paint, revived the kitchen and bathroom, added uplifting new pieces of furniture and created one seriously dreamy outdoor oasis. The result: a space where it’s breezy and bright every single day. Striped awnings and sage green trim (painted High Park by Benjamin Moore) give a chill vibe.

Recovering the sun-bleached sofa was both practical and inspiring. “The color reminds me of the blue skies we have here,” says Kristin. A vintage Moroccan rug and a pair of chairs, covered in chenille Robert Allen fabric, are equally spirited, while mini glass tables open the space. Striped curtains echo the stripes on the awning. And that humongous rubber plant? It hides the neighbors’ garbage cans.

To import the exterior’s charm, Barbie suggested painting the dark wood cabinets the shade of the terra-cotta roof tile and doing Mediterranean-style floor tile (it’s from Cement Tile Shop). Putting a banquette with poppy pillows and a pedestal table in an empty corner has brightened up breakfast. “With another table and chairs outside, it’s become one big dining and entertaining space,” says Kristin.

Flush with color and pattern, it’s quite the fun place to hang. “Comfort was also a priority,” says Kristin, hence the custom oversize velvet sectional in burnt orange, supremely fluffy Anthropologie shag rug and funky pillows that offer a soft landing when Gabrielle and her friends play and tumble. An oak-top coffee table from Industry West brings in a natural element.

The pinky tropical decor is classic Beverly Hills Hotel, where Kristin and Jeff got married. Flowery bedding from H&M and a blush rug from Urban Outfitters mingle with a chest from Kristin’s grandparents, which layers in yet more family history. Todd, the life-size tiger, is a faithful pal, says Kristin: “He’s usually roped into some sort of dress-up game.”

Seen through the French doors off the redwood deck, this room could well be in an island resort. “One of our favorite things to do on weekend mornings is to throw open the doors, read the paper and drink coffee in bed,” says Kristin. Boho patterns in soft hues, including a rug by Momeni on the bedroom floor, amplify the exotic ambiance. Those paintings above the bed are from Cartagena, Colombia, where the couple met while on separate vacations.

It’s got that eco-chic spa thing going on, thanks to a 6-foot-long claw-foot bathtub, a mix of crisp white square tiles from Bedrosians on the walls and tranquil forest green ones on the floor by Clé, and a glass-enclosed shower. Listening to birds chirp while you brush your teeth: divine.