Let There Be White In This Designer’s Mid-century Rehab

Designer Carly Waters of Carly Waters Style wanted to create a sanctuary for her family with her latest home remodel. Having sold her previous renovation fully furnished, Waters was able to start this project with a clean slate.

Before

The new space, in Pacific Palisades, Calif., needed plenty of attention. “All of the finishes were a hodgepodge of craftsman and cheap 90s materials,” Waters said. “The layout felt choppy, and the lack of windows made
the space feel small and dark.”

On top of a poor layout, the home had no functioning plumbing or electrical, according to Waters. In addition, it had been cited for not having central heat, and a leaky roof had caused major water damage to the walls and ceiling.

Before

After

The whole project took about two years until Waters felt it was photo-worthy.

The payoff was a minimalist, sophisticated home that fell perfectly in line with Waters’ style. She combined white walls with materials meant to bring in warmth, including oak floors and cabinetry, aluminum clad windows, and marble and quartz countertops.

And when it came to the perfect wall color for her home Waters said, “my motto is ‘let there be white.’ I never tire of white walls.” With that in mind Waters opted for Dunn-Edwards EVEREST® flat in White Picket Fence (DET648) for the home’s interior walls and ceilings, ARISTOSHIELD® eggshell in Warm White (DEW380) for the interior trim and doors, and EVERSHIELD® in Charcoal Smudge (DE6370) for the home’s exterior trim.

Before

After

Waters chose Dunn-Edwards Paints because she loves that the paint is low VOC, making it environmentally conscious. On top of that, Waters added that she loves Dunn-Edwards’ high quality. “I never worry about it chipping or peeling,” Waters said.” It stands up against two young children, which says a lot!”

Before

After

To bring in warmth and soften the stark angles of the house, she used olive tones and oak finishes with oatmeal linen fabrics. “We curated and customized every piece of furniture we brought in so that we were intentional in aligning with our desired aesthetic — warm minimalism.”

The home was a labor of love for Waters. It’s been nearly 3 ½ years since she and her family purchased the home. It took about a year to complete the interior, and another year after for exterior landscaping to grow in. “These remodel projects are not fast but they are oh-so-rewarding!”

Photos by Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Carly Waters Style.