A Reno Took a Los Angeles Home From Uninhabitable to Hot Property

Time：2024-08-01 Click：

The Spanish-style house in the city’s Highland Park neighborhood sold for 24% over the asking price after a thoughtful overhaul
BY REBECCA BRATBURD
 | ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 18, 2024 | MANSION GLOBAL
They converted a carport into a pergola, surrounded by lush landscaping and perfect for al fresco dining with guests.
COURTESY OF GAVIN CATER
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When Sapna and Karan Aggarwal discovered that an uninhabitable house on Mount Angelus Drive in Los Angeles was up for sale, they jumped at the opportunity. 
The married duo behind the interior design and property investment company Bungalowe live right around the corner, and know how coveted the location is within the city’s Highland Park neighborhood. The property was listed for $399,000, and the Aggarwals beat out 30 other offers with a $710,000 offer.
The two-bedroom house spans 1,069 square feet, and they designed the bulk of the 3,330-square-foot lot to be used as indoor-outdoor living space. They converted a carport into a pergola, surrounded by lush landscaping and perfect for al fresco dining with guests.
The married duo behind the interior design and property investment company Bungalowe saw this home on Mount Angelus Drive in for sale and decided to purchase the property.
Courtesy of Jilbert Daniel
In all, the renovation took only six months to complete. The property was a quick sell when the couple put it on the market, listing in May and securing a buyer less than two weeks later.
Courtesy of Jilbert Daniel
The exterior of the house, for example, mirrors that of the Ojai Valley Inn in Ojai, California, where she and Karan celebrated their 10-year anniversary.
Courtesy of Gavin Cater
From the curb, the green trim stands out on the white, textured Spanish-style house. Sapna drew inspiration from her recent travels. The exterior of the house, for example, mirrors that of the Ojai Valley Inn in Ojai, California, where she and Karan celebrated their 10-year anniversary.
Continuing on the theme, Sapna recalled memories of relaxing with friends in Oaxaca, Mexico. She stayed at GranaB&B, which features striking emerald tiling throughout.
A before image of the home’s derelict interiors.
Courtesy of Jilbert Daniel
The team decided to use handmade Moroccan Zellige tiles from Zia Tile in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Courtesy of Gavin Cater
The team decided to use handmade Moroccan Zellige tiles from Zia Tile in the kitchen and bathrooms. Handmade, hand-painted decorative tiles from Old Mexico adorn accent walls in the living room and primary suite, and most surprisingly, as the baseboards.
“That wasn’t cheap. It was a design statement but we felt the home called for it,” Sapna said.
The Aggarwals knew how coveted the location is within the city’s Highland Park neighborhood despite the home’s state, as seen in this before image.
Courtesy of Jilbert Daniel
Pops of green feature across the house.
Courtesy of Gavin Cater
Hand-painted decorative tiles from Old Mexico run along the baseboards.
Courtesy of Gavin Cater
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In lieu of drywalled cabinets, Sapna and Karan opted for custom, built-in storage in the bedrooms, both saving precious square footage and resulting in larger-looking, and more intentional rooms.
Other details added layers of character to the project, including a fluted marble sink, a statement onyx sink, live-edge wood slabs in the bathrooms and oil-rubbed bronze flush mount lights. Sapna hired a floral stylist for the finishing staging touches. 
“I wanted the dried florals, and I wanted it to have that old Mexico world charm,” Sapna said.
In all, the renovation took only six months to complete. The property was a quick sell when the couple put it on the market, listing in May and securing a buyer less than two weeks later. It sold for $1.6 million, several hundred thousand over its initial asking price, according to property records.
“Any style the home calls for, with a warm, cozy and earthy touch,” Sapna said.
Courtesy of Gavin Cater
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“The frenzy during the open houses was really satisfying, to see that people were appreciating it as much as we loved bringing it to life,” Sapna said. 
Our aesthetic is… “Any style the home calls for, with a warm, cozy and earthy touch,” Sapna said.
The one tip we’d offer to someone undertaking a renovation is… “Never live through construction. Always leave. Rent. Go somewhere else,” Karan said. 
A before image of one of the bathrooms.
Courtesy of Jilbert Daniel
Other details added layers of character to the project, including a fluted marble sink, a statement onyx sink, live-edge wood slabs in the bathrooms and more.
Courtesy of Gavin Cater
Our biggest surprise was… “How compelling we made the landscaping for this home,” Karan said.
My favorite part of the renovation is… “How wonderful and enjoyable the process was, and the momentum was nothing we’d experienced before,” Sapna said.
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My favorite material I used during the process is…  “The green Zellige tile. It’s the star of the show,” Sapna said. 
The one expense we didn’t expect was… “The conversion of the existing carport into the pergola, but it was worth it,” Sapna said.
The renovation ended up costing… $350,000.