Labor of Love

Manhattan Beach designer Jill Johnson tells us how she remade a rental mess into her dream cottage, one room at a time.

 

Before master bedroom renovation
Photographer Grey Crawford

Taking Your Time

CL: How did you keep your sanity through several years of renovating?

JJ: We did it in stages, which made things easier on the budget, too. We also lived elsewhere during the intense construction work, something I highly recommend. If that's not an option for you, make sure to keep one room that's a "safe" escape from the battle zone beyond.

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Cottage exterior wtih cedar-shake shingles and a brick driveway

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Master bedroom with bamboo chandelier, striped rug

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6 of 14
Before master bedroom renovation

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