RENOVATION
Cho residence — Overview
- 5738 Canterbury Drive, Culver City, CA 90230
- Two-floor townhome built in mid '80s, approximately 1200 sq. ft. on concrete slab (plans probably not available)
- Roughly 500 sq. ft. of floor downstairs; 650 sq. ft. of floor upstairs
- Stairs: one wide step to garage (39" width); five steps to landing plus eight additional steps to second floor (34" width)
- Two bedrooms and two full baths upstairs and half bath downstairs
- High ceilings in most areas other than kitchen and bathrooms
- Central air
- Two shared walls with neighbors
- Attached garage and small patio
There might be some overlapping tasks [In progress — last updated April 22, 2025]
Punchlist // Inspiration // Mood board
Inspiration document contains some of what you'll see on this web page — but there's some new imagery there, too.
Overall, we are looking for clean, simple lines — mid-century modern vibes.
Contemporary — don't want fussy details.
Overall, we are looking for clean, simple lines — mid-century modern vibes.
Contemporary — don't want fussy details.
GENERAL
- Construction:
— Need demo and removal to be included for all work (do not use trash dumpsters for residents)
— May need assistance moving some furniture/appliances and covering exposed surfaces
— Need somebody who can provide engineering/plans and pull permits as needed
— Team needs to be insured and licensed - Floors:
— Exposed slab needs to be cleaned and prepped
— Downstairs: Oak engineered wide-plank (except kitchen)
— Kitchen: Wide, gray tile
— Stairs and upstairs: Same oak engineered wood as downstairs (bathrooms will have same wide, gray tile as kitchen). Do NOT want bull nose style.
— Want a thin, metallic strip separating flooring materials in areas where they met (i.e. hallway and kitchen—see examples on Pinterest) - Electrical:
— Check/fix the quality of existing work - Plumbing:
— Check the condition of existing pipes and drains — may need to replace damaged or worn parts
— OPTION: Install whole-home filtration system - Painting:
— Smooth, skim coat over existing knock-down finish
— Ceilings and walls need to be painted white (exact color TBD)
— We will identify one wall to be painted in an accent color - Miscellaneous:
— Replace/fix lock on metal door to garage
— Adjust front door so it doesn't rub/scrape loudly - Window coverings:
— Top-down, bottom-up blinds for all windows; need blackout in bedrooms like these, probably motorized. - Railings:
— OPTION: Remove existing and replace with glass. (Whatever we use for hand rail should continue on wall next to stairs to second floor.) Neighbor has one and it looks great.
BATHROOMS
- Guest bath (upstairs, between the two bedrooms):
— Demo and haul away old everything: floor tiles; tub/enclosure, towel bar, toilet; vanity; mirror; exhaust vent/fan; door
— Install/replace new: tub and glass enclosure; toilet; mirror and vanity with lighting on dimmer (ideally with lots of storage space — maybe a tower?) and fixtures; exhaust vent/fan; towel bar(s); wood door and frame (current one doesn't close anymore); floor (gray, large plank tile); metal strip dividing flooring materials at door
- Master bath (off the upstairs master bedroom, including the vanity area):
— Demo and haul away old everything: tub/enclosure, fixtures; toilet; vanity; mirror; floor tiles (including the closet)
— Install/replace new: create walk-in shower (no tub) with glass enclosure and rainfall shower fixtures; toilet; two-sink vanity and fixtures; dual mirrors with lighting; floor (gray, large plank tile); exhaust vent (we currently don't have one); replace lights with LEDs on dimmers; metal strip dividing flooring materials at door
- Half bath (downstairs):
— We will use this as an office but we want to keep the plumbing roughouts to facilitate changing the space back to a bathroom later
— Remove and replace existing exhaust fan; Install floor; re-surface and paint walls; replace lights with LEDs on dimmers
STAIRWELL and 2ND FLOOR LANDING
— Replace atrium switches with two dimmers
— Install hanging light (George Nelson) in stairwell (replace light switches with dimmers at top and bottom of stairs)
— Install two ceiling fans upstairs (replace one and install one new one that needs power)
— Install smoke/Co2 detector second floor landing
— Install hanging light (George Nelson) in stairwell (replace light switches with dimmers at top and bottom of stairs)
— Install two ceiling fans upstairs (replace one and install one new one that needs power)
— Install smoke/Co2 detector second floor landing
LIVING ROOM
- TV and fireplace:
— Install glass fire screen over the fireplace
— Build/install simple new mantel (a floating shelf) and hearth
— Pull wires for power above fireplace for TV; Install TV above fireplace using provided hardware
— Finish walls with smooth surface and paint
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KITCHEN
- Kitchen (84” floor to drop ceiling; 89” floor into soffit):
— Demo and haul away: old appliances (large fridge; stove; microwave; dishwasher); old cabinets and sink; move small fridge to garage
— Install/build/new in existing footprint: custom cabinets (prefer smooth, slab style vs. Shaker); counter top with overhang for casual dining (include outlets hidden under the counter ledge); under-mount sink and fixtures; counter-depth fridge; stove (possibly induction which would require new wiring); dishwasher; backsplash along two walls; vent over stove. We will not have a new microwave.
— Install new light switch w/dimmer in kitchen
— Might need more power/outlets in kitchen for additional counter-top appliances like air fryer, etc. (See note above Re: hidden outlets under breakfast counter)
— OPTION: cut-back one wall segment (but keep weight-bearing column) for better sight-lines and spaciousness (scroll down to see samples of how our neighbor did it).
— OPTION: Remove existing soffit, install new LED lights, and refinish ceiling - Extended kitchen countertop with waterfall faux island overhang for eating at counter height on living room side (see sketch):
— Build/install cabinets with sliding doors to fit underneath the eating surface
— Build/install vertical cubbies/shelving for added storage/display space
— Install three pendant lights (or comparable track light) over the new eating ledge
— Install at least one set of outlets hidden under the new counter top on the living room side
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PATIO
— Install gate lock on patio door
— Light fixture needs to be removed and replaced with new one
— Light fixture needs to be removed and replaced with new one
Townhome — visual reference
Downstairs (floor 1 of 2)
Kitchen measurements are approximate — for planning and to understand the space only. Kitchen is small — roughly 10'x8'. Needs new cabinets, floor and appliances.
(Plan views combined with elevations — think of it like a folding box that has been flattened out, where the walls are hinged to the floor)
(Plan views combined with elevations — think of it like a folding box that has been flattened out, where the walls are hinged to the floor)
Combined plan view and elevations, "hinged" along each of the four baseboards.
Downstairs plan view (not to scale)
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Upstairs plan view (not to scale)
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Upstairs (floor 2 of 2)
Basic measurements and reference
WINDOWS
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Master bedroom window (1 unit)
68 3/4" w at bottom 68 3/8" w at top 46 3/4" h |
Nyla's room window (1 unit)
69" w Left side 46 3/4" h Rt side 47 1/4” h |
Downstairs windows (3 units)
32.5” w 59” h |
Some sketches and visual thinking that I did along the way
Examples from other units in the complex
We are looking for simple lines, clean and modern. Partial to mid-century modern and contemporary — don't want fussy details. Kitchen needs to be highly functional, especially the dead corners.
The construction photos below are from a unit in the complex that has undergone massive, months-long renovation.
