After a Divorce, a Designer Needed a Fresh Start—Tour Her 840-Square-Foot Sanctuary

Designer Tania Cassill of huit design was ready for a new beginning. After a divorce and with her two older kids out of the house, she was looking for a home that she could call completely her own and that would suit both her and her dog’s needs. “I had been looking for the perfect little fixer-upper that I could fill with all of my most favorite finishes and finds,” she says.

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She had been diligently searching for the perfect place for two years, when she stumbled upon a listing for a 1955 beach bungalow in Dana Point, California. She set up a showing the next day, put an offer in, and immediately got to work with renovations. 

“The bungalow checked all of my boxes: walkability, three bedrooms, garage, and original fireplace. The home needed just the right amount of fixing up without tearing it down,” she explains.

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While the bones were good and the structure was solid, the entire 840-square-foot house needed a facelift and some TLC. “The kitchen and bathroom were both in dire need of some love, as well as the overall feel of the exterior,” Tania says.

Her goals for the home? For the space to be inviting and comfortable and filled with the treasures she has inherited and found over the years. Oh, and a little bit of French influence, too.

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“I am very influenced by French design and practicality,” she says. “I made sure to incorporate this sensibility when I was formulating my design but I also wanted to stay within the parameters of a 1955 beach bungalow.”

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While the whole house got some kind of update, the kitchen was Tania’s big focus. The existing cabinets were solid oak and in great condition, so she kept the bases and had new cabinet faces made. She chose a new deeper stain and then purchased new appliances, plumbing, and cabinet hardware.

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The kitchen ended up being her favorite space in the home. “My kitchen is to die for. It’s so pretty and so functional. The La Cornue range is the pièce de résistance and the Calacatta Monet marble is so striking. I love to cook and I created my dream kitchen.”

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Along with the updated kitchen, the dining area and living room also got a refresh with new paint and new hardwood flooring.

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But there was one big hiccup that threatened to derail the project—halfway through the process, Tania and team discovered that they need to replace the cast iron pipe running the entire length of the house, which was a surprise since she had all the plumbing and pipes inspected before and after purchasing the house. But Tania took it in stride. “I took a moment, cried, and then committed to all new cast iron knowing that I would not have to tear up the home in the future.”

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The end result is a beautiful space that showcases Tania’s personal design style—laid-back, collected, and vintage—to a tee. She loves her home, but reflects that it was harder to be her own client. 

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“I realized I am my own worst client,” she explains. It is so easy for me to make decisions for my clients—I literally see the design clear as day—but when it comes to my house, I had to spend endless hours confirming my choices. I made some bold decisions and I needed to know I would love them for years to come.” Needless to say, she’s happy with what she selected.