By Rachael Rifkin
Staff Writer
(Part 2 in a six-part series on the California Heights Home and Garden Tour)
Carol Choate and Steve Powell (Lime Avenue)
Following a two-year renovation, Carol Choate’s and Steve Powell’s 1927 Spanish-style home on Lime Avenue is an amalgamation of the old and the new. There’s the original front porch, coffered ceilings and arches. But now the original faux fireplace works and the old, water-damaged hardwood floors are covered by new 1½-inch oak, selected to match the original flooring.
The major changes start in the kitchen, which was brought out five inches and now features a retro-1950s look but continues to follow the pre-existing shape. Follow the stairs up to the new master bedroom and Spanish-tiled bath with adjoining balcony, and it’s easy to see how the house went from 1,200 square feet to 2,000 square feet.
The remodeling project began shortly after Choate, a transition teacher for special education students at Narbonne High School, and Powell, a Los Angeles County fire captain, married, and is nearly complete today, sans their future outdoor landscaping plans.
“I owned the home before we got married. The space was a little small for two people and two dogs, so we decided to remodel and expand,” said Choate. “I’ve lived in the [California Heights] area for years. I love it. The community still has an old-town feel. We know our neighbors; it’s a nice place to live. And historical homes have such character.”
Powell echoes his wife’s sentiment.
“Old homes have a quality of work that you just don’t see today,” he said. “They could spend more time on construction back then.”
Lisa and Jorge Wong (Lewis Avenue)
Lisa and Jorge Wong fell in love with California Heights before they even found a home.
“The houses, the old trees, the pride of ownership, the people walking their dogs. We knew we wanted to get a house there,” said Lisa, a stay-at-home mom.
They had been looking for a while when their agent showed them a house that seemed a little out of place in the historic neighborhood.
“The exterior was completely white. It looked like a dentist’s office. I looked at our agent like she was crazy. She said, ‘Just wait until you get inside’. She opened the door and I saw amazing possibilities— the open floor plan, the flow. I could imagine a space for us,” said Lisa.
The original look of the home had been lost in previous owners’ various remodels. Jorge and Lisa decided to give their 1925 home a chance to reclaim some of its history.
There’s a dramatic difference between the “before” and “after” photos of the home. The exterior and interior’s generic white-washed walls are gone, replaced by vibrant colors and a distinct Spanish flair. The Wongs expanded the nearly 2,000-square-foot home (originally close to 1,000 square feet) to approximately 3,000 square feet, adding a second story with a master bedroom and bathroom, two balconies, an office and a half bathroom. Carefully chosen 1920s light fixtures are placed throughout the house, and the kitchen now has a warm, rustic feel. They also expanded their outdoor living space by getting rid of the driveway and dividing it into three separate areas.
“Lisa and I had never designed anything before, but we worked really well together. We got a lot of ideas from past California Heights Home and Garden tours. The tour really helps inspire people,” said Jorge, who works in sales for the healthcare sector. “I had no idea we’d end up doing as much work as we did. One thing led to another, to another, to another. But we love it. And it’s not just the house— it’s the neighborhood. You get that sense of community here. It’s a great place to live, it really is.”
