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"Nothing had really been done for 50-plus years, and we joked that it was like camping," says homeowner James Knapp. "But the vibe and energy were amazing—it was like being on a boat. All you can see is ocean from every room."
As soon as he set foot on this property in the California beach community of Summerland, James "JP" Knapp knew it was unlike anything he’d ever seen. Set atop piers anchored to a seawall and literally feet from the surf, the unit—one half of a duplex clad inside and out with cedar—was decidedly rustic. A seal swam just offshore, seabirds swooped past, and dolphins leaped in the waves. The effect, he remembers, was "magic."
Before: Living Room
Before: Though it had expansive ocean views, the living room, like the rest of the house, could be cold and drafty.
Photo courtesy of RJ Guillermo
After: Living Room
Replacing a fixed floor-to-ceiling window, new bifold doors from Lincoln Windows open up the living room to the deck. Designer Amanda Chappell sourced the vintage kilim rug at the Art of Consignment in Santa Barbara.
Photo: RJ Guillermo
The shingled dwelling was designed by California architect Kenneth Kruger and built in 1972—and the story goes that the unit became Kruger’s own coastal retreat as payment for his design services. Kruger died in 2014, and several years later, his family put his unit on the market. Envisioning it as the perfect funky beach getaway, JP and his family purchased it together with close friends.
"Nothing had really been done for 50-plus years, and we joked that it was like camping," JP recalls. "But the vibe and energy were amazing—it was like being on a boat. You walk in the door and because you’re above the water, all you can see is ocean from every room."
After: Exterior
Set below Highway 101 and the Amtrak train line, the cedar-shingled duplex perches on piers anchored to the seawall.
Photo: RJ Guillermo
See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: They Overhauled Their Funky ’70s Beach House While Preserving Its Many Quirks
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Read More
By: Kelly Vencill Sanchez
Title: Before & After: They Overhauled Their Funky ’70s Beach House While Preserving Its Many Quirks
Sourced From: www.dwell.com/article/before-and-after-lookout-park-beach-house-remodel-brockett-architects-summerland-california-2305f2b4
Published Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:02:18 GMT
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