Through a decade of remodels and difficult work, Yvette and Don Hatch have changed their Orange County, California, cottage into a house better suited to his or her own style. Previously paneled in dark wood, it’s currently a modern cottage-style house with fresh outdoor amenities, refreshing white walls, lush native garden terraces and a guest home. The few put their artistic and construction skills to operate redesiging the home, which can be in a woodsy area filled with equestrian paths. “Donny’s really great for the bones of everything,” says Yvette. “He could visually just see something. I’m good in decorating, so the two of us worked well together”
in a Glance
Who lives here: Yvette and Don Hatch and their 4 daughters
Location: Lemon Heights, Orange County, California
Size: 3,600 square feet plus 1,620-square-foot detached garage and guest suite; 5 bedrooms, 3 baths
Dana Nichols
A mixture of old and new furniture creates a warm, lived-in ambiance. Yvette and Don have had the couch and leather chair since they were wed, the coffee table is from a flea market and also the classic pieces across the far wall are from Don’s old office.
Dana Nichols
Yvette replaced a conventional kitchen island using anantique draper’s dining table from Lyman Drake, adding a granite counter tops. “In 1 aspect I overlook the island, because it had more storage, but this bit is great. I wanted the kitchen to feel like it had a little character,” she states. The cabinetry is first to the house, but the few refreshed the faces to match the wainscoting.
Light fixtures: Restoration Hardware
Dana Nichols
The house lacks a formal dining room, but the family does not miss it, as a result of the warm Southern California weather. “We tend to perform all our eating out, especially when we have guests. If it rains it’s just a free-for-all where inside the home,” says Yvette. “We’ve been married a very long time, and I’ve never actually missed with a formal dining room.”
Dana Nichols
The Hatch daughters share their mum’s artistic abilities. Here, an ocean-inspired work in advance by daughter Drew sits in front of the tree-lined backyard.
Dana Nichols
Steps from the rear door result in a swimming pool, surrounded by natural stone. The Hatches outfitted the space with all-new slate and decking.
Dana Nichols
A fresh slate fireplace next to the pool area gets lots of use, since the household loves to entertain in their yard.
Dana Nichols
The first proprietor, a carpenter, built what Yvette calls “a Hansel and Gretel house.” Dark paneled walls, carved wood accents and lots of plaid had left the house feel like it had popped out of a storybook.
“If you drove in, you felt like you were in the woods somewhere. It was really magical but wasn’t my style,” she states.
Dana Nichols
Yvette picked the mirrors at the master bedroom at an antiques shop in New Hampshire. The bench, bed frame and side tables are custom constructed.
Linens: Restoration Hardware; blanket: Ralph Lauren Home
Dana Nichols
Contractor Justin Hille helped with the vast majority of the renovations, including adding marble into this master bath. “We’ve worked together with Justin for the previous five decades, and he is part of their family now,” Yvette says.
Dana Nichols
The corner bar area in the downstairs den has a beverage dispenser, a present by a friend in England. A large replica of a British subway sign adorns the rear wall. “We’re inspired by the British and American flags, and lots of our friends and family are from Great Britain,” says Yvette. “It makes us feel a bit more connected.”
The damask throw pillows are custom made. Always on the hunt for new goods, Yvette often has less costly versions of items seen in boutiques created.
Bar top: Caesarstone; small metal accordion table: Mollywood Garden Design; leather couch: Restoration Hardware
Dana Nichols
The couple didn’t incorporate any square footage into the main home, but they did transform the old garage into a media space. A large-screen TV and a lavish sectional make for comfortable movie nights.
Dana Nichols
A new stand-alone garage with a guest suite upstairs now sits on previously undeveloped land in the backyard.
Dana Nichols
Frequently used by guests visiting from overseas, the guest suite follows the urban-cottage kind of the primary home. The floors were a struggle, as Yvette enjoyed the appearance of reclaimed timber, but it was out of their budget. “We chose to create ourselves,” she states. “We used different textures of wood and painted and distressed it”
Dana Nichols
Bricks give the guesthouse kitchenette an informal feeling. Although building codes banned installing a stovetop, the kitchenette has all of the essentials.
Dana Nichols
Among the daughters painted this whale on the guest bed as a present for Yvette.
Though the whole renovation took about 10 decades, Yvette appreciates the procedure and urges other homeowners to appreciate theirs. “I think the procedure is one of the very exciting items,” she states. “It’s part of this journey.”