London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

A Spanish-Style Home in San Diego Gets a Big Upgrade With Just 39 Additional Square Feet

A Spanish-Style Home in San Diego Gets a Big Upgrade With Just 39 Additional Square Feet

Thanks to a simplified layout and clear connection to the outdoors, this historic home is ready for a new chapter.

The century-old residence in the University Heights neighborhood of San Diego, California, needed to be updated, but a nearby geological feature put it between the past and hard place-the home’s footprint couldn’t be widely expanded given there was a small canyon located right next door.



The main hub features accordion-style E Series doors from Andersen Windows & Doors that open onto the pool area. The flat roof provides an ideal spot for photovoltaic panels.

Built in 1927 as a series of compartmentalized rooms, the home lacked flow. Still, the owners wanted to retain the dwelling’s original Spanish style. "They envisioned an open living area that connected to the rear yard overlooking the canyon," says architect Tony Garcia of Asquared Studios, who designed the remodel.



Mary Scro’s interior design plan embraces the home’s Spanish-style architecture with decorative floor tiles, arched doorways, and rich wood accents.



An inviting banquette is the preferred spot for family meals, and it doubles as a WFH station.

Given the home’s unique siting, a large addition was out of the question. The team figured out how to optimize the layout while tacking on just 39 additional square feet. The renovation split the home into three interconnected spaces: a main hub with the kitchen and bedrooms, an "entertaining zone" with a living room and access to the pool, and a secondary outdoor dining area.



Home’s perch above a canyon, where breezes can easily drift in, allows for passive cooling.

"With a very minor addition, we were able to create an open living plan that takes advantage of natural light," Garcia says. It’s no surprise that the residence has become a favorite gathering place for the homeowners’ friends and family, and its canyon-top location is also ideal for making the most of passive cooling strategies, improving energy efficiency.



When the accordion-style glass doors by Andersen Windows & Doors are open, the backyard and the living room become one sunny space.



In all, only 39 square feet were added to the home, but it feels entirely different.



Outfitted in a soothing powder blue color scheme, the primary bathroom continues the home’s focus on standout tile work.

"We love being able to host, with plenty of room for everyone to feel comfortable," says owner Karen Koijane. "The new spaces have been invaluable, especially during the pandemic when working and schooling from home became necessary."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×