These Were the House Tours Sunset Readers Loved in 2024
A look back at design highlights from the year.
Thomas J. Story
It was another banner year for design, and we were lucky enough to get the opportunity to showcase some truly stunning and unique homes across the West. There was the 1,000-square-foot cottage in Maui designed to accommodate a wheelchair. The iconic Cliff May house in Coronado that was reimagined for 21st century living. And of course, the luxury trailer whose design could rival most homes without wheels.
All of these beautiful spaces were eye candy, and they also provided us with some design inspiration, too. Take a look at our 10 most popular house tours in 2024 below.
A 1,000-Square-Foot Maui Cottage
Erica and Bond Camp’s home in Maui is as special as the couple’s history. They met as students in Colorado and have lived all over, living the van life in New Zealand and renovating and running a ski hostel in Breckenridge. After suffering a traumatic spinal cord injury in a backcountry skiing accident that left his lower body paralyzed, Bond surpassed all expectations and worked hard on his recovery.
The couple got married, moved to Hawaii, and had their son. And then they bought a parcel of land in Maui, built a small cottage on it with the help of an architect, and turned it into their own pocket of paradise, with help from Avery Solmssen of Averylily. It’s a dream home that showcases the family’s personality perfectly while also accommodating Bond’s wheelchair.
A 1958 Mid-Century Modern Home Designed by a Seattle Architect Was Revitalized
The Lark House in Seattle was beautiful from the start, it just had undergone several outdated remodels and had some problem areas that required thoughtful, targeted improvements. The home was designed in 1958 by prominent Seattle architect Al Bumgardner, who was known for his use of regional wood, adaptation to local climate, and appreciation for Japanese architecture. With all of that history in one house, it was important for the SHED Architecture team to preserve the home’s original character, which they were able to do by focusing on functional and aesthetic improvements, like improving the flow of the kitchen and using a color palette that emphasized the use of wood throughout the home.
A Vibrant and Stylish Houseboat in Sausalito
Blythe Friedmann wanted her new home to be completely different than the stately Edwardian home in San Francisco that she had lived in for 15 years. So, she went with a houseboat in Sausalito. She downsized her belongings, christened the boat Moonstone, and decorated the home with a neutral palette, inviting textures, and beautiful vintage finds.
A Reimagined Cliff May House in Coronado
Cliff May is a true Western icon—he’s regarded as the founding father of the iconic ranch house. So when it came to revitalizing this 1936 historic Cliff May home in Coronado, California, homeowners Johnathan and Mandy McCauley knew they had landed on something special. They brought on Christian Rice Architects and landscape architecture firm OR.CA Living to update and reimagine the interior and exterior space in a way that a modern family could enjoy while sticking true to the original ranch home thesis.
A Luxury Travel Trailer
This travel trailer designed by Susan Weiss of Denver/Bozeman-based Emerson Bailey has better style than a lot of homes that are rooted to the ground. The model is from Living Vehicle and Susan decorated it to suit her client’s style and personality. “Our goals were to design an interior that embraced adventure for those who viewed their living spaces not merely as utilitarian necessities but as extensions of their lifestyle and identity, and offered them a higher level of comfort and luxury,” Susan says.
A Mid-Century Modern Seattle House That Feels Like You’re in a Treehouse
Built in 1968, this mid-century modern house in Seattle’s Magnolia District was designed by its original owner, an architect. The home was sold for the first time in 2014, and it’s only had three owners in total. And perhaps that’s why it was in such good shape when the current owners acquired it. Only minor maintenance work, some electrical work, a new paint job, and touch-ups were needed. Interior designer Erin King and team wanted to create a space that added to the beautiful views outside of Puget Sound, rather than taking away from it. “We really turned to the architecture and Japanese qualities of the house for inspiration,” she says. “The home had many handmade and craftsmanship-like qualities that we want to reflect in the furnishings.”
A Cozy Black A-Frame in Crestline
This Crestline, California cabin is the quintessential California getaway that’s snug, but still feels spacious. Designer and former owner Jo Ann Thrailkill transformed it from a “disaster” to a cozy, chic space with an expanded kitchen and bathroom. Herringbone wood floors, dark, glossy paneling, and eye-catching accents like a teal front door make it extra special.
A 1950s Los Angeles House with Nods to “Mad Men”
This two-bedroom, two-bathroom 1950s house in the Glassell Park neighborhood of Los Angeles was originally a nondescript place. “The house, despite having some original elements like the paneling in the living room, lost a great deal of warmth and character during its last remodel,” explains Patrick Maziarski, principal designer and founder of Counsel Design Group, who oversaw the project. The owners wanted to turn it into a space that blends Mad Men-inspired mid-century design with modern functionality, so Patrick and team focused on key design changes that improved the layout and brought in warmth through materials and details.
A Stunning Sea Ranch Home That Embraces Color
The interior finishes of this Sea Ranch home hadn’t been touched since it was first built in 1993. But the new owners wanted to create a space where their big circle of family and friends could gather—something that was comfortable for all ages and free of pretension. Plus, they wanted to keep the unique Sea Ranch design elements, while also blending color and whimsy. Rachel Chulew of DesignHaus 24 and team worked to achieve those goals by creating a workable open floor plan, bringing in warmth and color through the decor, and being smart about storage and sleeping arrangements.
A Leveled-up Take on Coastal Grandmother Style in Orange County
House of Morrison’s Denise Morrison designed her O.C. house with the idea that there would be room to grow—a place to spend time with her grown children and grandchildren. She added aged stone to the facade to give it character; shrank the oversize pool and added a hot tub; created outdoor “rooms” for entertaining; and turned the guest house into a self-contained apartment. And of course, there’s a special guest room with canopied beds just for the grandkids. “The canopy makes it special. The room will grow with them, and those beds are just perfect for little people,” she adds.
