6 min readA pied-à-terre-sized cottage might not be the first choice for a family of five’s forever home, but when one family tragically lost their primary residence to the early 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, they had an opportunity to reimagine their secondary space to meet their everyday needs.
Clocking in at 1,300 square feet, the two-bedroom house would need an exacting touch to realize its full design potential. Designer Alex Spielman, founder and principal of the design studio The Little Things, made it her mission to rework the existing footprint into a lively, livable space for a growing family.
“The biggest challenge was making a compact house work exceptionally hard, without feeling overdesigned or cramped,” she says. “A home that could support the daily realities of family life while still feeling calm, layered, and rooted in the relaxed character of Montecito.”
To preserve the charm that both she and the family so deeply valued, Spielman opted for selective renovations throughout. Using a palette of warm earth tones and layering in cozy textures for a sense of cohesion and calm, she made cosmetic changes to the kitchen and bathrooms while fully converting the garage into a playroom. The attic also underwent a full reimagining, transforming into a magical bunkroom that quickly became the family’s favorite feature.
“The bunkroom became an opportunity to create something that brings real delight to their daily lives,” Spielman notes. “It was especially meaningful to hear the homeowners talk about how excited their children are to bring visitors upstairs to see ‘the treehouse’ where they sleep.”
Designed to maximize efficiency down to the last square inch, the resulting cottage feels intimate, inviting, and rich in imaginative details. It captures the spirit of its coastal California surroundings while staying appropriately playful.
“My favorite thing about this house is how much it holds, both in the way it functions and in what it means for this family,” Spielman says. “The emotional context of the project added weight, but from a design standpoint, the challenge was really about precision—every inch had to earn its place.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Alex Spielman, The Little Things
Stylist:Danielle Armstrong
Location: Montecito, California
The Space: A two-bedroom, two-bathroom home across 1,300 square feet
BUNK ROOM
The treehouse-themed sleep space boasts a secret room for stargazing.
What was once an awkward attic is now the whimsical crown jewel of the home. The imaginative bunk suite combines a custom white-oak built-in with three full-sized beds for the family’s trio of children.
“Each bunk is tucked into its own alcove and finished in a grounding green palette, with integrated lighting, millwork detailing, and soft curtains,” Spielman says. Since a sense of privacy is paramount in closely shared quarters, the bunks are also stocked with their own hidden cubbies and finished with tailored curtains.
Opting to highlight—not hide—the existing architecture of the attic’s dramatically sloped ceiling, Spielman wrapped the room in House of Hackney’s Plantasia wallpaper, turning the space into a lush, rambling treetop.
One final feature elevates this bunkroom into the ultimate sleep space of dreams: A concealed door behind the bunks that opens into a “secret room,” complete with a star-covered ceiling. Spielman calls it “an intentional moment of whimsy within an otherwise highly functional space.”
KIDS’ BATHROOM
Streamlined design in a playful, punchy package.
The bunkroom’s adjoining bathroom packs in plenty of personality as well. Custom millwork and simple finishes prevent an overcrowded aesthetic, and the striped vinyl wallpaper is punchy yet practical—the material is super easy to wipe clean.
“One of my favorite things about the space is the view back into the bunk room, which creates a lovely sense of connection between the two rooms,” Spielman says. “The result is playful and youthful, but still cohesive with the rest of the house.”
PLAYROOM
Playful touches combine with practical safety features for a worry-free pint-sized retreat.
The garage-turned-playroom was another major transformation with a lot of special requirements to consider. “It was important that the playroom feel playful, but not disconnected—an extension of the home rather than an afterthought,” Spielman notes.
Since this space also houses the family’s laundry area, numerous design solutions pull double-duty by looking great and keeping the household safe. Extra cushioning pads the floors, a safety gate keeps the space airy without being fully open to the outside, and a play kitchen and market area create a natural divide (and distraction) from the laundry zone.
KITCHEN
Small but impactful changes brightened up this charming cook space.
It was important for this cottage to retain as much of its original character as possible, so, as Spielman puts it, “a full kitchen gut was never the goal.” Instead, the designer homed in on strategic updates that would give the space a refreshed, cheerier feel. She replaced the counters, swapped in new appliances and hardware, and gave everything a fresh coat of paint.
One particular overhead change also brightened things up in a big way: “Enlarging the skylight made the biggest impact, bringing in more natural light and helping the kitchen feel brighter and more open,” she says.
LIVING ROOM
Flexible finishes combine for a space tailor-made for casual entertaining.
“The living room was designed to feel light, comfortable, and easy for everyday family life,” Spielman says. To keep things flexible for the family’s ever-changing needs, a generously sized ottoman on casters stands in for a traditional coffee table, while French doors open to the backyard to give the space an indoor-outdoor ease.
Tucked neatly beneath the stairs, a custom bar serves as one of the home’s most distinctive features. The entertaining hub touts warm wood cabinetry and open shelving, offering ample storage without encroaching on the home’s limited space constraints. “In a home centered around family life, it also created a place for the adults to have friends over for drinks, gather casually, or watch a game,” Spielman says.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Serene, earthy tones evoke the beauty of the natural world.
Considering the home’s setting—nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean—Spielman didn’t have to look far to find inspiration for the primary bedroom’s color and design scheme, citing the “relaxed spirit of Montecito” as her muse for this space.
“Patterned wallpaper brings softness and movement to the room, while a serene palette of soft blues and aubergine keeps everything feeling settled rather than busy,” she adds.
BATHROOM
Proof that smaller-scale updates go a long way in adding warmth and cohesion.
Situated off the primary bedroom, this bathroom just needed a light touch to bring it in tune with the rest of the home. “Roman clay walls, a painted vanity, patterned shades, and a printed shower curtain bring warmth and personality, while the overall palette keeps the room feeling grounded and inviting,” Spielman explains.
MUDROOM
A once-underused entry becomes a hardworking storage hub.
The entryway of a home plays an essential role in getting everyone layered up, equipped with their things, and headed out the door on time. This one got a much-needed update from a nondescript pass-through zone into a stylish and efficient mudroom, complete with a patterned bench seat for pulling on shoes. “Thoughtful details, like coat hooks angled to catch backpacks and daily essentials, make it especially practical for a family of five,” Spielman adds.
BACKYARD
Bespoke furnishings extend the interior aesthetic to the outdoors.
To allow the family to take full advantage of the glorious Southern California weather, Spielman designed the backyard to function as an extension of the home. “It’s thoughtfully broken into smaller moments for dining, lounging, and gathering,” she explains. Rather than piecing together an off-the-shelf outdoor furniture set, the designer opted for built-in seating and custom cushions for extra personality and a bespoke look.
About the Designer
Alex Spielman is the founder and principal of The Little Things, a Los Angeles–based residential interior design studio specializing in thoughtful, layered homes for modern family life. Known for creating spaces that are both beautiful and deeply functional, the studio brings a warm, livable, and highly considered approach to each project, with particular expertise in family spaces that feel as elevated as they are practical.
