{"id":431329,"date":"2026-05-08T07:01:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T07:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/431329\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T07:01:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T07:01:27","slug":"this-designer-got-divorced-then-rebuilt-her-life-in-a-joyful-color-filled-beachside-bungalow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/431329\/","title":{"rendered":"This Designer Got Divorced\u2014Then Rebuilt Her Life in a Joyful, Color-Filled Beachside Bungalow"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a moment, when you step onto the front porch of a charming 1920s Ocean Park bungalow, where you can feel your mood instantly lift. Maybe it\u2019s the warmth of the California sunshine; maybe it’s the swaying palm trees that offer just enough privacy without blocking the parade of surfers strolling by past; maybe it’s the riot of color visible through the windows, or the faint sound of the ocean a few blocks away. Most likely, though, it’s all those things at once\u2014and that’s exactly how homeowner Cassandra Jenner envisioned it.<\/p>\n

For designer Jenner, the home arrived at a pivotal moment: the end of her 20-year marriage. \u201cI needed a creative outlet to pour myself into,\u201d she says. \u201cI wanted to shake off the sadness, celebrate my freedom, and create a home by the beach for my kids to enjoy.\u201d That personal liberation was followed in kind by a design one\u2014Jenner gutted the 1,500 square foot home, rethinking how it worked for her and her three children. \u201cSpace planning is actually my favorite part of design, so I enjoyed the challenge,\u201d she adds. \u201cWe took advantage of every square inch of the house, including putting a washer and dryer and linen closet underneath the stairs and building out the attic crawl spaces for the kids to play in.\u201d<\/p>\n

The neighborhood itself was also part of the healing Rx. Jenner had lived on the Venice canals in her late teens and twenties, and returning to this stretch of Los Angeles felt like coming home to herself. \u201cSo much of this new chapter felt like rediscovering the person I have always been,\u201d she says. She wanted the four-bedroom home to reflect her new lease on life, and the vibrant energy of Ocean Park\u2014the kind of place where you can catch a wave, a Michelin star meal, or a neighbor as they head out for an afternoon walk. That sunshine-in-a-bottle vibe is carried through every room, from lemon-yellow trim and candy-colored wallpaper to a secret passage Jenner tucked behind the wardrobe in her son\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

In a city where reinvention is currency, Jenner\u2019s home proves that sometimes, the most powerful transformations happen when you need them the most. \u201cThis house represents my unwillingness to let go of joy during one of the saddest times of my life,\u201d adds Jenner. \u201cIt\u2019s about celebrating life in all its color and vibrancy, and about reminding myself that I can create beauty and joy for my family, in even the hardest of times.\u201d<\/p>\n

FAST FACTSDesigner: Cassandra JennerLandscaper:Linda Yannetty<\/a>Stylist: Cate Geiger<\/a>Location: Los Angeles, CAThe Space: A four-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1920s bungalow across 1,500 square feet<\/p>\n

KITCHENA sky blue ceiling nods to California\u2019s undeniably perfect weather.<\/p>\n

The biggest facelift happened in the kitchen, which Jenner reinvented in order to fit both her family and her cookware collection. \u201cIt\u2019s a small kitchen, so we really needed to think about how we are going to store everything,\u201d she adds. \u201cI made a list of everything I keep in the kitchen and planned accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n

In order to install a peninsula bar and a small breakfast nook, Jenner removed two walls, adding charming cane-front custom cabinetry, new appliances, and plenty of color. \u201cI love citrusy colors that give me a bit of a pucker feeling when I look at them,\u201d she adds of the Dutch door\u2019s lime green hue.<\/p>\n

\"Cozy<\/p>\n

Table, chairs: Serena & Lily. Drapery: custom, in Molly Mahon fabric. Chandelier: Anthropologie. Ceiling paint: Honest Blue, Sherwin-Williams. Art: Helm + Oar.Lauren Taylor Creative<\/p>\n

(Lauren Taylor Creative)<\/p>\n

In the adjoining dining room, a similar color scheme keeps the neighboring spaces feeling connected. \u201cThis room also doubles as my home office,\u201d adds Jenner. \u201cThere\u2019s a credenza with a printer and all my office supplies and fabrics stored in it, and I have a bulletin board on the adjacent wall for my inspiration boards.\u201d<\/p>\n

PORCHA clever mirror helps the slim space feel larger.\"Cozy<\/p>\n

Rug: Safavieh. Couch, bench: Acme 5. Side tables: vintage, Mart Collective. Lamp: Pooky. Mirror: Williams Sonoma.Lauren Taylor Creative<\/p>\n

(Lauren Taylor Creative)<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the best spot in the house!\u201d Jenner says of the exterior porch, which overlooks the sidewalk for ideal people watching. Ceiling heaters on timers extend the usability year-round, while a barrier of tropical plants offers privacy.<\/p>\n

PRIMARY BATHROOMChinosierie wallpaper brings the outdoors in.\"Stylish<\/p>\n

Wallpaper, mirror, sconces: Anthropologie. Trim paint: Nancy\u2019s Blushes, Farrow & Ball. Sink: Riverbend Home. Sink fixtures: Newport Brass.Lauren Taylor Creative<\/p>\n

(Lauren Taylor Creative)<\/p>\n

\u201cThis ensuite master bath needed to tie into the bedroom, but I wanted it to have its own moment,\u201d explains Jenner. To manage that, she switched up the wallpaper but kept a lot of the same materials, like lucite, brass, rattan, and a feminine palette of pinks. \u201cThe shape of the back of the custom backsplash even echoes the headboard, and the neutral leopard rug echoes the neutral striped bedspread,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

PRIMARY BEDROOMFurniture from Jenner\u2019s former life got a facelift for her new retreat.\"Cozy<\/p>\n

Ceiling paint: Alyssum, Sherwin-Williams. Wallpaper: Schumacher. Bed: custom, in Folio Fabrics. Lamps: Arteriors.Lauren Taylor Creative<\/p>\n

(Lauren Taylor Creative)<\/p>\n

Just like Jenner revisited her youth with her home\u2019s new locale, so too did her bedroom furniture. \u201cI had the Chippendale fretwork side tables made in my early 20\u2019s for my first apartment in Hollywood\u2014the splurge for great quality was well worth it,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

The headboard also got an upgrade via new pebbled white leather, and the whole room got blanketed in a flurry of fluttering butterflies. \u201cI\u2019ve always had a strong connection with butterflies, and they represent that light and free feeling of the house,\u201d Jenner says.<\/p>\n

DAUGHTER\u2019S BEDROOMCelestial wallpaper covers every inch for a magical escape.<\/p>\n

For her daughter Francesca\u2019s room, Jenner relied on a favorite color of her own as a kid: ochre yellow. \u201cI wanted her to open her eyes every morning surrounded by colors and shapes that bring energy and life,\u201d Jenner says. \u201cTeenagers can use some of that!\u201d<\/p>\n

DAUGHTER\u2019S BEDROOMJenner disguised the wonky ceiling angles with a busy wallpaper.<\/p>\n

Jenner\u2019s daughter Bella calls this room home, and the small space required creative problem-solving to fit all the essentials while keeping it comfortable. \u201cSince I wanted her to be able to host friends for sleepovers, I made sure there was enough clear floor space for the trundle bed to pull out,\u201d Jenner says. \u201cWe wrapped the entire room in sweet wallpaper, which disguises the awkward ceiling lines and makes the space feel enveloping and charming.\u201d<\/p>\n

SON\u2019S ROOMA hidden fort is the perfect spot for sleepovers with friends.\"Cozy<\/p>\n

Wallpaper: Love vs. Design. Roman shade: custom, in Schumacher fabric. Bed: Four Hands. Desk: Pottery Barn. Chair: Anthropologie. Lamp: Pooky.Lauren Taylor Creative<\/p>\n

(Lauren Taylor Creative)<\/p>\n

In her son Luke\u2019s room, Jenner relied on retro motifs and clever hacks\u2014including a secret playroom under the roof\u2019s eaves\u2014to make it work for an active 8-year-old. \u201cI wanted the space to feel beachy and kid-friendly now, but still cool enough for a teenager someday,\u201d Jenner says. The wallpaper features Ferris wheels at the end of a pier, lifeguard towers, and surfers, echoing the nearby Santa Monica Pier and boardwalk. \u201cIt has a playful 1950\u2019s touch that echoes the art style in my older daughter\u2019s room,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

KIDS\u2019 BATHScalloped tiles echo the shape of the waves.\"Bathroom<\/p>\n

Tile: TileBar. Trim paint: Buckingham Gardens by Benjamin Moore. Shower fixtures: Pavani Collection. Shower curtain: Matouk. Wallpaper: Kravet.Lauren Taylor Creative<\/p>\n

(Lauren Taylor Creative)<\/p>\n

One of the many puzzles Jenner had to iron out during the renovation was a dedicated kids\u2019 bath, which previously didn\u2019t exist upstairs. \u201cI probably spent the most time figuring out how to add a bathroom upstairs, since the house only came with one bathroom,\u201d she explains. \u201cAll three kids had to share it, so it had to be generous and thoughtfully laid out.\u201d<\/p>\n

A lockable pocket door divides the two sides of the bathroom; one side houses the more private activities, like the shower and toilet, while the other boasts two sinks and a generous countertop so the kids can share the space when getting ready. \u201cNo one can lock someone else out and start an argument!\u201d Jenner laughs.<\/p>\n

OUTDOOR SHOWERSprawling palms create an intimate enclave.\"Outdoor<\/p>\n

Lauren Taylor Creative<\/p>\n

(Lauren Taylor Creative)<\/p>\n

True to the spirit of California living, Jenner put a big emphasis on the home\u2019s outdoor spaces, which include an expansive patio and outdoor shower for a quick rinse after the beach. \u201cThe landscaping was inspired by craftsman homes in Hanalei Bay, Hawaii, where a lot of the front porches are surrounded by tall swaying palms,\u201d she adds. \u201cThe design is about seizing the day, not taking yourself too seriously, and prioritizing activity and fun every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

About the Designer<\/p>\n

Cassandra Jenner is a designer and single mom of three who specializes in restoring historic homes in vibrant, walkable neighborhoods. She focuses on thoughtful space planning and showcasing the character and energy of these unique communities through her design. Cassandra\u2019s next venture is a working dude ranch on California\u2019s Central Coast called Jenneration Ranch. Whether renovating a city bungalow, a simple white farmhouse in Ojai, or a working dude ranch, Jenner believes that great design includes thoughtfully planned, comfortable spaces that reflect the unique, authentic character of their surroundings.<\/p>\n

You Might Also Like<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There\u2019s a moment, when you step onto the front porch of a charming 1920s Ocean Park bungalow, where…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":431330,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[437,434,435,436,202281,438,146,85,46,202283,202282],"class_list":["post-431329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-cassandra-jenner","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-lauren-taylor-creative","tag-taylor-creative"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431329","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=431329"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431329\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/431330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=431329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=431329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=431329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}