Welcome to the Happy House, a coastal traditional-style home with no detail overlooked.

This exquisite home, located in one of the most desirable areas of the South Bay, the Manhattan Beach hills section, was imagined and designed by local designer Jill Johnson of Waterleaf Interiors. When she first saw the 1960’s home, she joked that it was the quintessential “Brady Bunch” house, straight out of the 70’s. Jill was able to see its special potential through the awkward layout, low ceilings, and galley kitchen. She took on this “labor of love,” stripping it down to the studs and completing a full renovation, inside and out. Jill’s goal was to create a home that would expand and contract with a family’s needs. It begins as a starter home, perfect for the couple who bought it, with the master bedroom on the upstairs main floor. It has now transformed into a family home as the homeowners welcomed their first child and keep him nearby in the nursery, right next door to their bedroom. When the kids grow up they will infiltrate the downstairs den and three additional bedrooms. Then, once the children go off on their own, they can once again spend their time on the upstairs main-level, containing all that they need.

When the current owners looked at it for the first time, they fell in love immediately. “You can buy a pretty house anywhere, but it’s very difficult to find a really soulful home,” they said. They dubbed their new home, ‘The Happy House,’ and as time went on, their Happy House became even happier, as they welcomed their baby boy in January.

In addition to the ideal family home, it is an entertainer’s dream. When you first step into the open foyer, the ample light streaming in from the bay windows and pocket doors, welcomes you. These elements seamlessly integrate the indoor and outdoor spaces for the ultimate California lifestyle. Unparalleled design showcases the open floor plan with tongue and groove vaulted ceilings, grasscloth wallpaper, panel wainscotting, 7 1/2” French white oak floors, and custom finishes. The heart of the Happy House is the large and bright open kitchen with white Calacatta marble countertops, brass fixtures, and top-of-the-line appliances including a white La Cornue stove. The family room elongates the space, sweeping you through the pocket doors and onto the spacious balcony enveloped with beautiful avocado and magnolia trees. The upstairs also boasts a formal dining room, a powder room, and two bedrooms including a master bedroom with walk-in closet and bathroom.

Walking down the stairs takes you to a second living space, the family den with beautiful built-in cabinetry in a bold blue. When we say “no detail overlooked,” this includes the laundry room with custom tile flooring and titanium Electrolux washer/dryer. The den opens up to the newly landscaped backyard designed by Teryl Designs, with built-in fireplace and seating, giving the family a private space to enjoy the beautiful California weather.