Some homes don’t need walls removed or floor plans reimagined—they just need the right eyes on them. At Inhabit, we believe in helping buyers see through the noise of dated colors, heavy finishes, or well-loved spaces. Often, all it takes is a shift in palette and a few intentional design cues to reveal the true potential of a property.
214 Calle Marina is a perfect example. A charming coastal home with incredible light, generous spaces, and a premium location—but its bold color choices and older finishes made it hard for buyers to envision the calm, modern lifestyle the home could offer. So we asked:
What if we let paint do the talking?
Below is what happens when vision meets simplicity.
Exterior: From Bold Blue to Coastal Calm
The original bright-blue exterior overwhelmed the architecture and distracted from what makes this home special—the balcony, the clean lines, the coastal air that moves through the front patio.
A shift to soft, creamy white instantly changed the narrative.
▪ The façade feels modern, warm, and timeless.
▪ The architecture comes forward instead of hiding behind color.
▪ Natural wood tones—now echoed in the garage door and entry—add texture and quiet coastal luxury.
▪ Drought-tolerant landscaping softens the approach and makes the entire home feel grounded in the neighborhood.
Sometimes the biggest transformation is also the gentlest.
Living Spaces: A Fresh Canvas for Everyday Living
Inside, both fireplaces were heavy with dark brick—warm in intention, but visually dominating. With a simple coat of matte white paint, each one now becomes an architectural feature rather than a focal point demanding attention.
With paint alone, the living areas shift from dim and dated to light, inviting, and coastal-modern:
▪ White brick reflects natural light and opens the room.
▪ Walls in soft neutral tones create cohesion between levels.
▪ Updated staging introduces organic textures, relaxed silhouettes, and a palette inspired by sand, sky, and sea.
▪ The home’s original warmth still shines—just through a cleaner, more intentional lens.
This is the kind of shift homeowners can complete in one weekend, yet it changes the experience of a home entirely. The bones were always good—they just needed room to breathe.
Kitchen: When Paint Starts the Transformation (Optional Upgrades Take It Further)
The original kitchen had great layout and natural light, but it felt boxed in by dark granite, mid-blue cabinets, and a busy visual rhythm.
In our visualization, we started with the most impactful (and accessible) change:
Step 1: Paint
▪ A soft, creamy cabinet color instantly brightens the room.
▪ Warm, light neutrals on the walls unify the space.
▪ The whole kitchen feels larger and more connected to the outdoors.
Step 2: Optional Enhancements
Paint alone dramatically elevates the room—but we also explored what’s possible with a few deeper upgrades:
▪ New shaker-style cabinet doors
▪ Light countertops with cleaner lines
▪ A simple backsplash that ties everything together
▪ Matte-black hardware and fixtures for contrast
Paint is the foundation.
The rest is an optional evolution—one that buyers can imagine stepping into over time.
Bathroom: The Same Story—Two Levels of Transformation
The bathroom transformation also begins with paint—the quickest way to calm and modernize a space. Soft, warm neutrals break up the heaviness of the original green walls and let the light breathe.
On top of that foundation, the visualization shows an optional full refresh:
▪ New natural wood vanity
▪ Updated fixtures in warm brass and matte black
▪ Fresh lighting for warmth and clarity
▪ Subway tile shower surround that feels clean and timeless
Again, paint alone creates a meaningful shift.
But for homeowners wanting a full “after,” these additional elements show what the room could become.
Why We Show You This
Because homes are emotional—and sometimes emotion needs a little guidance.
The goal isn’t to hide flaws or pretend a home has already been remodeled.
It’s to show what’s possible.
To give buyers tools to see beyond color, clutter, and style.
To help them focus on the bones, the light, the layout, and the life they can build within it.
Paint is often the first step toward transformation—affordable, impactful, and deeply personal.
At 214 Calle Marina, it turns out a new palette was all this home needed to feel entirely different.
