Bennett Valley home remodel a labor of love

If walls could talk, then the 1950s-era house on a bucolic stretch of Bennett Valley Road would tell the story of Ivan and Elizabeth Clinton and how the property drew them together and became a labor of love and green building practices.

Their story began when a mutual friend wanted to introduce them. Both were divorced, content with their single status, and put their friend’s efforts off. Elizabeth was journaling about the house of her dreams, which would have “two creeks,” while Ivan was searching for the perfect place to live.

It was July 2011 when Ivan looked at a one-acre parcel with three buildings, a main house, studio and cottage. The property once belonged to Anna Settle, a kindergarten teacher who’d lived there for 60 years. One distinguishing aspect of the property is a creek, which wraps around the main house. Nevertheless, it wasn’t love at first sight for Ivan. He turned around and left.

“It was dark, small, set in a sea of junipers and needed everything,” recalled Ivan, an engineer at Keysight Technologies, who had completed four remodels in earlier years.

He continued his search, but dreaming of land and a modern design realized he’d be remodeling anything he bought. Ivan returned to the property with his real estate agent, and then one evening he went alone.

“I sat for an hour listening, and I knew this could be beautiful,” he said. Still content with his single life and the father of two nearly grown children, he was contemplating life as an empty nester, yet he never considered living there alone.

“I saw the property as a place to share,” he said.

He put his dream into motion. “I made an offer with a letter, introducing myself and my dream to recreate the home and honor the land Anna had obviously loved so much.”

His offer was accepted, and he set to work on the studio. His plan was to convert the 450-square-foot space into a “man cave.” Next, the cottage received fresh paint, new windows and flooring so he’d have a place to live while remodeling the main house.

Ivan committed early on to remodeling each building using green building practices and energy-efficient features. He began visiting the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, shopping Craigslist and collecting items he loved.

Three months into the remodel project, Ivan’s friend insisted he meet Elizabeth, so Ivan arranged a date. He brought her sunflowers (her favorite, unbeknownst to him), and she had a brief panic attack before he showed up on her doorstep, but quickly recovered. On their third date, he invited her to his property to show her around, and Elizabeth had an epiphany, realizing this was similar to the home with “two creeks” she’d been journaling about.

As their relationship progressed, the remodel project became a two-person affair.

“I fell in love during the project,” Ivan said.

Soon after, Ivan’s “man cave” was dubbed “the studio,” which would become Elizabeth’s workspace. He raised the ceilings, installed a skylight and bamboo flooring, remodeled the bathroom, and updated a small kitchen area with cabinets he found on Craigslist. Elizabeth painted the studio walls.

What inspired the remodel project? The land and view of Bennett Mountain, said Ivan, and his “muse” Elizabeth.

Meanwhile, Ivan continued to shop for gently-used items. Reuse, reuse, reuse, was his mantra. The plan was to incorporate the pieces he found around the floor plan.

“He found the pieces first and planned the house around them,” Elizabeth said.

Ivan hired a contractor to lift the main house, raise the foundation, frame-in the remodel and replace the windows. With the help of friends and handyman services, the couple finished the electrical work, plumbing, cabinetry, painting and tile work. To make the home energy efficient, they used metal siding, on-demand water heaters, spray foam insulation and a high-efficiency, forced-air furnace.

Together, Ivan and Elizabeth designed the interior around their lifestyle.

“Although my design ethic is more towards minimalistic, I realized I could create a modern home that fit with the other structures and history of the property,” he said.

Nine months later, the house was complete. At 1,700-square-feet, the home features Marvin French doors at the front entrance. An open floor plan in the kitchen, living room and dining area creates ideal entertaining space and showcases reclaimed fir flooring, which they found in a farmhouse in Geyserville to match the original floors. The kitchen includes a marble island, Viking appliances and cherry cabinets from the ReStore. The master bedroom offers stunning views, and the bath includes an oversized architectural tub, a Terrazzo shower pan and heated floors.

Elizabeth and Ivan were married in December 2013. Last year, they named their one-acre parcel of paradise “Eden.” Their plan for the future is to build a labyrinth, grow sage, garden together, and live happily ever after in Eden.

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The Art of Reusing to Restore

The benefit of using gently-used building materials, furnishings and appliances is good for the environment. Nothing new - well, very little - had to die for their remodel project, said Ivan Clinton. It also adds up to a huge payoff because you pay a fraction of the cost compared to retail. Clinton estimates their remodel project cost about $110 per square foot. (This includes septic repair, outside paths and decks for house, studio and cottage.)

“The level of construction and finish would easily cost four times as much,” he said. Some of the more costly previously-owned items they found include light fixtures, a Danish wood stove, all the tile for the house, and the counter tops.

Clinton’s shopping tips for do-it-yourselfers? “Know your dimensions, only buy quality brands and know your retail prices,” he said.

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Here’s how the Clintons costs compared to buying new for some of their favorite items:

Estimated Retail Price Reused Price

Wood Casement Windows $80,000 $5,000

Oversized Architectural Bathtub $7,000 $1,000

Custom Wood/Marble Island $4,000 $900

Marvin French Doors $3,000 $200

Estimated Savings $94,000 Actual Cost $7,100