The time has come for the “slow flip” movement, in which eyesores and zombie houses are carefully and lovingly redesigned before being put on the housing market.
I remember the first time I saw a house that Better Shelter developer Steve Jones had “re-sold.” I was out walking my dog and saw what until recently was the ultimate zombie house: vacant and in disrepair beyond repair. What a shame. As a resident of the area, most of the homes were built in the 1920s and I knew they were worth restoring.
Gavin Cater
And then a miracle happened. Where once zombies roamed, now stood a charming Craftsman bungalow that blended perfectly into the surrounding neighborhood. Every detail was carefully thought out, with a stained-glass coat of arms in the front window, a hand-painted address sign nearby, custom gates on the driveway, and lights hanging above the front door that seemed original. Clearly, whoever redeveloped this home knew what they were doing.
The magician behind the period lighting fixtures is Steve Jones, owner of bettershelter, a company that uses elements of restoration, sustainable construction, and Jones' own eclectic tastes to create inspiring, unique homes built primarily on Los Angeles' Eastside.
Of course, the bar for outdoing other developers in design is set distressingly low. Typically, developers buy badly run-down, below-market-rate homes and then hastily “fix” them up for potential future buyers. New homeowners often only discover corners cut, like shoddy construction or plumbing leaks, or cliché design details too late. (Open floor plans are the order of the day these days, and whether or not they have merit, they offer less personality than gray floorboards, lots of recessed lighting, and big-box stores.)
Gavin Cater
“Most people think of renovating a home as something that's quick and cheap,” Jones says, “but my homes are a lot more thought out, have a larger budget and I try to think about whether the buyer is a family, a young couple or a single person. I try to think about what's most important to the buyer.”
In other words, Jones thinks of Better Shelter's homes as “slow flips” — a term he coined inspired by the Slow Food movement — with the idea that the redesign takes place over time, hiding even how much work has been done to the home, creating a seamless transition from its then-current state.
Gavin Cater
“I want the house to feel like it's been really cared for, not renovated,” Jones says. “When I'm in a house that I've just renovated, people will point to the light fixtures and say, 'Oh, that's original,' and I'll say, 'No.' They'll say, 'The floors are original,' and I'll say, 'No.' When people ask me that question enough times, I know I've done my job.” In short, he's created a home that blends into the neighborhood, with quality construction and details that will stand the test of time. “I don't do these quick design tricks,” he says, quoting a famous line once quoted by fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld: “Trend is the last thing before it gets tacky.”
The reason I love Better Shelter Homes, and I've seen so many since my first encounter, is because they're chock full of great ideas that anyone can use (check out Jones' Instagram to see what I mean).
Jones's slow flip strategy
1. Use historical sources
Gavin Cater
In this home, Jones used black and white tile in the bathroom. He also used vintage pencil liner trim and white subway tile on the walls. But to give the bathroom remodel a vintage feel, he suggests using vintage sconces.
2. Add a little personality
A brightly painted front door, hand-painted address plaque, or a cool fence can go a long way in making your home stand out without being obtrusive.
3. Even historic homes need updating in the kitchen
Gavin Cater
“Nobody wants a 1920s kitchen,” Jones says, “so I pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms.”One style choice is to keep everything light and bright.
4. Vintage furniture lasts a long time
Gavin Cater
Jones hits flea markets, swap meets, Etsy, and Pasadena Architectural Salvage to source his furniture and decor. The style he puts together is eclectic but harmonious; colors don't clash. For example, he'll use a bright green sofa, but pair it with a muted vintage black leather chair.
5. Decoration and styling are key
Gavin Cater
“I use vintage paintings and fun, three-dimensional, foot-shaped ashtrays that I cut holes in the back and hang on the wall,” Jones says. “This adds visual interest and makes it more sophisticated because it's not a flat piece of artwork. I then inlay pieces of wood into the pieces, which takes collage to a whole new level.”
6. Original-looking fixtures are a must
To create a slowly renovated feel throughout your home, vintage sconces and light fixtures that match the original feel will blend well with modern renovations. Check out Etsy or eBay for light fixtures.
7. Think about what home means to you and be careful when deciding what to keep and what to let go.
“I like the way we think about home,” Jones says. “For a lot of people, the idea of 'home' is rooted in the past. I'm not a modern-day miniature gardener. I want people to feel that these homes aren't actually renovated, but that they've been lovingly cared for.”
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