If Howard Stevens needs to escape the hustle bustle of LA, the former longtime stand up comic, turned television host now has the perfect hideout in the North County San Diego beach town of Encinitas, CA. The Emmy Award winning writer, was introduced to Encinitas while visiting friends. He was immediately taken by the walkability and friendliness of the small beach town. ?Not to mention the good looking women,? chuckles Stevens who also made note of a community on the move and with little real estate inventory. Photography: Jenny Siegwart.

Introduced to dasMOD Co-Founder, Erik Gilmer, the two spent many hours touring the up-and-coming Encinitas Highlands neighborhood where Stevens settled on a 1950?s stereotypical, boxy tract house, suffering from decay and a serious lack of attention. The dasMOD team recognized the unspectacular, old-age spirit of the house could easily transition into an intimate, low-maintenance yet dynamic second home for Stevens that reflected the timeless beauty
and simple comforts of a beach community. The renovation was a sustainable effort and an adaptive use of the existing property. One that focused on tearing down selectively with an emphasis on doing something fun and cool, with a vibe similar to that of an art gallery.
Reworking the front exterior and retaining wall provides a seamless and dynamic interaction between the indoors and out while adding a distinctive new look to the entrance. The front courtyard...