It took $1.6M and less than a year to reboot this ‘70s Ojai ranch house. Kim and Noah were crystal clear about what they wanted when they moved west to California from Aspen with their two teenage daughters. “I had a laundry list of things,” Kim recalls. “I wanted something clean and modern with soul and character. And I wanted it to look great even when it was messy.” Kim had fallen in love with architect Barbara Bestor’s work while researching California architects, and she got in touch before the family had even found a house. “Barbara’s homes have this wonderful authenticity,” says Kim. “Everything is intentional—there’s no wasted space—but the tone is relaxed with a behind-the-scenes focus on details and precision. Plus, Barbara’s work is fun.” When the couple discovered this 1977 three-bedroom, three-bath ranch house with a good roof and no obvious structural problems, they immediately put in an offer, and sealed the deal for $2.3M. Looking past the wall-to-wall carpeting and cot...