Budget Breakdown: You’d Never Guess This Serene Family Home Was a Marijuana Grow House

Posted by. Posted onMarch 24, 2025 Comments0

After an ordeal with rogue tenants, Chlo Interiors had their work cut out for them as they removed vinyl vertical blinds, ’80s mirrored walls, and an ad hoc cannabis ventilation system for $1.3 million.

The designers painted the walls of the living room bright white and outfitted the space with custom millwork beneath the fireplace and modernist light fixtures and furniture.

When Sunita and Minesh Patel first bought this 4,100-square-foot home in Cerritos, California, they were living nearby at Minesh’s parents’ place. Instead of moving right in, they decided to rent it out and save up for a renovation that would turn it into their forever home. “When we bought the Belmont House way back in 2007, we knew we were going to remodel, but we didn’t know when,” explains Sunita.

Years passed as the couple became immersed in work and family life, raising three children who are now adults. Then, one evening in 2019, Sunita and Minesh were watching the local news—and they saw their future forever home being raided by the police. “We discovered it was being used illegally as a marijuana grow house,” Sunita explains.

Before: Living Room

Susie Chang and Jason Lo, of CHLO Interiors, renovated a 1980s house for Sunita and Minesh Patel and their family. The living room of the existing house was sunken and featured grayish blue walls and blond wood trim.

Susie Chang and Jason Lo, of Chlo Interiors, renovated a 1980s house for Sunita and Minesh Patel and their family. The living room of the existing house was sunken and featured grayish blue walls and blond wood trim.

Photo courtesy of Chlo Interiors

After: Living Room

The designers painted the walls of the living room bright white and outfitted the space with custom millwork beneath the fireplace and modernist light fixtures and furniture.

The designers painted the walls of the living room bright white and outfitted the space with contemporary furniture and fixtures.

Photo by Josh Bustos

Integrated storage custom crafted with walnut lends warmth and texture to the water vapor fireplace and stark white fire surround.

A custom built-in storage unit made of walnut lends warmth and texture to the water vapor fireplace and bright white surround.

Photo by Josh Bustos

See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: You’d Never Guess This Serene Family Home Was a Marijuana Grow House
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