Lars Remodeling recently completed the home remodel of the C. Arnholdt Smith house on San Juan Road in San Diego. Originally built in 1936, it was designated a historical property in January of 2009. The Mission Hills home began as a five-bedroom house with five-and-a-half baths. It was a bi-level with a walkout basement. It’s been updated and changed several times over the years. The most recent renovation of this Old Town jewel was a full home remodel.
About the Property
As part of a neighborhood real estate project that began in the 1930s, the original layout and some of the later changes were designed by a master architect named Ralph L. Frank. The adjacent property was bought and integrated into the Smith residence in the 1950s, when the neighboring house was torn down to expand the existing structure. It included the addition of gated brick garden walls to enclose a large section at the rear of the property. More work was done periodically through 1967.
A major home remodel and expansion was completed in the mid-1980s that included plaster window surrounds, a stucco first-floor façade over the existing brick and the addition of a cast iron fence.
In 2007, the 5,533-square-foot home again received a major renovation, incorporating a more eclectic modern feel. Some of the changes made in the 1980s were reversed to reflect its look of the ’50s. The property was designated a historical landmark in 2009 by the San Diego Historical Resources Board on the bases of architecture, master architect/builder and historic person.
About C. Arnholdt Smith
Born in Walla Walla, WA, in 1899, Smith and his family moved to San Diego in 1907. He became a well-known banker and businessman with interests in real estate properties, transportation, the seafood industry and silver. As a civic activist in the San Diego community, he was the original owner of the San Diego Padres baseball team. Smith moved into the house in 1936, then moved out in 1967 when he and his wife divorced. He died in 1996. The house, located on San Juan Road on the hillside east of the Old Town area of Mission Hills, is a prominent landmark.
About the House
Originally constructed in the Monterey Revival style, the home was among the last built as part of a subdivision purchased and developed by C. Arnholdt Smith’s holding company. It featured a beautiful view of the bay. This prominent San Diego landmark can be seen from as far away as the I-5 freeway.
The Remodeling Project
One of the greatest challenges of the Lars home remodeling project was incorporating the modern conveniences needed to live comfortably today without disrupting the home’s original character and vintage feel. The kitchen, for example, features wood flooring that harkens back to the 1936 appeal. It now merges seamlessly with the modern stainless steel range, and modern cabinetry and countertops that match the breakfast bar in the center. The kitchen walls are glass panels surrounded by short and ornate black iron railings on the exterior that create an antique look, but don’t detract from the breathtaking view of the Point Loma landscape and the water.
San Diego ADU requirements depend on which agency governs your parcel. Inside the City of San Diego, an accessory dwelling unit may be up to 1,200 square feet with no parking space required. In the unincorporated County, the standards differ, starting with a parking requirement. Both allow up to four units on a typical single-family […]
There is no single official 2026 average for the cost of building an ADU in San Diego. Based on Lars Remodeling & Design’s experience planning and building local ADUs, homeowners can use several broad investment ranges as an initial guide: approximately $90,000–$150,000+ for a garage conversion, $120,000–$200,000+ for a junior ADU, $200,000–$350,000+ for an attached […]
San Diego’s historic districts include far more than the 11 places named in older lists. As of August 12, 2026, the City of San Diego Historical Districts GIS dataset contained 30 mapped records. A separate March 2025 City inventory report also reported 30 known districts as of October 2024, but its list is not identical. […]
See What Happy Clients Are Saying About Us
When you decide to remodel your home in San Diego, count on our team of experienced builders and talented home design contractors to handle every stage of the design-build process diligently and professionally. We apply a wide range of skills to transform your living space with style and precision:
We’ll discuss the length of your project during an initial consultation. Although the scope of a project will determine its length, we can provide you with an approximate estimate early on.
For more information, get in touch with our home remodeling contractors in San Diego. We’ll ask you a series of detailed questions about the upcoming home remodel, which will help us prepare a preliminary estimate.
It’s the complexity of each remodel, as well as the desired goals and needs of each client, that makes each project unique. Besides the type and size of your home improvement in San Diego, the cost of materials needed plays a key role in setting up the budget.
Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions regarding the final costs of the project and consult with our experts directly. Our home design contractors will be happy to answer all of them and provide you with a more accurate estimate.
Before adding a room addition to your San Diego property, conduct a thorough inspection of your home and clarify your objectives:
Finally, you should know who to turn to for advanced assistance. Luckily, there’s a reputable local company serving San Diego communities. We at Lars Remodeling & Design would be happy to offer a detailed outline of the key aspects of your project.
For substantial additions or major renovations, it might be a good idea to think about staying somewhere else. To stick to your budget, you could stay with friends or family, or rent a place nearby so you can easily keep an eye on the remodeling progress. As experienced remodeling contractors, we’re eager to learn more about your project and explore all your options with you. Don’t hesitate to give us a call!
Absolutely. However, the value of such a renovation largely depends on factors like the property’s location, the extent of work required, and the current market conditions. For any home design or design-build project, it’s advisable to consult directly with our experienced contractors. We’ll access your San Diego residence to identify the type of remodel that would offer you the best return on investment.
