Restore And Respect
East Sac home tells a story of family and history
By Cecily Hastings
February 2026
On a stretch of 46th Street, a stately white clapboard home stands with the confidence that comes from having lived a good life.
Built to last and clearly loved, the home has a rich history. When Joslyn and Grant Inderbitzen bought it in 2020, their goal wasn’t to erase that past but layer their own story onto it.
They knew the house was a good fit: the right size for a family of five, nice layout, anchored by spaces that encourage people to gather.
The home flows from a large formal living room to a relaxed family room that opens to the kitchen and backyard. It’s a classic East Sac configuration.
The living room, elegant without being pretentious, is the emotional heart, designed around a vintage desk with deep family meanings. The desk belonged to Joslyn’s father and was left to her son, now in college.
Upstairs, the four bedrooms and two baths only needed cosmetic updates. “We haven’t done anything to add to the home’s footprint,” Joslyn says. “We replaced the home’s electrical and plumbing and made cosmetic improvements without moving walls. Our goal was to restore and update for our lifestyle.”
That philosophy—restore, not reinvent—guided every decision. It also brought challenges. One involved the entrance hall, wallpapered years ago with textured fabric. Removing it would have cost thousands of dollars. Instead, Joslyn painted over it.
“We love how it turned out,” she says. “It looks like painted embossed paper.” The result is a reminder that restraint and creativity can outperform demolition.
The same sensibility is evident in the kitchen. The original layout included a separate breakfast room, but the Inderbitzens repurposed it as a coffee and overflow space, a decision rooted in how people behave.
“You know how when you have parties, you can’t get people out of the kitchen,” Joslyn says. “People love to hang around in the kitchen. This gives kind of a kitchen overflow, where people will sit down in here.”
Yancey Company collaborated with the kitchen remodel and formed an essential partnership.
“I loved working with Yancey because they have an appreciation for an older home,” Joslyn says. “I feel like a lot of contractors focus on tearing down and starting from scratch. It was important to keep and tie in the original flooring, the wood siding and the nook.”
Respect carries through the house and involves personal displays. A saddle in the dining room belonged to Grant’s grandfather, a Central Valley cowboy who in his 70s guided families on Yosemite pack trips.
Along with the saddle, a large photograph of Joslyn’s parents when they were young and impossibly hip turns the dining room into a gallery of family lore.
Downstairs, the half bath makes another bold statement. The previous owner covered the walls and ceiling in colorful wallpaper. Redoing the space, Joslyn wanted to honor her predecessor’s spirit. She chose dramatic wallpaper and created a mural to camouflage a door to the utility room. It’s playful, clever and personal.
The former garage became a pool house and gathering space. Formerly a teenage hangout with an outdated kitchenette, it’s now a retreat with a vintage counter and sink combo, perfect for entertaining or hanging out.
Joslyn isn’t a trained designer, but that’s OK. “I enjoy looking at design magazines and social media for inspiration,” she says. “I’m just creative by nature and especially frugal, and I’ve managed to pull this all together on my own.”
The combination of creativity, practicality and respect for what came before defines the home. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t chase trends. It tells a layered story about family and a house that evolved with people who love it.
To recommend a home or garden, contact cecily@insidepublications.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
