Photo: Big at Heart: This PG home has a surprising feeling of openness, given its modest size.

When Mark Risley purchased a home in Pacific Grove home for his family, he saw that it was full of potential, but needed some refinement. Two years ago, the Risleys did an extensive remodel to turn the home from acceptable to elegant.

"It was relatively new when we bought it, but it had been occupied by renters," he says. "We completely gutted the kitchen and the downstairs bathroom, and ripped out the linoleum floors. We raised the ceilings and put in can lighting, added marble floors, and top of the line distressed honey wood cabinets."

In the kitchen, Risley also added a Corian countertop, a marble backsplash and new appliances, creating a cooking and eating space that feels light, happy, and cozy. Doors from the kitchen lead into the small fenced yard that wraps around the house.

In the living areas of the home, Risley also took out the original flooring and put in Berber carpeting. Plantation shutters frame the windows that add light to the already bright living and dining room. A marble fireplace fights the chill of PG fog.

It''s a small home--just under 1,600 square feet--that feels much larger due to a creative floorplan. Risely points out that the height of the entryway combined with multiple windows creates the illusion of a lot more space.

"It''s not a ten-foot ceiling, it''s a two-story ceiling," he says. "It give such a nice open feeling to a cozy little home."

At the top of the stairs, two moderately-sized bedrooms share a hall bathroom. Windows look out to the treetops of Washington Park and the Butterfly Grove, and down to the large oak in front of the house. The master bedroom has a glimpse of the Bay, it''s own bathroom, a dressing area niche, plus a large walk-in closest.

"There aren''t many homes of this size in PG in this price range that have more than two baths," Risley points out.

Another unusual feature, atypical of a PG cottage, is the large, attached, two-car garage. Realtor Jamal Noorzoy demonstrates that the living room could be opened up into one of the garage stalls, converting the space into a family room.

With neighbors utilizing their off-street parking options, Risley says the car clutter on the streets is diminished. His favorite feature of living in the area is the combination of walking access to all PG schools and shops, but the lack of city noise.

"It''s one of the widest streets in PG," Risley says. "And so quiet. You can sit on the front porch all day and only two or three cars will go by."

Price: $749,000. 511 Lobos St., Pacific Grove. Contact: Jamal Noorzoy of Alain Pinel Realtors at 622-9903.