Greg Strangman credits the sage advice of his realtor with saving the integrity of the midcentury home that he and his wife, Christina, share in San Diego’s Ocean Beach neighborhood. “My agent suggested that I live in the house for an entire year before making any changes,” says Greg. “I’m happy I listened, because I definitely would have screwed it up.”

It’s not that Greg didn’t appreciate the post-and-beam house when he first laid eyes on it in 2004. As a real estate developer for more than 18 years and the son of a real estate agent, he knows a hot property when he sees one. Built in 1962 by architect Loch Crane (an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright at both Taliesin and Taliesin West), the home is a classic midcentury mix of glass, redwood, travertine and volcanic rock, located a mere 20 feet from the beach.

In the living room, the conversation pit’s built-in sofa is covered in its original blue fabric, described by the homeowners as “bullet-proof,” which is fortunate because the space is the most frequently used in the house. “We like to start a fire, turn on some music and hang out with friends,” says Christina. “It’s on the second floor, so it provides the best views of the ocean.”