Renovating a Mid-Century Home
-
The Sallin residence was designed by Richard Dorman, a lesser-known contemporary of John Lautner and Craig Ellwood (whose design is the focal point of our Hollywood Renovation Backstory series). Dorman designed a handful of residences and commercial buildings in the Los Angeles region in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and relocated to Santa Fe in 1975. -
The Sallin residence is perched in the Los Angeles hills. "The prime thing was to maintain the aesthetic and make it look like it was always there," says Sallin of the governing principles behind the renovations. -
The house's flat roof peeks through the lush garden. Roofs are a particularly problematic part of mid-century homes. Sallin has a roofer come in yearly to touch up and inspect the roof, an investment he says pays off. "We've never had a leak because of the attention it has received," he says. -
We you to describe Dorman's design, the word "reposed" comes to mind. In his design for the residence the Sallins would eventually call home, Dorman used a 7 x 9 module throughout, which instills a pleasing dimensional ratio and provided the basis for many of the additions. For example, the original columns in the walkways are spaced seven feet apart and rise to a height of nine feet. -
"People always remark that they can't tell where the original stops and the addition begins," he says noting that the original design was only 2,960 square feet and the current house is just under 4,000 square feet. In order to achieve consistency, Sallin credits keeping the underlying 7 x 9 module in mind when thinking about spacing new columns in the outdoor areas, like the trellis in the pool area. -
The small galley kitchen was recently remodeled. "I don't know how many different designs we looked at," says Sallin, who considered many top-of-the-line kitchens from all the big names. "They just didn't feel right so we went to the original Dorman plans," he explains. -
Here's the kitchen after it was gutted and received a much needed face lift. When remodeling the kitchen, Sallin can't stress how important it is to have excellent contractors and builders and a solid plan of action. Robert's nephew Marc Sallin of Kingston Reconstruction & Flooring carried out the project. "Learn how to anticipate every single occurrence," Robert advises. "You can't know know too much and if it means you have to take the time to learn, it will save you in the back end." -
The original cabinetry opposite the kitchen was covered in a veneer and couldn't be refinished so the Sallins opted to replace them entirely. -
The remodeled cabinets reflect the same pattern as the old ones, though they are all new. By keeping the underlying design in mind, the new kitchen seems like it could have been from Dorman's original design. -
All of the cabinetry is by Ikea, though Sallin says they're often mistaken for high-end lines due in part to the thoughtful installation by his contractor. -
Salin's wife, Sandra, is a professional artist. He designed a studio space for her, which is illuminated by skylights and large floor-to-ceiling windows along the back wall. The 7 x 9 module was used to determine their size, says Sallin. -
Clerestory windows above the desk area illuminate the studio addition. Sallin beams when talking about the design, but his most favorite part is how everything coalesces as a whole. "For a modern house it's friendly, not austere. And I love the quality of the light," says Sallin.Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
Categories:
More
A Mid-Century Renovation in Washington
This classic mid-century modern home in Lakewood, Washington, had great "bones" that had been compromised by subsequent remodels.
A Week in Review: 7 Great Reads You May Have Missed
Each week Dwell.com delivers more than 50 original posts, articles, and interviews focused on the latest in modern design.
A Modern Kitchen Remodel in Austin
Built in 1950, Lloyd and Kirsten Thompson's Austin house had "some inherent mid-century charm and good flow," says architect J.C. Schmeil of Merzbau Design Collective.
3 Tips for Mid-Century Modern Collectors
One of the great pleasures of visiting the McKenzie Residence in our September 2012 story "Borrego Springs Eternal," is owner Stacey Chapman Paton's collection of mid-century furniture and…
Add comment