A tired midcentury in Eagle Rock with a chalky-green facade was transformed into a warm, contemporary home for a couple and their two daughters. The original single-level house had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small kitchen, a concrete deck in the backyard, and an above-ground swimming pool beside the guest house. "The first thing we did was put in white oak hardwood floors throughout the house, then add the Fleetwood sliding doors off of the living room. Eventually, we added a bedroom, extended the master bedroom and added an ensuite bathroom, enclosed the washer/dryer area, which expanded the kitchen, built a wood deck, wood fences, and then remodeled the guest house. No room was untouched by the time we were finished," says Matt, a woodworker and designer who is also the founder of L.A. handcrafted furniture brand Monroe Workshop.
Food blogger and commercial director Claire Thomas honors this Brentwood home’s heartwarming history. Jack and Marilyn Zuber lived in the Brentwood home for 65 years without altering anything but the wallpaper. Thomas even has photos of them digging on the site when construction first began. Out of respect for the home, Thomas tread carefully with her updates, even keeping the old drapes and using the original paint colors as a jumping-off point in researching color palettes of the era. Her approach was to "celebrate and preserve, rather than rip out and change."
A Restoration Hardware sofa and vintage rug in the living room.
As seen from the front porch, the approximately 5,719-square-foot lot also features a small front lawn set back from the street.
A view of the front facade.
A sunlit principal suite is located at the end of the hallway.
Near the swing set, several raised vegetable beds are located alongside a storage shed.
Olive trees line the perimeter of the side yard, which also features space for seating and a swing set in the back corner.
French doors open to the deck and yard, while a long hallway connects the great room to the home’s bedrooms.
The kitchen features ample wood cabinetry, hexagonal tile flooring in a saturated blue, and a vintage-style range.
The living, dining, and kitchen areas flow into one another.
A look back toward the front door.
A great room greets you just behind the front door. Wide-plank hardwood floors and a pitched ceiling lead the eye across the unencumbered space.
Cabinetry and floating shelves by Kaimade, Heath Ceramics wall tile
The Heath Ceramics wall tile backsplash was extended to full height and behind floating shelves to add texture and character to the minimal kitchen.
Custom pantry and design center, cabinetry by Kaimade
"I loved sitting out on the patio watching the sunrise with all the stillness and sometimes seeing raccoons, skunks, and coyotes go by!"
Bedrooms are bright and airy with pitched roofs and built-in cabinets.
While the home is almost entirely in its original condition, the facade, swathed in a fresh coat of paint feels sleek and modern.
The cast-concrete sink, glass detailing, and steel appliances add to the clean, minimal, space-saving feel of the kitchen.
Continuing the material palette, the back patio is furnished with a custom granite-and-steel table and vintage Eames fiberglass chairs.
At their A. Quincy Jones house in Los Angeles, architects Cory Buckner and Nick Roberts used permeable pavers to help the soil retain moisture.
The main space containing the living and dining area and kitchen was relatively unchanged. "In consideration of the original vision, the additions blend with the original structure, and the basic idea of the open flow between the inside and the outside is maintained and reinforced in all areas," the architect says.
Outdoor lounge chairs from Design Within Reach rest on the floating wood deck.
The upstairs sleeping loft is used by the couple's family and friends that frequently come to visit. It’s furnished with the Ophelia Bed purchased from Rove Concepts.
A sitting area features a sofa from Edloe Finch, a Herman Miller Nelson Saucer Bubble Pendant, and a Troubadour Saddle Leather Wood Frame Chair from CB2.
The kitchenette, pictured in the background, is outfitted with coffee supplies from Fellow and Aeropress. In the foreground is a coffee table from Crate & Barrel over a hide rug from Arhaus.
Not accounted for in the initial budget is the $78K Isaac spent on furnishings as well as art materials, tech equipment, and a piano: “I didn’t realize how much nice, quality things were going to cost,” says Isaac.
The studio uses Shou Sugi Ban cedar siding, white oak, and local Texas limestone. “In a sense it’s nicer than our home,” says Isaac, referring to the high-quality, natural finishes.
Kille's oldest son currently lives in the space, but moves back to the main house when family come to visit.
The bed/room defines one side of the ADU, with the closet facing the front door to create a small entry vestibule. The bathroom and kitchen define the opposite end of the ADU, with a vaulted ceiling living space in between.
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