A new pergola completes the outdoor dining area set against an abundant bougainvillea backdrop.
One of Mandy’s many Pandemic home-improvement projects was learning to plumb via the new mini hot tub in the backyard.
The couple took advantage of numerous municipal programs when landscaping the backyard. Mandy recently completed a free course through LADWP, who also promotes resources for the SoCal Turf Replacement Program, to become a certified California Native Plant Landscape: “There is an amazing amount of knowledge and resources for transitioning yards with more native/drought-tolerant plants through LADWP and the Theodore Payne Foundation,” says Mandy.
The arched glass window in the front of the home brings ample light in, while the new glass patio door at the back floods the kitchen and dining area with sunlight.
Additional storage hidden under the breakfast nook bench helps maximize every square inch.
The bathroom features a custom concrete sink from Caesarstone and a vanity base from Ikea accented with customized panels.
At 1,026 square feet, being conscious of clutter can be particularly pertinent. Small storage hacks, like this tidy spice and wine rack in the kitchen, save time and repeated headaches in the long run.
The bookshelf system is from Modern Shelving with stained boards from Lowe’s.
The light-soaked kitchen and breakfast nook are accented with a blue rug from Anthropologie, pottery from Portugal, and a custom bench seat from Etsy.
In the open-plan kitchen and dining room, Mandy recreated a central storage wall she had also devised for their previous apartment to organize, and hide, the couple’s belongings.
The living room’s original altar-topped fireplace and Sante Fe-style plaster were easy sells for Mandy, who made sure they were preserved during the renovation.
Both the couch and the rug in the living room were purchased from CB2.
A refreshing soaking tub sits sandwiched between the main residence and guest suite.
An accordion glass door expands the living area while framing a striking desert panorama.
The main house presents a sleek kitchen, complete with black quartz countertops, all new appliances, and a large central island.
The microwave was discreetly located in at the end of the new peninsula. The new layout allowed for the feature wall to highlight the 36” pro-style range with highlighted tile niche storage.
Ceaserstone in Blizzard was used for the perimeter countertop, and Silestone in Lusso for the island top and the waterfall edges.
A peek inside the master bedroom.
An outdoor shower extends off the main bathroom.
The kitchen features white oak cabinetry and an island topped with Caesarstone in Rugged Concrete. The Torii stools are from Bensen and the Compendium pendant is from Luceplan, while the oven is by Wolf and the faucet is by California Faucets. The long white wall was meant for hanging art but so far remains bare. “It feels like a gallery that was ransacked,” jokes Jim, “but we’ve grown attached to the clean expanse.”
Solk thickened the fireplace wall to two feet deep, and packed in storage capabilities around the newly refinished fireplace, which now has large-scale porcelain tile surrounding it.
A vaulted ceiling interspersed with skylights, in tandem with floor-to-ceiling glass, fills the home with natural light.
Spiegel and the SAW team leaned on a comprehensive wood palette from Madera to strengthen the architectural vision–wrapping floors, walls and ceilings with wood to draw attention to the geometry of the voids. “It’s a material that has natural resonance between interior and exterior spaces,” shares Spiegel. “It holds sharp geometric forms, but produces visual and tactile softness.”
“Dan and SAW came up with a brilliant way of opening up the kitchen, family, and dining rooms by creating a diagonal kitchen and island,” shares Tamara. “It took me several looks at the design to be convinced of going with something that seemed so unconventional, but I’m thrilled,” she says of the unorthodox design solution.
"We have developed a taste for Nordic style and have tried to stay true to that aesthetic, without being precious,
Dawnridge floor plan
All of the fixed furniture is designed by Sundberg and made of oak. The clients worked with a local designer on the custom furniture, like the green sofa and chair in the living room. While the trees surrounding the property offer a decent amount of privacy, billowy white curtains add an additional layer.
Architect Johan Sundberg looked to Japanese architects like Kengo Kuma for inspiration for the design of a holiday home in southern Sweden. "We call it the Katsura typology, but that's probably sacrilegious," he says. The eaves of the gently sloped hipped roof extend generously in all directions, turning the deck into a covered retreat that’s part veranda, part engawa, the Japanese version of a porch.
The bedroom features a bed from Mint, a Selene bathtub from Aura, and a wooden side table made by Maris’s father, Henriks.
“The scent of the wood reminds me of that calming feeling you get walking in the forest on a warm autumn day,
The living room is furnished with a Söderhamn sofa from Ikea, artwork by Latvian-born painter Vidvuds Zviedris, and a dining table and chairs from Mint Furniture.