SubscribeSign In
The architects maintained the midcentury post-and-beam construction and Japanese-inspired details of the original building, while brightening and expanding the interior living spaces. Patricia Urquiola’s Tufty-Time sofa for B&B Italia meets Pebble coffee tables by Nathan Yong for Ligne Roset in the living room.
The architects maintained the midcentury post-and-beam construction and Japanese-inspired details of the original building, while brightening and expanding the interior living spaces. Patricia Urquiola’s Tufty-Time sofa for B&B Italia meets Pebble coffee tables by Nathan Yong for Ligne Roset in the living room.
The architects maintained the midcentury post-and-beam construction and Japanese-inspired details of the original building, while brightening and expanding the interior living spaces.
The architects maintained the midcentury post-and-beam construction and Japanese-inspired details of the original building, while brightening and expanding the interior living spaces.
A section of the facade—a cross between a shoji screen and a barn door—slides open. Planter boxes contain edible varieties that fuel Mary’s culinary explorations.
A section of the facade—a cross between a shoji screen and a barn door—slides open. Planter boxes contain edible varieties that fuel Mary’s culinary explorations.
Fung + Blatt designed the master bathroom vanity, which features Agape washbasins and fixtures and an angled mirror that reflects the oak trees seen through the skylights.
Fung + Blatt designed the master bathroom vanity, which features Agape washbasins and fixtures and an angled mirror that reflects the oak trees seen through the skylights.
Ali’s artworks line the studio desk and a painting by his son decorates the wall.
Ali’s artworks line the studio desk and a painting by his son decorates the wall.
The front corner of the renovated building is dedicated to a commercial space, while the rear is a one-bedroom apartment with a studio and private exterior patio.
The front corner of the renovated building is dedicated to a commercial space, while the rear is a one-bedroom apartment with a studio and private exterior patio.
The brick shell of the 1,863-square-foot building was painted matte black, which "makes the roof float in a wonderful way and accentuates the white framing of the windows," says Ali.
The brick shell of the 1,863-square-foot building was painted matte black, which "makes the roof float in a wonderful way and accentuates the white framing of the windows," says Ali.
The back garden is a perfect metaphor for what the couple hoped to achieve with their project. "We feel a part of the city, but there’s still this sense of privacy," says Ali.
The back garden is a perfect metaphor for what the couple hoped to achieve with their project. "We feel a part of the city, but there’s still this sense of privacy," says Ali.
"You can see [with] this building how the design is in the small details and at the urban scale," says Cynthia.
"You can see [with] this building how the design is in the small details and at the urban scale," says Cynthia.
A new door and window combination improve access to the private garden.
A new door and window combination improve access to the private garden.
A Quartzite path leads to the entrance, where a work by Rashid Johnson and a reflection of the Dragon blood tree that Gillian calls Sid Vicious are visible through the window at right. "I named all the trees after musicians,
A Quartzite path leads to the entrance, where a work by Rashid Johnson and a reflection of the Dragon blood tree that Gillian calls Sid Vicious are visible through the window at right. "I named all the trees after musicians,
HR Design Department refurbished the original wood siding and painted it in Sherwin Williams Snowbound. New flagstone pavers and gravel make the yard more drought tolerant.
HR Design Department refurbished the original wood siding and painted it in Sherwin Williams Snowbound. New flagstone pavers and gravel make the yard more drought tolerant.
Dimarmi Bianco porcelain tile extends from the primary bath’s floor into the shower.
Dimarmi Bianco porcelain tile extends from the primary bath’s floor into the shower.
“Wallpaper came into the picture, which was totally fun,” Ron says. The new powder room is gussied up with CW Stockwell Martinique wallpaper, a Scarabeo Ceramiche Teorema wash basin, and light fixtures and a mirror from West Elm.
“Wallpaper came into the picture, which was totally fun,” Ron says. The new powder room is gussied up with CW Stockwell Martinique wallpaper, a Scarabeo Ceramiche Teorema wash basin, and light fixtures and a mirror from West Elm.
A dramatic white oak panel wall reaches up to the new vaulted ceilings. There’s a concealed pantry to the right of the refrigerator.
A dramatic white oak panel wall reaches up to the new vaulted ceilings. There’s a concealed pantry to the right of the refrigerator.
A thick, poured concrete slab forms the surface of the large island and waterfalls to the floor on one side.
A thick, poured concrete slab forms the surface of the large island and waterfalls to the floor on one side.
The backsplash and counters are Caesarstone, and a floating white oak shelf was positioned flush with the hood vent for a cleaner look.
The backsplash and counters are Caesarstone, and a floating white oak shelf was positioned flush with the hood vent for a cleaner look.
The pair borrowed a little space on the front porch and expanded the kitchen into the breakfast nook, so the sink now looks out on the front yard and old olive tree.
The pair borrowed a little space on the front porch and expanded the kitchen into the breakfast nook, so the sink now looks out on the front yard and old olive tree.
The couple streamlined and widened the decorative arch at the entry to the room so it synched with the living room ceilings, and straightened the walls to the ceiling for a cleaner look.
The couple streamlined and widened the decorative arch at the entry to the room so it synched with the living room ceilings, and straightened the walls to the ceiling for a cleaner look.
The couple intervened very little in the living room besides nudging the front door down the wall a foot—making room for the kitchen on the other side of the wall—and refinishing the fireplace tile in an inky black.
The couple intervened very little in the living room besides nudging the front door down the wall a foot—making room for the kitchen on the other side of the wall—and refinishing the fireplace tile in an inky black.
Before tackling the house, the couple converted the garage into a separate work space with a long, linear window that echoes that in the main house.
Before tackling the house, the couple converted the garage into a separate work space with a long, linear window that echoes that in the main house.
The couple planned out all of the exterior landscaping themselves. "[It was] painstaking, the time spent measuring," says Emily.
The couple planned out all of the exterior landscaping themselves. "[It was] painstaking, the time spent measuring," says Emily.
Now, there are two different seating areas off the back of the house, rather than facing the driveway and neighbor as they did before.
Now, there are two different seating areas off the back of the house, rather than facing the driveway and neighbor as they did before.
A new sliding glass door leads to the backyard, enhancing the flow from interior and exterior.
A new sliding glass door leads to the backyard, enhancing the flow from interior and exterior.
The couple refaced the fireplace in flagstone, in keeping with a more natural material palette. New concrete floors and steps and a side door still provide access to the driveway.
The couple refaced the fireplace in flagstone, in keeping with a more natural material palette. New concrete floors and steps and a side door still provide access to the driveway.
The closet was substantially enlarged from its original tiny footprint to become a walk-in.
The closet was substantially enlarged from its original tiny footprint to become a walk-in.
The new bathroom has Cle tile and custom limestone sinks that Emily found in a chance search online. "Marblebasinhub.com. They have incredible, incredible sinks," she says.
The new bathroom has Cle tile and custom limestone sinks that Emily found in a chance search online. "Marblebasinhub.com. They have incredible, incredible sinks," she says.
A highlight of the overhaul is the floor-to-ceiling glass on the north side, which includes a five-panel bifold door. The door opens to the couple’s favorite area of the house, the backyard. The deck is shaded by the cantilevered roof, and Ren planted drought-resistant brush amid the existing oak trees.
A highlight of the overhaul is the floor-to-ceiling glass on the north side, which includes a five-panel bifold door. The door opens to the couple’s favorite area of the house, the backyard. The deck is shaded by the cantilevered roof, and Ren planted drought-resistant brush amid the existing oak trees.
“He spends a lot of time in this room, so it had to really work for him,” says Cuttle of Andrew’s office. To maximize the workspace, they designed a white oak corner desk that extends across the window, but doesn’t block the light.
“He spends a lot of time in this room, so it had to really work for him,” says Cuttle of Andrew’s office. To maximize the workspace, they designed a white oak corner desk that extends across the window, but doesn’t block the light.
The wall shelves are also by Croft House
The wall shelves are also by Croft House
An Allied Maker sconce was mounted beside artworks by Cara Tomlinson, via BDDW gallery.
An Allied Maker sconce was mounted beside artworks by Cara Tomlinson, via BDDW gallery.
The nightstands and dresser are both by Croft House. The overhead light is from Rejuvenation.
The nightstands and dresser are both by Croft House. The overhead light is from Rejuvenation.
Custom millwork now stores toys and books, and becomes a media console in front of the couch. The designers also added a daybed below the windows.
Custom millwork now stores toys and books, and becomes a media console in front of the couch. The designers also added a daybed below the windows.
Nato Studio added new lights to the already remodeled kitchen, including TK pendants over the island and sconces from Triple Seven. “For the lighting selections, we were looking for very natural materials that have a timeless feel, like brass and milk glass, as opposed to bringing in something that looked too contemporary,” says Cuttle.
Nato Studio added new lights to the already remodeled kitchen, including TK pendants over the island and sconces from Triple Seven. “For the lighting selections, we were looking for very natural materials that have a timeless feel, like brass and milk glass, as opposed to bringing in something that looked too contemporary,” says Cuttle.
The vintage dining table was the client’s own, while the sideboard is from Croft House and the rug from Nanimarquina, via TRNK.
The vintage dining table was the client’s own, while the sideboard is from Croft House and the rug from Nanimarquina, via TRNK.
An Article sofa was placed with an ottoman from Jardan. The vintage Hans Olsen chair is the client’s own, and the artwork is by Susan English, from Kathryn Markel Fine Arts.
An Article sofa was placed with an ottoman from Jardan. The vintage Hans Olsen chair is the client’s own, and the artwork is by Susan English, from Kathryn Markel Fine Arts.

232 more saves