When Nicole Boone, an art-loving Ohio native, wanted to put down roots in Los Angeles, she looked for an environment that was rich not only in culture but in beautiful architecture, too. She chose View Park, a historically predominantly African American neighborhood, where she found a single-story ranch home that was the perfect fit for her discerning eye. It had the classic charm of a modern-meets-Spanish-revival-style mash-up typical of California, an aesthetic that celebrates the history—and diversity—of the land. But it needed to be rearranged to suit a contemporary lifestyle, with a focus on opening up the narrow alcoves of the past.

Fortunately, Nicole’s attention to detail during a casual magazine read paid off when she began looking for help. She had seen the work of Max Kuo and Danielle Wagner of architectural studio AllThatIsSolid in the pages of Dwell. She liked an accessory dwelling unit they had designed for a young L.A. couple (“Suburban Experiment,” September/October 2021), so she reached out.

“It was great to have a homeowner come to us with buy-in because they’d seen our aesthetic on another project,” Wagner says. “We already had a mutual understanding of a certain taste level.”

Nicole describes her style as “beautiful design without the fuss,” and when it came time to start the gut renovation, the finance executive had a strong vision. “I have a very clear voice,” she says, “but because I trusted them I was still open.”

Nicole grew up surrounded by art (her parents enjoyed collecting and interior design), so her home has the deliberate feel of an exhibition space. Antiques and artwork acquired from her travels are scattered throughout. They lend a bohemian balance to the measured, gallery-style touches in the home, such as the deep green on her bedroom walls, inspired by a visit to a Melrose Avenue gallery.

“It’s almost like she’s a curator and we’re designing the exhibition,” Kuo says.

“The kitchens that we do, the bathrooms we do—we really want them to feel like exalted spaces.”
—Max Kuo, designer

But it’s not all about aesthetics here. “Things can be beautiful, but if they’re not functional, that doesn’t serve me,” Nicole says. “I still have to live here.”

Some of the livability changes include combining a kitchen and a dining area into one cohesive space, which cleared new access to the backyard by creating a central passageway for better flow, and eliminating a small study and closet that disrupted the transition from the living room to the bedroom area. There is also an element of mischief, like a reeded glass window between the bathroom and the living room, providing just enough privacy between the more public and hidden spaces in the home.

Outside, contemporary updates refreshed the facade. Native plants flank the brick walkway leading to the front door, and a towering tree, which Nicole often looks out to from a window in her study, is a reminder of the beauty of nature—her favorite form of art.

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: AllThatIsSolid / @allthatissolid

Builder: Total Remodeling

Structural Engineering: Engineering Capital

Landscape Design: Jo Gam Do

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