Bestest

“I used leftover lapacho from the outdoor deck to make the handles for the kitchen cabinets with a hand router,” says Facundo. The cabinets themselves are made of MDF, with a finish he chose to match the lapacho wood.

Architect Ravi Raj leaned into the historic character of the neighborhood by designing a large pitched roof for the house. It had the added benefit of providing cover for an outdoor dining space, which connects to the larger wraparound deck.

Developer/designer Jordan Bavka renovated this English Tudor–style residence in Los Feliz, Los Angeles.

The architects cleared out the ground floor and created an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area along an elongated section at the rear. Floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors were installed in this part of the house to connect the interiors with the spacious garden. This light-filled and highly-transparent half of the ground floor now serves as a shady extension of the lush green garden.

"The materials and finishes used in the main bath really transformed it from being solely utilitarian into a zen retreat," she says.

"The mixed metals play off that light-and-classic kitchen palette in the kitchen, while the dining area brings in the coziness of a lived-in home," Gebhardt says.

"Even a simple hardware swap or new lighting can transform a space, so keeping those core materials within a neutral palette allows for flexibility with updates over time," Gebhardt advises. "You really can’t go wrong with white oak, marble, and white-gray cabinetry." In the reimagined kitchen, Caesarstone quartz countertops meet Boston Arctic white subway tile, punctuated by Rejuvenation hardware. Meritage Hardwood Flooring was used throughout.

The upstairs guest room features 15-foot pitched ceilings, as well as a corner reading nook.

Working with senior associate Henry Cheung, Bestor designed bookshelves around the existing fireplace, above which hangs a photo by Sze Tsung Leong. The woodwork is done in Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke. The armchairs are from The Future Perfect, and the drum table was made by Gary’s father. The 1920s light fixture, a gift, once hung at the El Royale Apartments, where Gary and David lived for 15 years.

Gary (left) and David relax in the living room with their dog, Edie Falco. Says Bestor, "The house is under 2,000 square feet, which is tiny by L.A. standards, and yet it feels very spacious."

Architect Barbara Bestor brought a fresh perspective to David Weinberg (above) and Gary Ventimiglia’s 1926 Tudor in Silver Lake, combining Benjamin Moore’s Black Iron and White Linen.

"This flexible space could serve as a dramatic media room or creative hub for the home,

A look at one of the bedrooms connected to the shared bath.