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Architectural designer Sebastian Mariscal and project manager Jeff Svitak created a house in Venice, California, for Michael and Tamami Sylvester. Known as Dwell Home Venice for its role as an exemplification of modern architecture, the house is an homage to indoor-outdoor living. Photo by Coral von Zumwalt.
Architectural designer Sebastian Mariscal and project manager Jeff Svitak created a house in Venice, California, for Michael and Tamami Sylvester. Known as Dwell Home Venice for its role as an exemplification of modern architecture, the house is an homage to indoor-outdoor living. Photo by Coral von Zumwalt.
A courtyard creates visual separation between the main house and the addition.
A courtyard creates visual separation between the main house and the addition.
A guest bedroom, with furniture from Room & Board, overlooks the bridge above the dining courtyard. The home’s landscape architecture is by Ventura, California–based Jack Kiesel. Photo by Coral von Zumwalt.
A guest bedroom, with furniture from Room & Board, overlooks the bridge above the dining courtyard. The home’s landscape architecture is by Ventura, California–based Jack Kiesel. Photo by Coral von Zumwalt.
Risa Boyer Architecture guided the whole house remodel of this 1955 Portland home. Lillyvilla Gardens executed a new landscape plan for the property, including this updated entry sequence, while Boyer added more glass to suit the midcentury façade.
Risa Boyer Architecture guided the whole house remodel of this 1955 Portland home. Lillyvilla Gardens executed a new landscape plan for the property, including this updated entry sequence, while Boyer added more glass to suit the midcentury façade.
A midcentury-style walnut screen separates the entry from the living room, yet allows connection with its permeability.
A midcentury-style walnut screen separates the entry from the living room, yet allows connection with its permeability.
The inoperable picture windows were replaced with large sliding glass doors that open to the new seating patio.
The inoperable picture windows were replaced with large sliding glass doors that open to the new seating patio.
The fireplace is covered in Norman brick from Mutual Materials, in an era-appropriate stacked pattern.
The fireplace is covered in Norman brick from Mutual Materials, in an era-appropriate stacked pattern.
The half-wall that divides the living room and dining room is walnut, and was a clever way to separate the living and dining zones, and wrap the structural posts, which were painted a dark grey. There’s a television lift inside the cabinet that allows the TV to be stowed when not in use. The couch is from Design Within Reach, and the flooring throughout is white oak.
The half-wall that divides the living room and dining room is walnut, and was a clever way to separate the living and dining zones, and wrap the structural posts, which were painted a dark grey. There’s a television lift inside the cabinet that allows the TV to be stowed when not in use. The couch is from Design Within Reach, and the flooring throughout is white oak.
The roof was extended over an outdoor patio to give it cover and ensure that it’s a comfortable space on both hot, sunny days, and in the rainy spring, or fall.
The roof was extended over an outdoor patio to give it cover and ensure that it’s a comfortable space on both hot, sunny days, and in the rainy spring, or fall.
New custom walnut cabinetry syncs with the rest of the built-ins throughout the home, to create a pleasing rhythm in the open plan. The backsplash is Heath Ceramics tile, and the counter is Pental Quartz. Open shelves at the rear overlook a cozy den, and allow sightlines out the new windows at the front of the home.
New custom walnut cabinetry syncs with the rest of the built-ins throughout the home, to create a pleasing rhythm in the open plan. The backsplash is Heath Ceramics tile, and the counter is Pental Quartz. Open shelves at the rear overlook a cozy den, and allow sightlines out the new windows at the front of the home.
In the main bath, a wall of Heath Ceramics tile joins a terrazzo floor from Ann Sacks.
In the main bath, a wall of Heath Ceramics tile joins a terrazzo floor from Ann Sacks.
The bathroom also features heated terrazzo floors from Granda Tile. “The hallway adjacent to the bath has mahogany wall paneling, so we carried that same material above the door height up to the ceiling of the bath.”
The bathroom also features heated terrazzo floors from Granda Tile. “The hallway adjacent to the bath has mahogany wall paneling, so we carried that same material above the door height up to the ceiling of the bath.”
Christa envisioned the main bathroom on the upper level as a sanctuary with a soaking tub. “We opened up the ceiling to expose the volume to its full 14-foot height,” she explains. “We kept the same layout, but replaced the shallow alcove tub with a soaking tub and Vola faucets. We found a floating vanity with a matching medicine cabinet, and a wall-mount toilet.” The dimensional wall tile is Ann Sacks Context Pillow Mosaic, which comes alive as natural light streams in from clerestory windows.
Christa envisioned the main bathroom on the upper level as a sanctuary with a soaking tub. “We opened up the ceiling to expose the volume to its full 14-foot height,” she explains. “We kept the same layout, but replaced the shallow alcove tub with a soaking tub and Vola faucets. We found a floating vanity with a matching medicine cabinet, and a wall-mount toilet.” The dimensional wall tile is Ann Sacks Context Pillow Mosaic, which comes alive as natural light streams in from clerestory windows.
For the backsplash, the couple chose Heath Ceramics crease-in and crease-out dimensional tile. The thin quartz countertop is Caesarstone, and the eight-foot floating shelves are made from solid mahogany and bolted to the studs. The exhaust was custom designed to fit into the tile run.
For the backsplash, the couple chose Heath Ceramics crease-in and crease-out dimensional tile. The thin quartz countertop is Caesarstone, and the eight-foot floating shelves are made from solid mahogany and bolted to the studs. The exhaust was custom designed to fit into the tile run.
Before moving, the couple made some quick fixes to make the house livable. “We refinished the existing hardwood floors and installed new matching oak to replace linoleum in the kitchen. I took a chisel to the tile around the Malm fireplace [which is original to the home] in the living room and discovered the original stained concrete hearth below,” explains Christa. She also accented the bookcases with black paint.
Before moving, the couple made some quick fixes to make the house livable. “We refinished the existing hardwood floors and installed new matching oak to replace linoleum in the kitchen. I took a chisel to the tile around the Malm fireplace [which is original to the home] in the living room and discovered the original stained concrete hearth below,” explains Christa. She also accented the bookcases with black paint.
100 Parnassus Road was built in 1958 by Roger Lee. Current homeowner Christa Martin calls it “a love poem to the Berkeley Hills.”
100 Parnassus Road was built in 1958 by Roger Lee. Current homeowner Christa Martin calls it “a love poem to the Berkeley Hills.”
The open-plan living space features soaring wood-paneled ceilings and expanses of glass. Christa did a deep dive into the architecture of Roger Lee and Bay Area modernism to keep the original design as intact as possible while modernizing it.
The open-plan living space features soaring wood-paneled ceilings and expanses of glass. Christa did a deep dive into the architecture of Roger Lee and Bay Area modernism to keep the original design as intact as possible while modernizing it.