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Lizz's parents—architect Louis Wasserman and landscape architect Caren Connolly—designed the house to take advantage of its hillside setting.

The revamped kitchen features custom walnut cabinetry by Stille Home—all made from a fallen walnut tree from Leah and Kyle’s last project. All of the home’s cabinets and custom built-ins were the result of a close collaboration between Leah and Kyle. “It’s rare to find a builder who can instantly understand the wild ideas in my head, and bring them to life even more beautiful than I imagined,” says Leah.

Westward view to upper deck from top of Living Room stairs

Eastward view of upper deck from interior upper balcony area outside master bedroom.

Originally designed in 1939 by Roscoe Hemenway, the Burton House was once home to famed artist Verne Tossey, who was best known for his campy pulp fiction book covers throughout the 1950s and 60s. Recently, Portland-based designer Benjamin Silver and builder Oliver Olson have completely renovated the home, transforming the property into a modern interpretation of Hemenway's original design.

View from inside the living room out to the lake, summer

Lake/Front view showing living room windows surround.

Perched below the Griffith Observatory and overlooking Hollywood is a lush lot crowned with four towering olive trees and a 1965 home designed by modernist architect Craig Ellwood. When a young couple purchased the home in 2018, it needed substantial work. For a historic restoration, they called on Woods + Dangaran, a local firm fluent in modernist history. The team completed a meticulous restoration of the home while keeping original components like the linear shape, open plan, and expansive windows. One of the most striking features is the original koi pond (a feature deemed so essential that its preservation was a condition of escrow) that is now crossed via a bridge that leads to a new lap pool—perhaps the biggest intervention on the property.

The arrangement of windows in the home creates a play of light and shadow and allows the family to experience different views as they move around the space. “It’s about creating a calm, comfortable home that is still dynamic,” says architect Line Solgaard. “There are 360-degree views but you don’t see in every direction at all times—there are moments of drama throughout.”

Floor Plan of Hill Country Retreat by Edgerton Studio

The faucets are made in Morocco, and bought from Etsy. The vanity counter is concrete.

The Lin Pendant by Muhly hangs over the island. The counters and backsplash are concrete.

The couple loves to cook and host, so the kitchen was designed to be sturdy—"I just didn't want anything to be precious,

A Model 2026 pendant by Gino Sarfatti, purchased via rewire gallery in Los Angeles, hangs over the vintage table and woven chairs, all bought from Round Top Antiques Fair.