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Surya Jeevanjee and his sister, Noor, inspect plants in the sloping garden that Surya designed outside their home in L.A.

A curved, timber-clad wall in the center of the house hides a staircase to the second story.

The open layout brings breathing room to the new dining area. To the right is the home's central opening, built around a set of custom stairs.

“We designed this home so that we can be here forever,” says Steph. Accessibility features include a ramp leading to the front door and showers with small curbs. The materials selected for the deck and roof intentionally have 40-year lifespans, while gutter protectors eliminate the need for cleaning: “There will be a point where we don’t need to be on ladders cleaning out gutters,” adds Steph.

One of the couple’s favorite new details is the built-in, L-shaped bookcase in the den.

The architects at Side Angle Side added five pairs of skylights during the renovation: two pairs in the kitchen and three in the living room.

Steph, Margaret, and their two dogs spent 2.5 years living in a 525-square-foot yurt on their 1.77 TK

The "plug-and-play

“I believe in simplicity and natural materials,” says Steph. “In our home, what really pops is our things: our furniture, art, and books. And in my [Tiny Grocer] store in the same way what really pops is our products.

“One of the early inspirations was Donald Judd,” says Arthur. “That’s not where we ended up, but there was a time when every choice was ‘What would Donald Judd do?’ and usually the answer was the most minimal thing possible.”

The steel windows were crafted by a local fabricator rather than a brand-name manufacturer to help cut down on costs.

$TK

Steph and Margaret passed on buying new furniture for the home, save for one coffee table. Consulted by their friend and interior designer Mark Ashby, that decision allowed them to spend slightly more on high-end finishes like soapstone counters, brass cabinet pulls, faucets, and tile. Overall they spent $103K on finishes, which includes drywall and painting.

The spa-like primary bath features heated floors, a large walk-in closet, and an oversized soaking tub overlooking Annandale Canyon.

The cherry cabinetry throughout, including the kitchen island with the exposed corner, “echoes” the post-and-beam architecture, says Wang.

A custom dining nook, inspired in shape by the Mos Eisley Cantina in "Star Wars.