The Fontana McMahon Home

Tree Section Modern

The suburb of Manhattan Beach is in the heart of the Los Angeles surf cities. When architect Greg Fontana and interior designer Julie McMahon set out to design this home, they put an emphasis on being contextual within this tree section neighborhood. The gable roofed modern structure fits seamlessly into the residential area. They wanted the materials to read as honest, and to simplify as much as possible. With cool Southern California ocean breezes from the west, the main level public spaces orient to the south and west facing outdoor areas and capitalize on the temperate beach climate and allow for plenty of sun into the living, dining, and kitchen areas. There is a second story sleeping porch which borrows from the Southern California craftsman tradition of the 1920’s. The central staircase acts as a vertical ventilation chimney to funnel the cool ocean breeze up, and out of the large operable skylights. There is an emphasis of warm interior materials and colors from the Douglas Fir windows, white oak flooring and doors, to the floor coverings and artwork. The landscaping is xeriscape with many succulent varieties. The exterior cladding is fiber cement board by James Hardie, with window pop-outs sheathed in cedar.

Architect: Cotton Fontana Architects, Greg Fontana - Principal in Charge
Interior Designer: Julie McMahon
Builder: Icaza Construction, Inc.
Structural Engineer: Namvar Associates
Lighting Design: Lightopia
Landscape Architect: Jones Landscapes
Project Size: 3,600 square feet
Site Size: 4,800 square feet
Photography: Claudio Santini

Key Products:

Cooktop/Dishwasher/Refrigerator: Thermador
Countertops: Cambria
Faucets: Watermark, Hansgrohe
Sinks: Duravit, Kohler
Windows/Doors: Jeldwen, Western Windows, La Cantina
Skylights: Velux
Exterior Siding: Hardie Board, James Hardie
Stone: Eco Outdoor, U.S.A.
Window Coverings: Smith & Noble