Name: Leslie, Gary and Henry Ward
Location: Benedict Canyon, CA
Size: 2,000 square feet
Years Lived In: 8
When the Wards found their house in Benedict Canyon, they truly felt that they had "come home". It was just the type of house they had been looking for - a classic post and beam. Built in 1956, it has walls of glass, a ton of natural light, a great fireplace, plenty of wall space for their growing art collection and it's the perfect setting for the mid century modern furniture the family loves. It also came with a luxury you rarely find in Los Angeles; nothing but hillside beyond their yard. For the last 8 years, the family has enjoyed their home, the great location and style while surviving a fire, a flood, rattlesnakes and scorpions. Gotta love So Cal canyon living! Check out more reasons why the Wards love their home after the jump.
Living in one of the canyons in Los Angeles takes some getting used to. Canyon life with a young child means you end up doing a lot of driving, and at various times they have scouted other neighborhoods closer to Gary's office or Henry's school, both of which are in Santa Monica. In the end, they've been unable to give up the serenity, privacy and ease that their home provides. It is warm, welcoming and comfortable. Although the home is surrounded by nature, the family also enjoys all of the cultural benefits that living in a large city has to offer. Per Gary, "our home is perfect for entertaining, something we do fairly frequently. When we find ourselves becoming bored with design in the home, we just shuffle the artwork around, bring in new pillows, vintage finds or a new piece of furniture. (all Apartment Therapy ideas!) The house's simple design allows us the freedom and inspiration to experiment and explore."
AT Survey:
Our style: Mid-century modern/eclectic/random collections of objects, interesting ephemera, art, books, and whatever happens to catch our fancy.
Inspiration: The generous wall space for artwork, the wonderful light, art, our love of cooking and entertaining, hanging with friends by the fireplace, outdoor gatherings.
Favorite Element: The natural light and beamed ceilings.
What Friends Say: It is warm and welcoming. Mission accomplished!
Biggest Embarrassment: Our closets!
Proudest DIY: Our work in the garden.
Biggest Indulgence: No question - the art collection!
Best advice: When in doubt, plant a succulent.
Dream source: Art auctions and vintage accessories stores.
Resources:
Appliances: Bosch, Kenmore, Kitchen Aid
Hardware: IKEA, Hardware Store
Furniture: Eames, Saarinen, Knoll, IKEA
Accessories: Anthropologie (sofa pillows & master bedding), OK (West Third St. – brown oval stones in box plus assorted other items), vintage (various finds), Tortoise on Abbot Kinney (vintage Japanese lacquer teapot and cups www.tortoiselife.com), www.easterncurio.com (Chinese cultural revolution ceramic figures), IKEA, Ella Doran (laminated photo mats under salt cellars on kitchen counter), Jonathan Adler pottery (windowsill in kitchen), Roost decorative accessories (large wooden stag’s head)
Lighting: Noguchi, IKEA
Window Treatments: IKEA (kitchen)
Artwork: Collection includes: Raymond Pettibon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Ed Ruscha, Robert Rauschenberg, David Salle, Alexis Smith, Kiki Smith, Donald Baechler, Frank Stella, Tracey Emin, Bill Barminski, Chris Johanson, Danny Tull, Ed Templeton, Gronk, Stas Orlovski, Robbie Conal.
Tiles and Stone: Industrial carpeting, IKEA, Target
(Thanks, Leslie, Gary and Henry!)
Small Cool Lessons: Discovering Small Space Design Ideas That Really Work
Marisa and Peter's Playfully Eclectic Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
How to Make Fresh Pasta Dough in the Food Processor
Beautiful Home! Where is that fun orange trellis bedding from???
wow Benedict Canyon that brings back some memories..when I was in college my car broke down one night near the top of Benedict Canyon Drive pre cell phones I had to knock on some ones door and a very Charles Manson looking dude and his hippy rocker chic came out to help me. I have to say I was very scared because they were both stoned out of their minds and did not think I was going to make it out. Anyway lots of history in that canyon and I am sure its all changed.
This is such a great house I can feel the sun. The dining area with built ins and windows are something I miss with this style home. I would of liked to see more of the art up close.
what a beautiful home...just awesome! Except that red sofa...YUK...it just doesnt fit in with anything else.
I love it! In fact I'm kind of weirded out by the fact that I have so many of the same things (or am saving up to buy them) in my house. :)
I love the Togo sofas and would seriously consider them for my home. Have you found them to be functional and practical? Or the opposite? Thanks!
I haven't even opened the slideshow and I can already tell that this is going to be one of my favorite House Tours of all time.
and what an impressive collection of artists!!
the togo sofa is a classic of modern-retro design, so though it's not my favorite, it fits well with the period of the rest of the midcentury decor, if not a touch on the late side (the togo sofa was introduced in the 1970s, so it's more mod).
I'm glad you don't have a Keep Calm poster, but I never understood the appeal of the wooden head and antlers appearing in so many house tours these days. is there some sort of irony that I am missing about it?
otherwise, nice place.
Now that looks like a cozy spot! I surely wouldn't mind living there...
Love the post and beam architecture of your home.
Are your kitchen cabinets high gloss and where are they from? I want to say Ikea, but they could be custom. Beautiful job on the home.
It's very nice. Very comfy and stylish. Great front door. :)
even though its a designer sofa, I still dont like it...too 70's . But otherwise a beautiful home...I picture a clean, mid century sofa in that living room. Doesnt have to be danish modern though.
What a lovely bright house. Gorgeous front door and I'm totally jealous of your plants in the garden. Loving the detail like the Krenit bowls, very nice. I could feel very at home here :-)
Where did you get the chihuahua pillow from?
The wall art in the bedroom is my favourite. Definitely a good way to work with white walls. I will be imitating it.
I really love, love seeing modern family homes.
The sofa...errr...not the nicest thing ever.
What is the light fixture in the dining room called? I adore it and see at many restaurants, but I don't know what its called or where to get it!!
Thanks!
Incredible house tour. I especially love your fireplace!
It's "the Wards"--not "the Ward's." The editor seems to have taken a lesson from Dave Barry, who says "the purpose of the apostrophe is to warn the reader that an 's' is coming up at the end of a word."
I've got a serious case of house (and art) envy going on here!
i'm scared to ask this....i love that 'This is not an Ed Rew Shay.' where can i buy that?
Awesome home, I really like the symmetry of the chairs and two paintings/sketches in the living room.
Once upon a mid century dream! The architecture of your home is "SoCal Perfection". I love your orange front door, unusual collection of artwork , those green club chairs.. kitchen table and chairs and that light fixture (which I am planning on putting in our eat-in kitchen!). Unfortunately I don't care for the Togo sofa... or the sports memorabilia room. But your outdoor "rooms" look so inviting and comfy... I just want to come over and sit by the fire pit!
www.mydesigndreams.com
What a great house! The sofa is awesome. Its an art piece. Its refreshing since most of what you see on AT and other design spots are the same mid century modern simple style sofa over and over again.-just in different colors.
As a lifelong East Coast resident, this is exactly what I think of when I think of good California house style. The citrus colors on white are energizing. I especially love the screens in the last picture. I could totally do that in my teensy townhouse backyard.
No admiring comments on the white-painted privacy wall and gate on the street-line? That is a fantastic feature... I'm seriously envious.
I don't think I could leave that house either. It has just too many amenities combined ... privacy and greenery, yet all that light! All the very tall wide windows makes its volume feel unbounded by walls and square foot issues. I love it.... even without the cool mid-century furnishing choices.
Beautiful architecture and views. You took an amazing space and worked the perfect furnishings in to it!
Absolutely gorgeous!! Could anyone help me figure out where the red poster in the white frame that says "This is not an edrew shay" can be found??
If "we" have scouted other neighborhoods, then "they" should not be unable to move. It's either first person, or not. Please.
Hate the Togo, but love the rest.
Great living room, and I LOOOVE the Togo sectional! If that is not the most unique, groovy, sexy, snuggy, work-of-art sofa ever, I don't know what is. But I'm biased; I have the loveseat and ottoman and I adore them.
When I see that sofa in the magazine I always wonder where it would ever look good. Now I know! I love it!
Love the home--a lot of classic, quality MCM and modern pieces without seeming like your typical DWR groupie home.
The grammar, however, is atrocious! Please edit your post for consistency--the "we" and "they" are very confusing.
Thank you thank you thank you for including some photos of the outside of the house!
Lovely home! Where is the elephant tray from???
Hi Everyone!
Thanks for your feedback. We had no idea how polarizing the Togo sofa would be! But we love that. The sofa that preceded it was a true, mid-century design, similar to the case study daybed. It was also the most uncomfortable sofa in the history of sofas. We used it only when entertaining. Gary can be found in the "sweet spot" (the corner seat) of the Togo every night, reading. Ta da!
Answers to your questions, in the order in which they are posted:
1) Kitchen cabinets are IKEA Applad. Semi-gloss. We love them.
2) Chihuahua pillow was purchased at a FANTASTIC store in Studio City, ATIK. The owner, Janet Bertolus, is currently remodeling/rebuilding after a busted water main flooded her store and about 6 others on Ventura Blvd. We are anxiously awaiting the grand re-opening.
3) The light fixture in the dining room is IKEA; don't remember what it's called but I'm sure it's on their website.
4) "This Is Not An Ed Rew Shay" is by Michael Deyermond. Purchased at Equator Books on Abbot Kinney, in Venice, about 3-4 years ago. They closed their doors a few weeks ago :(
Thanks for all your comments!
Design is an ever-changing and evolving conversation. Keep it going! We have had fun tweaking and developing our own "voice" over the years. Design should be fun, not some art gallery notion of what's cool and appropriate and what's not. It should reflect who you are and what makes you happy.
As for the grammar, well, nobody's perfect, even the cracker jack design addicts at AT. We love AT and appreciate & support their mission to inspire and encourage the designer in all of us!
We thank them for including our home on their way cool site.
Trellis bedding in master = Anthropologie
Elephant tray = IKEA
Great home! Always inspiring to see real people living with art.
Everything looks so bright and "fresh"! Really beautiful. Like the warm colors.
This home is even more wonderful in person.
Almost as wonderful as the family that inhabits it.
(Almost.)
Here's my question:
Why aren't those crazy-ass dogs in any of the pics?
This is what I envision when I think of South California homes....very laid back, gorgeous surroundings and gardens, and very cool. This place typifies that. Although not my style, I really enjoyed this tour....and the large red couch really fits in nicely.
I love it! I could move in tomorrow. You did a fabulous job. This isn't your "typical" AT tour.
BEST-APARTMENT-THERAPY-HOME-TOUR-TO-DATE!
I love everything about your home.
Very col house and I believe the first to have a collection of Michael Jordan memorabilia (certainly in LA). Nice to see that other design fans can be sports addicts too.
love this!
great home, wonderful light, and even though i would not by that sofa, i must say it works very well in your interior. looks real, lived in and not "decorated." slightly jealous here.
that was supposed to be "buy the sofa" not "by the sofa." duh.
Don't get all the Togo haters. Am currently sitting on an identically configured identical red Togo -- comfortable and gorgeous. (and it's the second time we've bought a Togo in 21 years).
BRAVO for keeping your midcentury beauty intact while ensuring it works for your family! Your finishing touches mesh well with the original design intent of the home while presumably reflecting your family's lifestyle, collections and memories.
I particularly love your use of creative wall art design (in bedroom and in family room w/ large framed prints on low bookshelf). I think I might have to utilize similar tactics in an awkward living room space that is in desperate need of some color and art!