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Name: Hope Alexander, Craig Jerris, and their daughter Hanna
Location: Venice, CA
Size:1728 sq ft main house, 128 sq ft office, 650 sq ft studio/guest house
Years lived in: 13 years — own

Hope shares this two story, spacious, art-filled modern home with her husband, daughter and their two dogs. As an architect, she has the great advantage of working from home as she remodels her guest house into a new office/studio.

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The most significant element of the house, Hope says, is the "open flexible living spaces." Having designed her family's home, she had free rein to include exactly the architectural and design elements that she wanted. With a house full of artists, the wall colors, furniture and artwork all coexist in a very harmonious palette.

When designing any home, Hope believes the most essential aspect is "its relationship to the outside...to the garden...the sun's trajectory and the wind direction; who is going to live there and what they need."

Guided by her love of Los Angeles art and its combinations of multicultural influences, she has created a space that freely combines these differing traditions. "I grew up around the light and space movement in Los Angeles and this has deeply affected my sensibility. Making/designing a house is like making a painting or sculpture. I see the building, in and out, as a whole. Los Angeles' openness to other cultures, particularly its strong Mexican and Japanese influences, are strong factors in my designs."

Thanks to Wendy Withers for introducing me to Hope!

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Easy and informal....indoor/outdoor living and a combination of new and old things.

Inspiration: Luis Barragan, Rudolph Schindler, light and the way it changes one's perceptions, and the building site.

Favorite Element: Color

Biggest Challenge: Filling out this questionnaire

What Friends Say: Oh....now I get it it!

Biggest Embarrassment: I don't get embarrassed.

Proudest DIY: It's all DIY.

Best Advice: Trust yourself.

Dream Sources: My imagination.

Resources of Note:

PAINT & COLORS

    • Benjamin Moore: English Hyacinth
    • Benjamin Moore: Simply White

ENTRY

    • thrift store mirror with benjamin moore windmill wings
    • art projects by my daughter hana

LIVING ROOM

    • found objects from Oaxaca and Mexico
    • birch plywood freestanding and built in couch
    • fabric from repot-depot (now closed)
    • Oaxacan rug
    • thriftstore rug
    • built in book shelves
    • art by: Clytie Alexander clytiealexander.com, Peter Alexander peteralexander.com, Hope Alexander, Ed Moses

DINING ROOM

    • found marble table top with base designed by me
    • Oh chairs
    • walls are Benjamin Moore 'Neon Celery'

KITCHEN

    • steel casement windows....salvaged
    • birch plywood cabinets
    • 1940's stove

HANA'S BEDROOM

    • custom wall colors
    • Ikea rugs
    • Mexican paper banners
    • Polish paper chandelier
    • Artwork: Clytie Alexander, Peter Alexander, many found and collected objects

HOPE'S BEDROOM

    • Artwork: Peter Alexander, Clytie Alexander

BATHROOM

    • salvaged clawfoot tub
    • salvaged schoolhouse hanging light fixture
    • counter found piece of stone

OFFICE

    • Ikea butcher block table
    • turn of the century roll-top desk
    • turn of the century mirror
    • salvaged glass chandelier
    • lamp and furniture by me
    • mexican mask
    • cardboard table by Joel Stearns
    •art: Peter Alexander, Clytie Alexander and Ed Moses

Thanks, Hope!

Images: Bethany Nauert

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