Name: Jessica
Location: Malibou Lake, Agoura, California
Size: 1100 sq ft. 2 bdrm.
Years lived in: Owned for 4 yrs.
Who else lives here? My husband, my two stepsons (ages 15 and 11) and our dog.
Moving a family of 4 from a 6,600 square foot home to one with only 1100 square feet might sound a little crazy, or at the very least stressful and cluttered, but for Jessica and Warren it's been the best thing that's happened to them. Not only are they closer as a family but the small space provides enough room for everything they want their home to encompass.
The area of Lake Malibou in Agoura is about 30 miles west of Hollywood and is more reminiscent of 1960s Mayberry than modern-day Los Angeles. The family of four moved here from a 6600 square foot home in a gated community in Los Angeles, always planning on it being a temporary move. Instead, tucked away in this idyllic scene they have created a home that feels more comfortable than anywhere else they'd lived.
As Jessica's husband out it: "The proximity forces us to engage with each other -- there's no hiding in your office. The kitchen is six feet from the couch and 20 feet from the bed. And forget about private phone calls, unless you want to go outside. But the upside is a much higher awareness of each other, and the necessity of finding communal activities has totally transformed my parenting."
As he mentioned, there's a lot of double duty: the master bedroom is also the living room, the night stands are storage, the bench in the kitchen is full of toys, the table is covered in marker and sharpie marks and the couch, affectionately nicknamed the whale, is a place the family gathers, where candy gets ground into the cushions, popcorn gets spilled and it's all fine. This is not a formal house even though it has style and sophistication about it. It's a place for gathering, it's a place to drop pretense and it's a place to kick off your shoes and get comfortable.
AT Survey:
Our style: A practical approach to French style; a masculine version of Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic.
Inspiration: My children, who have shockingly strong opinions re: décor.
Favorite Element: The view. And the size.
Biggest Challenge: The lack of storage.
What Friends Say: They call it the Magic Tree House.
Biggest Embarrassment: We can’t host overnight guests, unless they are willing to sleep on the couch.
Proudest DIY: The décor (sans designer.) (Though LA Designer Johannes Huitink built our custom pieces based on my extensive collection of magazine tear outs. He’s amazing.)
Biggest Indulgence: My rugs, which were recently christened by my puppy. I need a steam cleaner, but I have nowhere to store it.
Best advice: Downsize.
Other Inspiration: White.
Resources:
Appliances: Jenn-Air (refrigerator); Viking (stove); Miele (dishwasher)
Hardware: Waterworks; Anthropologie
Furniture: Pottery Barn (couch; lockers; kitchen chairs); Custom pieces by Johannes Huitink.
Accessories: Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, Ballard Designs; Aaron Brothers Art & Framing; Jerry
Solomon Custom Picture Framing (Agoura Hills)
Lighting (Master Bedroom): Bellacor.com
Rugs and Carpets: NW Rugs (Agoura Hills); Pottery Barn
Tiles and Stone: Bathroom tile: Waterworks
Bed (Master Bedroom): Johannes Huitink
Artwork: My 11 year old; personal photographs.
Paint: Dunn Edwards Pearl White (flat on the ceilings; satin on the walls; and semi on the trim). Valley, Painting Service, Inc. Van Nuys, CA
Thanks Jessica!
Images: Jessica Butler
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Comments (66)
the fireplace and bath, as well as the setting are to die for.
A floorplan or more wide angle shots would be nice though, I don't see how the "master bedroom is also the living room" the photos make it look separate.
i looooooooove this house tour. absolutely beautiful
PLEASE tell us everything about that fireplace! More photos????
I really love it. Although you mention Rachel Ashwell, I wouldn't call this Shabby Chic at all - to me, it's much more sophisticated and lovely. And that mantle - ooh la la!
wow! I thought the kids would be younger. It's hardcore to live in small houses with a teenager and a preteen. Love the accessories.
what a gorgeous house - I love how you decorated in such an interesting and personal way without sacrificing any of the elegance.
Love this home. The idea of downsizing and the outcome being increased family closeness more than just spatially is really interesting food for thought.
I want to buy the owl Rush poster in one of the boys' rooms for my boyfriend for his birthday... *off to Ebay*
Lovely home. Wanted to see a photo of the pup!
"The area of Lake Malibou in Agoura is about 30 miles west of Hollywood and is more reminiscent of 1960s Mayberry "
Seriously? Since when did Mayberry feel like a gated.country club, lots of new mc mansion construction?
This is a beautiful home but for one major exception:
Why is the sofa blocking the focal point of the room - the gorgeous fireplace?
This is a prime example of why a sofa the size of the USS Nimitz isn't for everyone - This place would be so much more inviting with a loveseat/settee facing a pair of armchairs across from a coffee table in the center of the room.
I would argue that sometimes a family has to place comfort ahead of design. This is the only sofa in the home and they have two 15 & 11 year old boys. Of course they want to sprawl out, and you can't really do that on a settee.
agree with tequila...anyone who wants a big comfy couch should have one.
Have to agree with Tequila too. Interior design has to serve the needs of the occupants and I don't see a family of four hanging out and relaxing on a loveseat/settee combo!
Nice house but teenagers who like the Police???
What a beautiful, warm home. And the location! (those last pictures!) Calling it gorgeous would be an understatement.
oops, now I see the bed in the living room...doah!
In the description this is called a two bedroom - but if the master bedroom is completely open to the living room like we see, this is only a large one bedroom. So not really the most efficient use of space.
comfy looking place.
would have liked some comments by the homeowner for the pics.
also since it is California, is there an outdoor area for the family. nice to hear of a family that interacts and plays together.
re. the master bedroom/living room, this is what I see:
Photo 2 shows how the master is open to the living room. You see the bed in the left side of that pic. The couch in front of the fireplace appears to be a sectional, and one half of it faces the bedroom.
Photo 7 shows how the master can be closed off from the living room by closing the large door.
Photos 2, 7, & 8 (in the mirror reflection) all show how the ceiling of the master bedroom remains open to the living room, even when the big door is closed.
I think it is a pretty efficient use of space for 1100 sq. ft.
Love the home!
Really love your place. Oh, and **hrhprincessfiona*** Hell, yeah, I have teenagers and they like The Police, U2, Led Zeppellin. Good music never goes out of style!!!
Nice house. Also not crazy about blocking the fireplace. I thought that was a decorating faux pas.
80s music is very in with teenagers.
I would love to see a picture showing the whole fireplace - it is beautiful.
Smaller houses are great with teenagers. They are forced to be part of the family whether they like it or not, because they just can't get that far away. It's easier to keep tabs on them, as well as to influence their musical taste toward the bands WE like. :)
I was honored to be featured on apartmenttherapy.com. It’s such a positive site for those of us living in small homes.
My husband purchased our home five years ago as a weekend escape from Los Angeles, and it became his permanent residence after his divorce. A few years ago, we put the house on the market and began shopping for a larger home, assuming 1,100 square feet would never comfortably support our family of four. But we found ourselves (and our children) panicked every time a potential buyer showed interest. We couldn’t imagine a life away from the lake and the mountains -- the fishing, kayaking, and hiking -- so we decided as a family to give living in a smaller space a try. Since then, we’ve resisted the urge to add on due to our children’s objections. They adamantly refuse to separate into their own rooms. And our 11 year old has announced he plans to live on the lake when he grows up. “But not in a big house. A little one. Like ours.”
perfidia: I wish I could tell you more about the fireplace. It was added during a renovation that took place prior to our ownership. I can tell you it was painted to match the original marble that is on the floor in front of the fireplace (which looks nothing like marble but rather, a brown slab of concrete). I believe the structure is actually sponge-painted concrete.
Emily the Cat: I loved Rachel Ashwell’s use of white, as well as her luxurious but washable slip covered furniture in her former Shabby Chic line. Washable is a must with children (and now a dog). Our entire sofa is slip covered and washable, though it’s from Pottery Barn; at the time, Rachel Ashwell didn’t make a sofa big enough for our needs, though she has since designed one with similar dimensions… in leather. Yum.
frannyglass: The Rush poster was purchased in Austin ,TX and hand painted by the designer of the Rush concert posters. Ebay is definitely the best place to shop…
LoriSF: If you live locally, I invite you to spend the weekend hiking the mountains surrounding Malibou Lake; I’m confident you will be enchanted by the true essence of our rustic community.
In response to blocking the fireplace: Our living room has gone through numerous reincarnations. The first was four rotating chairs arranged around a coffee table. Though attractive, it wasn’t a very intimate way to watch a movie as family. Two of the chairs were then replaced by a love seat (the design bepsf suggested), which proved to be no more comfortable for my 6’3’ husband. We, too, had reservations about blocking the fireplace, but they were overshadowed by practicality. We wanted to pile on top of one another to watch movies, and we wanted a place to host slumber parties and pillow fights. I was home alone when the couch was delivered and I admit, I panicked a bit. It’s big. But when the rest of the family arrived, they were enthralled, as were the neighbors and every other guest we’ve ever hosted. While the fireplace seems to be the focal point of the room from these pictures, it’s actually not; the back wall of our home has three sets of French doors leading to an outdoor dining area and the lake. The fireplace is the last thing anyone notices upon entry. (So yes, sassydo there is an outdoor living space, but it was draped in Halloween decor at the time these pictures were taken. )
In response to ChrisGal’s comment on the inefficient use of space, I agree the design is less than ideal. We’ve done no structural renovation since purchasing the house. We simply embraced it “as is.”
Jessica
I love the message board, color and the door at the kitchen area :) most
My parents lived at Lake Malibu before I was born. Great place! I especially love your kitchen with the mixture of the elegant chandelier and the bulletin board. Love all the bright colors against the white. Love it!
That sofa is PERFECT. I am so so so jealous :)
Your house is so beautiful! It is so elegant yet homey. I love love love it! I especially adore your kitchen (chandelier and bulletin board), and classy bathroom. Good idea with letter towel hooks! Thanks for sharing!! I'm so glad your kids enjoy the space (how sweet that one dreams of living in a house similar).
Wait, Jessica, where is the couch from?! It's so deep! I've never seen a couch that deep and would so so love one someday! Share, please!
I can't find that couch on Pottery Barn :(
The couch is from Pottery Barn. It was called 3-Piece Pacific Sectional. Not sure if they still make it...
And to ladymantle, luckily, our children are not traipsers. Though they do occasionally beg to sleep on the couch. And I can't blame them.
thanks JLBB, beautiful home by the way :)
May I ask the square footage of your living room? I read that couch is almost 6feet deep, wow
i just wish that there were more pictures so i could absorb every detail - it's really amazing! next time i drive through agoura hills on the way to hockey in LA i'll feel like i know someone there! the house is just that homey!
abc123: There is approx. 15ft between the fireplace and the tv... not sure of the exact dimensions.
As sson as I saw that first picture with the couch I knew where it was from. I have been begging to get that couch for our basement when we finish redoing it and get the projection screen back up. I love it and the house
Beautiful...... love the kitchen and bathroom cabinets, what's the source? Great rug in the bedroom!
love <3
Holy crap. Not usually my style, though I love everything about it... this place and it's view, oi... one word, "stunning."
So in love with your home and the outside setting. Don't change anything. Would love to see the doors leading outside though.
Thanks for shairing.
I love this house too!! It looks effortless... It's not exactly my style either, but I find myself really entranced by the pictures. It looks liveable and stylish.
Oh, one other thing... I kind of love that the emphasis in the floor plan is on big rooms rather than MORE rooms. We just bought an apt that is about 1000 sq feet but THREE full bedrooms (with doors :). While we like the privacy that offers, your home looks really spacious because of the size of the rooms.
It's wonderful, you've done a great job maximizing the space. Love the letter hooks, where are they from?
gingergirl: Bathroom vanity was custom made. The 16 drawers are a must, as we have no linen closet.
NYKate: letter hooks are from anthropologie. And I believe they're still available.
Botany: The doors are difficult to photograph because of the sun and shadows, but perhaps if we ever feature the outside area of the house, I'll include photos.
Thank you to everyone for the kind comments.
Nice kitchen cabinets!!!
Gorgeous!!!!
this is so not my style...and i LOVE IT.
This just looks so lived in and loved, but still serene. Really, really nice. And I would sleep on that couch if I were a guest, no problem - just to get a glimpse of that outstanding view!
Absolutely LOVE it. Great personality, it looks like a HAPPY home. Good for inspiration!!
Im so curious to see the exterior now ;)
Love this post. The guilded accents are great in the small space. My family of 5 moved from a large house on acreage to a 900 s.f. condo on Miami Beach last year. Oddly enough, we have never enjoyed our home more. We kept only the decor we love and the things we need. Sure, storage is a challenge, but the lifestyle it has afforded us is worth it!
Kristy
http://life-simplicitas.blogspot.com/
Absolutely stunning!! You have made such great use out of all the space and I think the fireplace looks fabulous and is still a focal point with the pictures and large candle sconces rising above the mantle. Looks very lived in and loved. Great job and thanks for sharing!
really inspiring! would love to see a floorplan, too.
Really pretty! So many nice details. Love the rugs!
This is an amazing use of small space. My boyfriend and I are about to move to a space that will have a similar open plan. I like how you mentioned the toys are in a bench in the kitchen and even the nightstands are storage. I need to gain some heart to store things where they don't necessarily "belong" - you've shown that it can be done in a tasteful way.
http://www.fthats.wordpress.com
This is my dream home. The decor and the location. Comfortable, unpretentious, not over-styled, with a view of the lake. The only thing I would do differently is probably add more touches of color in the living room/bedroom.
The interior of the house is well-designed, you could never believe this is only a small area. Everything looks comfy...and the kitchen is the best place of all..love it!
http://www.houseblogs.net/community/extension.php?PostBackAction=HomePage
omg, that couch looks SOOOOOOOOOOO comfortable!
While I agree with the rest off the commenters that it's indeed an extremely lovely home -- I don't see how 1100 square feet is small for a family of four. I live in a highrise in a very nice neighborhood in San Francisco. Our building has a lot of families...yet most of the apartments are 675 square feet 2 bedrooms. My cousin and her husband live in the Netherlands has 3 children and the 5 of them have slightly more than 800 square feet. My own house there was 1100 square feet and would have been lovely and spacious for a family of four.
Gorgeous! So beautiful! Love it.
While I like the interior, I didn't quite get it until I saw the view. Such a serene, beautiful place. I agree with the son who wants to live in a small house on the lake, instead of a big house in the city! Me too! Looks like a wonderful house to live in. Enjoyed the tour, thank you. (Can't wait to see more of the outside!)
Nice place - I grapple with living in a smaller house with 2 pre-teen boys myself but compared to their friends mcmansions - where you could honestly not see your child or any of his friends for the entire day - or hear them...I am kind of embracing it more....my 13 yo first cd purchase? the ramones. At any rate -- really really nice place - lucky you!
Jessica, your home is both elegant and beautiful...I'm in love.
You stated that the bathroom vanities are custom-made. Can you let us know the name/contact info for the maker? Thanks!
Gorgeous!
Please tell me where you got the cool RUSH poster in the bedroom? I love it!! Thanks!