apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love this house/house-tour. It is so inspiring - my dream home if it was about half the size.

It's so hard to have to see these pictures of people living in abject poverty lol. No but seriously, gorgeous house. Some really choice pieces in their furniture collection.

3500 sf for 3 people...
(Shakes head sadly)

What made this an organic remodel? Or is organic referring to the garden and neutral colors of the interior?

Absolutely lovely. I want to curl up on that fireplace bench and read a book.

IM IN LOVE... it makes my want (more like need) for an Eichler all the more strong!

Beautiful! What a gem of a house! I love the built in seating next to the fireplace.

Fantastic & Perfection and DREAMY to say the least...please do enjoy on my behalf~

It is a very beautiful home. I would of not painted the ceilings and fireplace white, left it more natural. The flooring has too much repeat in pattern for my eyes, cork would of been nicer.
The furniture looks so pristine did they actually go out and buy all new for this house?

THIS IS MY DREAM HOME! I can honestly say I wouldn't change a thing. You truly gave the house it's own voice. Just Gorgeous. Thanks for the inspiration.

As for the size,

maybe they are planning to have a large family? My grandmother had about the same size house and she had seven kids. Either way, it's their house.

Lovely home! Most (if not, all) MCM homes here in Sacramento are in suburban areas not suited for raising chickens (or other farm animals for that matter) so I absolutely love that you can have your MCM home and have chickens too! Oh, to dream...

absolutely stunning. I really admire the owners' impeccable taste and their (and their designers!) ability to converge iconic mid-century design with more modern touches. Beautiful!

bepsf: Check out our earlier 500 sq. ft. house tour...the yin to this yang :)

Anyone know where I can get that gorgeous dining table or something like it? I see that it is by World Wide Originals, but they seem to be a wholesaler. I live in Seattle. Thank you!!

OMG - I want to poke out my eyes with envy. This place is insanely, insanely beautiful. Hard to take.

Loooove that dining table.

seattleaileen: I have seen something similar at roomservicestore.com for $5k. Or you might try CB2's darjeeling table which is sort of similar.

Here's the thing, of course I love lots of aspects of this house, but it's so MCM that I wonder where is the personality? The outside has tons of personal charm, but the inside just is. For me anyway.

...And we have a WINNER!!!

seattleaileen- this guy is up near you and does amazing work, I had a reclaimed piece made for a project I was working on in Oregon.
http://www.chadhaus.com/about-chadhaus/

I wish they had more modernist ranches in my neck of the woods. The house had me drooling and then have chickens too! I'm soooo jealous.

"I want to curl up on that fireplace bench and read a book."

I hope you're short - the bottom of that overhead cabinet is at a height where decapitation is a real threat...

Thanks bemyescape and LoriSF-- those looks like good leads. I've been keeping my eye out for a dining table for a while and something like this is exactly what I've been waiting for!

Stunning home! And I don't even like mid-century modern.

Although, being a mother of a 15 month old myself, I couldn't see my son surviving an hour in that house. Oh look GLASS! STAIRS! GLASS AGAIN! A backyard CLIFF! They must have very well behaved toddlers.

I love the landscaping. I live in San Diego and worked in the landscape business and I really can appreciate it when people use drought tolerant plants. That being said the house feels a little bit too "designer" and lacks warmth for my tastes. Thanks for sharing regardless.

I think I have died and gone to heaven. Love this.

This is BEAUTIFUL. Normally, I'm not really drawn to neutral color palettes, but this is nothing short of stunning.

Thank you for sharing!

I am speechless.

If you knew me...that's HUGE.

Beautiful project! Congratulations. One thing I was curious about... I didn't spot any notes on the vent hood. I would have opted for Miele's retractable hood -- introduced at the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry show -- that elevates when not in use to maximize great views. (It looks a bit like the one you chose.)

Here's some more info about it for anyone else interested:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2008/08/top-kitchen-products-from-kbis-2008.html

great home!--on so many levels..love your restraint in decor choices and warmth in the space..
i have a question..the small circular cushions on the floor in the nursery--are they retail available? I would love to find them..much thanks..

I truly love this house. I disagree with the loriSF about the ceilings... and the floors, but that's just personal taste. I think The painted ceilings can really brighten up a space and it's characteristic of this style home. Although I do like wood ceilings I think It works in this case.

My only question is where they bought their dining table? I have one similar but dark stained. I picked it up in Santa Barbara at Celadon Place. I saw a table while I was there that looked very much like it.

Thanks for all of your kind comments! To answer a couple of questions...you can get info on the stove hood here: http://www.futurofuturo.com:80/island_mounted_Plane_81.html. We needed an extra large one (48 in. I think?) which Miele didn't make. This one worked out great.

The little round cushions in our son's room are from Ikea from last summer. Zid Zid also makes some that are similar.

And the dining table had to be ordered through a designer. It was very reasonable, as I recall.

Jora,
I love your house, it is beautiful. We are in the process of furnishing our new home with some of the same style. Would you mind sharing where you bought the sofa, the two leather chairs and the credenza in the living room.

We are expecting our second baby and I have been looking for nice and comfortable rocker for a long time. I love the one you have in your son's room. Is it comfortable enough for nursing? where did you buy it?

Thank you.

This house is amazing! I love the exterior more than the interior, but overall, its just quite amazing.

Perfection.

also jora, where did you get the little table that goes with the ikea cushions in the kid's room?

sooooo gooooorgeous - I think this is the most amazing house I've seen on this site. Just in love with it.

And bepsf - you're right, let's tear down all the huge houses and use lots of resources to build teeny ones. I know that's snarky, but geez! How can you not just enjoy the beauty?!

My dream house, right down to the chickens pecking away in the yard.

of course this is a lovely le corbusier-style house.

however, if i want to see modern mansions where no expense was spared, i would subscribe to dwell.

please AT, keep it smart and small!

lovely architecture, gorgeous interiors...I know how my dream house should be!

Might be able to get a tax credit for those farm animals.
I think we get a property tax break in Kansas if we have a small herd of goats in the front yard. Beats having to mow the lawn.

Very nice pad.

The bent wood high chair from SVAN is sweet.

Beautiful and I love the chickens.

What a beautiful home. Love it all! Great inspiration! It is really one of the best houses featured in AT. I just can't stop looking at every sigle detail. Stunning!
Congratulations to Jora and Bryan on their job, you guys, have great taste. (Jora you have a lovely blog btw!)
Delikatissen

Perfect in every way! This would be my dream home too, right down to the chickens. I'm glad to see that others in this post feel the same way too. Seems like many folks these days at AT are tired of, or dislike mid-century modern. To me, it is the paramount of modern design - timeless. Congratulation on such a wonderful place! If it were mine I would never leave the house.

this house is on point!!!!!

i wouldnt mind being the babysitter. seriously.
the house is gorgeous.

and the MCM is done in a way where you are not bored ( contrary to a comment made earlier)

if you cant see personality in this house, then i think you are blind or close to it. or perhaps you are seeing green because this house is awesome.

the fact that its big and its only 3 ppl..SO WHAT. maybe they are making more babies right now, we dont know. so why knock it?

maybe they like ample space.
i know i would love it.

" honey i will see you later in the east wing of the house, i have to go tend to my chickens"

CHICKENS...that was the icing on the cake for me, since last night i was mentioning...i want some chickens in my yard.

love love love this house tour.

well played AT, well played

eh..

Yes, it is beautiful but, this is more of a
"Look what I can BUY!"
than a
"Look what I can DO" statement.

The chickens are cool.

beautiful!

THIS HOUSE IS GORGEOUS! (and I don't like MCM) I love the organic influences - I think they make the MCM less conspicuous. One thing: these people are flush, that's not a criticism, I'm happy that they somehow managed to pull off spending a boatload of money and making it look livable and down to earth. Good job!

So lovely. And that dining table is the perfect way to add texture.

Personally, I like seeing a wide range of spaces, from small to large, and from professionally designed to DIY. Inspiration comes from many places.

The sofa can be purchased here: http://farrelli.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=225

The leather chairs from the living room here: http://www.inmod.com/bnt-zurich-swivel-chair.html

The kids low table is by Zid Zid. I'm not sure if it's still available. We did haven some problems with it (poor construction).

The rocking chair is VERY comfortable, although for nursing, a traditional glider would be better. I can't remember where we got it, but I will try to find out.

There's no question that this is a beautiful home. But I agree with hutchhalo--it's easy to make a house look good when you're throwing all kinds of money at the problem.

I also don't see a lot of "organic" here outside of the garden, and I kind of wish AT would stop throwing words like that and "eco" around in the context of massive homes that consume a lot of land and energy.

On a positive note, I looked at Jora's blog and it is very sweet--I wish these photos reflected more of her personality. The house comes across as much more sterile than one would expect after getting a glimpse into her family's life.

Jora, your house is beautiful!

I am getting plans together for my bathroom and love the tile on your bathroom walls... Is it glass or glazed tile? Manufacturer?

It's absolutely stunning. What do they do for a living??

This was lovely to look at, but not very useful to me. I come to apartment therapy because it's useful. I'd be disappointed if it tended more in this direction.

No offense to the owners of this house. As I said, it is lovely.

How lovely!

i don't mind size at all when it's done right and this clearly is.

love the xeroscaped yard vs. the veggie garden and chickens. love the entry steps. love the light. love the surfaces and the architecture. really nice. thanks.

also, i see your organic tag clearly. natural wood tones, natural surfaces, natural light, air, xeroscaping, vegetable garden, chickens. organic does not mean "green" or even "environmental correct or sustainable", it means "simple, healthy, natural, derived from living things and nature". this place may not be leed certified (who knows it may be?) but it is organic.

Lovely, but redesign alone has cost more than I would be able to spend just on the purchase of a home, so while it's pleasant to look at, not so helpful in terms of things I might use. It's also hard to envision kids in this place, due to the pristine condition.

I'm not necessarily a size queen, but this house is simply stunning. I used to live in San Diego (now reside in the Dc metro area) and am curious about which neighborhood this house is in.

One thing I miss about San Diego and my hometown, LA, is that, for most of the year, the distinction between indoor and outdoor living can, if you so choose, be virtually nonexistent because of the climate. I miss sitting around a pool (not in swimsuits) at a friend's house on Sunday afternoons drinking margaritas in December.

I like the dining table, but not in that space, too woody.

I really think that black ladderback chairs would have looked better with the dining table, all the white is to matchy matchy. Like, I can't think.

This house is absolutely perfect, perfect, perfect.

I don't know why so many people made comments on the 3,500sq.f. surface though... Ok, it's not a 700sq.f. NYC or Paris apartment but it is not a 10,000sq.f. house either. I think even the size of this house is perfect!!!

IsabelleS, I agree a hundred percent. Besides, it's four people in the house, not 3. Did y'all miss the two rooms with two cribs? Not that it matters. It's not as if they had the house built for them. It was already built, long time ago. What would be a better option? Tear it down? Yeah, there's good use of resources. I think they did a fantastic job of using plants that go with the arid climate, growing their own food, etc. Being pretentious about anything is unattractive.

I passed this one by the first time--the main picture looked like so many others. It just didn't wow me. The second time around I went for the tour. Wow! A tent on this spot would be beautiful. I love the landscaping and thank you for the many pictures of it. The house is also very nice and I AM short, so the fireplace bench would probably work just fine. I just want to lie there and read a book--don't need much headroom for that.

Sadly, on a day when I see they've raised my student loan payments and the airfare I need for next month's conference trip is twice what I expected, it is painfully clear that I will never, ever have anything that approaches this level of lovely.

Where did I go wrong?

Great space, great view. Congratulations, enjoy!

This place is a gem! I would have chosen colored chairs and bar stools for the dining area, but that's just me.

As usual, it seems that the have-nots are hating on the haves. Just because you will never be able to live in a 3500 sq. ft. home, doesn't mean you should criticize those that can.

Ugh! I hate it!

But then, that's only because I'm exceptionally envious. Exceptional home!

Enjoy it always!

the facade of the house doesn't look interesting or inviting. but everything about the interior and backyard is magnificent. modern yet simple and home. the furniture are not all too expensive making it possible for middle class families to have such an amazing home thats affordable.

mmmmmmm... those beams :)

Just a note: we like to mix in tiny apartments alongside more spacious dwellings from time to time, because good decor and organizing ideas/ inspirations can come from either and everything inbetween (especially here in Southern California, where smaller space living isn't as common as in other population big cities). Don't discount a home just because of its size...from the years I've been doing house tours, I've been wowed by spacious and smaller space dwellings alike and have discovered many ideas to emulate that had nothing to do with the square footage even though I live in a smaller apartment myself.

Just buying stuff and throwing it together never works as cohesively as we see here...it takes an eye to match decorative and furnishings with the interior space. And to be honest, I've found it can be more difficult to decorate larger homes than smaller (my miniscule SF studio apartment was way easier to decorate than the 3,500 sq. ft. Los Feliz spanish villa-style home I was shared with an ex). There's always something to be learned from spaces, big and small.

I love it! This is just gorgeous...grrr… I wish I could get my home to look half way like it. You guys have awesome style.

As a friend of Jora and Bryan's, and someone who spends a lot of time in this house, these comments are really interesting to me. A lot of people mention the money spent - but you really have to take into consideration that this was an old house that needed work. It was built in the 1960s, and had only been upgraded in a piecemeal way since (they bought it from family of the original builder.) Jora and Bryan pulled together all of the information they could find about the house (it was in Sunset magazine when it was new) and restored it to its former glory. They moved from a 1000 square foot cottage, so they had to buy some furniture, and they had to replace all of the windows with safety glass, restore granite, replace floors, restore the ceilings, replace the kitchen, etc. The trees outside the windows and the lush vegetation keep things soft, even with all the modern furniture - no need to worry things are sterile. The kids have the run of the place, so it's seldome as pristine as it looks in the photos - though it's always amazing. I love hanging out at that kitchen counter, just drinking an espresso or feeding baby J oatmeal.

The home is also in a historic and rather low key part of San Diego - it's not in La Jolla or Solana Beach, it's in Mt. Helix, in East County overlooking El Cajon. It's integrated with its surroundings in a unique way, and doesn't feel pointlessly large, like many big houses do. These things don't really come through in the photos, but they definitely influence the feel of the house, and make it a really lovely and pleasant place to be.

It's a lovely house, in person and in print, and the modest owners and their little ones couldn't be sweeter.

probably one of the coolest and most inspirational houses. So cool. I am usually a very traditional decorator. But those pictures have sold me on midcentury modern. Also, the chickens. So cute! We are considering getting some too!

That wooden table is awesome. Also that HREF="http://www.replacementcounters.com">nj countertops by caesarstone are always a good choice.

holy crap!

unoriginal.

but then i'm so totally bored with MCM. it wasn't that interesting the first time around and in it's resurrection it's usually juvenile.

.......chickens and goats even....now THERE's a good idea! this place could use a little life!

I tried the World Wide Originals website for the table price and couldn't get much info. Anyone else find it or something close?

Haters!!! :(

I love this house. I love MCM. I love the fact this house is in my neighborhood, not in La Jolla but in La Mesa. I look forward to owning a similar home one day!

Furthermore, the open bright and airy feel of this house seems to be the perfect place to raise children. I believe this house is not only part of the past but will represent the homes of the future. These style home are what modern day families are looking for, not Tudor or Colonial.

I love the architecture of this house. The big windows and open floor plan feels welcoming with nice flow. I esp like the bathroom with the tiles. But, it's a little too much DWR. I tend to gravitate toward mixing in a few classic MCM pieces with other eclectic pieces for a unique look. Everything doesn't have to coordinate exactly. I like the landscaping too, low water use for n area in a drought.

i thought apartment therapy was supposed to make me feel good about my small home
:_(

(no disrespect... that house is fan-freakin-tastic!!!)

The built-in bench next to the fireplace is divine. The whole house is. I would have loved to see the "befores" so I could understand the extent of the transformation.

My only other wish is that more of the family's personality shone through. As it is it seems a little too perfect. :)

awesome space. Love it!
joel

This home is absolutely beautiful. Everything is done to perfection; the inside, outside, etc. Thank you for sharing! It is obvious that your children will be growing up and sent off to college from this house because I can't imagine ever wanting to move or leave such a glorious space. Thanks so much for sharing!

What an amazing house!
The outside is just to die for.
Precision design , beautiful juxtaposition of landscape,level ,
wow, I am pretty much speechless!

Wowowow! I *love* this. The windows, the view, the garden is spectacular. And so appropriate for the region. I want to sit in that little poolside bench all day...or maybe on the deck...or maybe in that fireside sofa...its all so inviting.

Your home is incredible. You have done a beautiful job of restoring it, allowing it's materials and design to speak for itself, and you have placed some personal touches on it as well. I am a designer and could move into this space as is. For me, that is something. I appreciate that you didn't do what so many do and paint everything white, then throw in primary colored furnishings. Your home has class.

I live in a mcm home in Oklahoma (there aren't that many!) in a neighborhood called Lortondale and have one year old twin boys. Unfortunately we will be moving soon, but I have absolutely loved watching my boys experience living in a unique home with walls of glass. They see animals and trees and sunshine and nature, even when inside, and it has been a magical experience. I imagine your children will grow up with this and really appreciate it one day. Enjoy the payoff of your loving restoration and all the hardwork!

Regarding size and money, I think it is unfair to discredit their hard work just because they have both. They have still accomplished something I would dream of. And I'd much rather see a large restoration than even a small new construction.

The owners seem to have pretty good taste, but I just don't feel much personality shining through. When I see this tour and try and think what kind of person lives in this house, all it tells me is that it is someone who likes designer furniture and reading interior design magazines.

If you had the money, you could almost just walk into one or two stores and walk out with everything there just as it is.

Really like the lighting on the fireplace bench though.

This is an amazing home and a wonderful sunny place for a family. With the added background from friends in previous comments, you have to acknowledge that the owners put true effort and research into the restoration. It's remarkable. Congratulations!

A beautiful home located on a stunning lot! Great job! You should be very proud.

Can anyone tell me what kind of wood the table is made out of that appears in the first image on this page?

This house is just GORGEOUS! THe inside and the outside just what I always dreamed of. It feels very warm to me and I really don't care how much $ went into this. It beautiful and that's all it matters, great job!

Could you tell me where did you get that wicker chair with pillows on picture 27?

I absolutely love your home! Thank you so much for the tour! It's awesome! Just curious, did you do the outdoor design yourselve? I live in San Diego too and am looking for a landscape contractor to do the design for our new house. Really appreciate it if you wouldn't mind sharing about whom did you use as I love your natural and yet modern landscape design.

Souk1501: We had Falling Waters do the landscaping...they are awesome and specialize in this sort of design (xeriscape).
http://fallingwatersweb.com/

Thanks for the great comments.

I am the Designer who worked closely with the Vess's on their new home. They were very responsive and open to my ideas.

I read a few comments about the Dining Table. I am able to provide information and sizing/pricing for that Table from the perspective Vendor.
It is manufactured of one Tree-Trunk.
Please contact: david@dkurbanliving.com if you need further assistance or quotes.

And again, thanks for the feed-back.

David (Dk urban living) www.dkurbanliving.com

What a masterpiece. It is absolutely gorgeous and the view is magnificent. It makes me feel that I have been to San Diego, although I probably never will get there. Your furnishings and landscaping blend in so well. I love the chickens. A job well done.Congratulations. It looks like a happy place to be.

Wow, I think this is beautiful, very serene, would love to live here!

Dear Jora & Bryan,
Your home is modest and elegant. I love eveything in it. Great flow between spaces and furniture choices. I have a question: Where did you get the wooden mat for the shower? I have been looking for one for ages! Please help!
Thanks and congratulations. Your place is spotless!

So glad a family with immaculate taste found this house, truly gorgeous!

Very cool indeed. I think it just needs to be "broken in" a little. Looks like a modern day version of an old Arts and Architecture spread. Perfect. Once those chairs get a little worn and the nelson lamps get a little yellow with age and the architectural pottery gets a little dirty, then you'll really be cookin'! Such a great place. I didn't read all the posts so forgive me if this question has been asked already. Did you guys decorate yourself or hire someone? If so, who? Well done.

Like nicci620 wrote above, I also love your bathroom tile. The color palette is wonderful. Would you please share the manufacturer?

Time to train your chickens to dance like the ones in an old
Wernor Herzog Film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUcTvhyof8I&feature=player_embedded
This would be fun for the kids.
Udo