Name: Warren Techentin and Mimi Techentin
Location: Los Feliz, California
Size: 3600 Square Feet
Years lived in: 4 years
When I visit an architect's home, I sometimes find it to be an untouchable piece of art. However, Warren and Mimi's lovely home was very welcoming and showed signs of life and children really enjoying the space. I asked Warren how he kept the twin babies from not pulling all the books off the shelves or trying to climb the library ladder. He just shrugged it off to the notion of "that's just what kids do." Nothing in the home is too precious or fragile to restrict living and enjoying the home to the fullest.
The unexpected elements and furnishings in Warren and Mimi's space make it playful and unique. Warren decided to use rock climbing holds in lieu of a railing for the narrow staircase up to his office. We made light of the ax on the dining room table and just hoped that dinner party guests enjoy their meal. There definitely isn't a lack of color, which continues with bubblegum pink kitchen cabinetry inner shelving. Warren and Mimi's home is typical or ordinary - I wouldn't say so - it is the epitome of personal!
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: I do not subscribe to any particular concept of style. Our work embraces new forms, geometries, materials, and technologies. However, I also believe in the simultaneity of all styles. A Louis XIV chair is an amazing chair and does not need to be reinvented. I enjoy how cities, buildings, and even spaces in a house change over time and I find myself appreciating the disjuncture and the effects of bricolage between the different periods and sensibilities. I have been greatly inspired by the city of Los Angeles which is famously eclectic, design-forward, and under-pinned by a rich history of creating strong inside-outside spatial relationships which incorporate landscape elements. We try to nurture a casual, easy flowing relationship between spaces and parts - giving each specific characters, while playing up subtle difference and contrast through colors and material palettes defined by both rough and refined surfaces.
Inspiration: The trees surrounding the site
Favorite Element: The library - more bookshelves than I've ever had
Biggest Challenge: Designing a house for kids before my wife and I had kids
What Friends Say: They say they like the flow, that it's a great party house, and they like the arrangement of windows that allow for good breezes.
Biggest Embarrassment: I haven't bought a new mailbox yet.
Proudest DIY: I made all of the shelves and the stairway with a table saw that I set up in the living room. It was really fulfilling.
Biggest Indulgence: Asking artists to design a dining room table and a chandelier
Best advice: Do not attempt to live in the house as you remodel it.
Dream source: My wife on the internet
Resources of Note:
APPLIANCES
- GE Monogram Oven: Serv-Well Appliances in Glendale, Calfornia
- Bosch Dishwasher: Serv-Well Appliances in Glendale, Calfornia
- Kitchen Aid Refrigerator: Serv-Well Appliances in Glendale, Calfornia
HARDWARE
FURNITURE
ACCESSORIES
RUGS & CARPETS
TILES AND STONE
LIGHTING
PAINT
WINDOW TREATMENTS
BEDS
- Custom designed by myself built by Artistic Concepts
- Oeuf
- Fawn and Forest
- West Elm
ARTWORK
FLOORING
- Hernandez Brothers for wood & bamboo flooring
OTHER
Thanks Warren and Mimi!
Images: Bethany Nauert
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Quite lovely. Although, I'm a 911 dispatcher, so while the ax on the dining room table is a conversation starter for some, it's job security for me.
Haha A+ to the dream source answer! I'm pretty sure my husband would say something similar about me.
Love all the color! Ther green flowered shower curtain is awesome. I think I would need a real railing rather than rock climbing holds (though those are awesome!) because I am clumsy :(
Damn, what an amazing house! So many elements inside and out that are indeed unexpected yet flow well. I personally love the inside painted pink cabinets in the kitchen (it semi-validates the turquoise ones in my kitchen), the green painted windows (I have been debating painting my windows pink, now I think i will!), and I totally dig the deep purple in the twins' room.
Also, the fence around the pool is gorgeous and I would love to have something like that as a front yard fence for my house. So much to be inspired about here!
The only thing I don't like is the outside facade of the house. I think that kind of modern facade look will be very quickly dated.
Hi Warren and Mimi,
Congrats on your home!
We are in the process of designing a dining nook. Would you be able to tell me the dimensions of your silvery/grey wonder?
Much appreciated and greeting from Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
Sinead
That bookshelf = DROOL!
wow! amazing tour- i love the stairs & all the bookshelves!
This was truly an inspiration for me-I love seeing people who can be playful and personal with their homes. It was interesting to see the artistic flow of the place-a lot of unexpected details and creativity. I love the way they have somehow kept the organic nature of the house in place, but somehow with textures, prints and colors made it very modern and livable. Great tour!
Wow, your home is beautiful! I loved looking at each and every photo-- so original and inviting. The green window trim is fantastic!
Wow. I can't say enough good things about this home!
Every single picture made me smile. Especially the bathrooms!
The design choices are super clever. Kudos!
I've always wanted giant bookshelves with a ladder. Probably since Beauty and the Beast came out.
wowowow
can we talk about the designer axe trend?
amazing, lovely, wonderful. and great photos!
Wow. This is a great home. Especially the outside choices of metal - glass - concrete and wood. This is the ultimate modern dream home. Congratulations to the architects and home owners - A job well done! Inside and outside!
Love this house, and love the fresh, unexpected colors. I also like how it all feels very original and natural, without being too "decorated" or following too strictly all the design trends...
Bookmark.
In picture seven: what material is the fireplace white covering? Tiles or what? Anche the blacK base, is it marble? I love it, so simple, original and cool.
I want your house. Now.
Stunning. When my apartment grows up it wants to be your home!
Please tell me about the bathroom wall: is that black wildflower/shrubbery a stencil or wallpaper?? Where can I find it?
This is pretty much my dream house. Fantastic decorating style- sleek, yet comfy & inviting. Beautiful!
Hands down, one of my favorite house tours to date. Honestly, the only thing I didn't like was the axe. I dunno, maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough to get it but it seems really silly. Everything else was lovely, though. Great use of colors!
Gorgeous. I drooled over every picture.
beautiful. and the fact that i can identify ikea items makes the home feel accessible and down to earth, ironically.
LA really does have the best house tours.
Love the windows close to the floor in the kids' room. Great little detail and consideration for the little ones
I'd like to know more about that chandelier, please!
Mao as decor again...I really don't get the appeal.
An axe and two kids? Sure, why not?
But, otherwise, a lovely, personal home. Great tour.
Where can I find the ax? I think I've seen it here before. Must. Have.
I'm with PleinJane on this one. This home is just fantastic, but they must have some really well behaved kids not to touch that thing...
I love the clean lines and color combos!
And that axe...! Which reminds me, do you like Huey Lewis and the News? Their early work was a little too New Wave for my taste...
;^)
Lovely place. Thank you for sharing!
Nice house, but 3600 square feet? This is Apartment Therapy, right?
I mean, clearly people are interesting in posting and seeing such things, but they seem a bit out of place in a site focusing on small/urban living. Maybe you could make another AT offshoot for extravagant houses?
Eeka- the sf. thing has been discussed on every large house posting here on AT.
Don't read to much into the size of the house.
It's the ideas that can be taken from some of these home and mixed in with "small" living spaces or apt.
Maybe you can find something on here (this home) that is the answer to a certain space in your home. Maybe you can find a fabrics, furniture etc. that can be incorporated in living style.
I wish AT would leave the sf. out of their post so this topic can finally take a rest.
I think there's something wrong with the link to enter the house tour. The tour keeps trying to load until I get this message: 504 Gateway Time-out
(I tried getting in using Firefox and Safari.)
maddux, i am having the same issue
Same problem here, maddux and leahjulia. Sure hope it's repaired soon -- I'd love to see this tour!
Link works now -- thank you! Great house; so many lovely colours and details. I love the huge windows.
SO AMAZING!! I love everything about this house and the way you have decorated. Top of the list of my dream home. Thank you for sharing.
That was fun to see, thanks for showing us.
I was thinking "Dexter" when I saw the ax and then saw Warren's picture (LOL). But seriously? The ax is cutting all the wonderful feng shui energy here.
I'm in love with this place.
Does anyone know where the modern train station clock can be sourced from? It's my DREAM clock.
I love the wallpaper in the kitchen! The house is so charming and colorful. But yeah, I'm not sure I understand the ax...if it were mounted on the wall or something, then yes. But just laying out on the table as art? I don't get it. Please explain :)
i'm casting another vote to axe the axe. i'm sure it cost the owners a lot and they're proud of it, but the entire artisanal axe trend is bewildering to me... bums me out to see one featured here, so proudly forced into a space where it just looks wrong.
From a person who believes you can never have too many books, Warren and MiMi have the right idea when it comes to bookshelves!
@tuscan: The white fireplace tiles are by Heath Ceramics: See the Oval tiles from the Dimensional Collection
This house is so bright and cheerful. It also looks easy to clean.
I cheered when I saw the library. I get very annoyed when so-called decorating shows/magazines describe books as "clutter" or attempt to "style" bookshelves. The key is to well-designed storage!
The Svan highchairs are real winners. My son has one and still uses it at age six (without the tray, of course). From the very beginning, our child was able to sit right at our dining table. It's beautiful and really grows with your child.
That coffee table, however, looks like a headbuster. I'm surprised the Techentins have something so angled.
Really wonderful, inside and out. And I've gotten some ideas for my own place. Thank you. One question: I love the little cubby built into the bottom stair of the staircase. Is that just a bit of whimsy, or did you have a practical use in mind?
Speechless.
very beautiful. your children's rooms are modern but still warm and fun. also-- I LOVE that bookcase.
No one's ever going to criticize your cooking with that ax laying around! :P
Beautiful, beautiful home. I especially love everything about the kitchen.
a great tour, full of wonderful ideas that are readily incorporated into smaller spaces. I just can't decide my favorite part. Warm, personal and modern.
"From a person who believes you can never have too many books, Warren and MiMi have the right idea when it comes to bookshelves!"
Thank you, PamsDezines. I agree 100%.
@eeka: larger homes can be great inspiriation - especially with how they framed the doors with bookshelves (extra storage space anyone?), and you can emulate the functionality in a small space well very well.
@btoddster: OMG -your reference KILLED me! Lovely house! (It totally fits with my aesthetic of cold, cruel lines -at least that's how hubs describes it. Although he was drooling over all of those bookcases fo' sho'.) But all I kept thinking was 2 babies and an AXE??
whoa...pretty effing amazing. thanks for sharing. m
I hate to be "that one" but something about this tour, I don't know if it was the pictures, or because I never got a good idea for the layout of the house, but the tour made me feel a little jumpy. Although I envy that library and I love bright colors, I wasn't left wanting to spend time in this space. Although I must say, I like the axe, and to anyone who is worried about small children around an axe, kitchen knives are much more dangerous around small children. Axes are heavy! (and the blade was covered)
I loved the tour until image 10, and then also felt that in some places it just felt a little cold, and something off about it. Love all the natural light in it though and the wood on the stairs is beautiful
Just beautiful inside and out- attractive, inviting, warm and gracious. A complete triumph!!! Well done!
Best house tour ever.
@erikakn: thank you very much for the information.
Amazing home! I'm in awe of the bookcases and the staircase...excellent work! Also, I would love to know the source for the sink in the bathroom ( the bathroom with the black & white botanical wallpaper). thanks!
where are those two little heads on top of the bookcase from? lovely home, love the green windows :)
All the books in the bookshelves were just bought for posing as intellectuals and were never read.
Love the house!
love your bookshelves and the black and white wallpaper in the kitchen. Nice place!
great house! great use of color! great use of materials! love it!
Wow.
When I “grow-up” this is the house I want to live in.
Everything, top to bottom, from the geometry of the house, the color of the window frames, the book collection, the antique figurines and even the vintage seamstress’ model - ESPECIALLY the giant Swiss Railroad clock – all are basically what I have always envisioned to be part of a “perfect” house, but had never seen it in one single location. The house looks lived in, colorful, warm and chic, all at the same time.
I have seldom identified on such a personal level with the aesthetic sense of someone else.
Mimi and Warren, your house is wonderful.
Thank you for the tour.
THE PINK SETTEE!!!
PLEASE PLEASE TELL US WHERE YOU GOT IT...beautiful house - amazing collection of books and the most extraordinary way to display them. thanks for this! BUT more about that pink settee...please!
Beautiful and creative home-I love it! Where is the table in the entry from if you don't mind sharing?
Love the tile in the gigantic shower, too!
Love this house, even the axe! Can someone tell more about the kitchen counters? They are callin my name.
While this house is certainly unique, 3600 square feet seem to be rather excessive for a family of 4. I would think it would be possible to be just as comfortable in half that amount of space... "Bigger is Better" is often the mindset of many people living in America.
I always love architect's homes. I found myself studying each photo to take in all the details. Love the twins' room!
I am so jealous of the bookshelves and all the books. I am also really jealous of that pool and outdoor space. The house is really well-designed. While there are things I would change if it was MY house, it's a great house and obviously suits them well.
I went through the photos 3 times. Gorgeous. Everything is incredible...so well thought out but accessible and not forced. Every room. Every detail. Truly a delight to tour your home. Thank you.
We loved reading your comments. This is our first time participating in an online tour and I find it very interesting and supportive, so thank you all. I have some answers to some questions people had. Forgive me if I did not get to all of them.
To all: yes, the designer axe thing is super trendy right now. We received one for Christmas and placed it on the table for a conversation piece. Judging form the comments it definitely worked! FYI in case we appear super irresponsible or 'Dexteresque', our kids are toddlers and can't reach it yet.
to flamingopink: The dims are 5'-8" x 4'-5" table is 2'-6"x4'-5"
to tuscan: The tiles are Heath tiles. Black base is painted poplar.
To Elizabeth II: The Wallpaper we found at Walnut. It is apparently hand silk-screened by a woman in Brooklyn.
To gummi: the chandelier is made by artist, Pae White
To maddux: yes, the teeny cubby is the end of a small set of book cases which support the right side of the stair. We normally have small liitle things in there for display, but the children can reach those so we have removed everything and they put their own things in now.
@sarahfresh: the sink is from Duravit.
@Pipstar: the heads I picked up in Boston at a thrift store when I lived there. One of them looked like my landlord while the other his brother. He thought it was funny.
@kingtiny: The pink setee is a re-upholstered find of my wife's when she lived in New York.
@tgdesigns: the table was made by Roy McMakin.
@joyce42: kitchen counters are sealed Calacatta(sp?) marble and a custom terrazzo blend we had made from a terrazzo specialist in Los Angeles.
Love the house!!! I would be so happy cooking in this kitchen.
@Kimberly K.
The clock is from Mondaine (http://www.mondaine.com), they are the company that manufactures the (very precise!) clocks in all railway stations of Switzerland!
This is FANTASTIC.
Anyone know the or a source for the other bathroom sink? I have a 1949 sink like this that I need to replace. http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/warren-techentin-house-tour/item/218176
@nampok: The sink is from Duravit
Love your house. I'm wondering if the reading lamps over the bed are standing Tolomeos or in the wall? Thanks!
Please tell me how you did the black and white bathroom wall???!! Wallpaper? (in a bathroom, can I do that??) Stencil?
How does the ladder turn the bookshelf corner? Can you please clarify? Intrigued - I have a library ladder in my apt and would like it to do the same thing
This is perfection. I would love to bring my kids along and take a vacation here....