A Sophisticated Family Home in California
Name: Annah Zafrani – SVP Media Promotions, Universal Pictures & Co-owner of Loren Stewart, and Benny Zafrani – Owner of Honeydew Intimates Location: Valley Village — Los Angeles, California Size: 2,500 square feet Years lived in: 11 years When Annah and Benny decided to start a family, they also decided to move to the Valley into a family-friendly neighborhood. They found a new home with a great floor plan with a logical flow, located on a quiet tree lined street.
May 29, 2013
Leah & Bill’s Modern Love Nest
Name: Bill Johnson and Leah Forester Johnson, wife, mother, and blogger Location: Venice – Los Angeles, California Size: 3,300 square feet (main house), 1,000 square feet (man cave) Years lived in: 8 years (approximately 2 years since the remodel) If you’ve ever believed in fate, keep reading: this story is for you. I am not just showing you a beautiful house on the boardwalk in Venice — this home has a special story behind it.
Oct 29, 2012
Peter’s 1892 Brooklyn Brownstone
Name: Peter Hassler: web producer by day, designer by night Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New YorkSize: Whole house roughly 4,000 square feet, owner living area roughly 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 9 years What I love most about the East Coast is the really old architecture, especially brownstones! Peter lives in my dream home, with tall ceilings, original moulding, and stunning woodwork everywhere. His mix of old and new and how it plays off each other really works in his home.
Jun 8, 2012
Adrianna & Paul’s Eclectic Perfection Home
Name: Adrianna Lopez and Paul Olson Location: Belmont Shore, – Long Beach, California Size: 1600 square feet Years lived in: 2 1/2 years I met Adrianna through a friend who shared a few pictures of her stylish home. I was blown away by the cultured aesthetic and attention to detail. When I met Adrianna in person, her fun personality matched the aesthetic and I couldn’t believe that this was her first try at interior design.
Jan 17, 2012
Adir & Marcello’s Worldly Retreat
Name: Adir Abergel and Marcello Freire Location: Mar Vista – Los Angeles, California Size: 1600 square feet Years lived in: 5 years Adir and Marcello’s home truly feels like a getaway retreat. The entire living room opens up to a fantastic outdoor area with intimate seating and hot tub. It is no surprise that they love to entertain and often stay at home versus leaving their very inviting house. Adir and Marcello’s collection of artwork is incredible.
Jan 5, 2012
Before & After: Contemporary Bathroom Remodel
I met architect Branka Knezevic at the AIA home tours a while back. When she was contracted to remodel an outdated bathroom in a ranch home, she promised me a big reveal with before and after photos. For the last few weeks she has strung me along with “the bathroom is almost finished.” Now, it is finally finished and the result was definitely worth the wait! The owner of the home wanted a bathroom that had a sleek and modern design.
Dec 16, 2011
Fi & Livvy’s Simple & Cozy “Caltrans” Home
Name: Fi Campbell and Olivia JohnsonLocation: South Pasadena, CaliforniaSize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 1 year Fi and Livvy greeted me on a cool Sunday morning with a warm fire and a beautiful breakfast. I instantly fell in love with their small and cozy home and couldn’t believe it was only 700 square feet! There were so many special moments in their home and then their backyard topped it all.Fi and Livvy live in Caltrans housing in South Pasadena.
Dec 5, 2011
Heather & Alex’s Nostalgic Cottage in the City
Name: Heather Taylor (Gallery Co-Owner & Lifestyle Blogger) and Alex de Cordoba (Gallery Co-Owner & Social Media Consultant)Location: Spaulding Square – Hollywood, CaliforniaSize: 1600 square feetYears lived in: 3 years Heather and Alex embrace all the character that their home embodies. They love their wood paneling in the bathroom and definitely appreciate the generous windows that allow for natural light.
Nov 30, 2011
Bradley’s Mini Historic Echo Park Home
Name: Bradley DuncanLocation: Echo Park – Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 500 square feetYears lived in: 1 year When Bradley moved from Chicago to Los Angeles he looked at multiple apartments and rentals. Nothing felt like home until he finally agreed to look at a newly renovated duplex in Echo Park. The home dates back to some of the first houses in Echo Park and is made from concrete. The space was small, but had original architectural features that sold him on the rental.
Nov 17, 2011
Caitlin Creates an Artist Retreat in the Hills
Name: Caitlin WyldeLocation: Echo Park – Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1500 square feetYears lived in: 13 years I fell in love with Caitlin’s home immediately as I walked through the red and white striped entryway. With her collection of vintage finds from New England and ship decor I felt like I was on vacation in the East Coast.Caitlin’s place is filled with her collections and her own art.
Nov 10, 2011
Nancy, Ethan, & Ohle’s 1903 Cabin in the Country
Name: Nancy Neil & Ethan BrostedtLocation: Carpinteria, CaliforniaSize: 1600 Square Feet – 2 bed, 2 bathYears lived in: 4 years Nancy and Ethan’s 1903 cabin features a wrap around porch and is situated on 80 acres. They rent the home from a friend whose family has owned the property since 1846. Because the home is so special and the grounds are magical, they don’t have any plans on moving anytime soon.
Nov 3, 2011
Chris & Kenny’s New Santa Barbara Home
Name: Chris Sewell and Kenny Osehan, owners of the Presidio MotelLocation: Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 4 months Last time I visited Kenny and Chris they were living in a well decorated apartment in Santa Barbara. Well…they still live in Santa Barbara, but now live in a new house. Big congrats! They moved over a lot of their furnishings, but purchased some new items to match the style of their new home.
Oct 20, 2011
Pietsie, Stephen & Charlie’s Private Barbara Bestor Rental
Name: Pietsie Campbell, Stephen Hootstein, and CharlieLocation: Echo Park – Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 800 square feetYears lived in: 4 years Pietsie and her husband had sold their house and were on the hunt for another great place. After having no luck finding a place that really inspired them, Pietsie found a gem in Echo Park. The house was only 800 square feet, but the landlord was none other than the modern architect, Barbara Bestor.
Oct 6, 2011
Samer’s 1930’s Streamline Moderne Apartment
Name: Samer FawazLocation: Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1100 square feetYears lived in: 1 1/2 years When you walk into Samer’s home you sense you are someplace special; someplace that has an interesting history. The building was originally built for actor Jack Haley, aka the Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz.” Over the years it was home to many models, rock stars and writers. In the summer of 1960, the penthouse had its most notable resident – Senator John F. Kennedy.
Sep 14, 2011
Jesse & Lucas’ Simply Stylish Home + Studio
Name: Jesse Kamm (fashion designer) & Lucas Brower (founder of AP Academics) Location: Mt. Washington – Los Angeles, California Size: 1500 square feet Years lived in: 1 1/2 years Jesse and Lucas’ home represents both their love of great design and a rather minimalist lifestyle.
Sep 12, 2011
Beatrice & Ramsey’s Cultured Echo Park Casa
Name: Beatrice Valenzuela (shoe designer and hairdresser) & Ramsey Conder (clay modeler for Tesla Motors) Location: Echo Park – Los Angeles, California Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year A good friend, Kathryn Bentley, suggested I tour Beatrice and Ramsey’s unique and well decorated Echo Park home. From the moment I walked through the door I knew their place was very special. There were no barriers between the indoor and outdoor areas.
Aug 26, 2011
Kathryn & David’s Mix of Modern & Craftsman Apartment
Name: Kathryn Bentley & David ScheidLocation: Echo Park – Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 800 square feetYears lived in: 2 years Craftsman love! Every time Kathryn and David start the search for a new apartment with more space, they are reminded how lucky they are to live in a space with the original architectural details beautifully restored.
Aug 18, 2011
Jennifer’s High/Low Home in the Hills
Name: Jennifer DyerLocation: Hollywood Hills, CaliforniaSize: 2960 square feetYears lived in: 1 1/2 years Jennifer has a designer’s eye for confidently pulling together different styles across a mixture of unique furnishings. She loves scavenger finds — her leather dining room side chair was found on the side of the road. She is not afraid to shop at high and low sources to create a personal and unique home. At the end of the day, it comes down to the design and not the price tag.
Aug 11, 2011
Interior Designer Craig Olsen’s Hancock Park Home
Name: Craig Olsen & Richard KoningsburgLocation: Hancock Park — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 3000 square feet Years lived in: 10 years An interior designer’s own home represents his or her personal style, but is also a representation of their skill set as a designer. I had heard that designer Craig Olsen’s home was very special. I patiently waited months for this tour because he wanted his space to be just perfect before he shared it with us.
Aug 1, 2011
Maryam & Max’s Modern Beachwood Canyon Home
Name: Maryam and MaxLocation: Beachwood Canyon – Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1,900 square feetYears lived in: 10 years Living in the Hollywood Hills with an unobstructed city view is one of the ultimate LA fantasies. Maryam and Max’s home is beautifully designed with modern furniture and a collection of Maryam’s pottery scattered throughout the house. My favorite room is definitely the sitting room, where they often enjoy breakfast while taking in the view.
Jul 20, 2011
Bathroom Before & After: From Carpeted to Calm & Clean
Bathrooms are supposed to be a place of calm and serenity. However, it is a little hard to find peace and happiness when the bathroom has worn carpet, outdated cabinetry, and overall screams 1970s. The owners of the condo featured above are employed in the design industry and surrounded by beautiful designs everyday. They decided it was time to take the plunge and hire an interior designer to help them completely transform their bathroom.
Jul 8, 2011
Minh & Ted’s Lovingly Renovated Home
Name: Minh and Ted Location: Miracle Mile — Los Angeles, California Size: 1,700 square feet Years lived in: 8 years When Minh and Ted received an unexpected offer on their West Hollywood place, within days they were on the hunt for a new place to call home. Their realtor found them a distressed house that required a lot of work – you never really know the scope of what you are getting into until you are deep in renovation.
Jul 6, 2011
Paul’s Mid-Century Modern Design Developed Over Time
Name: Paul Location: San Luis Obispo, California Size: 1,800 square feet (house) and 325 square feet (guest house) Years lived in: 49 years Paul’s home is filled with many classic MCM furniture pieces — such as the Eames lounge, Eames rocker, Eero Saarinen’s tulip chair and the Bertoia wire chair — which is mixed in with a great selection of modern art.
Jun 30, 2011
The Las Vegas Home of MadeByGirl’s Jen Ramos
Name: Jen Ramos Location: Henderson, Nevada Size: 2,800 square feet Years lived in: 8 months At the end of last year, Jen started the process of remodeling her kitchen. She posted a few inspirational photos and a photo of her kitchen on her design blog, Made By Girl. I was so excited to see the transformation that I kept checking in and waiting to see the final result of her new kitchen. Jen gave me a peek at the rest of her house and I couldn’t resist a full house tour.
Jun 17, 2011
Ave’s Neutral + Coral Nursery
Name: Ave RoseAge: 5 monthsLocation: Santa Monica, CARoom Size: 12′ x 9 1/2′ Leah took a different approach when designing her daughter Ave’s nursery. She designed the space to easily transition into Ave’s toddler years. Leah also wanted to create a nursery that was minimalist and very organized. It is a small space, so it can easily get cluttered.Working on a tight budget, Leah had to make compromises and get creative to make the most out of the design.
Jun 3, 2011
Tej’s Remodel of a 1960’s Santa Monica Condo
Name: Tej SundherLocation: Santa Monica, CaliforniaSize: 1,800 square feetYears lived in: 2 years Anyone who has ever purchased a earlier era home with the intent to transform it to a more modern dwelling can relate to this story. Worn old carpet and pink wallpaper didn’t discourage Tej and his designer friend, Cozette, from seeing the vision of what could be.
May 16, 2011
Alex & Debra’s Modernized 1850’s Greek Revival
Name: Alex & Debra Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Size: 1,406 square feet Years lived in: 4½ Living on the East Coast offers residents a choice in housing stock of homes built before the 1900s. Finding fluted columns on the exterior of a Greek revival home is commonplace, but finding the columns on the inside of the house was a surprise for Alex and Debra.
Apr 22, 2011
John & Sophie’s Modern Desert Home
Name: John Schoenfeld & Sophie Schoenfeld Location: Joshua Tree, CaliforniaSize: 1,450 square feetYears lived in: 7 Desert living is quite different than living in the city. Many Angelenos make the trip to Joshua Tree to relax and bask in the hot and dry climate. John and Sophie wanted to create the best of both worlds when designing their home. They wanted the local desert environment reflected in their decor, but with modern elements incorporated.
Apr 14, 2011
Cory and Nick’s Compact Hilltop Home
Name: Cory Buckner & Nick RobertsLocation: Malibu, CaliforniaSize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 2 Years Cory and Nick’s place is about an hour outside of the city. After driving miles and miles up the winding streets to the summit, we finally reached their home. The expansive view, which includes the ocean on clear days, was well worth the drive. I counted just five other homes in sight and the only noise was that of birds.
Apr 7, 2011
Steven’s Relocated Beach Cottage
Name: Steven ShortridgeLocation: Venice, CaliforniaSize: 800 Square FeetYears lived in: 14 Steven Shortridge’s home was part of a larger house, which was relocated to Venice in 1937. He kept many of the original architectural details and built-ins and also added modern elements to fit his lifestyle. Choosing a bright bright orange for his dining room and kitchen was definitely a bold move, but Steven felt it was just the right color for the space.
Mar 7, 2011
Sherry & Dana’s “The New Modern” Home
Name: Sherry Joniff-Solomon and Dana Solomon — Owners of 22 Bond St.Location: West Hollywood, CaliforniaSize: 1,300 square feet (main house) + 300 square feet (pool house)Years lived in: 10 Months My favorite interior design inspirations are homes that have creative solutions for limited space. With under 1,500 square feet and a baby on the way, Sherry and Dana were on the fast track to renovate their new home.
Feb 28, 2011
Kathleen & Maurizio’s Imported Italian Home
Name: Kathleen White-Almanza – former set decorator, designer, and co-owner of Eccola and Maurizio Almanza – co-owner of Eccola Location: Miracle Mile — Los Angeles, California Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 2½ Kathleen and Maurizio’s home is my absolute dream house. When you enter through the front door into a courtyard with an outdoor fireplace and even a scooter in the driveway, how can you not feel like you are in a rural town in Italy?
Feb 11, 2011
Chad Rogers’ Modern, Pet-Friendly Condo
Name: Chad Rogers and Starla the Chihuahua Location: Beverly Hills, California Size: 1,694 square feet — 2 Beds 2 1/2 Baths Years lived in: 1 Who watched Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing?” I watch the show religiously and couldn’t wait to see what property Chad Rogers listed next. Now that Chad has sold millions of dollars of luxury real estate and has seen some of the best designs, he wants to share his own perspective on design and what makes a home.
Feb 7, 2011
Warren & Mimi’s Highly Personal Architectural Home
Name: Warren Techentin and Mimi Techentin Location: Los Feliz, CaliforniaSize: 3600 Square FeetYears 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.
Jan 28, 2011
Liv, Jeff and the Friendly Yeti Sharing a Home
Name: Liv and Jeff McMillan Location: Long Beach, California Size: 1644 Square Feet Years lived in: 8 Months Liv and Jeff are as fun and carefree as their artistic and handmade home. While Jeff finishes his painting in his studio, Liv is in her crafts room writing for her blog and hanging out with Friendly Yeti. Early this summer there will be a new little addition to the family and it isn’t a baby yeti.
Jan 7, 2011
Jan & Jerry’s Global Decor in the Eastern Columbia Building
Name: Jan McCarthy and Jerry McCarthy Location: Eastern Columbia Building – Downtown Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1650 Square FeetYears lived in: 3 1/2 Years This lovely home belongs to the parents of one of my good friends. Jan and Jerry’s loft is in the Eastern Columbia building. The industrial building is one of my favorite loft spaces in downtown Los Angeles and is known for the Kelly Wearstler designs in the public areas.
Dec 7, 2010
Chris & Kenny’s Blend of Prints
Name: Chris Sewell and Kenny Osehan, proprietors of the Presidio Motel and on-site shop, the Supply RoomLocation: Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSize: 900 square feet — 1 bed + 1 bathYears lived in: 2½ I met Chris and Kenny while in Santa Barbara photographing their friend’s home, Jesse & Leia’s Inspired Americana Bungalow. I have a theory — people with beautiful homes have friends with stylish pads (which proved to be the case with Jesse and Leia).
Dec 3, 2010
Jesse & Leia’s Inspired Americana Bungalow
Name: Jesse Keenan, Leia Everett, and our two kitties Libby and Nola Location: Santa Barbara, California Size: 585 Square Feet Years lived in: 4 years After a relaxing drive up to Santa Barbara, I visited the home of an endearing young couple living in a bungalow community. The row of homes was so quaint and pristine, I felt like I was in a time warp going back many years to when neighbors still borrowed a cup of sugar.
Nov 29, 2010
John’s New York City Interior with a California Garden
Name: John Saint-DenisLocation: Hancock Park – Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1500 Square FeetYears lived in: 5 years John wanted to reduce his carbon footprint by moving in a multi-unit building. He found his current fourplex and decided to purchase the property with a few friends, who would each keep one of the units. It had the potential for John’s ideal blending of styles, a classic Upper East Side Manhattan layout with a California garden, but needed a complete overhaul.
Nov 18, 2010
Caitlin’s Art Deco Apartment with a Parisian Flair
Name: Caitlin MurrayLocation: Beverly Hills — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 700 square feet — 1 bed, 1 bathYears lived in: 6 months I met Caitlin a few quarters into design school and immediately knew she had an inherent talent for interior design. When apartment hunting, Caitlin scouted out units with strong architectural features, knowing it would be much easier to complement a well-designed rental space.
Nov 17, 2010
Steven Arroyo’s Think Tank
Name: Steven Arroyo, restaurateur Location: Hancock Park — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 2,100 square feet — 2 beds, 2 bathsYears lived in: 1 year I had the pleasure of meeting Steven for the first time in his home. I immediately picked up on his strong demeanor and disciplined, yet multifaceted sense of style. With more than a few successful restaurants under his belt — Cobras & Matadors, Church & State, Sgt.
Nov 11, 2010
Anthony & Gregory’s 1912 Contemporary Craftsman
Name: Anthony Franco, Clothing Designer and Wardrobe Stylist and Gregory Metcalf, Wardrobe Stylist and Pillow DesignerLocation: Silver Lake — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 1,782 square feet — 4 bedrooms & 3 bathroomsYears lived in: 5 years My friend told me about Anthony and Gregory’s home and I welcomed the opportunity to check out a 1912 restored Craftsman home in Silver Lake.
Oct 26, 2010
Chris’ Industrial “Dreamer’s Dream” Loft
Name: Christopher Cushingham Location: Downtown Los Angeles, California Size: 780 Square Feet Years lived in: 6 months Large windows are a valued element to loft living. Chris worked as a residential window cleaner growing up, which helped develop his appreciation for unique and expansive windows. In fact, these industrial windows and the generous natural light they provide sold him on this particular loft.
Aug 11, 2010
Alicia’s “Flea Market Faboosh”
Name: Alicia PeatLocation: San Francisco, California (Inner Richmond District)Size: 1,000 square feet (2 bedrooms and 1 1/2 bathrooms)Years lived in: 3 years Alicia tells us the story of her colorful San Francisco home in her own words: “My house. Even after 3 years, it is still pretty awesome to say ‘my house;’ as in I own it. I knew the moment I walked in that this was the place.
Jul 1, 2010
Marc’s Victorian Compound in Hollywood
Name: Marc Gomes, actor & directorLocation: Hollywood, CaliforniaSize: 2,000 square feetYears lived in: 5 Originally built in 1896 in Glendale, Marc’s home was moved to Hollywood in 1937. The house still has many of the original architectural details and Marc has added another level of depth to the architectural character with his choices in design and decor.
Jun 30, 2010
Matthew Mau’s Creative Loft in the Chapman Building
Name: Matthew MauProfession: Graphic Designer by day and DJ by nightLocation: Downtown Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 845 Square FeetType: Studio Loft Years lived in: 2 Years I met Matthew through school and was visiting him at his downtown loft talking about websites. As he was talking to me, I was looking around and couldn’t help but be distracted by his designer’s eye for decor. His personal space is a close replica of his interests and personality.
May 19, 2010
Jenika and Robert’s 1944 Bungalow Renovation
Name: Jenika and RobertLocation: Westchester, CaliforniaSize: 1,000 square feetYears lived in: 2 months Jenika and her boyfriend, Robert, had been living in Los Angeles for 4 years and desperately wanted to have a house of their own. Knowing how expensive real estate is in Los Angeles, they knew that they would have to find a great fixer. Jenika and Robert, with the help of her parents, purchased a small home in Westchester that needed a lot of work.
Mar 12, 2010