A Suburban L.A. Home Is Updated With Art Gallery Vibes

“We solved this home’s challenges by embracing some of its largest obstacles, like the central staircase and the living room’s volume,” Kristin says. “We also found that by exposing some of these elements, such as the beams in the living room, we could better define the new spaces.”

Once the new floor plan was in place, Jeff and Kristin received guidance from one of the owners, an art dealer, to incorporate a stunning suburban style. With the trio of the new sliding doors to the backyard and a handful of skylights overhead, they all agreed the design should be airy with enough interesting objects and materials to catch the eye. “We were interested in a mix of high and low materials,” Jeff says. They imported Italian terrazzo by Marmi Scala for the floors, which has a formal finish that contrasts with the casual feel of marine-grade plywood they hand-selected after reviewing dozens of sheets. “We also detailed the plywood to express their character, like exposing the edges of the sheets and using their thickness as a module for the millwork,” Jeff continues.

It’s been two years since this renovation was completed, and the owners have been proud to present a twist on midcentury modern to their street. Jeff and Kristin can’t help but feel that neighborly love, too. “We connected really well with these owners,” Kristin says. “We were happy to tackle such a challenging project for their family.”