Weekend Design: Vintage authenticity for Hollywood couple’s Laurel Canyon home

Los Angeles is experiencing a vibrant surge in its home design retail landscape, with numerous new shops and pop-ups offering a diverse array of styles and unique finds. These establishments cater to a wide range of tastes, from minimalist modern and industrial chic to coastal elegance and vintage aesthetics, attracting both celebrity clientele and design enthusiasts. Cassina, an Italian furniture manufacturer, has opened its largest store to date in Los Angeles. This three-level space, designed by art director Patricia Urquiola, showcases modular works by Virgil Abloh and features its iMastri Collection, which includes timeless pieces resulting from collaborations with significant architects and designers such as Charlotte Perriand and Gaetano Pesce. The showroom is located at 145 N. Robertson Blvd. Olive Ateliers, a shop that has gained popularity through TikTok and Instagram, has become a favorite for home accessories, even attracting celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Elsa Hosk. Co-founded by Kendall Knox, Ben Knox, and Laura Sotelo, Olive Ateliers specializes in “objects with old souls,” such as worn Turkish vases and vintage Chinese elm benches. The store is situated at 1210 Mateo St. Inner Gardens, a long-established garden emporium known for landscape designer Stephen Block’s global finds and reproduction pots, has relocated to a former bank building in Culver City. The store's unique and serendipitous inventory appeals to high-profile clients including Spago, Soho House, Kelly Wearstler, Elton John, and Ellen Pompeo. Its new address is 4444 Sepulveda Blvd. Habitat Home & Garden, a family business with its third outpost in Malibu, emphasizes unique furnishings and one-of-a-kind designs that reflect the laid-back luxury of coastal California. The store, which includes rustic wood furniture, vintage rugs, and sun-bleached accessories, counts the Duke and Duchess of Sussex among its customers. It is located at 21249 Pacific Coast Highway. LDV, an establishment co-founded by Guido Callarelli and Birta Ólafsdóttir, now has a pop-up store near the West Hollywood Design District, allowing in-person viewing of its impeccably restored Art Deco and 1970s-era furniture. Previously, its inventory was available exclusively through an invite-only online platform. The pop-up is at 156 S. Robertson Blvd. Pop-Up Home, a furniture shop previously known for its roving nature, has found a permanent location in Melrose Hill. Founder Tricia Benitez Beanum curates a diverse collection that includes sculptural vintage furniture, 1970s studio pottery, and contemporary art from UNREPD, a gallery co-founded by Beanum that focuses on emerging artists. The store is located at 642 N. Western Ave. NB Shop, run by interior designer Natasha Baradaran, offers an experiential retail space that reflects her tactile approach to home and life, appealing to clients such as Heather and Christopher McQuarrie, Luis Miguel, and Kate Hudson. The shop, located at 725 N. La Cienega Blvd., features her Persian Garden textile collection, inspired by her Iranian heritage. The Expert, a design consultation platform co-founded by John Legend and Chrissy Teigen's interior designer Jake Arnold, has expanded with an e-commerce arm, Showroom, and a by-appointment warehouse in West Adams. The Showroom offers vintage pieces alongside Arnold's made-to-order furniture line. Appointments can be made via email. Flora Grubb Gardens, a well-regarded San Francisco garden shop known for its focus on sustainability and drought-tolerant plants, has opened a new location in Los Angeles, taking over the Marina Del Rey Garden Center at 13198 Mindanao Way. The Future Perfect, led by David Alhadeff, continues to elevate the concept of blending residence and retail with its fourth Los Angeles iteration. Now housed in a historic Beaux-Arts neoclassical home, newly landscaped by Art Luna, the space offers collectible contemporary design by appointment. House of Leon and Tappan Collective, run by siblings Jordan, Steven, and Chelse Neman Nassib, occupy adjacent shops on Melrose Avenue. House of Leon provides stylish and accessible furniture, while Tappan Collective showcases art from emerging talent, demonstrating how to integrate furniture and art seamlessly into residential spaces. They are located at 8200 Melrose Ave. Kalon Studios, known for its minimalist wood furniture favored by Kylie Jenner and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, has opened its first space at 3559½ Casitas Ave., Atwater Village, featuring a landscaped roof deck designed by Teremoto. Pierce & Ward, the interior design duo behind homes for celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Dakota Johnson, has opened their first shop at 1956 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz, featuring their maximalist aesthetic softened by sage green walls. Maquette, a collective formed by interior designers Caitlin Scanlon, Abby Wolf-Weiss, and Julie Goldman, has transformed a bungalow into a retail and co-working space. Located at 507 N. Larchmont Blvd., the shop attracts clients like UTA’s Blair Kohan and CAA’s Risa Gertner. Cooper Reynolds Gross has partnered with Fred Segal to launch his first commercial furniture collection, “Feels Right, Feels Good,” at Fred Segal on 8500 Sunset Boulevard. Coup D’Etat, a San Francisco-based gallery, is opening a new location on Robertson Boulevard. It will offer high-end furniture, exclusive artist collaborations, curated vintage pieces, and a dynamic visual program, attracting renowned designers. Gilded Owl, a decorative arts gallery from Hudson Valley, has established a presence on Beverly Boulevard at 7282 Beverly Blvd., showcasing mid-century Italian furniture and collaborations like “The Pool Table Series,” appealing to patrons such as Kirsten Dunst. Seventh House LA, located at 7001 Melrose Ave. in a building designed by Frank Gehry, presents a collection of early 20th-century Art Deco, postmodern, and contemporary art furniture. Albertz Benda | Friedman Benda, a New York gallery, has an L.A. outpost at 8260 Marmont Lane, aiming to broaden the concept of art and design by incorporating craft, architecture, and technology. This addition is significant for the L.A. design scene, as noted by interior designer Oliver M. Furth. Studio Balestra, Adriano Balestra’s shop at 767 N. La Cienega Blvd., blends his Italian heritage with Japanese antiquities to create a unique wabi-sabi aesthetic. This compilation provides an overview of the burgeoning home design scene in Los Angeles, highlighting various styles, celebrity endorsements, and key figures driving the industry. #LosAngeles #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #LuxuryFurniture #VintageDecor #Lifestyle #Retail #ArtAndDesign #CelebrityStyle

Architect Damon Hills and his partner John Boschen transformed a derelict 1920s California bungalow in Northcote, purchased in 2013, into a modern, light-filled residence they now call the Light Box Home. The original property, a deceased estate, was in an unlivable condition due to neglect and significant odor issues, featuring an asbestos-ridden lean-to and an outdoor toilet. Despite its state, Hills recognized the potential of the house, situated in the desirable Sumner Estate near Merri Creek, an area known for its California bungalows. He appreciated the utilitarian design of bungalows and sought to preserve the home's classic facade while undertaking a comprehensive renovation. The renovation began with exterior modifications, replacing the pressed-metal roof with a corrugated-iron one, which was consistent with the original architectural style. Although constrained by heritage overlay regulations that prevented the addition of bay windows to the facade, the front two rooms, which now serve as the main and guest bedrooms, were retained. A key focus of the redesign was to enhance natural light, as the original house was notably dark. Hills addressed this by incorporating new windows on the sides of the front bedrooms and installing skylights throughout many rooms to maximize light penetration. The rotting blackbutt flooring in the wide hallway was replaced with new blackbutt, and a new bathroom was added behind the guest bedroom. This bathroom features a marble vanity, a luxurious tub, smaller wall tiles, and a herringbone floor pattern, with an innovative wet room design that places the bath beyond the shower to optimize space. The asbestos lean-to was demolished, making way for a new section of the house that includes a third guest bedroom (or study) and a powder room. This new area functions as a transitional space leading to a thoroughly modern living extension at the rear. The design accounted for the property's slope, utilizing it to create a slightly elevated new living section. This elevation allowed for the inclusion of clerestory windows around the top of the kitchen and dining areas, effectively filtering more light into the main living space. The modern kitchen is equipped with Miele appliances, a butler’s pantry, a concealed fridge, three ovens (standard, steam, and microwave combi), and a warming drawer. A notable design element is the oversized island bench with a bespoke linear light fixture above it, which provides illumination and defines the space. The lounge area features a fireplace and a discreetly integrated television that blends into a black background when off. Glass doors open to a north-facing wooden deck, while floor-to-ceiling windows at the back maximize morning light from the easterly aspect. The architect strategically placed larger windows on the northerly and easterly sides for optimal light, with smaller windows on the south and west. The home is fitted with hydronic floor heating and a single split-system air conditioner, relying on excellent insulation for climate control. Hills emphasized the personal challenge of designing his own home compared to client projects, noting the intense scrutiny of every detail. He described the home as a luxurious and spacious sanctuary, a place he looks forward to returning to, even from travel. The postscript details Hills’ observations on visitors' comments, highlighting the unexpected sense of space and the barn doors in the powder room and laundry. His favorite spot is an Arana armchair by Jardan in the living room, facing the fireplace, from which he can view the entire space. His favorite item is "The Mythical Galloping Faun" painting by Jodie Zomer, noting its constant movement and new discoveries upon each viewing. The Arana armchair is also his most sentimental piece, having moved with them through four houses. He expressed a dream of living in a New York City brownstone and described his entertaining style as simple dinners with friends, often concluding with a lemon tart from Babka in Fitzroy. For Hills, home signifies a place of relaxation and unwinding, a special and luxurious space that brings comfort and joy. #HomeRenovation #CaliforniaBungalow #LightBoxHome #ModernArchitecture #InteriorDesign #NorthcoteRealEstate #DamonHills #SustainableDesign #LuxuryHome

This blog post features a unique custom-built home located at 3482 Flamingo Ave. on Siesta Key, currently on the market for $5.8 million. Completed in 2019, the residence seamlessly blends Old World architectural elements with modern design aesthetics. The owner, Gary McDermott, who had no prior experience in architecture or home design, custom-built the four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom house with personal touches that also appeal to a broader market. McDermott is selling the home due to a relocation to Raleigh for work. The exterior of the home showcases more than 24 feet of hand-carved Cantera stone framing the double front doors, which are 10-foot-tall mahogany. These carvings include frangipani, his wife’s favorite flower, and a flamingo, a nod to the home's address. Wall-climbing vines and a water fountain contribute to a regal entrance, while wrought-iron balconies overlook a Roman-style pool. The property sits on an acre of land on the north end of Siesta Key and includes a three-car garage. Inside the 4,152 square-foot residence, the fusion of styles continues. An interior courtyard houses a 45-foot lap pool, surrounded by stone pillars. This five-foot-deep pool not only serves as a focal point but also functions to cool the house, reportedly lowering the temperature by 10-15 degrees and creating a natural draft. The pool area also offers views of a large backyard and canal access to Sarasota Bay. McDermott sourced the hand-carved stone from Mexico, emphasizing his preference for Old World styles while maintaining a clean, modern look. The interior features extensive tiling throughout, with traditional furniture pieces and light fixtures complementing updated bathroom and kitchen cabinetry. The kitchen boasts blue azul granite countertops, a material also used around the pool. The owner noted that delays in finding specific tiles provided ample time to refine their vision for the home. A notable amenity for contemporary living is a one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest house equipped with a full kitchen and a luxury office, catering to remote workers. Looking ahead, the roof was intended for further development, with plans for a greenhouse, a day bed, a putting green, and a bocce ball court, adorned with cacti and bromeliads. These future projects are now available for the next homeowner to undertake. Steve Abbe of the Abbe Ross Team with Coldwell Banker Realty in Florida is the contact for inquiries regarding the property. #SiestaKey #CustomHome #LuxuryRealEstate #MediterraneanArchitecture #OldWorldDesign #ModernDesign #SarasotaHomes #HomeForSale #ArchitecturalFeatures