A Couple Brings Scandinavian Simplicity to a Complicated Renovation in L.A.
Vaulted ceilings, meticulous built-ins, and a sense of pared-back restraint help solve the visual identity crisis—and structural issues—of a troubled ranch-style home.
Vaulted ceilings, meticulous built-ins, and a sense of pared-back restraint help solve the visual identity crisis—and structural issues—of a troubled ranch-style home.
This story is powered by LifeStraw, the minimalist water-filtering pitcher that’s as well-designed as your kitchen.
For a couple who prefers simplicity, this renovation wasn’t quite that. Cynthia and Dino Corella, the married designers behind the firm Casa Luna Allegra, were looking to raise their two daughters on the quiet, tree-lined streets of suburban Los Angeles when they came across this property in the city’s Baldwin Vista area. "It’s a centrally located neighborhood that’s very diverse and established, and for our kids, it also has great parks," Dino says.
The couple worked within the existing footprint to modernize this midcentury home, which is modest but shines in the execution of the details. Scandinavian-style touches include an abundance of natural wood, sparse furnishings, and accessories with Danish-inspired design, including the LifeStraw Home water-filtering pitcher (shown).
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The house itself, which was a 1948, dilapidated one-story structure set on a corner lot, seemed straightforward enough. It had peeled paint and an uneven roofline, but as Dino confidently jokes, "Once you’ve done a few renovations, they don’t differ too much." They bought the house in January of 2020, filled with the promise of a new year and a fresh project. "I started to work on my plans alongside the demolition," Dino remembers. "We were rolling along on schedule until the pandemic hit."
"We have a set vision for every renovation we do, and for this one it was a modern, clean-lined home with a traditional feel," Dino notes. He designed the front door in white oak to match the interiors, and added an outsized, 4-foot handle.
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See the full story on Dwell.com: A Couple Brings Scandinavian Simplicity to a Complicated Renovation in L.A.
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